While we all (and by we, we mean the LOTR and Hobbit fanatics out there) dream of visiting New Zealand to be able to walk the roads where Legolas, Frodo, and Gandalf walked, there is more to this country than just “Middle Earth”. Google Maps is now letting you experience its beauty through a new Street View project, bringing you the beauty of seven of the Great Walks, a bucket list staple for outdoor adventurers out there.
If you don’t like the wilderness, traversing through peaks and waterfalls, and just being utterly impressed by mother nature, then this may not probably be for you. But if you enjoy all those things but you don’t have the money yet to go to New Zealand, then this will probably be the next best thing. Seven of these world-renowned multi-day treks can now be viewed on your computer or mobile device through Google Street View. This is a partnership between the New Zealand Department of Conservation and Google Trekker.
The Google Team has actually spent four years just mapping out the tracks (Abel Tasman, Milford, Kepler, Waikaremoana, Heaphy, Routeburn and Rakiura/Stewart Island) to create these 360-degree map with panoramic views. They used the same camera tech to do the street map views, particularly the 18kg cam that is mounted on a tramping pack. Some areas can only be reached on foot, and so someone had to walk the 335km trail by their lonesome.
Aside from a way for those planning to trek through the Walks to prepare for their journey, it can also be a way for those who will be unable to do it, to at least experience the beauty of New Zealand on their devices. And of course, the tourism board of the country wants people viewing the Great Walks to finally decide to come to the country.
SOURCE: Google Asia Pacific
