Why new zealand has no snakes

First, there's the nocturnal flightless bird with the long beak that's one of NZ's most famous native species. Even though some Vanuatu tribes have been jumping off high structures with vines tied around their ankles for decades, bungee jumping in its current form began in New Zealand in the s. New Zealand is run as a form of parliamentary democracy, and is part of the British Commonwealth, meaning it is technically still tied to the Queen in England. Unlike the British government which has two governing houses, however, New Zealand only has one — the House of Representatives.

They have a Prime Minister, and also have a truly representative form of government, with all of the country's active political parties being represented in Parliament. Milford Sound — the stunning fjord located in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's South Island, is renowned the world over for being a must-see spot.

In , Milford Sound was judged the world's top travel destination in an international TripAdvisor survey, and Rudyard Kipling even once called it the eighth wonder of the world. Though I can personally argue that Doubtful Sound is just as amazing, if not better. Doubtful Sound. Going out for dinner in New Zealand? No need to leave a big tip like you would in the USA. Either it's not expected, or it will be automatically tacked on to your bill as a service charge.

This goes for taxi drivers, too, although none of them will turn down a couple extra dollars if you offer them in thanks. And speaking of eating out… it's different from what you're probably used to in the US. Servers won't check on you 17 times, and they usually won't deliver a bill to you at your table. You have to go up to the register to pay, and some smaller cafes won't even keep track of what you ordered; they just trust you to tell them what you ate.

New Zealand phased out its 1-cent and 5-cent coins a few yeas ago, which means most prices either end in a 0, or are rounded up. This is kind of a joke I have with some New Zealand friends, but it really would make a great place to hide out during the apocalypse.

NZ is a nuclear-free zone. And Kiwis really are some of the nicest, most laid-back people you'll ever meet. You step onto the road, and, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might get swept off to. Join the ADB Community! Sign up here to get exclusive travel tips, deals, and other inspiring goodies delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will not be published. Sign up for our travel newsletter! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If an invasion is ever discovered, then scientists are sent to the area wherever a snake was sighted in an effort to eliminate the chance of snakes breeding or harming other wildlife. Although there are no native snakes on land, there still is the chance of spotting a snake in the water.

The yellow-bellied sea snake and the banded sea krait have been known to swim through as they travel to other bodies of saltwater. Unfortunately, both snakes are poisonous and can be harmful to humans and other wildlife. There are a myriad of reasons to visit New Zealand, but the fact that you know that there is a very slight chance of encountering snakes is just another reason to plan a vacation here.

Visit Mighway. Toggle navigation. New Zealand Travel. It is possible to see tuatara in captivity and in wildlife sanctuaries as part of breeding programmes all over New Zealand. The most famous tuatara is Henry who became a father for the first time aged You can visit Henry at the Southland Museum.

Plus, kiwi are the only bird to have nostrils at the end of their bill to smell for insects in the ground. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before calling New Zealand home. He has now spent over a decade in the New Zealand tourism industry, clocking in more than activities across the country. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides. By using this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and the terms of use within it.

Contact — Disclaimer. Skip to content. Tuatara are a Living Descendant of the Dinosaur Era and They Happen to Have a Third Eye Tuatara is a native lizard in New Zealand that comes from a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia — an order that thrived around million years ago.

Author Robin C. Contact Robin via our contact page. Was this article useful? Super useful! Needs improvement. Share on facebook Facebook.