Backbencher

Effect of New Zealand’s Landscape on People

Dr. Isern spoke since the first day about how the younger generations of New Zealand took every advantage out of its land. This included rock climbing, mountain-biking, snowboarding, hiking, and hundreds of other activities. Although these are common to us, there are many others that they participate in that would seem a little awkward to our norms. One of them is slack lining. Slack lining is a sport in which the athletes try maneuvering across a rope and reach the other side without falling. Although this is similar to tight rope walking, it is not. The rope is suspended only a couple feet over the ground and is not as tight as the common "tight rope" we see on T.V.

Living in such a beautiful and rugged terrain would be tough not to take in its beauty and spend every moment outdoors. There is an extensive network of hiking trails running through New Zealand. In our situation, after classes most of us go back to dorms or homes and sit down either studying or watching T.V for the rest of the night. Take that idea versus the New Zealand citizens, who after classes go hit up the slopes or enjoy the usual jump off a 30 foot cliff into a pool of water. This quote from a New Zealand vacation advisor sums it up fairly well. "By 10 the next morning I'm on the river, heading downstream through canyons and gorges up to 325 feet high. There are a few small Grade 2 rapids, and our raft navigates leisurely between greywacke boulders and clear pools. Swallows bounce off the canyon walls, and trout jump to show us the way ahead. Native trees stand sentinel on the cliff tops, and with the familiar damp aroma of the bush, and the casual jokey attitude on board the raft, I could only be in New Zealand."

Not only does the landscape bring high intensity physical activities, it brings a sense of peace and tranquility to people. People of all ages love to view the rugged mountains from afar and maybe take in a good book and sit back and relax. Mountains and the sound of a crick running in the background can be one of the most peaceful atmospheres for vacationers and Kiwis. The outdoors can be a terrific place to escape from the bustle and hectic life of the city. Stress from your job or home life can be easily cured by Kiwis by stepping right outside their city limits and taking in the spectacular beauty. It is not uncommon for a psychologist to recommend a vacation in the mountains or journey out to the lake. Out in these types of places makes you really feel the wonders of the world and how simple life can be. But in the urban areas we get so caught up in everyday life that it seems that we cannot even cope some days. That is a problem a lot of people even in Fargo have. Even though North Dakota does not have mountains scaling 13,000 feet, we do have beautiful wide open spaces that can be enjoyed.

With the beautiful landscape comes the extensive wildlife. By just stepping into the foothills, one can find deer looking around nervously and the usual eagle soaring high above. Although it was not a popular hunting location in the world, the popularity is growing rapidly among its citizen and vacationers. Especially bow hunting, which is also a growing popularity all over the world. Bow hunting offers a unique challenge to hunters because of the rugged terrain and country that has not been over-hunted. The most common problem of hunters is finding themselves hunting the same land as others at the same time, but that problem is very rare in New Zealand. Despite the large surface area of the country, it is not commonly a rifle or gun hunting community. That is what makes the experience especially exciting for a bow hunter because they do not have to worry about game getting spooked by gun shots. It is also not rare to find deer feeding in your back yard in the early mornings.
New Zealand is a beautiful country from the beaches to the towering mountains overhead. Outdoor enthusiasts find the country to be one of the most relaxing and beautiful places on earth. Vacations and trips are highly advised because of so many exciting adventures there are to experience.

Works Cited
1. Atkinson, Brett. "High Adventure in New Zealand." Times Union 20 Mar. 2008, One Star ed., sec. Travel.
2. Donall Jr., Thomas E. "Big Game Down Under." Bowhunter 01 Feb. 2001. 30 Apr. 2008 http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/elib/do/document?set=search&groupid=1&requestid=lib_standard&resultid=54&edition=&ts=Abigchalk%3AUS%3BBCLib%3Bdocument%3B149909027.
3. Lewon, Dennis, and Jonathon Dorn. "New Zealand!" Backpacker 01 Apr. 2005, 33 ed., sec. 3: 64.