"Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud " a New Zealand Travel Page by amyLbrown2002

I thought I would add this page, not as a travel guide so much (see my individual town entries for a guide) but as a testament to my roots!

I am a New Zealander. And proud of it! I was the first of a new generation of Kiwis. My Grandparents and Mother are actually from England, a place called Northwich in Cheshire.

At around the time of my grandparents marriage there was a bit of an exodus of my family to New Zealand. I have yet to ask who it was the went first ... and why! But I'm glad they did as I treasure having grown up in such a wonderful place as NZ.

Anyway, when my mother was 2 years old my grandparents followed the rest of the family over and settled in Gisborne, where they then had my 3 uncles and made a life for themselves.

Then I came along! Being a kid in New Zealand is great. The long, hot summers, playing in the backyard and learning to swim in my grandparent's pool, and learning to build sandcastles at the beach. The parks, the space, and holding onto that childish innocence for just that bit longer .... I loved it. Picnics and walks and riding bikes in a clean, gorgeous environment.

Needless to say, I hope to raise my children in New Zealand

Right, In my travels I have come across many people. In the UK whenever I tell people I'm from New Zealand, they inevitably bring out the line "Isn't NZ boring?"

Sure ... IF YOURE BRAIN DEAD.

Unsurprisingly, these people who claim NZ is so un-fun are all people who have never been there. Everyone that I have this duscussion with who has had the pleasure of making it downunder has laughed at the idea that you could go to New Zealand, and be bored!

I challenge anyway to be unimpressed by a trip to New Zealand!

Because the world is a large and very beautiful place, and I was desperate to see it.

Travel is in my sytem. I must have inherited it from my family who moved to NZ all those years ago. Plus I have an interest in history, and seeing, and learning about my own roots has been amazing.

Plus I just feel that seeing and experiencing, smelling and tasting a culture is so much better than reading about it in a book.

I also live safe in the knowledge that one day I will return to New Zealand, and raise my family. Hwever, I will never stop travelling