by Jim Eagles of the New Zealand HeraldFlying back to New Zealand the other day I had a powerful reminder of just how much beauty we have on our own back doorstep.
As the plane soared across the Hauraki Gulf, then circled the Manukau Harbour, glorious vistas of sea and surf, bush and mountain, river and plain, wafted past the aircraft windows.
Foreign tourists chattered excitedly, pointing delightedly at a yacht sailing past the brooding silhouette of Rangitoto, a silver thread of water plummeting down a rock face into the harbour, a long golden beach fringed by bush and washed by waves that from this height looked comfortingly small.
Those eager foreigners were obviously planning to get out and explore this magical country they had flown thousands of miles to see. Yet many who live here seem to take its beauty for granted, rarely venturing outside the cities where most of us live, knowing little of the magnificent experiences which await anyone who goes looking for adventure.
Back in my office were more reminders what I had seen from the plane in the shape of a stack of books offering help, encouragement and in some cases inspiration to see more of New Zealand.
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A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls by Johnny T. Cheng (Story Nature Press, $39.99) is a mix of the inspirational and the practical. There are plenty of photos of lovely waterfalls accompanied by helpful maps and track notes advising how to get to them. The small format means the photos lose a bit of impact but on the positive side it means this is a great book to take with you on a trip to a new part of the country so you can spend any spare time checking out the local waterfalls.
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