Cultural sightseeing in New Zealand

Despite the fact that the breathtaking nature of the country is considered the main treasure of New Zealand, there are still some interesting manmade objects. Tourists will also find it interesting to visit local museums. The hardest thing is to pick the one to visit first. Think, what appeals to you the most. Paintings, cars, or maybe sculptures? The main museum of the country, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, is a mandatory place to visit. Located in Wellington, this museum offers several interesting exhibitions, including a room that imitates an earthquake. There are also military-themed wax sculptures.

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The war theme is also thoroughly studied in another interesting museum of the country, the World War Museum. The whole place looks so realistic that it is simple to get scared a bit at first. Or, at least, feel the military atmosphere. In Wellington, there is also a memorial dedicated to war, as well as the main city museum that is also a maritime one. Exhibitions of this museum are usually dedicated to the history of New Zealand’s capital and famous shipwrecks.

In Auckland, tourists will find it interesting to visit the Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki that offers not only painting and sculpture exhibitions. The building itself and its design are no less interesting to explore. Windows of unusual shapes, roof and halls decorated with columns, balconies, and arcs are like a magnet for tourists. Many exhibits represent modern art, so, perhaps, not everyone will understand it. But young people and connoisseurs of art won’t be disappointed. In Auckland, it is also interesting to visit a museum dedicated to the Maori heritage. It has quite an impressive volcano eruption installation. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

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Fans of architectural landmarks and antiquities will genuinely enjoy their stay in Wellington. Even though this is a modern and vibrant city (and one of the most comfortable cities to live in the world), Wellington still has its rich cultural heritage. It is also the location of the Government Buildings Historic Reserve that was the second-largest wooden building in the world for more than a century. It is also important to mention the Colonial Cottage Museum that was made in the middle of the 19th century by British immigrant William Wallis.

Travelers interested in religious landmarks will also not feel bored in the capital of New Zealand. It is particularly important to mention the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul that is a wonderful example of the Gothic style. St Mary of the Angels is one more fabulous church. It was the first church with the reinforced framing. It is also impossible to fail to mention beautiful stained-glass windows and bells of the St Peter’s Church. Even though the majority of the population is Anglicans and Catholics, there are churches of different confessions in the capital city. For example, there is the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour.

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The Giants House is an interesting place that nowadays is a hotel. Travelers can stay at this hotel for a night or simply make a one-day-long excursion in this place. The building dates back to the end of the 19th century. It is a wonderful piece of architectural art. Garden has tiled passages, stairs, benches in the shapes of different animals, a flowerbed in the shape of a piano, and many other interesting objects. Inside the house, there is a permanent painting exhibition. From time to time, the Giants House hosts temporary exhibitions. This wonderful landmark is located roughly 15 minutes away from Akaroa.

Such popular cultural landmark as The Hobbiton Movie Set also deserves a mention. This is where the famous “Lord of the Rings” movies were filmed. That being said, all fans of Tolkien’s book are well-aware of this fact. However, not only fans of “the Lord of the Rings” will find it interesting to visit this former farm. This is not a cheap and poorly made film set – amazingly detailed houses of hobbits, a windmill, a bridge, pub, and winding streets look fantastic. It is not allowed to visit the houses, but the Green Dragon pub is open for everyone. This is a magic place where fairytale comes to life.

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Extreme Guinness-type places in New Zealand

Auckland Art Gallery

From the series “Famous Buildings of Renaissance Architecture”

The Auckland Art Gallery is the greatest architectural monument in New Zealand. This art gallery was built in 1887. Today there has placed a rich collection of art pieces of local and foreign artists. Large halls are usually used for international exhibitions.

Over a number of years people from Auckland asked the city government to build a new library and an art gallery. However, the government didn’t have money for such tremendous projects. Then the wealthy people of Auckland donated to the building of the cultural centre. A famous city figure – Sir George Maurice O’Rorke was one of the founders of this art gallery.

Wealthy citizens donated from their private collections the first books to the new library and the unique pieces of art for the gallery. Other rich people followed … Read all

Taupo Volcano

From the series “Sleeping Super-Volcanoes Capable of Destroying Whole Regions”

In New Zealand, on the territory of the North Island, you can see the Taupo Volcano. Its huge caldera is also filled with a wonderful lake. For the last 70 000 years, this volcano has erupted several times and became quite dangerous for the planet. Until now it is a serious threaten for all types of life. If a major eruption happens again, all New Zealand islands will go under the water. More than that, a lot of people will die.

Approximately, the last eruption was 26, 5 thousand years ago. The official name of the eruption is the Oruanui eruption. About it was saved an official record. In the old Chinese sources, it was written as an outstanding appearance of the red sky. The eruption was rather large and continuous, that’s why it could be seen from the modern territory of China. … Read all

All unique sightseeing New Zealand

Cultural sightseeing in New Zealand

Auckland Art Gallery

Taupo Volcano

Culture and monuments in popular cities of New Zealand