Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The Matterhorn: an adventure around Switzerland’s most perfect peak

Last year, I spent a week exploring Switzerland in June hiking the trails, wandering historic villages, and partaking of all the delicious local cheese.

Perhaps there are few places on earth that have a mountain as iconic as the Matterhorn. Lording over the quaint and charming town of Zermatt, deep in the heart of the Swiss Alps, it’s just about as picturesque as you can imagine.

Topping out at an impressive 4,478 meters (14,692 ft), the Matterhorn is a magnet for alpinists and mountain-lovers alive, and definitely lives up to its name “the peak in the meadows” in German. This mountain IS STUNNING!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Arriving on a fine early summer’s day by train from Täsch to Zermatt, the perfect snow-covered Matterhorn almost doesn’t seem real.

Hopping off the train, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised to find that this endearing Swiss village is car-free and full of charm.

Wandering amongst the narrow historic laneways and beneath the eaves of wooden chalets, you’d be hard-pressed not to be wooed by a part of Switzerland so quintessentially Swiss you almost have to laugh.

How is this place even real?

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Zermatt is stunning any time of year, tucked away in the southwest of Switzerland, somewhat out of the way by Swiss standards.

Easily accessed from the main airport hubs of Geneva or Zurich via the incredible fast, efficient and reliable train network in Switzerland, I instead drove down, and was mildly surprised when Google Maps took me on a route that included an car train in the mountains on the way to Täsch, where you catch a short train up to car-free Zermatt.

After a bit of confusion, I realized you pay the toll and drive your car onto the open-air train carriage before heading off through the mountains.

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is the most distinctive of all the alpine peaks in Europe, jutting up alone about the skyline like a shark’s tooth.

Finally tackled by British climber Edward Whymper in 1865, many mountaineers make the trek to Zermatt to tackle the Matterhorn, best climbed from July to September. Though perhaps more impressive was that less than a decade later Lucy Walker become the first woman to climb the Matterhorn, and she did it in a long flannel skirt too!

Go girl!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Over 400 km of hiking trails in summer and 360 kilometers of pistes in winter are right on your doorstep in Zermatt, with plenty of cable cars and mountain railways shaving off time to access higher parts of the mountain for hikes and walks, and most have incredible views of the Matterhorn.

After the massive winter snowfalls in 2018, even by June some of the trails weren’t open and were still covered in snow.

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the largest and highest summer skiing region in Europe, topping out at 3,883 meters, with a cable car station, restaurant and even ice palace, the perfect day trip from town. And you can ski on the Theodul Glacier from there 365 days a year.  

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Perhaps what makes the area around Zermatt so unique to us in New Zealand, is the vast incredible network of railways and gondolas that connect the terrain high above the town of Zermatt. We don’t have anything like that here. 

Open both in winter and summer, along with an endless amount of hiking trails of all levels, with little chalets, restaurants, hotels and well-appointed mountain huts at your disposal.

Journey up by cogwheel train to 3,089 to Gornergrat from Zermatt for the best views of the Matterhorn with plenty of trails at your disposal. Stay the night at the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, and have the mountain to yourself once the day trippers head back home.

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Known for being one of Switzerland’s glitziest and glamorous resorts, Zermatt doesn’t disappoint and has something for all types of travelers on every budget.

The 5-star Mont Cervin Palace is an incredible splurge for those on holiday in Zermatt, and looks like it would fit right in in a Wes Anderson film.

No matter where you travel around Zermatt, you will find everyone spellbound and captivated by the sheer beauty and impressiveness of the Matterhorn, a mountain you just can’t seem to stop looking at.

Have you seen the iconic Matterhorn? Is Zermatt on your bucketlist? Share!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Many thanks to My Switzerland for hosting me on my adventures – like always I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own – like you could expect less from me!

The post The Matterhorn: an adventure around Switzerland’s most perfect peak appeared first on Young Adventuress.



from Young Adventuress http://bit.ly/2GzAdtV

The Matterhorn: an adventure around Switzerland’s most perfect peak

Last year, I spent a week exploring Switzerland in June hiking the trails, wandering historic villages, and partaking of all the delicious local cheese.

Perhaps there are few places on earth that have a mountain as iconic as the Matterhorn. Lording over the quaint and charming town of Zermatt, deep in the heart of the Swiss Alps, it's just about as picturesque as you can imagine.

Topping out at an impressive 4,478 meters (14,692 ft), the Matterhorn is a magnet for alpinists and mountain-lovers alive, and definitely lives up to its name "the peak in the meadows" in German. This mountain IS STUNNING!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Arriving on a fine early summer's day by train from Täsch to Zermatt, the perfect snow-covered Matterhorn almost doesn't seem real.

Hopping off the train, you'll likely be pleasantly surprised to find that this endearing Swiss village is car-free and full of charm.

Wandering amongst the narrow historic laneways and beneath the eaves of wooden chalets, you'd be hard-pressed not to be wooed by a part of Switzerland so quintessentially Swiss you almost have to laugh.

How is this place even real?

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Zermatt is stunning any time of year, tucked away in the southwest of Switzerland, somewhat out of the way by Swiss standards.

Easily accessed from the main airport hubs of Geneva or Zurich via the incredible fast, efficient and reliable train network in Switzerland, I instead drove down, and was mildly surprised when Google Maps took me on a route that included an car train in the mountains on the way to Täsch, where you catch a short train up to car-free Zermatt.

After a bit of confusion, I realized you pay the toll and drive your car onto the open-air train carriage before heading off through the mountains.

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is the most distinctive of all the alpine peaks in Europe, jutting up alone about the skyline like a shark's tooth.

Finally tackled by British climber Edward Whymper in 1865, many mountaineers make the trek to Zermatt to tackle the Matterhorn, best climbed from July to September. Though perhaps more impressive was that less than a decade later Lucy Walker become the first woman to climb the Matterhorn, and she did it in a long flannel skirt too!

Go girl!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Over 400 km of hiking trails in summer and 360 kilometers of pistes in winter are right on your doorstep in Zermatt, with plenty of cable cars and mountain railways shaving off time to access higher parts of the mountain for hikes and walks, and most have incredible views of the Matterhorn.

After the massive winter snowfalls in 2018, even by June some of the trails weren't open and were still covered in snow.

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the largest and highest summer skiing region in Europe, topping out at 3,883 meters, with a cable car station, restaurant and even ice palace, the perfect day trip from town. And you can ski on the Theodul Glacier from there 365 days a year.  

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Perhaps what makes the area around Zermatt so unique to us in New Zealand, is the vast incredible network of railways and gondolas that connect the terrain high above the town of Zermatt. We don't have anything like that here. 

Open both in winter and summer, along with an endless amount of hiking trails of all levels, with little chalets, restaurants, hotels and well-appointed mountain huts at your disposal.

Journey up by cogwheel train to 3,089 to Gornergrat from Zermatt for the best views of the Matterhorn with plenty of trails at your disposal. Stay the night at the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, and have the mountain to yourself once the day trippers head back home.

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Known for being one of Switzerland's glitziest and glamorous resorts, Zermatt doesn't disappoint and has something for all types of travelers on every budget.

The 5-star Mont Cervin Palace is an incredible splurge for those on holiday in Zermatt, and looks like it would fit right in in a Wes Anderson film.

No matter where you travel around Zermatt, you will find everyone spellbound and captivated by the sheer beauty and impressiveness of the Matterhorn, a mountain you just can't seem to stop looking at.

Have you seen the iconic Matterhorn? Is Zermatt on your bucketlist? Share!

visit matterhorn

visit matterhorn

Many thanks to My Switzerland for hosting me on my adventures – like always I'm keeping it real – all opinions are my own – like you could expect less from me!

The post The Matterhorn: an adventure around Switzerland's most perfect peak appeared first on Young Adventuress.



from Young Adventuress http://bit.ly/2GzAdtV

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Whirlpool Tub

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Are you buying your first whirlpool bathtub? Let us help you narrow down the choices. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

Will it fit in the bathroom?
Make sure to measure your bathroom before you even look at a whirlpool, including any space you might gain taking down dividing walls or showers. “Most whirlpools come in three standard sizes,” says Morey. “Five feet, five and a half and six. But you can’t just consider the tub size — they’re all designed to be dropped into a deck, and that will take up more space, with the bare minimum adding at least a half-inch to your measurements on all sides.

“If you think you’d like to hold a lot of stuff like candles and oils near the water, you’ll also need extra space on the deck,” says Morey. “If you’re over six feet tall, you may want to forfeit deck space for more tub room.” Source: HGTV

Is your current heating system enough?
If you choose to heat your whirlpool with your existing in-home heating system, make sure it can handle the amount of water needed to fill the whirlpool. With an external system, the water in the tub will get cool quickly due to the circulating jets, so you will need to frequently refill the tub with hot water. A 50 gallon quick recovery system should be sufficient.

The other option is a self-heating system. A self-heating whirlpool comes with its own internal heating system that circulates the tub water and reheats when necessary. This is a good energy-saving option and the best way to keep your water temperature consistent. Source: DoItYourself

Which type of jet should you pick?
Choose between water jets or air jets. Water-jet whirlpool tubs force water through jets, giving more pressure and a forceful massage. In air-jet whirlpool tubs, air is forced through tiny holes for a lighter massage. A combination whirlpool tub uses both, but will be more expensive and may use more energy.

  • One drawback of water-jet and combination tubs is that you can’t use bath salts or oils, as these will damage the pumping mechanism.
  • Another water-jet and combination tub drawback is that some water stays in the jets, and mold can develop if they’re not regularly cleaned out. Source: WikiHow

We can help you figure out which brand or type of whirlpool tub will work best for your needs. Find out more when you call us today!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Whirlpool Tub appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.



from Perfect Bath Canada http://bit.ly/2W6LBE4

3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Whirlpool Tub

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Are you buying your first whirlpool bathtub? Let us help you narrow down the choices. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

Will it fit in the bathroom?
Make sure to measure your bathroom before you even look at a whirlpool, including any space you might gain taking down dividing walls or showers. "Most whirlpools come in three standard sizes," says Morey. "Five feet, five and a half and six. But you can't just consider the tub size — they're all designed to be dropped into a deck, and that will take up more space, with the bare minimum adding at least a half-inch to your measurements on all sides.

"If you think you'd like to hold a lot of stuff like candles and oils near the water, you'll also need extra space on the deck," says Morey. "If you're over six feet tall, you may want to forfeit deck space for more tub room." Source: HGTV

Is your current heating system enough?
If you choose to heat your whirlpool with your existing in-home heating system, make sure it can handle the amount of water needed to fill the whirlpool. With an external system, the water in the tub will get cool quickly due to the circulating jets, so you will need to frequently refill the tub with hot water. A 50 gallon quick recovery system should be sufficient.

The other option is a self-heating system. A self-heating whirlpool comes with its own internal heating system that circulates the tub water and reheats when necessary. This is a good energy-saving option and the best way to keep your water temperature consistent. Source: DoItYourself

Which type of jet should you pick?
Choose between water jets or air jets. Water-jet whirlpool tubs force water through jets, giving more pressure and a forceful massage. In air-jet whirlpool tubs, air is forced through tiny holes for a lighter massage. A combination whirlpool tub uses both, but will be more expensive and may use more energy.

  • One drawback of water-jet and combination tubs is that you can't use bath salts or oils, as these will damage the pumping mechanism.
  • Another water-jet and combination tub drawback is that some water stays in the jets, and mold can develop if they're not regularly cleaned out. Source: WikiHow

We can help you figure out which brand or type of whirlpool tub will work best for your needs. Find out more when you call us today!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Whirlpool Tub appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.



from Perfect Bath Canada http://bit.ly/2W6LBE4

Google updates qualified rates in hotel ads on desktop

Google A qualified rate is a type of fenced rate that is shown to the user when a reduced loyalty program price is available through the property's official site.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2DtRCDr

Next-gen hotel websites: The secret to converting digitally savvy travelers

Shutterstock The Amazons and Netflixes of the world have spoiled travelers. Unfortunately, most independent hotels still rely on what can best be described as brochureware websites.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2vgfxBS

Google Maps adds more hotel search filters

Shutterstock Users can now search properties to find ones with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, a gym, and a pool, and to see if they are pet-friendly or kid-friendly and have services like free breakfast or a gym.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2PpTp1a

Competition ramps up as firms vie to be the ‘Netflix of business travel’

Shutterstock The 'consumerisation' of business travel is driving innovation in the sector as travelers demand more from their employers.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2DsPxro

Hotel cancellation rate at 40% as OTAs push free change policy

Shutterstock Nearly 40 percent of on-the-books revenue is canceled before arrival, according to a study conducted by D-Edge Hospitality Solutions.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2ZxKRd4

Restaurant Local SEO: The Google characteristics of America’s top-ranked eateries

Shutterstock Doing Local SEO for restaurants means managing a ton of different ingredients: website SEO, link building, review management, GBP signals, etc.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2GBTSuh

Hoteliers remain steadfastly on the back foot with data

Shutterstock Hoteliers will only be able to compete with OTAs and other disruptors if hotel performance data sits squarely in the cloud and is able to be used by all.

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2UPJbNz

Oyo CEO shares plan for making the ‘most-loved’ brand

Oyo In merely five years, India's Oyo Rooms has grown from one property to more than 12,000 rooms in more than 500 cities. Its mission? To become "the most-loved hospitality brand in the world."

from Hotelmarketing'com http://bit.ly/2W44O9k

10 facts about New Zealand that will totally impress your friends

It's a well-known fact that New Zealand is without a doubt the most incredibly beautiful country in the world. Okay, I kind of made that up. Let's call it an alternative fact.

But still, you've probably been hearing a lot about New Zealand in the past five years because the world is finally discovering the tiny beautiful island and no one can shut up about it.

If you think you've heard it all, you're probably wrong. Besides birthing heroes like Sir Edmund Hillary and Peter Jackson, there are heaps more to know about this little island nation to be learned.

New Zealand is full of hidden secrets and interesting little fact bombs. Next time someone tells you there's one person for every 9 sheep in New Zealand, hit them with these much more interesting factoids.

They'll be totally impressed. You're welcome.

new zealand facts

1. Kiwi fruit is not native to New Zealand

It may seem counter-intuitive since the word Kiwi is synonymous with New Zealand. The citizens are casually referred to as Kiwis, the fruit grows in abundance throughout the country and of course, the national bird is the kiwi, a flightless nocturnal bird that is rarely seen and endangered.

Despite this country's undeniable love for all things kiwi, the kiwi fruit is actually not native to New Zealand. It comes from China and is also known as a gooseberry. Chinese gooseberries were exported into New Zealand in 1904 and were originally marketed under the name 'Zespri."

When New Zealand began exporting fruit to the USA in the 1950s, the name Chinese Gooseberry was a marketing disaster waiting to happen so instead, they suggested the name kiwifruit.

new zealand facts

2. New Zealand is home to the longest place name in the world:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

If you actually tried to sound that word out, kudos to you because my brain skipped over the word after the second syllable.

Often shortened to Taumata, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is a Māori name referring to a hill in Hawkes Bay on the North Island.

For those who didn't count, the word has 85 characters, 40 syllables and roughly translates to "The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who traveled about, played his kōauau (flute) to his loved one."

You can learn how to pronounce the word here.

new zealand facts

3. About 1/3 of the country is protected national park

You probably know this already but New Zealand is a pretty beautiful place and while it continues to gain popularity and be developed for human gain, a large part of the country is preserved as national park or conservation areas, many looked after by the Department of Conservation or DOC as it's locally known.

With 13 national parks and thousands of designated conservation areas, New Zealand is doing its best to preserve the magic of wild land.

All of the National Parks are easily accessible and you can literally find conservation areas everywhere you turn so getting into nature is super easy here.

new zealand facts

4. Bats are the only native mammal in the country.

For thousands of years, birds dominated the animal kingdom in New Zealand. Almost no land mammals existed at all here, except for a species of bats. All of these species currently are either thought to be extinct or are critically endangered.

Human settlement has a truly detrimental effect on the number of bats in New Zealand. Logging and clearing of lowland forests have destroyed their habitat and the introduction of predators (like rats and stoats) has threatened their existence.

That's why initiatives like Predator Free 2050 are so important here. Save the bats!

new zealand facts

5. It's home to the steepest street in the world

The Guinness World Record recognizes Baldwin Street as the steepest street in the world. The street climbs a vertical height of 47.22m with a gradient of 35% in the steepest sections.

If you want to see the steepest street for yourself, head to Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island and take a stroll up the hill.

Whatever you do, don't attempt to ride down the street, especially in a wheelie bin.

new zealand facts

6. New Zealand is the least corrupt nation in the world

Anyone who lives in New Zealand will tell you it's a pretty easy place to call home.

Things are straight forward and the small population makes it easy for change to happen and the people who live here are simply incredibly straight up and genuine. You never really have to guess what's really going on in New Zealand because it's mostly all out in the open.

According to the Corruptions Perception Index, New Zealand is the least corrupt nation in the world scoring 89 points out of 100. People value the concept of being fair and understand the importance of press freedom, access to information about public spending and independent judicial systems.

New Zealand continues to top the list year after year along with other non-corrupt countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland. Hell yeah!

new zealand facts

7. Their hottest election of the year is for a bird

In the USA, years are spent carefully crafting campaigns around the presidential election. Billions of dollars are spent during campaign season, it's nearly impossible to watch tv or listen to the radio without hearing a political commercial.

In New Zealand, the presidential campaigns have a short build-up and are quick to finish. But there's on campaign in New Zealand that sparks outrage and combat every year: The Bird of the Year.

Each year New Zealanders ban together and decide on which of their beloved birds should be crowned with Bird of the Year and each year, tears and outrage ensue. In fact, last year there were even reports of cheating with over 300 votes for the shag coming from the same IP address. This is the sort of corruption that stopped us from getting the full 100 points in the Corruptions Perception Index.

For those of you who care, this year's bird of the year is kererū, a stupid fat wood pigeon, who loves to get drunk on fermented berries and fall out of trees. Sigh.

new zealand facts

8. New Zealand is home to a giant carnivorous snail

As it turns out, New Zealand does care about other species other than birds. A prime example is the Powelliphanta snail, a giant carnivorous snail found in the South Island. This snail can be as large as dinner plates and feeds on earthworms, sucking them up like a piece of spaghetti.

These snails lay about 5-10 large eggs a year with each egg measuring up to 12 mm long and once hatched, the snails can live up to 20 years, however, these giant snails are at serious risk from predators like stoats and possums as well as habitat loss.

I haven't seen one, thank god!

new zealand facts

9. New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote

New Zealand was embracing feminism before the rest of the world granting women the right to vote in 1893. In most other democracies, women did not gain the right to vote until after WWI. The women's vote can be largely attributed to suffrage campaigners led by Kate Sheppard, who is now featured on the $10 note.

Granting women the right to vote laid the groundwork for centuries of starving for equal rights for women.

Three out of New Zealand's 40 Prime Ministers have been women. Sure that number looks grim but it's a lot better than many other democratic nations (I'm looking at you, USA).

new zealand facts

10. New Zealand is home to the first commercial bungy jump

New Zealand is often credited with inventing the idea of bungy jumping and while it's certainly a big part of our tourism identity, New Zealand was far from the inventor of this completely insane idea.

The first modern bungy jumps were made in the late 1970s from a suspension bridge in the UK by a professional climber who was inspired by "vine jumping," a ritual carried out by the people of Vanuatu.

Nearly a decade later, a New Zealander by the name of AJ Hackett picked up the idea and decided to turn it into a commercial tourism activity. He had made his first jump off an Auckland bridge then continued to jump off insane heights (like the Eiffel Tower) before opening the world's first public bungy site. AJ Hackett Bungy is still operating between Wanaka and Queenstown of if nearly jumping to your death is your thing, you're in luck.

Whatcha think? Feel more knowledgable about New Zealand now? Any other facts to add? Share!

The post 10 facts about New Zealand that will totally impress your friends appeared first on Young Adventuress.



from Young Adventuress http://bit.ly/2vqGzGZ

10 facts about New Zealand that will totally impress your friends

It’s a well-known fact that New Zealand is without a doubt the most incredibly beautiful country in the world. Okay, I kind of made that up. Let’s call it an alternative fact.

But still, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about New Zealand in the past five years because the world is finally discovering the tiny beautiful island and no one can shut up about it.

If you think you’ve heard it all, you’re probably wrong. Besides birthing heroes like Sir Edmund Hillary and Peter Jackson, there are heaps more to know about this little island nation to be learned.

New Zealand is full of hidden secrets and interesting little fact bombs. Next time someone tells you there’s one person for every 9 sheep in New Zealand, hit them with these much more interesting factoids.

They’ll be totally impressed. You’re welcome.

new zealand facts

1. Kiwi fruit is not native to New Zealand

It may seem counter-intuitive since the word Kiwi is synonymous with New Zealand. The citizens are casually referred to as Kiwis, the fruit grows in abundance throughout the country and of course, the national bird is the kiwi, a flightless nocturnal bird that is rarely seen and endangered.

Despite this country’s undeniable love for all things kiwi, the kiwi fruit is actually not native to New Zealand. It comes from China and is also known as a gooseberry. Chinese gooseberries were exported into New Zealand in 1904 and were originally marketed under the name ‘Zespri.”

When New Zealand began exporting fruit to the USA in the 1950s, the name Chinese Gooseberry was a marketing disaster waiting to happen so instead, they suggested the name kiwifruit.

new zealand facts

2. New Zealand is home to the longest place name in the world:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

If you actually tried to sound that word out, kudos to you because my brain skipped over the word after the second syllable.

Often shortened to Taumata, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is a Māori name referring to a hill in Hawkes Bay on the North Island.

For those who didn’t count, the word has 85 characters, 40 syllables and roughly translates to “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who traveled about, played his kōauau (flute) to his loved one.”

You can learn how to pronounce the word here.

new zealand facts

3. About 1/3 of the country is protected national park

You probably know this already but New Zealand is a pretty beautiful place and while it continues to gain popularity and be developed for human gain, a large part of the country is preserved as national park or conservation areas, many looked after by the Department of Conservation or DOC as it’s locally known.

With 13 national parks and thousands of designated conservation areas, New Zealand is doing its best to preserve the magic of wild land.

All of the National Parks are easily accessible and you can literally find conservation areas everywhere you turn so getting into nature is super easy here.

new zealand facts

4. Bats are the only native mammal in the country.

For thousands of years, birds dominated the animal kingdom in New Zealand. Almost no land mammals existed at all here, except for a species of bats. All of these species currently are either thought to be extinct or are critically endangered.

Human settlement has a truly detrimental effect on the number of bats in New Zealand. Logging and clearing of lowland forests have destroyed their habitat and the introduction of predators (like rats and stoats) has threatened their existence.

That’s why initiatives like Predator Free 2050 are so important here. Save the bats!

new zealand facts

5. It’s home to the steepest street in the world

The Guinness World Record recognizes Baldwin Street as the steepest street in the world. The street climbs a vertical height of 47.22m with a gradient of 35% in the steepest sections.

If you want to see the steepest street for yourself, head to Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island and take a stroll up the hill.

Whatever you do, don’t attempt to ride down the street, especially in a wheelie bin.

new zealand facts

6. New Zealand is the least corrupt nation in the world

Anyone who lives in New Zealand will tell you it’s a pretty easy place to call home.

Things are straight forward and the small population makes it easy for change to happen and the people who live here are simply incredibly straight up and genuine. You never really have to guess what’s really going on in New Zealand because it’s mostly all out in the open.

According to the Corruptions Perception Index, New Zealand is the least corrupt nation in the world scoring 89 points out of 100. People value the concept of being fair and understand the importance of press freedom, access to information about public spending and independent judicial systems.

New Zealand continues to top the list year after year along with other non-corrupt countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland. Hell yeah!

new zealand facts

7. Their hottest election of the year is for a bird

In the USA, years are spent carefully crafting campaigns around the presidential election. Billions of dollars are spent during campaign season, it’s nearly impossible to watch tv or listen to the radio without hearing a political commercial.

In New Zealand, the presidential campaigns have a short build-up and are quick to finish. But there’s on campaign in New Zealand that sparks outrage and combat every year: The Bird of the Year.

Each year New Zealanders ban together and decide on which of their beloved birds should be crowned with Bird of the Year and each year, tears and outrage ensue. In fact, last year there were even reports of cheating with over 300 votes for the shag coming from the same IP address. This is the sort of corruption that stopped us from getting the full 100 points in the Corruptions Perception Index.

For those of you who care, this year’s bird of the year is kererū, a stupid fat wood pigeon, who loves to get drunk on fermented berries and fall out of trees. Sigh.

new zealand facts

8. New Zealand is home to a giant carnivorous snail

As it turns out, New Zealand does care about other species other than birds. A prime example is the Powelliphanta snail, a giant carnivorous snail found in the South Island. This snail can be as large as dinner plates and feeds on earthworms, sucking them up like a piece of spaghetti.

These snails lay about 5-10 large eggs a year with each egg measuring up to 12 mm long and once hatched, the snails can live up to 20 years, however, these giant snails are at serious risk from predators like stoats and possums as well as habitat loss.

I haven’t seen one, thank god!

new zealand facts

9. New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote

New Zealand was embracing feminism before the rest of the world granting women the right to vote in 1893. In most other democracies, women did not gain the right to vote until after WWI. The women’s vote can be largely attributed to suffrage campaigners led by Kate Sheppard, who is now featured on the $10 note.

Granting women the right to vote laid the groundwork for centuries of starving for equal rights for women.

Three out of New Zealand’s 40 Prime Ministers have been women. Sure that number looks grim but it’s a lot better than many other democratic nations (I’m looking at you, USA).

new zealand facts

10. New Zealand is home to the first commercial bungy jump

New Zealand is often credited with inventing the idea of bungy jumping and while it’s certainly a big part of our tourism identity, New Zealand was far from the inventor of this completely insane idea.

The first modern bungy jumps were made in the late 1970s from a suspension bridge in the UK by a professional climber who was inspired by “vine jumping,” a ritual carried out by the people of Vanuatu.

Nearly a decade later, a New Zealander by the name of AJ Hackett picked up the idea and decided to turn it into a commercial tourism activity. He had made his first jump off an Auckland bridge then continued to jump off insane heights (like the Eiffel Tower) before opening the world’s first public bungy site. AJ Hackett Bungy is still operating between Wanaka and Queenstown of if nearly jumping to your death is your thing, you’re in luck.

Whatcha think? Feel more knowledgable about New Zealand now? Any other facts to add? Share!

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