Travelling to NZ? - throw out the rule book!

 

 

Visiting New Zealand?  :   - Throw out the rule book and toss a coin!.

It occurred to me recently as an avid traveller of New Zealand,  and all the nooks and cranny’s of this diverse country situated deep in the south pacific ocean,  - that visitors to this country have for over a hundred and forty years been sent predominantly sent on a predetermined course that quickly thrusts them from one regional hot spot to another.
While it cannot be argued that these hot spots are indeed some of our finest,  and they now certainly provide levels of service that cannot be matched in the outer nether regions , these landmark areas are really only a small snap shot of what this country has to offer.

If one intends to experience a connection with the Kiwi, the one that doesn’t have feathers,  - then in fact for a sincere and authentic experience one must get off the beaten trail.

The rule book was probably designed all those years ago as tourism was seen as a novelty and a distraction from the serious business of agriculture. Growing meat! ,   - so the attitude probably prevailing was to keep the “loopies” ( slight derogatory old term for visitors ) in certain confined spaces,    - "to keep them out of the way!" -  or harm’s way.

Things have certainly changed and now tourism is the second largest foreign income earning industry the country has, and we still grow meat.

Service levels have become of an international standard in many areas, and even off the beaten trail residents offer high quality authentic cuisine, accommodation and experiences across the breadth and width of this land.

It is this new found offering that stimulated this blog,  – as from a satisfaction point many visitors could well be argued to leave happier if they tossed a coin each time they came to a divide in the road.  Left, right? – well either way will take you to see something unique  ,quirky and authentic.  New Zealand is a very safe country and New Zealanders are very proud of this and have a genuine will to please and promote their regional uniqueness,  -so whether you are in the north of the North Island or looking at seals and penguins in the colourful gravel road territory of the Catlins in the deep south,  -visitors will see the real New Zealand as presented by those who proudly reside there.

Further New Zealand does offer great value for money,   - and off the beaten track usually equates to less when it comes to cost,  and more when looking for the “real New Zealand”.  If visitors are on a budget websites do exist in the main tourism areas that can solve or help solve the cost problem. www.bookme.co.nz is a prime example for activity and attractions deals and www.wotif.com for hotels and accomodation.

Much of the marketing information historically has been propagated nationally and internationally to drive visitors to the places that will yield the established costly infrastructure the best dividends,   -which is understandable,  -however if tourism New Zealand really wants to yield long term dividends they should well learn that having visitors leaving our shores totally thrilled,  satisfied and not feeling they have been on an orchestrated conveyer is the ticket.

Toss a coin.