Why You Should Visit New Zealand
The year is 2015; it’s mid-July, and the moon still lingers in the early-morning sky. The sun has yet to rise, leaving the air cold and the ground dewy. It’s five a.m., and I have just awoken. The temperature is cool and in the single digits (around 40℉). My roommate's alarm clock has dragged me from my slumber and into a drowsy state of consciousness. I remain in bed for a few moments longer, not wanting to face the harsh cold outside of the covers. In order for a night owl such as myself to be awake at such an early hour, there must be some kind of incentive. And in order for me to be awake at five a.m., the incentive must be huge. My incentive was the city of Rotorua, located in New Zealand’s north island. I had dragged myself out of bed at the crack of dawn in the midst of winter (for the seasons are different south of the equator) because I had fallen in love with New Zealand, and nothing would stand between me and my new love.
Why did I love New Zealand so much and why should you consider visiting? Well, for starters, New Zealand is beautiful. Even the cities are breathtakingly like no others. The landscapes are awe-inspiring and no matter where you find yourself, you will be in awe of the gorgeous views. The night time in Auckland, also on the north island, was one of my favorite times because the city lit up like a Christmas tree and was filled with cheer. My all-time favorite destination in New Zealand by far was Rotorua. There are a lot of reasons to love Rotorua, but the top reason is that the landscape emits tranquility that leaks into your soul and radiates throughout your body. Everyday, I found myself wanting to freeze time so I could hold on to the peaceful feelings and charming scene for just a few minutes longer. Without a doubt, New Zealand is an exquisite country, and it’s filled with Insta-worthy pictures wherever you go.
What else makes New Zealand one of the top travel destinations? I love to learn, and I spent most of my time in New Zealand learning new things and enjoying new experiences. New Zealand is filled with rich learning experiences that never fail to amaze. If you love to learn about new cultures, then this country is the place for you. I spent the majority of my time in New Zealand learning about the culture of the indigenous people. They are known as the Māori, and they were very open about their culture and willing to share their traditions with us. The best way to learn about a culture is not from books but by learning about those customs from the people who partake in them. Besides some quality cultural education, I also learned about farming, jewelry making, and the making of the Lord of the Rings movies. New Zealand is an educational goldmine.
If you’re still not sold on going to New Zealand, then perhaps you can be persuaded by how many fun things there are to do there. There are spas, amusement parks, and all kinds of unique adventures to be had. You can go to a natural hot spring and have a bath or visit the set of the Lord of the Rings movies. You can luge down the side of a mountain or visit antique shops in the cities. The plethora of activities make New Zealand worth a visit.
I had the great pleasure of traveling to New Zealand with schoolmates on an optional (and rather expensive) trip just three years ago . Of all the pacific islands I traveled to during the twelve-day trip, none left the impact that New Zealand did. I fell in love with the country and to this day, I promise myself that I will go back. I hope that you will visit the country and love it as much as I did.