The 95,000 visitors in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, which culminates its 45-day run on Oct. 23, are about to learn a bittersweet lesson. As hard as it is to get to this country on the other side of the world, especially from such distant places as North America and Europe, it can be harder to leave. And not because of the post-rugby crowds at Auckland airport. The place grows on you from the minute you touch down.

It captivated me while still in the air as my flight slipped under the clouds on the last leg of a 30-hour journey from Toronto to Queenstown. The Southern Alps, frosted on many of the peaks, often glowed with a bright, grassy green below the snow line. Ireland meets the Rockies, I thought.

Regrettably, my travels included no rugby games. I had come for two more placid sports, eating and drinking. World Cup frenzy notwithstanding, New Zealand has come a long way since Rod Derrett's 1960s working-class anthem Rugby, Racing and Beer. I...

"So You Want to Know About New Zealand?
Here are twenty-two of my impressions of New Zealand.
I think they will give you some insight into the land at the end of the earth – and twenty-two reasons why you'll love the Kiwis too...

There is no one single factor that endeared New Zealand to me, rather it was an endless string of moments and discoveries that tagged along during my three week tour in February 2011.

My first discovery was that although New Zealand may be considered a long way from Vancouver, it is very easy to get there. Air New Zealand offers a direct flight from Vancouver to Auckland that will run you about 13 hours in the air. No layovers!

Second. Loyalty
Air New Zealand is,
without a doubt, the friendliest airline I have ever flown (and there have been many) and the one with the most loyalty to their home country. The wine program Air New Zealand has
developed is outstanding and completely
supportive of Kiwi wines...

For discerning travellers looking for the ultimate destination, very few countries are able to match New Zealand.

The outstanding beauty and down to earth, personalised service that New Zealand has to offer is nearly impossible to replicate and it is this recipe that has helped make so many wonderful memories for visitors from around the globe.

New Zealand offers a diversity of landscapes in an area geographically the same size as Fantastic Britain, yet with only four million people, there are no crushing crowds, traffic jams are limited only to the main cities and many of the roads are devoid of cars for much of the day. Landscapes range from semi-tropical bays in the far north to forested volcanic plateaus, sun baked vineyards, and stunning alpine lakes and mountains in the south.

Read More: http://www.travelplaninfo.com/luxury-new-zealand-travel-how-does-it-compare-to-the-rest-of-the-world/