You Can Bungy Jump Off Auckland's Harbor Bridge!

You Can See The Southern Cross From Texas

Northland's Twin Coast Cycle Trail is 87km

Seagulls Love Kiwi Fish n Chips

Rugby Is A National Sport


20 Fun Facts About New Zealand

Interesting facts about a place often is the driving factor to traveling there. New Zealand is no exception! The world is pollinated by New Zealanders as Kiwis are well traveled. The only way out of New Zealand is by sea or air so they flock to the world for their OE (overseas experience) early in life. The irony is Kiwis are a flightless bird yet the Kiwis are predominantly always in flight somewhere! It's in the blood. Consider the Kiwi roots: Hundreds of years ago Maori explorers traveled across the Pacific Ocean in their waka & became some of the first inhabitants of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Maori culture continues to be integral to New Zealand's national identity. The early European settlers also came from far and wide to establish farms and settlements here. These men were fearless, taking a chance on heading out into the great unknown, unaware of what they would encounter when they docked their fleets. It’s this resourcefulness and ingenuity of Maori & European that has crystallized the New Zealand character into become a people that often punch above their weight - Kiwi strong, small but mighty!

  • Middle Earth-Home of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit by Sir Peter Jackson. The films were shot over 275 days, using 350 purpose-built sets in more than 150 locations. Other movies shot in New Zealand include Avatar and King Kong.

  •  All money is not green.

 
 
 
 
 
  • There are approximately 6 sheep to every Kiwi living there. 

  • The national men's rugby union team is the "All Blacks". Before every game the Haka is performed, a traditional challenge in Māori culture.

  • A "dairy" is a locally owned and operated convenience store.

  • Short shorts worn by Kiwi men are called stubbies and dear to their heart! 

  • New Zealand is only one of two countries in the world to have two official national anthems of equal status. God Defend New Zealand and God Save the Queen.

  • It was the first country in the world to give woman the vote.

  • Kiwi Ernest Rutherford split the atom.

  • Kiwi Sir Edmund Hillary was the first to scale Mt Everest.

  • The longest named place in New Zealand Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

  • Prime Minister is Jacinda Ardern, one of the youngest national leaders in the world.

  • Flight of the Conchords (musical comedy) gained international fame when their television series screened on HBO.

  • Kiwis drive on the left-hand side of the road.

  • Paua is a unique species of abalone found only in New Zealand.

R Tucker Thompson is an iconic Tall Ship in The Bay of Islands Northland.

  • Fish n Chips Takeaways are a quick Kiwi picnic -traditionally wrapped in white paper. Rip open one end, eat your fill and then feed the fat seagulls.

  • Kiwis use a lot of slang such as "sweet as" means terrific/great. Hilariously confusing is "yeah, nah" a form of disagreement, "tramping" means hiking, "egg" is a way of calling someone a clown and "Kiwi" is the name of the entire populace. "No worries mate! She'll be right".

Emmy award winning TV personality Kiwi Phil Keoghan has been the host of the U.S. version of The Amazing Race show since its inception and is the creator and host of No Opportunity Wasted.