Teen Tours in New zealand
RUSTIC PATHWAYS IN NEW ZEALAND
2011 marks Rustic Pathways' eighteenth year of operation in New Zealand. As the American summer coincides with the New Zealand winter, the far south of the country makes for great skiing in July and August. Rustic Pathways runs private travel for adults, families and groups year round in New Zealand, as well as a range of service and adventure programs for high school students during the American summer.
AIRLINE INFORMATION and PROGRAM CONNECTIVITY
Rustic Pathways offers weekly escorted flights from Los Angeles to the South Pacific throughout the summer for students on our high school programs. Students meet in Los Angeles and travel together with their flight leader to and from the South Pacific. Please see rusticpathways.com/flights for details. Our programs in New Zealand connect directly with all other New Zealand programs, as well as with most Rustic Pathways programs in Australia and The Fiji Islands – a great way to see two or three countries in one fantastic summer.
| FACT FILE | |
| Population | 4 million |
| Capital City | Wellington |
| Currency | NZ Dollar – 1 U.S. dollar buys about 1.20 NZ dollars (as of September 2010) |
| Language | English and Maori |
| Well-Known Attractions | Mount Cook – spectacular mountain that's great for skiing and hiking Milford Sound – one of the world's most amazing bodies of water Queenstown – the Adventure Capital of the World |
LOCAL LINGO
| Baaaaaah | The sound sheep make when they meet new friends |
| Aotearoa | Maori for New Zealand, which means "land of the long white cloud" |
| Kia ora | Welcome, a common greeting done before rubbing noses |
| Baaaaaaaaaaah | The sound sheep make when they say goodbye to departing friends |
DID YOU KNOW?
New Zealand has the highest number of sheep per person of any country in the world. The rich green grasses and lush valleys that make New Zealand a picture-perfect place to visit are also the perfect domicile for woolly chewers. It is just a hop, skip and jump away from the Pacific Islands, and the country's inhabitants are ethnically mixed, with lots of Fijians, Tongans, and Samoans blended into the local population. Most recently made famous as the setting for The Lord of the Rings, New Zealand is a frequent stop for movie makers and a favorite destination for travelers seeking a pristine environment, a friendly and open- hearted culture, and a backdrop of natural wonders.
If you are an outdoors person, then New Zealand is probably on your top picks of places to visit. The Milford and Routeburn Tracks are two of the most famous walks in the Southern Hemisphere. Rugged mountains fall to rich, fertile plains laced with rivers. If you are a bungee enthusiast, you can thank New Zealand for the invention of the sport. Sir Edmund Hillary, a Kiwi hero, was the first man to summit Mount Everest, and the country still breeds many great mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts.
New Zealand is also home to the largest earthworm and the shortest ski-lift lines in the world. Once you visit New Zealand, you'll want to come baaaaaack again.
