From December to February, summer is on and you have to enjoy it. Heaps of tourists Sunday drivers will be focused on nature and not the road. Be careful, but enjoy the season while you can. Before you don a pullover, get out your jandals and absorb much-needed sunlight for your wellness.

People travel to New Zealand for ecotourism, cultural exposure, historical appreciation, wine, wildlife, and adventure. It is easy to get around by self-drive touring the nation. All maps and road signs are in English and Mauri.

Pay attention when using the roadways. Due to extremes of weather road surface quality can change quickly. Additionally, the seasonally contracting and expanding road surface materials result in road damage. Expect frequent repairs.

You can visit Diamond Harbour for a nice beach day but New Zealand doesn’t have natural precious gems. It has only imported or lab grown diamond, and a vast spectrum of garnets, agates, and quartz in brilliant colours.

Ethically speaking, lab-grown diamonds cause far fewer environmental issues. More importantly, no human rights are violated in their sourcing.
The carbon purity is much higher from a lab process. This purity delivers the brightest, most brilliantly refractive diamond structures you have ever seen.
Your dollar will buy 60-85% more lab-grown vs. mined diamonds, with similar carat and grade.

When you leave the gem shop, stop for fresh seafood, a lovely lamb dish at a local restaurant, or a handmade meat pie at the pub. Prices on many things are more expensive due to the length of the supply chain and importation.

Take time to be still and listen to/watch the stories being told by the Mauri elders. Show respect by staying low and listening with your ears, not cellphones. Remember they were marginalised by colonialism, not under-representation. Their story is important, listen to it.

Kiwi cuisine is seasonal, fresh, and vibrant. Expect top-quality mussels, gurnard, and snapper prepared to perfection to provide a sweet taste. The large sea snail named Paua is rich and salty and has a firm scallop texture only fresh in New Zealand.

Get out into ecotourism in New Zealand. This location and isolation will present new encounters at every turn. You have never seen the flora and fauna here. There are 13 national parks for you to traverse.

Raw, natural landscapes from seaside to mountain peaks, rain forests to thermal pools are so closely located, that you can dash between them with short trips.
The word “unspoilt” can be used when we all show respect while we visit and enjoy the adventure and sights of New Zealand. Pick up after yourselves.
You will love Westland Tai Poutini National Park for an adventurous hike on 31 trails.
Arthurs Pass has 58 trails to explore for a gentle walk or backpacking trip.
For a family trip or summit track, select any of the 83 trails in Egmont National Park.
Visit the Department of Conservation for all national park maps in information.

New Zealand packs a lot of sights and experiences into a fairly compact country. An efficient two-week trip can expose you to much of what there is to see, but it would take a lifetime to explore.

*The information in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of The Global Hues. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information in this article.*