Richie McCaw
What is your favourite New Zealand location?
My favourite place in New Zealand is down in Central Otago, North Otago, and
Omarama which is in the MacKenzie Basin. It’s got lakes, where I do a bit of
water skiing and I also do a bit of flying and gliding there. I grew up down
that way and I love getting there whenever I can. There aren’t a lot of
people around and it’s a great place to get away from it all.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My first love is flying. But I also enjoy a bit of fishing and water skiing.
I’m always pretty keen on diving and fishing and love getting out into the
Pacific and chasing around crayfish and cod.
How would you describe New Zealand to people overseas?
I think even as New Zealanders we don’t realise the beautiful scenery and what
we’ve got in our own back yard. We have beautiful mountains, lakes and it’s
green. It’s not crowded and you can go away and not see any houses or people
for miles or you can be in a city within a very short space of time.
Where would you take someone on a first date in New Zealand?
I think I would take someone on a ride in a glider over the Southern Alps to
see what a beautiful country we’ve got.
Anton Oliver
Where are your favourite places in New Zealand?
I guess like most New Zealanders my favourite places are in a natural setting.
I like space, and I like grandeur, and I like silence. And therefore I like
places up in Central Otago, in the Mackenzie Basin, where there aren’t many
people. I’ve got my pilot licence and I’ve been flying down the northern
aspects of Fiordland, flown into Queenstown a few times and around Wanaka
and into the Mackenzie Basin. It is just massive miles of nothing but it’s
full of everything that I need, so looking at it from the air is a different
perspective.
I agree Margaret, interesting spots!! I definitely second Reuben's idea of Akaroa... beautiful spot. Interesting how few have mentioned anywhere in the North Island though. The South Island is definitely more scenic but parts of the North could easily match it. The Bay of Islands, Snell's Beach and Algie's Bay, the East Cape, parts of Taranaki, Whanganui National Park, Taupo... the whole country is beautiful.
You don't appreciate it fully until you move overseas for a while. It really is like the end of the earth, but the space, the clean air, the people, and the uncertainty that comes with such a changing landscape is magic. A lush, lovely place I'm proud to call home!!
Erin, Chichester, West Sussex,
What a great idea to have All Blacks talking about New Zealand as a place to visit and live. As a kiwi I'm fascinated to read about the places they enjoy, and with the World Cup there in 2011 it's an ideal way to generate interest in NZ among the international rugby community . Let's have some more!
Margaret, London,