New Zealand - a student's paradise. :: Wessex Scene Online

New Zealand - a student's paradise.

27th October 2003
Kate Atwell

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Dec 09 - Dawn & Dusk: From the Poles to Tropics
Dec 09 - A Winter Escape to Beautiful Borocay
Mar 09 - Split: Gateway to the Adriatic Sea
Jan 09 - This Side of Paradise, Antiguan Style
Oct 08 - Your Man in Hong Kong

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THINK of clear blue skies, rolling green mountains filled with millions of sheep that perfectly contrast paradise beaches holding bronzed bodies. Add to this mixture one of the most easy going societies in the world and the pleasure capital of the world - Queenstown - and you have New Zealand.

Ten thousand miles away from grey England but still sharing strange similarities in culture and landscape (minus those ever looming English rain clouds), New Zealand holds more than enough excitement to entertain even the poorest, most uninspired students. This is the perfect place to spend a few months to a year backpacking! I was lucky enough to spend six weeks travelling around this small island on my University summer break.

Amazingly only 3.8 Million people (and a lot more sheep!) share this island on a land mass roughly the same size as Britain - which has a population of 60 million. You can literally drive for hours in New Zealand and not see another car. Wellington is the Capital city and is situated on the southern tip of the North Island. New Zealand is split into two islands - the North and South Island.

The North Island is typically warmer than the South Island which at its most southerly tip experiences winds coming in from the Antarctica so can be cooler.

Contrary to popular belief there is no real link between Australia and New Zealand. Many people assume that they are ‘one in the same’. However, New Zealand is actually 2,000 miles away from Australia (about the same distance as Britain is from Egypt.) and there is a heavy rivalry between the two countries...especially over rugby.I arrived in New Zealand after a two day journey from England which left me more than a bit zoned out. I was lucky enough to stop over in Malaysia before taking another 12 hour flight to Auckland.

Despite being summer in the Northern hemisphere where I had just come from, it was winter in New Zealand and completely freezing. However this meant that I could hit the slopes and take advantage of the brilliant opportunities NZ holds for skiing, snowboarding and winter sports on the South Island, where I spent most of my time. Pack a fleece and thermal pants for the winter season.

Summer can become very hot though but is good for outdoor activities such as surfing, tramping (Kiwi term for rambling/camping) and of course sun bathing for all you sun worshippers.

There is also a lot of work available for travellers in this season. Anything from agricultural work (fruit picking etc) to bar work to office temp jobs can be found. You need a traveller’s work visa to work in NZ though - contact the NZ foreign office for details.

If you are looking for action and adventure then you have come to the right place. Anything that pushes your adrenaline to its limit can be found in New Zealand - bungee-jumping being one of the most famous of New Zealand’s exports, apart from Crowded House that is.

I had a go at quad biking through some of the most amazingly beautiful wilderness that I have ever seen - over here you are not restricted to a man made dirt track to ride around on, you have freedom.

Go to Queenstown if you are a pleasure seeker and book yourself on a white water rafting adventure or maybe a bit of off the beaten track mountain biking.

Of course, New Zealand also has many beauty spots - visit Kaikora for whale watching. That is a deep and magical experience.

Maybe visit the ice-glaciers in the south, if your student loan will stretch you that far. Get dirty in the volcanic bubbling mud baths at Rotoera. Visit the Milford Sound and imagine that you are on the Lord of the Rings set.

Take in some culture in Wellington or some English charm in Christchurch. The best thing about New Zealand is that you can just buy a coach ticket for a few bucks and that can be an adventure in itself...just watching the beautiful scenery pass you by. Book your ticket to New Zealand at the Travel Centre. It is situated above the Union Shop or can be found at:

http://travel.susu.org