“Why is this geographical feature of interest to tourists?”
What we must think about is “what can a tourist do or see at this attraction?” The answers to this question will explain the reasons the feature is interesting to tourists.
New Zealand has an undeniable natural beauty which allures international visitors to our shores. Read below to find out about them.
Here in New Zealand, we are very fortunate as we have a hugely diverse environment and therefore a variety of geographical features which are wildly popular for both international and domestic visitors alike.
One of New Zealand’s most well-known geographical features is MILFORD SOUND.
Milford Sound
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Milford Sound…
- Natural beauty (environment) of the Sound
- Hiking / tramping the Milford Track
- Cruising / kayaking
- Scuba diving
- Scenic flights over the Milford Sound
- Experience the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory
- The actual drive to the Milford Sound is spectacular
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Eco-tourism
- Adventure tourism
Why Milford Sound is of interest to tourists
Eco-tourism is huge and is the main reason for visitors to travel to the sound, the natural environment is stunning and untouched. This sound is world famous and is the most accessible of the grand glacially formed fiords. The Underwater Observatory is an amazing feature, tourists can see the natural environment of Milford Sound above and below the water!
There is strong flavour of adventure tourism in the Sound as there are many activities available such as cruising, kayaking, scenic flights and the drive itself is an adventure! Tourists can also experience the Sound by diving its waters and hiking the famous Milford track. The hike is extremely popular for all ages to trek and it has been described as 'one of the finest walks in the world’.
Abel Tasman National Park
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Abel Tasman National Park…
- Guided walks
- Interesting sights, including the Falls River swing bridge
- Canyoning
- Sea kayaking around Tonga Island
- Cruising/ Water taxi
- Penguins, seals, dolphins and native birds all set in lush native forest and beautiful beaches.
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Eco-tourism
- Adventure tourism
- Historical
Why the Abel Tasman National Park is of interest to tourists.
- The stunning beauty of the Abel Tasman National Park is undeniable, hence the thriving eco-tourism in the area. The water is very clear and a beautiful blue, the sand is golden.
- This area is of great historical significance; Awaroa Bay was the site of an early settlement over 120 years ago. William Hadfield arrived in New Zealand with the first official British settlement fleet to Nelson in 1841. William and Adele Hadfield were the first European farmers in the Awaroa inlet (now within the boundaries of Abel Tasman National Park). Today, the Wilson family owns and operates Wilsons Abel Tasman.
- Adventure is plentiful in the Abel Tasman National Park. Visitors are drawn to the area to swim, snorkel, dive and cruise the fabulous clear blue water. Many walking trails can be found through the park.
Lake Taupo
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Lake Taupo…
- Scenic flights over the geothermal area
- Skydiving
- Jumping New Zealand’s Tallest Water Touch Bungy
- Sail to the Maori Rock Carvings
- Trek the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- The Huka Falls of New Zealands’s Longest River, the Waikato River
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Eco
- Adventure
- Cultural
- Historical tourism
Why Lake Taupo is of interest to tourists.
- Lake Taupo is of historical interest as the Taupo eruption was the most violent in the world for the past 5000 years. The eruptions effects were seen as far away as Europe and China.
- Of cultural interest, the Maori Rock Carvings at Mine Bay on Lake Taupo are over 10 metres high and are only accessible by boat.
- Adventure interests on Lake Taupo include trout fishing. It is available all year round and the lake has an abundance of Trout, both Rainbow and Brown. A license is required! Also kayaking and cruising on Lake Taupo are very popular activities for visitors to the region. The Maori Rock carvings can be viewed also.
Southern Alps Of New Zealand
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Southern Alps of New Zealand…
- Skiing/ snow hiking over the mountains
- Stand-up paddle
- Water skiing
- Hydrospeed
- Wake surfing/ Wake boarding
- Rafting
- Canyoning
- Scooter riding
- Summer sledging
- The natural heritage of the Southern Alps
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Adventure
- Eco tourism
Why the Southern Alps are of interest to tourists.
Adventure tourism is king in this area! There are many ski fields on the mountains available to visitors which are easily accessible. Skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, mountain climbing, scenic flights, TranzAlpine train journey across the Alps, fishing and tramping are just some of the adventures which visitors can undertake in the area.
Eco-Tourism is of great interest to many visitors to this area. The environment is stunning and breath-taking. Aoraki/Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Haast Pass and the two glaciers, Fox and Franz Joseph are just some of the big visitor attractions in the Southern Alps.
It is not at all uncommon for visitors to involuntarily gasp when they first glimpse Aoraki Mount Cook. To the local Maori Aoraki represents the most sacred of ancestors, a link between the supernatural and natural world. You too will feel the awe the immense grandeur this mountain inspires.
Glaciers slip slowly over forty percent of the 70,696 hectare Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. This is a land of ice and rock and alpine flowers, part of Te Waipounamu, the South Westland World Heritage Area. Twizel is the nearest town and Aoraki Mount Cook village is a friendly place to stay.
One of our most scenic roads - and the famous TranzAlpine railway journey - runs from Christchurch to Greymouth, from one coast to another, through Arthur's Pass National Park in the heart of the Southern Alps. Gorges, wide rivers and scree slopes contrast with beech forest on the east side and rainforest on the west.
Arthur's Pass village has a Qualmark©-rated Visitor Centre with excellent displays and information, as do many of the Southern Alps villages. Look for the Qualmark logo wherever you are - it's your sign that accommodation, activities or transport have been independently assessed as safe and secure
The Te Wahipounamu South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area also encapsulates Westland Tai Poutini National Park half way down the South Island and Mount Aspiring National Park further south with its townships of Queenstown, Wanaka, Glenorchy and Te Anau near the border of the Fiordland National Park.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park is a place of vivid scenic changes - from primeval forests, tussock grasslands and remote beaches to mountains rising suddenly from flat plains to rivers, glaciers and wetlands. The township of Hokitika is in the north, a good resting place if you're visiting the famous Fox/Weheka and Franz Josef/Waiau Glaciers.
The peaks, valleys and natural jade, pounamu, (greenstone) rivers of Mount Aspiring Park span a vast area from the Humbolt Mountains in the south to the Haast River in the North. Sculpted by nature's fingers, the ancient glaciers, this park has an area, the Red Hills, so rich in magnesium that few plants survive.
The Southern Alps area is a visual masterpiece of nature's beauty. So walking (tramping) is an absolute must to really be at one with the scenery. Mountaineers come from all over the world to the Southern Alps, but everyone can take scenic flights, ski trips, canoe or fish the rivers and tramp some of the most fulfilling walks, both guided and individual in the world - like the Diamond Lake Trail near Wanaka. To find out more about any aspect of your travel, contact local tourism offices and i-SITES.
Bay Of Islands
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Bay of Islands…
- Guided Puketi Kauri Forest Walks
- Fishing Charter
- Sailing
- Fast boat to the hole in the Rock
- The Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Horse treks and Horse rides
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Adventure
- Historical
- Eco-tourism
Why the Bay of Islands is of interest to tourists.
- Adventure interest activities in the Bay of Islands are plentiful! There are many activities and attractions out on the water which are very popular amongst visitors, dolphin watching, parasailing, fishing charters, cruises, sailing yacht charters etc.
- The “Hole in the Rock” is a must do adventure activity in the Bay of Islands. There are several boat operators who take visitors out to the awesome natural attraction.
- The Bay of Islands has an important and significant history, this was the area where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (in Waitangi) and Russell was New Zealand’s very first capital city!
Rotorua's Geothermal Area
Some of the activities a tourist can see and do at Rotorua’s Geothermal Area…
- Guided Fly Fishing for Trout
- Volcanic Air Helicopter Scenic Flights
- White Water Rafting & Sledging Trips
- Agrodome Sheep Show
- Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
- Katoa Parasailing Trips
- Waimangu Volcanic Geothermal Valley
Types of tourism these activities fall under
- Eco
- Adventure
- Health & wellbeing
Describe why Rotorua’s Geothermal Area is of interest to tourists.
- Eco-tourism is a huge interest to visitors because of the area's natural beauty and power. Mud pools, hot pools and geysers all can be admired in the area as well as one of the world’s largest hot water springs.
- This area is of internet to visitors looking for health and wellbeing. The mud from the geothermal areas have special cleansing and restoring powers for the skin. The Polynesian Spa has many therapies available involving this special mud.
- Adventure tourism, walking and hiking is available throughout the area, from beginner to advanced tracks. There is also mountain biking through the Redwood Forest and ziplining through the ancient, native forest with Canopy Tours.
Before reading below, think about a time when you wanted to visit an attraction or undertake an activity, what was of interest to you? What did you want to know?
Generally, a tourist wants to know what there is to see and do at an attraction. Read through the following paragraph – notice the areas bolded and underlined, these are the points of interest to a tourist!!
The Sky Tower is part of the SkyCity Casino complex which is located in downtown Auckland. The Sky Tower is a major draw card for visitors as it is the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 metres!
This structure was completed in 1997 and it took two and half years to build. It was six months ahead of schedule. It has become an iconic Auckland structure, often used in logos and promotions. On average the tower attracts 1,450 visitors per day.
The SkyCity complex features two hotels, the SkyCity Hotel (4star) and the SkyCity Grand Hotel (5star) as well as two world class casinos featuring over 100 table games. The main casino is located on level two and VIP Gaming is located on level three, both are open 24 hours a day.
This complex wouldn’t be complete without food and beverage…and what a choice visitors have! Within SkyCity are 25 restaurants and bars including award winning recipes by acclaimed New Zealand chef Peter Gordon, 4 and 5 star hotels. The really unique thing about this attraction is that the Sky Tower has New Zealand’s only revolving restaurant, called “Orbit”.
Warning! Not for the faint hearted!! There are two daring and exhilarating adventure activities available at the Sky Tower, the SkyWalk and the SkyJump!