The world is full of amazing countries to visit and experience. You can visit France for the history and architecture, Nepal for the beautiful mountains, Egypt for the pyramids, and plenty of other wonderful places.
But one that often flies under the radar for one reason or another is New Zealand. It is a beautiful place to visit, but is often an afterthought due to its proximity to popular Australia. Many people group the two together and don’t give it a second thought.
However, there are likely some things you probably didn’t know about New Zealand that make it a must-visit for many people looking to see the world. Without any further ado, this article is going to go over some unique and interesting things about New Zealand that we bet you didn’t know about.
Looking to travel to New Zealand? It’s a good idea to book a rental car with a company like Go Rentals to get around. It’s the best way to travel at your own leisure.
The Animal Life There is Very Interesting
If you think about New Zealand, one of the first things you are likely to think about are the animals. It is home to many incredible animals from the bearded dragon, to the kiwi bird, to sea lions, to dolphins and many others. It is a very biodiverse country, and features plenty of animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet.
However, despite this biodiversity and the fact you can see a ton of different animals here, there are some relatively common ones that you won’t. For example, there are no land snakes found in the country, and you will have a hard time finding venomous fish and reptiles, and as such the wildlife in this country is very safe.
Humans Have Only Recently Settled There
Another interesting thing about New Zealand is that it was only settled very recently by humans. While many parts of the world have been settled by one group or another for thousands of years, that is not the case with New Zealand.
Due to how far away it is from almost everywhere else on the planet, New Zealand has only been settled by humans for less than 1000 years. The Maori people have been settled there since around 1250 or so. This makes it one of the last places on the earth that was actually settled and lived on by humans.
They Love Their Sports
Another thing that you may not know when you travel New Zealand is that they absolutely adore their sports. While there are many different kinds of sports that are popular in the country, some of the most popular include basketball, netball, golf, horse racing, and cricket, just to name a few.
But of course, the most popular of the sports and the one that many associate with the country is rugby. The New Zealand rugby teams (both men and women) are some of the absolute best on the planet and have had a ton of success at different competitions all over the world.
They Are Incredibly Proud of Their Nature
New Zealand is home to some of the most naturally beautiful and breathtaking landscapes on the planet. There are stunning lakes, plenty of beautiful beaches, mountains and hills to climb, sea caves to explore, and countless others. If you love nature and seeing a lot of relatively untouched landscapes, this country could be for you.
Not only is the place beautiful, but they really care about keeping it that way, too. There are many rules and laws in place with the aim of keeping the country and its natural beauty intact. Also, recycling is a major deal in the country, and not doing it (or going about things the wrong way), has the potential to lead to fines.
It is Home to Some of the Nicest People on the Planet
The people of New Zealand are some of the best and brightest reasons to visit the country. They are truly a joy to be around most of the time, and are normally very happy to see and eager to meet visitors to their country.
They are hospitable, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand when you need it most. Also, the people here are incredibly easygoing and relaxing in their approach to life, which can be very infectious. They are very humble, funny, and are simply one of the major highlights of any trip to this country.
The Weather Might Surprise You
The weather in New Zealand is yet another thing that you might be a little surprised by. With the location, you would think it is hot and warm all over the country, but this is actually not the case. While the northern part of the country is quite tropical most of the time and can be very hot in the summer, the south can actually get quite cold in the winter, even dropping into the negatives!
As a result, always know what you are getting into weather-wise when you travel to this country. Don’t always assume it will be hot and tropical, especially if you go in what is considered the winter there.
It is an Adventurer’s Paradise
Last, but certainly not least, New Zealand is a true paradise for those who love adventure. It is full of amazing experiences that are sure to test and impress even the most adventurous thrill seekers. You can go bungee jumping, go kayaking, head out on a zip line, go rock climbing, and do many more thrilling activities that are sure to help you make some amazing memories.
Of course, if you love to eat good food, relax on the beach, and do other laid back things, there is still plenty to do and see in this country too. It truly has something for everyone, no matter what you look for in a vacation or trip.
We hope that this article has been able to help you learn a little more about the wonderful and unique country of New Zealand. It is a long trip for much of the world, but is well worth it if you want to experience all that it has to offer.
