YouTube: 100% Pure New Zealand

A vacation in New Zealand offers a wide range of experiences from miles of beautiful ocean beaches to rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords, volcanoes, diverse agriculture, romantic cities, and friendly people. Although it may seem far away, you will be in for a very special adventure once you arrive. So let’s take a look at some of the possibilities that nature has to offer.

New Zealand is surrounded by ocean on all sides with beautiful beaches and rugged coastal areas for you to explore and enjoy.They are considered the closest thing to natural beauty that any traveler may ever find.

New Zealand is an island country of 103,483 square miles in the south-western Pacific Ocean. The North Island (43,911 square miles) is separated from the South Island (58,384 square miles) by the Cook Strait with ferry service between Wellington and Picton that takes about 3 hours.  About 76% of the population of 4.4 million lives in on the North Island. You can experience an amazing vacation any time of the year.

The South Island is divided along its length by the Southern Alps with 12,316 foot Mount Cook being the highest. The western side is famous for its rugged coastline, fjords, and glaciers. The Fox Glacier falls 2,600m on its 13km journey from the Southern Alps to the west coast, ending is a lush rainforest only 300m above the ocean. During the last ice age, the Fox Glacier reached beyond the present shoreline. The 12km long Franz Joseph Glacier is just 20km north of the Fox Glacier.

New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer is December, January, & February. New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine throughout most of the country.

Be sure to visit the Lake Taupo region on the North Island. It is the site of the world’s largest volcanic eruption in the last 5000 years. You can still see active volcanoes, spectacular steaming cliffs, geysers, boiling lakes, bubbling mudpools, and floating pumice rocks.

The North Island is also known for extreme sports such as bungee jumping. On the west coast you can experience the thrill of black water rafting (cave rafting) to get your adrenaline rush. Of course there are other things to do that are not so extreme.

You can relax your mind and spirit with a stroll on the Ninety Mile Beach during a lovely day or beautiful night under the stars. It is located on the western coast at the northern most tip between Kaitaia and Cape Reinga. This is a famous tourist destination, especially the northern dunes where you can bodyboard. You will not run out of walking space here!

So why not pack your bags for an adventure of a lifetime and see the many splendid wonders of nature? This is an experience you should not miss.

YouTube: Morning helicopter ride up to Fox glacier, passing over Franz Joseph Glacier. We stopped half way to let a hiker off and then continued. It was amazing to see from above the glacier that I had only yesterday been hiking up.

YouTube: Masai Mara Safari. Thanks to its wildebeests, lions and cheetahs the Mara, Kenya, is the most predator-packed reserve in the world. This is an excellent experience for anyone wanting to get up close and personal with wildlife in Kenya.

The following 8 National Parks from around the World offer an incredible vacation experience for any family or individual. Each is truly worthy of consideration for your next vacation. Experience the fresh crisp air, beautiful scenery, warm sun, and rugged shorelines to regain your sense of wonder, relaxation, and contentment. This is a great way to escape the pressures of work and regain a sense of tranquility.

Swiss National Park: This park is located in the easternmost part of Switzerland. It is the largest protected area and is home to many animals, plants, wild flowers, and alpine meadows. Only 150 000 people a year can visit the park. This park is closed during the winter.

Acadia National Park: Located in Maine, USA, it is a beautiful park with inspiring mountains. It is well known for its rugged coastline and wide ranging plant and animal life. Visitors enjoy swimming, hiking, and biking through this stunning park. During the summer months, one can swim at Sand Beach and Echo Lake Beach. There are also guided tours available. Acadia National Park is open year round, but the campgrounds and roads are closed during the winter.

Masai Mara Reserve: Located in Kenya, Africa, it is home to many exotic animals such as the Wildebeest, Zebra, Crocodiles, Leopards and much more. The reserve is 583 square miles in size. It is a great place for bird-watching, wildlife viewing, and photography.

Grand Canyon National Park: Located in Arizona, USA, it is an amazing natural wonder. Every year, an estimated 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park. Visitors can take in the breathtaking view and enjoy many hiking excursions. People can also river raft on the Colorado River.

Serengeti Park: Located in Tanzania, Africa, it is home to many exotic animals such as the lion and leopard. Landscapes include: amazing mountains, grassy plains, and wooded hills. Almost 1.5 million wildebeest undertake a long journey to locate new watering holes and grazing pasture.

Yellowstone National Park: Located in Wyoming, USA, it was the first national park in the United States. It is also home to the famous geyser, Old Faithful. One can watch the eruption of Old Faithful, go horse back riding, and even go Llama packing.

Galapagos National Park: More than 1.7 million acres comprise the Galapagos Park in the Ecuador. It is home to many incredible animals. Tourism is being promoted in an environmentally conscious way so as to protect the land, waters, and species that inhabit the area.

Skaftafell National Park: Located in the southern part of Iceland, it is the country’s second largest national park. It is a great park to hike with its amazing, craters, glacial caps, plains, and volcanoes. There are even campgrounds.

Taking a vacation that includes spending time in a national park will make your holiday much more exciting and memorable. Whatever park you choose, it is important to check with the park officers about safety and rules that must be obeyed. A National Park is one of nature’s most valuable gifts that can be enjoyed inexpensively.

YouTube: Galapagos Islands documentary. The Galápagos archipelago, with a population of around 30,000, is a province of Ecuador, a country in northwestern South America, and the islands are all part of Ecuador’s national park system.

YouTube: The Skaftafell National Park is located near the highest mountain in Iceland (Oraefajokull). Glaciers on one side and the large Skeidararsandur on the other side make this a special place.