The Gallipoli Campaign
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of a military disaster where thousands of New Zealanders died. Kiwis observe it with enormous pride. Once you understand why, it makes complete sense.
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He Manu o te Moana — The Royal Albatross of Taiaroa Head
A nine-foot wingspan. A 50-year lifespan. One mate for life. The Royal Albatross is remarkable — and the only place in the world you can see them nesting on a mainland is a short drive from Dunedin.
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Whakarewarewa: The Living Māori Village Where Dinner Cooks Itself
The full name is Tewhakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao. Whakarewarewa for short. It’s a real village built on top of a geothermal wonderland where people have lived since 1325 — and yes, they still cook in the hot pools.
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New Zealand Travel | NZ: North Island | NZ: Only in New Zealand | NZ: South Island | NZ: Where to Go and What to Do
Soak Your Troubles Away: New Zealand’s Hot Pools
New Zealand has over 100 hot pools — from luxury spas to free natural creeks steaming in the bush. If you enjoy soaking your troubles away, you moved to the right country.
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Sandfly Nuisance Map
Wikipedia says there is a Maori legend about the sandfly: “The god Tu-te-raki-whanoa had just finished creating the landscape of Fiordland, it was absolutely stunning… so stunning that it stopped people from working. They just stood around gazing at the beauty instead. The goddess Hinenuitepo became angry at these unproductive people, so she created the sandfly…
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Huka Prawn Park: Fishing for Tropical Prawns in Geothermal Water Near Taupo
New Zealand uses geothermal waste water from a power station to breed tropical prawns. You can catch them yourself. We caught two between four of us in ninety minutes. The prawns won.
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Living in New Zealand | New Zealand Travel | NZ: Living the Kiwi Life | NZ: North Island | NZ: Where to Go and What to Do
The Airbnb Alternative That Actually Feels Like New Zealand
AirBnB is fine but Look After Me is better — a Kiwi-owned homestay network where your host meets you at the door with a hug, turns on the electric blankets before you arrive, and shares a bottle of wine over the kitchen table. That’s not a hotel. That’s New Zealand hospitality.
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Useful Apps for Traveling New Zealand
A short list of apps that actually make a difference when road tripping or getting around in New Zealand. CamperMate alone is worth the download.
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Wetapunga, God of Ugly Things
In one of my first posts I commented on the high number of birds that are endemic to New Zealand. Insects have an even higher endemic percentage with more than 90% of insects found in New Zealand being endemic. For every type of land bird in the country, there are more than 200 kinds of…
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New Zealand Made Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Marine Encounters List. Twice.
Manta rays in Fiji. Whale sharks in Western Australia. Manatees in Florida. And two of the top ten? Right here in New Zealand.
