Day 9: Art, Culture and History in New Zealand

The history and culture of New Zealand is fascinating. Did you know that NZ is the only country in the world to have its language recorded since beginning? I cannot possibly do justice to everything NZ has to offer culturally, so I’ve included just a few snippets. If you are interested in learning more, feel free to email us.

The http://archives.govt.nz/ National Archive and the http://natlib.govt.nz/  National Library of New Zealand have a wealth of information, wonderful exhibitions and friendly staff keen to help you. Immerse yourself in the Alexander Turnbull Library, have lunch or coffee at the excellent HOME café (looking is such a hungry/thirsty business!).  There are some excellent online resources - if you wished to research anything in particular before visiting the National Library, you can make requests and have the item/s waiting for you when you get there. 

http://www.aptouring.co.nz/Trips/NewZealand/nzcan23 APT’ s New Zealand Splendour tour provides 23 days from the South to the North, immersing yourself in as much or as little culture, history and arts as you want and covers most of the experiences you would want.

The Wairarapa hosts http://www.stonehenge-aotearoa.co.nz/ Stonehenge Aotearoa which we love and highly recommend.  You can wander around on your own, but we suggest you will get more from the experience if you purchase the full deal.

And of course a tour to  the iconic middle earth village http://legendtours.co.nz/new-zealand/tours/north-island/hobbiton-tours is a must.

http://www.maoritours.co.nz/ Maori Tours in Kaikoura, at the top of the South Island, provides small group tours; their half day tour has been named NZ best cultural experience four times.

Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington is always worth a visit, as is the Auckland Museum, and Pataka, for all art mediums in Porirua, just north of Wellington. 

Taupo and Rotorua are a must for an insight into the Maori way of life. In summer, 

Taupo is a busy centre with boating, fishing, swimming; in winter it’s a busy centre with boating and fishing – but the hot springs are a better bet than the freezing water!  I know it's borderline cultural, but everytime we go to Taupo we have to play highly competitive games of mini golf with our walking mates. It's a really beautiful course, with trees, flowers, shrubs in bloom or blossom when we go in October.

 Rotorua has guided tours to Whakarewarewa,Tamaki and Mitai Maori villages; you will need a few days to take it all in.

http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/rotorua/tours/cultural-tours  NZ Tourism Cultural Tours is a good place to start.

I maybe ought to have included http://www.paloma.co.nz/ Paloma Gardens in Whanganui  as a garden tour, but the art and sculpture there is so stunning, I’ve reserved it for today. Make a day of it and pack a lunch, you won’t be disappointed.

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