But few people mention the Chatham Islands because this archipelago in the easternmost part of New Zealand is still very wild. But that is what makes Chatham an ideal destination for those who want to escape the noise of the city.
Basalt columns in Chatham.
Natural awesome
The only way to get to Chatham is by flying into Tuuta Airport on the island. Air Chathams operates Christchurch-Chatham and Wellington-Chatham flights four times a week in winter and six times a week in summer. As there are no same-day return flights, visitors will have to spend at least one night on the island. It is best to book your hotel room at least three weeks in advance to avoid wasting time looking for a room.
The Chatham Islands consist of the larger Chatham Island and the smaller Pitt Island. There are only about 600 people living on Chatham Island. Most of the island is covered by forests, grasslands, lakes, marshes and beaches. The density of different species of animals and plants living together on Chatham Island surprises many people. There are up to 388 species of plants, including 47 endemic species such as Chatham forget-me-nots, Chatham daisies, Chatham Christmas trees...
Many visitors come to Chatham to see rare birds such as the purple petrel (the rarest seabird in the world ), the Chatham oystercatcher, the Chatham parrot, the black robin... Tuku Nature Reserve is home to these birds. If visitors want to see sea lions, seals and whales, head to Munning Point. There are always thousands of seals crowded together.
Te Whanga Lagoon is a destination for those who love to fish. The brackish and shallow water has an abundance of whitebait, eels, clams, mussels, and mussels. Visitors only need to rent a fishing rod and shovel, bucket, and strainer to find ingredients for their meals. Not only that, the limestone sand beach in the lagoon is also the "grave" of hundreds of prehistoric sharks. Really lucky visitors can find one of their fangs while walking on the sand.
Pitt Island, one of the must-see destinations in Chatham.
Not far from Te Whanga Lagoon is the basalt beach. Here, there are hundreds of black hexagonal columns of stone arranged side by side like a chessboard. They are actually volcanic lava eroded by the waves over time.
Pitt Island is home to only 40 people, but it is also a very interesting destination. This is the place where the new day is first welcomed in the world. Many visitors come to Pitt Island just to stand on the most crowded headland and be the first to welcome the dawn. A beautiful spot to wait for the sunrise on the island is the headland overlooking the rock in the middle of the sea that the locals call “the pyramid”. The rock is the “home” of the Chatham gull species that can only be found here.
Explore local culture
Chatham, despite its small population, is home to three distinct ethnic groups: Moriori, Maori, and Caucasians. The Moriori are the indigenous inhabitants of Chatham. There are only about 1,000 Moriori living in all of New Zealand, with just under 40 remaining on Chatham Island alone. Tame Horomona Rehe (English name: Tommy Solomon) is the last full-blooded Chathamian. He was a renowned agronomist, farmer, and philanthropist. After Tame died in 1933, his descendants sculpted a statue of him and turned the farm into a museum. Today, the statue and Tommy Solomon Museum are must-sees on Chatham Island.
Another destination for visitors who want to explore local culture is the Chatham Museum. The museum has a huge collection of artifacts and documents about the history and life of the Chatham people from prehistoric times to the present. The museum also has a “living artifacts” area where local artisans and artists can show off their skills. The museum’s traditional beekeeping area also attracts many visitors. Chatham honey is famous throughout New Zealand thanks to the bees that feed on the nectar of the native Tarahina tree. Visitors to the museum should not forget to buy a few bottles of honey.
The JM Barker National Historic Preserve in Chatham is a forest of spiritual significance to the Moriori people. Instead of making statues, they carved spiritual images into the tree trunks for worship. The carvings on the trees are still clearly visible after hundreds of years, proving the hard work and skillful hands of the Moriori people.
Near the JM Barker Reserve is Nunuku Cave. This cave is said to have been the home of Chief Nunuku. He instituted a ban on killing and brought peace to the island for hundreds of years. But the cave’s history is even older than Nunuku. There are prehistoric carvings on the walls.
The Waitangi German Mission House was built in 1866 by Moravian (now Czech) missionaries. It is unique in its appearance because of its four stone walls, which are held together with shell plaster. In addition to being the missionary’s home, it was also the island’s only school. The house and surrounding land are now a Grade I national historic site.
Speaking of festivals, apart from national holidays, the Chatham Festival is the biggest event on the island. Held in early March each year, the festival is an opportunity for islanders to gather to eat, drink and enjoy traditional performances. In recent years, as tourism has grown in Chatham, the Chatham Festival has also welcomed professional artists from all over New Zealand.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ghe-tham-quan-dao-chatham-673764.html
Comment (0)