rikki-lee
where are you originally from?
queenstown, new zealand
people
in one word or sentence, how do you describe your people?
friendly and helpful!
on a scale of 1-10, how well does your country speak english?
10
can you give a key phrase/word/expression that people in your country usually say?
kia ora
how do i say “hello/thank you/please/sorry” in your language?
in maori – kia ora
but everywhere speaks english
what do people in your country usually do for fun?
it depends on where you are! we like to relax, but we also love a good party!
food
best food? weirdest food? local food to try?
fish and chips! if you get an opportunity to try hangi, definitely do so. it’s a traditional maori meal 🙂
best drink? local drink to try?
we have normal drinks, oj, coke, water etc
how is breakfast served in your country?
we love eggs, toast, muesli. we have very good food in nz ! very good quality.
culture
the best festival to attend?
winter festival in queenstown is always pretty amazing and the atmosphere is amazing.
which sport are you guys crazy about?
rugby! love rugby. but i play ice hockey too and in queenstown, dunedin, auckland, and christchurch and some other smaller towns there is a very good ice hockey culture!
what is the craziest thing to do in your country?
people love bungy jumping, sky diving, rafting. a lot of adrenaline things to do !
what excursions and/or activities do you extremely suggest that visitors must do?
bungy jumping! skiing/snowboarding, jet boating, canyoning, we have amazing walks in new zealand, the able tasman, milford sounds.
are there any local customs a visitor should be sensitive to?
not really, we dont respond well to rude people. if you go to a maori marae (house) then you should be respectful and ask for permission. we do not like littering, we take pride in a clean beautiful country.
places
what is/are the most surreal places/landmarks to visit?
milford sound, able tasman, mount maunganui, northland/bay of islands.
can you name a place that most people have not heard of? a secret spot perhaps!
most beautiful places in nz are found known but going at the right time of year able tasman is absolutely stunning, quiet and there are a lot of natural private springs to swim in.
also onsen hot pools in queenstown.
where can visitors find the best beach?
able tasman or mount maunganui.
if i’m staying for less than a week, which city should i choose?
queenstown.
country
in one word or sentence, how do you describe your country?
absolutely beautiful
how many days at least should a visitor spend in your country?
at least 2 weeks!
when is the best time to visit?
depends if you want to ski or snowboard then mid winter. but if you want the heat and long days then summer 🙂
can you give interesting trivia about your country?
it is separated into two main islands, north island and south islands and both are reachable by plane or ferry.
what is your country’s most popular stereotype/cliché?
once were warriors (movie)
travel
are you a traveler? which place is your favorite so far?
around new zealand is keri keri in bay of islands.
internationally, i loved istanbul.
what’s your best travel story?
getting crazy on the island of mykonos
why do you love traveling?
it helps you ground and discover yourself more. you learn so much, who you want to be. and just to be so grateful for everything in your life, and to not take any moment for granted, good or bad.
about rikki-lee
instagram: @rikkilee.mclean
e-mail: Mcleanrikkilee@gmail.com