New Zealand or Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud) is a sovereign independent state with a human population of around 4 million and some 60 million sheep. Whilst it has a close proximity to Australia there are differences in the culture between the two antipodean neighbours. NZ also has a history interweaved with that of the Maori and South Pacific Islanders.

Uninhabited by humans until AD700 and geographically isolated since 150 million years ago, NZ reveals its unique history in its unusual plants and animals which have long since disappeared elsewhere. The South Island in particular is scarce of people but filled with nature. Lord of the Rings was filmed here and anyone who has seen it would have had a tiny wee glimpse of what this country has in store.

NZ is a country of many landscapes from flat farming regions to mountaineous alps to glacier regions to fjordland. It has a lot to offer: from thermal geysers and boiling mud to swimming with dolphins to hiking on glaciers to adventurous sports. The West Coast is spectacular, the glaciers phenomenal, fjordland amazing, Kaikoura awesome and let's not forget the little bit of Blighty Down Under in the form of the delightful little city of Christchurch.

My first visit to NZ was 2 months at the tail end of 1998 with my brother. I returned a second time for New Year celebrations in 2001/2002 as part of a bigger trip. I then enjoyed a third visit in 2004 attending a wedding. I have no doubt that it was not my last visit.

This mini-site details a brief rundown on the country (based on my first visit) with a special glacier feature and journal notes from the second and third trips. Enjoy!