New Zealand!?

Hey, ive been to several diferent counties and one of them was New Zealand! If you visited New Zealand what was your first impression?, where im New Zealand did you go?, and how did you like it?

I've come to New Zealand from England a few years ago, and it was the dream of a lifetime come true. I had always wanted to live in New Zealand for the rest of my life. Such a serene, isolated, somehow traditionally British place to be - more British than Britain itself.
My first impression was "Hey! The air is delicious!"
It smelled like grass and horses and huge expanses of ocean nearby.
And the sky is a hue of blue I had previously seen only in South America.
And there were sheep and horses grazing in the hills around the airport, and everything was tranquil and they gave me a big Holden V8 as a rental car.
So, off I went, with my big car, and the sky was cyan, and the bellbirds were making their cool noises in the trees.
And I began my new life, with new everything, and it was much easier than it was in Canada or the US or France or all the other places I had lived in before.
This place is made for new arrivals.
I know every corner of the South Island by now.
I love Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound. Check out the glow worm caves in Te Anau, it's like drifting through space, and all the glow worms are stars and solar systems...
I love this place, and I suppose you'll find me here if you come looking in 30 years or so.
That's how much I like it.

I lived in Nelson (top of the South Island) for many years. Loved it heaps. I go back and visit once a year.

I'm now a naturalised NZ citizen. I've lived here on and off since 1968. I came here from Britain via Canada, the States and Australia. I arrived in Auckland on May 4 1968. As I walked from the plane to the terminal I saw some Air New Zealand stewardesses about to board a flight. I thought they looked sad at being isolated at the end of the Earth. When I arrived in downtown Auckland I went into a pub and saw jugs of beer on the tables and ordered one, and started drinking the beer straight out of the jug. I didn't realise that you're supposed to pour it into a glass. So the guy at the table realised I was a stranger and asked me where I came from. I told him and asked where he was from. He said Mars. I said "Don't you find the air here a bit strange?" He said "Aha! You know about these things. None of these buggers do. They're all idiots. Do you know what I'd like to do to them all? Stick 'em in the gas chamber". So this was the first conversation I had in NZ.

there's know where on this earth that comperes to life in new zealand,the air ,,you can breath it ,your skin and hair are clean,and the people are honest as the day is long,they don,t like you or your attitude,,you know, if they like you, you know that to ,,if your in new zealand and treat people with the respect you want yourself , you get it in return so hope you have great time next time you visit new zealand,I live in one of the country's you most probably visited,and can,t wait to go home

I moved here from Australia.

I arrived here first time at night. Freezing night. Very clean air I found. Driving in the taxi from the airport to my new house it was quite and yet exiting. People are really friendly

Truly God's country

I went to NZ for 6 weeks earlier this year and absolutley loved the country. We travelled on both islands and found the people there to be very friendly.

It's an gorgeous country with great hiking. I must say that I enjoyed the south island a little bit more than the north one and if (or rather when) I go back I will spend more time on the south island.

I just want to say how much I appreciate reading such wonderful comments from people who are from outside New Zealand.

I'm a kiwi living overseas. I'm moving back in January 08. I must say I truly miss the fresh, clean air and the lush, green countryside -- they are the two most remarkable things I notice when I return to NZ. That and the smell of the ocean. I live in inland Australia and miss the sea SOOOO much! When I stepped outside at the Auckland International Airport and I could literally smell the salt. It's amazing what you notice when you haven't been around for a while!


New Zealand, of all the places I've been to, is my favourite spot in the world!