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Cultural sightseeing in New Zealand. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces
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.
1. As people of New Zealand are very friendly and cheerful, they expect tourists to behave the same. Do not let them down! 2. Everyone is fluent in …
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A vacation with kids of different age in New Zealand is not only a possible but is also a wonderful choice. First of all, this country has a mild and …
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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.
New Zealand is not an internationally famous shopping destination because the rich and gorgeous nature of the country is its main treasure. However, …
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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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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in New Zealand
Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in New Zealand
♥ Art museum 'Auckland Art Gallery' Auckland. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Christchurch Art Gallery' Christchurch. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Dunedin Public Art Gallery' Dunedin. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa' Wellington. On the map
Photos
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas in New Zealand
♥ Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North. On the map
Photos
♥ Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Hamilton. On the map
Photos
♥ Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, Auckland. On the map
Photos
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
Country maps
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com
Map of cities
![Cities map of New Zealand]( "Cities map of New Zealand")
Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022
In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah.
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24.04.2024
In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah.
Read this
24.04.2024
Top cultural sites of New Zealand: monuments, theaters and churches
Art Gallery, Auckland
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» Originally, the Art Gallery in Auckland housed the small private collection that included several picturesque canvasses, rare books, and manuscripts of Governor George Grey. In has started its history since 1888. Interesting facts:» Today, over 12 000 pieces of art are kept in the gallery.
» The big collection required more space. So, in 2009, the gallery of modern arts was opened in the opposite building.
» Many canvasses were gifted by artists.
» In the Art Gallery, different festivals and celebrations are often held. People also come here to attend lectures on the development of New Zealand art.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Interesting facts:
» Holy Trinity Cathedral is a modern temple built of glass and stone in 1995. However, the first stone was laid into the foundation in 1957. » In the 18th century, a bell tower a small wooden church named after St. Mary were built. Today, the church is still located near the cathedral.
» The inner rooms are transparent and light due to multiple big stained glass windows depicting Polynesian and Europeans pictures.
» This cathedral is a place that attracts many people from Auckland.
War Memorial Museum, Auckland
Location on the map: Interesting facts:
» The Auckland War Memorial Museum is located in a big plain building on a green hill that was the top of a volcano once. Interesting facts:» Its history started in 1852. In 1869, the museum was supervised by the University of Auckland. Only in 1929, the museum moved to the building that had been built specifically for it.
» Its exhibits tell not only about the military history of New Zealand, but also about ethnographic artifacts of Maori. Here, you can also see a tyrannosaur’s skeleton an old canoe that is 25 m long and was made of a solid mahogany trunk.
» Remarkably, soldiers of Auckland participated in both First and Second World Wars. In the halls dedicated to military history, you can see the names of the dead.
» In the museum, temporary exhibitions are often held. In 2006, masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci were displayed here.
Culture and monuments in popular cities of New Zealand
Auckland
You should definitely include the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the tour program. A beautiful neoclassical building is the place of its location. The museum was founded in 1852. In addition to the unique collection of military artifacts, a very interesting collection of exhibits dedicated to the culture of the first Maori settlers is presented in the museum. The prayer house is one of the most interesting exhibits in the museum. It was built in the late 19th century. The mahogany canoe is … Read more 
Christchurch
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a no less impressive place of interest for all fans of architectural landmarks. This church is built in accordance with the unique project by Francis Petre. The architectural ensemble is made in best traditions of the Renaissance style and is often recognized as the most impressive and mesmerizing monument in this style in whole New Zealand. The first church on the site of the modern cathedral appeared yet in 1864. An extensive restoration started in 1901, … Read more
