Severny Island has a variety of landscapes and natural areas, which makes it one of the most beautiful places on the planet. A beautiful combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, endless green meadows, geysers and areas of extinct volcanoes has made this place incredibly popular among many tourists. The entire coastline of the island is one single beach where you can relax perfectly. Unique is the fact that on the island you can safely combine sea and ski tourism, as these two seasons often coincide. Until 1856, the capital of New Zealand was the city of Auckland, which has now become a giant metropolis. A characteristic feature of the former capital is that almost all of its territory, which is more than 5.6 thousand square meters. km is built up with one-story houses, but, despite this, Auckland is considered the economic and cultural capital of the country. Due to the fact that the city is relatively young, there are practically no historical sights here, but in itself it is very beautiful and does not look like most European capitals. In addition, Auckland is included in the list of 10 best cities to live in. There are also interesting places here, for example, the University or the whole fortification system, which is popular among visiting tourists, which is located on the Northern Head hill, as well as amazingly beautiful Victorian-style mansions. The city is full of various cultural institutions: the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Transport, the Botanical Garden and much more. There are observation towers on many extinct volcanoes, from where a magnificent panorama of both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea opens up. Going south from Auckland, you can visit the famous tourist region – Waikato, which is famous not only for its landscapes, but also for fishing. The main asset of this region is Lake Taupo, located in the crater of an extinct volcano and famous for the story of Jules Verne “Children of Captain Grant”. Near the lake there are many geysers, and the lake itself is known as a real paradise for fishermen. The main prey is considered to be rainbow trout, which is found here in abundance. Those who come here not for fishing most often plan to visit the popular Tongariro National Park, on the territory of which there are three active volcanoes, and, most surprisingly, ski stations operate on the slopes of the volcanoes. Local beaches are no less popular. The Raglan area is a recognized center for surfing. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, also a very young city founded in 1839. It currently ranks second in the country in terms of size, and is also a major transport and trade center. First of all, you should definitely visit the Botanical Garden, where a huge collection of local flora is exhibited, and from the observation deck, located at a height of 122 meters, a beautiful view of the harbor opens. There are beautiful beaches in the vicinity of Wellington, where you can not only go scuba diving and surfing, but also just have a great time. The South Island is quite different from the North. Despite its large size, only 25% of the total population of New Zealand lives here, and the countryside is very sparsely populated. In addition, a mountain system crosses the island from north to south, thereby dividing the island into two parts that have different natural conditions. The western part of the island is less populated by people, but the local nature is its main asset, and the eastern part of the island is the industrial and commercial center of the island. The third largest city in the country and the largest on the South Island – the city of Christchurch, is considered an example of English flavor and is of great interest to tourists. Having been in the city, it is worth visiting Cathedral Square, which is considered the center of the city, the Arts Center, and you can take the funicular to the top of Mount Cavendish, from where a picturesque panorama of the city opens. The world’s first tunnel is also located here, which was laid directly through the crater of the volcano between the city and its port, the length of the tunnel is 2.4 km.
National cuisine of New Zealand
According to Calculatorinc, the cuisine of the indigenous peoples who lived here before the arrival of Europeans was practically not preserved, and the multinationality of New Zealand allowed the culinary traditions of many countries of the world to develop. However, English cuisine still had the greatest influence. New Zealand is one of the leading countries in the production of meat and dairy products, so meat is used in almost every dish. Pork (or other meat, fish) fried with potatoes is considered a traditional dish here. Despite the fact that New Zealand is a maritime state, seafood is not widely used here, but you can still order lobsters, oysters and other seafood in restaurants. In addition, New Zealand is famous for its cheese production. The country is known all over the world as one of the best in the quality of the produced beer. Known varieties: “OB Natural”, Speight, Canterbury Draft. You can often find pubs that produce the beer served. It should be noted that cannibalism flourished among the indigenous population until the end of the 19th century.
Transport
The most convenient way to travel around the country is by bus. Intercity buses are technically equipped, have air conditioning, toilets, etc. You can also travel around the city by bus, and trolleybuses run in Wellington. The fare depends on the duration of the journey, the territory of the city is divided into tariff zones. You can travel from the North Island to the South Island by ferry. There are six daily flights from Wellington to Picton. The trip takes an average of three hours, the ferries are comfortable, and traveling with them is convenient and relatively inexpensive (44 New Zealand dollars). It is best to book a ticket in advance, as there is a high probability that all seats will be sold out. Almost every city has a taxi service. All cars are equipped with meters, and payment is always made according to their indicators.