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There
aren't many places on this lonely planet where travellers are so well
catered for – in terms of both man-made enticements and splendours of
the natural realm.Food, Wine & Beer
Kiwi food was once a
bland echo of a British Sunday dinner, but these days NZ chefs find
inspiration in new-world culinary oceans, especially the Pacific
with its abundant seafood and encircling cuisines. And don't go home
without trying some Maori faves: paua (abalone), kina (sea urchin) and
kumara (sweet potato) make regular menu appearances. Thirsty? NZ's
cool-climate wineries have been collecting wine-award trophies for
decades now, and the country's craft-beer scene is booming. Contemporary
coffee culture is also firmly entrenched.
The New 'Big Easy'
Forget
New Orleans… NZ can rightly claim the 'Big Easy' crown for the sheer
ease of travel here. This isn't a place where you encounter many
on-the-road frustrations: buses and trains run on time; roads are in
good nick; ATMs proliferate; pickpockets, scam merchants and
bedbug-ridden hostels are few and far between; and the food is unlikely
to send you running for the nearest public toilets (usually clean and
stocked with the requisite paper). And there are no snakes, and only one
poisonous spider – the rare katipo – sightings of which are considered
lucky. This decent nation is a place where you can relax and enjoy
(rather than endure) your holiday.
Maori Culture
If
you're even remotely interested in rugby, you'll have heard of NZ's
all-conquering All Blacks, who would never have become world-beaters
without their formidable Maori players. But this is just one example of
how Maori culture impresses itself on contemporary Kiwi life: across NZ
you can hear Maori language, watch Maori TV, see main-street marae (meeting houses), join in a hangi (Maori feast) or catch a cultural performance with traditional Maori song, dance and usually a blood-curdling haka (war dance). You might draw the line at contemplating ta moko, traditional Maori tattooing (often applied to the face).
Walk on the Wild Side
There
are just 4.5 million New Zealanders, scattered across 270,534 sq km:
bigger than the UK with one-fourteenth the population. Filling in the
gaps are the sublime forests, mountains, lakes, beaches and fiords that
have made NZ one of the best hiking (locals call it 'tramping')
destinations on Earth. Tackle one of nine epic 'Great Walks' – you've
probably heard of the Heaphy and Milford Tracks – or just spend a few
dreamy hours wandering through some easily accessible wilderness.
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