A walk and go (6) Australia and New Zealand cruise tour – New Zealand (The End)

New Zealand's Milford Sound is located in the Fiordland National Park in the southwestern part of the South Island. It is a world natural heritage and one of New Zealand's most popular tourist attractions. Milford Sound is a fjord about 15 kilometers long that was formed due to glacial activity. On the cliffs on both sides of the fjord, waterfalls cascade down, the most famous of which are the spectacular Jasper Falls (Stirling Falls) and the twin waterfalls (The Chasm). In addition, tourists can also enjoy the strange rock formations and deep bays. Visitors can take a cruise or small kayak across the fjord and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Alternatively, hiking can be done nearby to explore the natural beauty that surrounds the fjord. This is the spectacular Stirling Falls.

Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's most beautiful attractions, attracting a large number of tourists every year to explore this mysterious land. The fiord is home to seals, penguins, dolphins and other marine animals. The Milford Discovery Center and Underwater Observatory provide a glimpse into life of rare black coral and other marine life. Cruises are comfortable, convenient and intuitive. The scenery of the fjord is picturesque and mysterious, it is really a beautiful fairyland on earth.

The movie Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand. Director Peter Jackson chose to shoot the film in New Zealand because he thought the country's natural beauty was perfect for the film's representation of Middle-earth. Many famous scenes, such as Hobbit Town, Lorien Castle, and the Wilderness of Middle-earth, were filmed in New Zealand, and New Zealand's mountains, forests, and lakes also provided the perfect background for the film. After the Holland America cruise ship arrived in Wellington, I visited the filming location of the movie "Lord of the Rings".

Image by Juan Agustín Correa Torrealba from Pixabay

Image by Denys Korobov from Pixabay

The Maori people of New Zealand are the aborigines of New Zealand. They call themselves "Maori" (Māori), which comes from the Maori word "tangata whenua", which means "indigenous people". The ancestors of the Maori people in New Zealand came from the Polynesian islands and arrived in New Zealand around 1000 AD. They established their own community and culture in New Zealand and developed a unique language and art form. Contact between Maori and Europeans began in the late 17th century, but it was not until the mid-19th century that Europeans began to settle and colonize New Zealand on a large scale. Colonial rule during this period resulted in a dramatic decline in the Māori population, as well as a severe loss of their land and cultural rights.

New Zealand Maori currently make up about 15 percent of New Zealand's population and are the country's largest ethnic minority. In New Zealand, Māori enjoy special status and rights, including the official status of the Māori language, Māori constituencies (a special constituency to ensure Māori political representation), Māori land rights and cultural protection. However, Māori still face many challenges, including unemployment and inequality in educational opportunities, as well as a number of health and social issues. In recent years, the New Zealand government and social organizations have been working hard to strengthen the rights and welfare of Māori to eliminate these inequalities and challenges.

We had the pleasure of visiting a Maori village. The Maori are good at singing and dancing, and they are hospitable and gave us a wonderful song and dance show. After the performance, we suddenly got a heavy downpour of rain. Although the tourist bus stopped not far away, it was still difficult to get there. Fortunately, I was wearing a hooded jacket, and I quickly lent my folding umbrella to a fellow tourist.

Image by Nydegger René from Pixabay

Māori sticking out their tongues is often considered a Māori cultural icon, a practice known as haka, a traditional Māori dance. In the haka, the dancers stick out their tongues, squint their eyes, and display extreme courage and strength to show the audience the cultural heritage and glory of the Māori people. Sticking out the tongue may also symbolize the intention to challenge and threaten an enemy. In modern times, Maori usually perform haka on some special occasions (such as sports competitions, important meetings, etc.) to show the charm and uniqueness of Maori culture, and also to convey the confidence and pride of Maori to the outside world.

Because I bought Holland America Line's "Have It All" special meal, I ordered lamb chops and ribeye steak in the separate night. The taste was good, and the waiter was also very good.

Image by dacheng1995 from Pixabay

Image by Robert Owen-Wahl from Pixabay

White Island, New Zealand, is an active volcano that last erupted on December 9, 2019. At the time, about 47 tourists and staff were on the island. The outbreak reportedly killed at least 21 people and injured 26, including a newlywed couple on their honeymoon. During an eruption, the volcano spewed hot gas, steam, magma and ash, creating a plume of smoke that reached 12,000 feet (3,658 meters). Immediately after the outbreak, the local government launched a large-scale rescue operation, including sending helicopters and rescue teams to the island. The volcanic eruption has also attracted widespread attention from the international community. For more than three years, when our cruise ship passed by, the huge crater was still emitting bursts of white smoke.

New Zealand honey is a type of honey known for its high quality and unique taste. The honey is collected from native flowers by wild bees in New Zealand, so each New Zealand honey has a unique flavor and nutritional profile.

There are many types of honey in New Zealand, the most famous of which is MANUKA honey. This honey is made from the nectar collected by wild bees on New Zealand's unique Manuka tree. It tastes rich and has a unique Manuka honey taste. In addition, New Zealand honey also includes kappa honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and so on. Among them, kappa honey is made from the nectar of plants collected by kappa bees in New Zealand. It is rich in nutrients and has many health benefits.

New Zealand honey is highly regarded for its high quality, which benefits from the protection of New Zealand's natural environment and strict management of bee breeding and collection. Many people choose to buy New Zealand honey for its natural health benefits, which include antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, to name a few.

Soon the 14-day pleasant cruise came to an end. I left the cruise for the airport with 2 bottles of New Zealand honey bought on a shore excursion in my luggage. Before going ashore, there is a special person responsible for inspecting the honey. Any honey that is not produced in New Zealand is not allowed to be brought ashore, and New Zealand honey is not allowed to transit in Australia. Fortunately, I flew directly back to the United States and brought back MANUKA honey.

We saw a small plane at Auckland Airport. This is a record-setting aircraft for Jean Batten (1909-1982), who was a famous New Zealand female pilot who became a world famous long-distance pilot in the 1930s. Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, she has developed a strong interest in flying since she was a child. Through continuous efforts, she has made extraordinary achievements in the field of flying.

In 1934, Jean Batten flew across the route from England to Australia in just 14 days, 22 hours and 30 minutes. In 1935, she set the record again, becoming the first person to fly between London, England, and Auckland, New Zealand, in just 11 days and 45 minutes. In 1936, she set a record flight from England to New Zealand in just 10 days. Jean Batten is not only an excellent pilot, but also a very brave woman. She faced challenges, such as bad weather and mechanical failures, but she persevered to achieve her goal. She also joined the RAF during World War II, rising to the rank of first lieutenant in 1941.

Batten has received many honors and awards throughout her career, including being made an OBE. Her courage, determination and fighting spirit inspired countless people and made her one of the most admired women of the 20th century.

I flew back to the United States smoothly, and everyone was very happy at home. This is a walk and go trip, without any preparation, and it went so smoothly. I ate well and had a lot of fun.

I uploaded a photo of myself and asked AI to make an avatar of me. I have only heard that it can rejuvenate, but it turns out that AI can really do it. The image, the lighting, and the color of the clothes are all the same, and I transform into a handsome boy with piercing eyes in a few seconds.

Thank you very much for reading my blog post, see you next time.

The end.