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February 25, 2010
“And the winner is, New Zealand’s South Island”.
If earthlings were asked to select one place on this planet to represent our world in a universal contest that best exemplified what our earth was really like . . . without hesitation, my vote would go to the South Island of New Zealand. Why this choice? Because in my travel of the world, I’ve not found a place with as much diversity all located on island that’s just 150-miles wide and 500-miles long.
The Island is about the same size as Florida, and, in one way it’s like our state with white sand beaches lapped by beautifully blue waves. However, unlike out state that has a maximum elevation of less than 500-ft., the island reaches over 12,000-ft., less than 25-miles away from the seashore. The Southern Alps run for 300-miles along the western shore, and gets their name from their rugged counter part located across the southern part of Europe in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. To make another comparison of these slopes, you might ask Sir Edmond Hilary . . . he trained here for this climb of Mt. Everest in Nepal. Mt. Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand is often touted at the tallest mountain in the world to climb . . . the reason is, that all of its 3,754-meters must be climbed to get to the top, starting at sea level. Not like Mt. Everest, where base camp is less than half that distance to the top.
Cruising the southern part of these mountains you’ll find the fjords of this South Pacific Island . . . just like those in Norway, with hanging glaciers and magnificent water falls. Numerous hiking trails snake through the area, the most well know is the Milford Trace that leads its walkers to Milford sound and the inlet to the ocean.
The craggy cliffs and that circle the southern end of the island are reminiscent to those along the west coast of Ireland. Trapped between the cliffs and the Alps to the west lies the “Sheep Country,” for which New Zealand is so famous. Three times as many sheep as there are people. Rich grazing land, free from the predators that could harm the flocks. Called the Southland, it is the islands breadbasket, much like our mid-west. The western portion of Southland resembles New York, it has a number of Finger Lakes that formed between the fold in the earth. Here, at Arrowtown, gold was fond about the same time as the strike that started the great California Gold Rush. Today, Queenstown, just south of Arrowtown, has become the Aspen of the alpine skiing area.
Continuing up the East coast you’ll pass through the checkerboard field separated by hedgerows and stone fences. Apply named the Canterbury Plain, it’s a true replica of the same plains by the same name in Merry Old England. As a matter of fact, Christchurch, located on the north end of the plain, carries the repetition as the most English city out side of England. Here you have a chance to go punting on the Avon River that flows through the heart of the city, and watch the children as the walk from school in their shorts, knee socks and beanies.
Looking at the landscape on the north end of the island, one could imagine being in France or the Napa Valley . . . and the wines and especially sparking wines, help paint that picture. The Montana vineyards squeeze the fruit of the vines of Picton and Blenheim . . . however is no relation to state. Apples, cherries and sheep all take advantage of the abundant sunshine along the Marlborough straight, which separates the North and South Island of New Zealand.
The waters off the island are whale rich, and the Scottish city of Dunedin sprung up to serve the needs of this industry. Today, it boasts one of the finest breweries’s anywhere. Because of its cool climate, Dunedin is also ideal for chocolate production. To us, it’s Hershey, but to New Zealanders, it’s Cadbury.
The first recorded settlers navigated the open ocean, arriving on New Zealand North Island from Polynesia. These settlers apparently had a keen sense of lay of the land when they began their folklore. There legends tell of their people who use the South Island as the boat that caught the fish, the North Island, and was anchored by Stewart Island that lies just south of the South Island. One need only to turn the map of New Zealand one quarter turn counter clockwise to see the great shark diving into the ocean at the bow of the boat.
Stewart island adds to my reasoning for selecting this area as the showcase to represent the world. It is a paradise of numerous species of wildlife that man and other animals have not corrupted. Here those visitors from other parts of universe would realize a harsh environment, which support fauna and flora found no other place on earth, which was created by New Zealand’s Geological History.
New Zealand’s actual birth began some 80 million years ago during the reign of the dinosaurs. It’s land mass split away from the prehistoric continent of Gondwana as the Tasman Sea was formed. About 60 million years ago it became separated from Australia by some 1,000-miles. By then, the Islands rocks had recorded a complex history of development. Because of differing land make up, recent theory has Australia not connected to New Zealand, but rather the North American Continent. Interesting, to say the least.
New Zealand was located along the leading edge for several million years before it broke off. At the oceans edge on southeastern most of the south island you’ll find the petrified remains of a forest that at one time stood on the super continent of Gondwana. The trees had fallen during their life onto what must have been the soft soil at the waters edge, and then both soil and wood turned to stone. Today, at low tide, you can step over the remains of these petrified trees as you stroll along the waters edge. It’s unlike no other place that I know of on this earth.
Lastly, if those terrestrial visitors were to land in New Zealand’s I would be proud to have the New Zealanders represent me. In my many visits to the islands, I’ve found them to be some of the world most giving, friendly, and easy going people that I have ever met. They are truly committed to the environment and are staunch protectors of what Mother Nature has provided to us. It is easy to see why our film industry has chosen the islands as backdrops for so many films.
New Zealand is truly a “Must See.”
Don Kiselewski
Kiwi & Aussie Specialist
Palm Beach Gardens Travel Specialists
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