It’s no secret that New Zealand is the ultimate place to go to reach Middle Earth. But did you know that it’s also home to epic airlines, fluffy sheep, hundreds of miles — er, we mean meters — of unadulterated national parks, and some of the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet? Well, now you know, which means that you no longer have an excuse to go anywhere else but New Zealand on your next trip. Still need convincing? We thought you might, so we sent our swashbuckling couple, Ilona and Darek, down south and they’ve come back with a couple of reasons why you need to check this country off of your bucket list. Right now.
Air New Zealand Keeps You Safe and Amused on the Long Journey
Try to watch this without laughing, we dare you.
You’ll Consider Becoming a Vegetarian After Spotting Cute Little Lambs…
*Pets lamb, is confident that heaven exists*
…And Then You’ll Immediately Nix That Idea After Trying Some of the Lamb
Sorry, lamb.
Winding Mountain Roads Make For Long Car Trips, But Amazing Scenery
Plus, you get to feel like a badass when you master driving on the left side of the road.
It’s Super Easy to Hike to Beautiful Spots Like This:
And This:
And This One, Too:
There’s a lot of hiking, if you didn’t catch that.
There’s a Growing Wine-O Culture
(That means lots of good wine, kids).
You Can Feel Like Bilbo as You Hike Around the South Island
Sneaky little hobbitses.
Scrolling Through Instagram Is Basically Itinerary Planning
It’s called *multitasking*. Capisce?
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. 
: @jakeandersonphotography] #Travel #NewZealand #NZ #HikingYou’ll Be Closer to the South Pole Than to the Equator
(Maybe you’ll meet a South Pole elf?)
You Can Have a Trip in Total Solitude if You Want…
*Belts out “All By Myself” to curious herd of sheep on soul-searching hike*
…Or You Can Eat, Drink, and Be Merry With Fellow Travelers and Friendly Locals
We’ll have another round, sir.
There Are 9 Hikes Throughout the Country Designed to Show off the Area’s Most Beautiful Sights
Gotta catch ’em all.
Okay, Seriously, Why Haven’t You Booked Your Trip Yet?
We’ll White Fang you if you make us. Go on, git!