The Kiwis are large-hearted people and welcome the world with a warm smile and embrace. Cosmopolitan cities, pristine nature, and an adventurer’s paradise, this country can inject adrenaline from the word go, writes VISSA VENKATA SUNDAR
Travelling to the other end of the worldIJ”, a friend of mine said jokingly, reacting on my impending trip to New Zealand. Well, not the other end of the world but “another world” in itself, I gleefully retorted. A secluded paradise! Sure enough, as I landed there, I realised it was not an exaggeration. New Zealand is ecologically intense and ravishingly beautiful. It is perhaps the only country which has developed a deeper conversation with nature and landscapes.
This small island nation is tucked away in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean and packs some of the most magnificent and otherworldly pleasures of natural beauty, and a diverse set of landscapes: Mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, hills, plains, volcanoes, rainforests, and fiords all in one small place. And to add to all of that, its cheerful people with radiating smiles.
New Zealand is delinked with the rest of the world’s geographical landmass and surrounded by ocean, the ‘middle earth’ lives in splendid isolation with its own unique climatic conditions, flora and fauna. Mystifying as it may be for the visitors, it is a society that cannot get tired of talking about their sheep and cattle farming. You soon realise the passion and drive with which they rear farm animals. It is their proud identity, more so when you are in the countryside. The dairy industry is the bedrock of the economy. It is amazing to see how people do not just inhabit but are so deeply connected with the place they live in.
The country has corrected its colonial past and honours the island’s original inhabitants, the Maoris. This is a young country that fiercely strives for equality and has high standards of living. The Kiwis are large-hearted people and welcome the world with a warm smile and embrace. Cosmopolitan cities, pristine nature, and an adventurer’s paradise, this country can inject adrenaline from the word go. With so much on offer, no wonder that New Zealand always ranks among the top countries in the Global Happiness Index. My fascination for this country is a never-ending one that I so deeply crave and respect.
My first stop over was the city of Auckland that sits peacefully on a field of magma beneath the earth. It is popularly referred as the ‘city of sails’. What is less known is that it is also a ‘city of volcanoes’. There are 50 of them in the city, of course in dormant state, and may take a thousand years to rebirth. Auckland is said to have the greatest number of yachts and boats per capita of any city in the world. Safe harbors and the nearby scenic islands make sailing attractive to the visitors as well.
Devonport, a harborside suburb of Auckland, located on the North Shore is popular for its heritage charm and dining and drinking establishments and for its long military history. The stunning scenery is one of the reasons why people climb up the top of the hill and enjoy sweeping vistas of the city. You can catch a glimpse of countless kayaks, ferries, yachts, naval ships sailing in the waters. It is a great spot to enjoy the sunsets and experience the city come alive in the twilight.
One unmissable attraction in the night sky is the glowing hypodermic needle shaped 328-metre-tall Sky Tower. It has served as a visual signature and popular landmark for the city since it opened in August 1997. Once inside, it gives you spectacular and panoramic views of the entire city. Millions of visitors flock to this place for that ultimate adrenaline rush to jump off from the Sky Tower, attached to a bungee cord or have a 360-degree skywalk. Inside the sky deck, the walk on the transparent glass floor from a thousand feet above the ground is a giddy affair. You will see the city traffic reduced to size of ants in a mix of horror and exhilaration. There is a famous restaurant that rotates fully every 60 minutes. The tower piercing into the sky is also an indication of Auckland’s economic and commercial strength.
The city has also acquired a unique flavour and cultural confidence in the recent years. While the city is afflicted by traffic snarls — just like any other mega city — its expanding art scene, thriving food and fashion industry make for an attractive walk in the central business district. Auckland Art Gallery captures the influence of the indigenous Maori culture on visual art. You can wander into the vintage shopping malls, souvenir shops, bookstores, or upscale boutiques situated at Britomart waterfront.
Beyond its city limits, there is unspoiled nature. long Bay regional park is a serene nature trail with stunning beaches. It is a famous spot for surfing, jogging, and building sand castles with your kids. If you are lucky, you may also be greeted by sea creatures who wash ashore unannounced.
After tasting success as one of the most sought-after destinations in the world and attracting millions of international visitors, the locals seem to be fatigued with tourists. The country is now mulling imposing a special tax on tourists from the middle of the next year to curtail the pressure on its local infrastructure, its people, and the environment. For many countries that find happiness a continual challenge, nature-crazy Kiwis are a laidback, happy, and contended lot. Rudyard Kipling once famously described Auckland in his poem as “last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite, apart”. Need one say moreIJ