New Zealand: Are You A North Island Kiwi Or A South Island Kiwi?
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There is a peculiar myth associated with travelling to New Zealand. This myth being that the island upon which you first arrive will be the one that you fall in love with. Of course, when you’re planning tailor made holidays to somewhere like New Zealand, you probably want to see and experience the best of all that the country has to offer. However, North Island New Zealand and South Island New Zealand are distinctly different.
Photo courtesy of Angie Watson
Arriving in the North Island, travellers are met by the familiar cosmopolitan city airs of either Auckland or Wellington. One a windy city and one a harbour side city of sails daringly resting atop 47 naturally capped volcanoes, both Wellington and Auckland are visually stunning and culturally iconic cities in their own right. However, arriving at either as part of package tours or tailor made holidays to New Zealand, people sample New Zealand’s social and cosmopolitan atmosphere, prior to the Land of The Long White Cloud’s unspoiled natural magnificence.
Alternatively then, when one arrives in South Island New Zealand, one is met with much smaller city sizes, where New Zealand’s awe inspiring natural ruggedness really is just a stone’s throw in any given direction. Much more laid back, new Zealand’s South Island is home to a total population equivalent to just a quarter of that of the city of Auckland. Likewise, distances between destinations are markedly increased.
Of course, people planning self drive tailor made holidays to New Zealand will fall in love immediately with South Island’s epic expanses of mountain ranges and impenetrable bush. However, while the north of the South Island is renowned for almost year round sunshine, the South Island itself is markedly different from the North in that coastal areas especially are much more rugged and in many cases only accessible by short hiking trails.
Looking to experience the best of both islands? Itineraries which focus on facilitating tailor made holidays which sample both islands are perfect for travellers with enough time on their hands. The only question is, will where you initially arrive affect your choice of favourite island?
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