Travel Inspired by Television: Amazing Race Visits New Zealand

Photo Credit: Gareth Eyres (www.exposure.co.nz)

Television programming has inspired travelers with scenes of far off exotic cultures, animals and landscapes.  CBS’s Amazing Race is a reality based show where viewers follow teams around the world completing various tasks centered on local customs.  The latest country visited was New Zealand, where racers experienced the modern city of Auckland and the countryside of the north island.

New Zealand is compromised of two main landmasses, north and south islands and a number of smaller outer islands.  Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean approximately 1,000 miles east of Australia, New Zealand has a population of approximately 4 million people.  The population is compromised mainly of European descent and indigenous Maori peoples nicknamed “Kiwis.”  A large majority of the citizens reside on the north island.

Photo Credit: Kieran Scott (www.canvass.co.nz)

The capital city of Wellington nicknamed the windy city is located at the southern tip of the north island; this is also the geographical center of the country.  Auckland (City of Sails) is the largest city and is the home of SKYCITY, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere.  From here visitors can see out over the entire seaside metropolitan city and the surrounding suburbs.  Fine dinning abounds and Auckland is home to many of the country’s vineyards.  The waterfront fish market offers visitors an opportunity to see the daily catch and sample the bounty.

The southern island is known for its rugged coastline with a number of mountain peaks over 10,000 feet high.  These Southern Alps served as the filming location for much of the fantasy film “Lord of the Rings.”  Vast glaciers, wild rivers and rain forests give this island a wondrous natural beauty for the adventure seeker.  The seaside city of Christchurch is also the largest city on the south island and offers a metropolitan alternative for visitors.  Cathedral Square is at the heart of the city and surrounds the Anglican Christ Church.

Travelers to New Zealand will require a valid passport and should check the latest information for Visa and vaccine requirements.  Several airlines such as Air New Zealand, American and United offer flights into Auckland.  Non-stop flights from the west coast of the U.S. are approximately 12 hours in duration and depart from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu.  This peaceful island country offers visitors an opportunity to experience luxuries of the city as well as the purity of nature.