One of the most important things to note about New Zealand when discussing travel within the country is its size. New Zealand is only about the size of California and on top of being an island country is made up by two larger islands (north and south). Since New Zealand is fairly small, travel within the country is not so difficult and fairly common. However, travel between the north and south islands is less common since a ferry is needed to cross and when travelling between islands flying is usually preferred. Being comfortably within travel distance of the ocean no matter where you are located in New Zealand makes the beach one of the most popular travel locations. New Zealand, being known globally as a country abundant with stunning scenic locations, also has a multitude of national parks, volcanoes, mountains, and landscapes. It is not surprising then to find that New Zealanders usually do not travel out of country when on holiday or free, especially given their distance from other countries. Instead, many prefer to go camping at a camping site or rent a motel or bach (holiday home) within driving distance and spend their holidays there. These locations are especially packed during the holidays and sometimes have to be booked months ahead which shows just how popular they are as travel locations. There are no shortage of these holiday sites, with almost 700 spread across New Zealand. When New Zealanders do travel overseas, the most popular locations are Australia and Fiji, which also happen to be the closest at about 4 hours away. They are a popular choice especially during winter for their sunny climates. Popular travel sites among tourists include Maori cultural sites. At these sites visitors go into a marae (meeting hall) and are given a traditional Maori welcome and greeting. One of the most popular cities to travel to in the north island is Auckland, which is also the largest and a seaside city. Auckland has many nearby volcanoes, wineries, and a well known nightlife that most cities in New Zealand don’t have. On the south island one of the most popular cities is Queenstown. This city is known for its abundant winter sports, scenery, and the 10 day winter festival also known as the ‘Southern Hemisphere’s Ultimate Winter Party’ that it holds yearly.
Sources
http://www.jasons.co.nz/camping-and-holiday-parks
https://www.justlanded.com/english/New-Zealand/Articles/Travel-Leisure/Kiwi-Holidays
http://www.newzealand.com/int/north-island/
http://www.newzealand.com/us/south-island/
http://www.statravel.co.uk/new-zealand-attractions.htm
http://www.statravel.co.uk/new-zealand-travel-tips.htm
Sources
http://www.jasons.co.nz/camping-and-holiday-parks
https://www.justlanded.com/english/New-Zealand/Articles/Travel-Leisure/Kiwi-Holidays
http://www.newzealand.com/int/north-island/
http://www.newzealand.com/us/south-island/
http://www.statravel.co.uk/new-zealand-attractions.htm
http://www.statravel.co.uk/new-zealand-travel-tips.htm