We visited Tongarero National Park where Chuck was called by nature to take up flyfishing and buy hundreds of dollars worth of gear!!! We hiked to water falls, uncounted! We learned about the flora and fauna at gardens and museums. We learned all about the Maori culture that still influences NZ today. We also camped at Te Urera National Park, saw Rororura, Te Kwiti, Wellington, New Plymouth, Keri Keri, and Bay of Islands area. We loved the art and history museums. Much more comprehensive that one would expect from a country smaller in population than metro Atlanta!!

Many racehorses are bred here, rivaling Kentucky. Of course there are sheep and cows everwhere. Dairy farming is rapidly replacing sheep farming, but there are still loads of great wool items and yummy lamb.
The landscape looks like it was intentionally designed using all colors especially greens in early spring, November. There are farms, caves, mountains, deserts, rivers, glaciers, fjords, volcanos, steam vents [earth farts], thermal springs, skiing in winter, remarkable crafts, and more coastline than the whole US! The food isn't San Francisco or New Orleans but it's good...hey it's British!!! Good fish and chips and oriental food.