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New Zealand is a unique land of
breathtaking scenery. Craggy coastlines, sweeping golden beaches,
verdant rainforests, snow-capped alpine mountains, gurgling volcanic
pools, fuming active volcanoes, flashing fish-filled rivers and
glacier-fed lakes compete for attention, all beneath a brilliant
blue sky. Pair this with a thriving indigenous culture, bustling
cosmopolitan cities, traditional towns and friendly people with a
distinct lust for life and you have an outstanding and unusual
combination. In Rotorua's arts centre, see how young Maori learn the skills of traditional bone, wood and greenstone carving. Visit a Marae (a Maori meeting house) and enjoy a concert of traditional songs, the haka (a Maori challenge usually witnessed before All Black rugby matches) and a hangi (a delicious feast cooked in an earth oven). Relax in the ‘Garden City' of Christchurch, whose neo-gothic architecture is reminiscent of an old English university town. Visit the Christchurch Art Gallery, New Zealand's newest major gallery, which is home to an impressive collection of local, home-grown art. Explore the Southern Alps around Aoraki Mount Cook, where short walks repay the effort of steep climbs with outstanding views over alpine glaciers, snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear lakes. If that all seems like to much effort, take the TranzAlpine train and enjoy one of the world's finest rail trips, journeying coast to coast through the Alps. |
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