2011′s top luxury destination

2011 is a big year for tourism and in my opinion there is only one place that is setting itself up to be the must visit luxury holiday destination, our cousins down under, New Zealand.

My justification, well New Zealand has always been one of the favourite places to visit so I didn’t need much persuasion, but I think 2011 is certainly set to be the year of the Kiwi. New Zealand is an incredible country, comprising two main islands, the aptly named North and South Islands, as well as several smaller constituent land masses just off the coast. It enjoys some of the most diverse geography in the world, an actively volcanic region, the country itself feels alive. Whether you are visiting on honeymoon, a family holiday, a couples retreat or an action packed adventure, here there is very much something for everyone; a place fit for a royal you might say and perhaps quite literally as New Zealand is being mooted as the desired honeymoon destination for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

This year will mark an exciting time for millions of film fans as Sir Peter Jackson and his famous WETA team return to record the much anticipated ‘Hobbit’, the immensely successful prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Matamata is already being slowly transformed once again in to the instantly recognisable Hobbiton, home of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. There is no doubting that just like the previous films, released over a three year period between 2001 and 2003, this instalment will have an equally pervasive impact upon the New Zealand tourism industry, drawing visitors from around the globe who want to retrace the steps of their literary heroes.

Not only that, but in September and October of the same year the country plays host to the IRB Rugby World Cup, a massive sporting event that will have millions of fans streaming to the island nation to enjoy weeks of sporting excitement. Very much like football in England or cricket in India, Rugby Union is a religion to New Zealanders, many of whom, live, breath, eat and sleep the sport. Whether you’re a fan of rugby or not, autumn will be an exciting time to be in Aotearoa (the coutnry’s Maui name meaning ‘land of the long white cloud’), the whole nation together in union, pardon the pun, behind their beloved sport.

This sense of excitement will be compounded by the fact that the tournament will coincide with a huge nationwide celebration, dubbed, the ‘Real New Zealand Festival’, a chance, it is proposed, to show the rest of the world what an incredible place New Zealand is. The event, I am sure, will act as a catalyst for tourism in New Zealand with the best of Kiwi industry, food culture and nature on display for the world to see.

All of this combined with those landmarks and unique features which have already asserted New Zealand as a favourite tourist destination are sure to make the country a star of 2011. The incredible Bay of Islands, Ninety mile beach, Cape peninsula, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Mt Cook, Franz Josef Galcier, Queenstown and Milford Sound to name just a few are names that have become renowned around the world, New Zealand is a place of beauty, history, intrigue, excitement and exclusion, it can be all things to all people.

In my next entry I’ll be following up this post with a spotlight on the best and most luxurious things to do and places to stay in New Zealand, so check back shortly for more Kiwi considerations.