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(CNN) — You’ve seen your friends’ photos, you’ve watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy and you’re desperate to experience New Zealand for yourself. But considering that the Land of the Long White Cloud is about the same size as the UK, how will you decide what to see? Here’s our insider’s guide to Aotearoa’s must-see destinations, including some off-the-beaten track gems.NORTH ISLANDCape ReingaCape Reinga is the end of the road when it comes to the North Island — the only place further north is North Cape, which isn’t open to the public. Stand beside the iconic Te Rerenga Wairua lighthouse on this rocky, windswept point and you’ll see where the Tasman Sea (between New Zealand and Australia) and the Pacific Ocean meet. You’ll also be bearing witness to a sacred place in Maori culture. An 800-year-old pohutukawa tree at Cape Reinga is believed to be the last leaving place for spirits of dead Maori. Legend has it that they leap from this tree into the ocean to begin their journey back to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.AucklandAuckland: New Zealand’s biggest and most culturally diverse city.Chris McLennan/Tourism New ZealandThere’s lots to see and do in New Zealand’s biggest and most culturally diverse city. The ‘City of Sails’ sprawls around more than 40 volcanic cones and is surrounded by the island-strewn Hauraki Gulf. Auckland has a metropolitan vibe, but it’s also blessed with bountiful beaches, parks and places to get away from it all. When you need a break from the hustle and bustle, walk to the top of Maungakiekie (Mt Eden). Here, just 5km from the CBD, you will enjoy panoramic views from the city’s highest volcanic cone while sheep graze peacefully nearby. Bonus trip: Make sure you include a trip to Waiheke Island — just 40 minutes from the terminal in Auckland -l- for a complete change of pace. Waiheke is home to idyllic beaches, bushwalking trails and 20-odd vineyards. Lake Taupo + Tongariro National ParkA lake the size of Singapore? Check. Volcanoes? Check. Bubbling mud and steaming hot water pools? Check. Bleak, barren desert landscapes? Check.Lake Taupo and its surrounding landscapes read like they’ve been purpose-built for a tourism brochure. The freshwater lake, which is the biggest in Australasia, is a vast caldera formed by a super-volcanic eruption some 26,000 years ago. At the southern end, three mighty volcanoes (Mounts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruahoe) loom large. It’s no wonder that nearby Tongariro National Park (a World Heritage Area) was used as the backdrop for some of the most stunning scenes in the Lord of the Rings films.Many visitors choose to base themselves in Taupo, the town on the lake’s northern shores. There’s no shortage of outdoor experiences on offer here, including fishing, mountain biking, skydiving, jet-boating and bungee jumping. In winter months, all eyes are on the mountains. There are two fields on Mount Ruapehu (Whakapapa and Turoa) and plenty of apres-ski fun to be had in the small town of Ohakune.Bonus trip: Get up close (okay, not too close!) with steaming mineral pools and bubbling mud at the Tokaanu Thermal Walk (near Turangi, 40 minutes from Taupo), then take a dip in the healing waters of the nearby geothermal hot pools to soothe away any travel-induced aches and pains.Lake Waikaremoana + Te UreweraLake Waikaremoana boasts the largest protected tract of native forest in the North Island.ShutterstockRemote and rugged Te Urewera is the largest protected tract of native forest in the North Island: Think dense, rugged bush, vast Lake Waikaremoana (formed more than 2000 years ago by a monumental landslide) and lots of potential for fishing, tramping, camping and hunting.It’s home to the Ngati Tuhoe tribe (nicknamed ‘the Children of the Mist’) and most species of New Zealand’s native birds. If you’re looking for somewhere to completely switch off, this is it.To exercise body as well as mind, consider hiking the complete Lake Waikaremoana Track. This trail, one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks,’ traces the western side of the lake and takes around four days. Expect giant podocarp forests, remote beaches and incredible views. There are plenty of shorter hikes if you’re pressed for time.TaranakiHead west to experience the Taranaki region, one of the North Island’s best-kept secrets. The perfectly symmetrical Mt Taranaki (a double for Japan’s Mount Fuji), located in Egmont National Park, is the optimum vantage point to take in the region’s lush, rolling countryside and black-sand coastline.Prefer getting your feet wet? Taranaki’s famed ‘Surf Highway 45’ has a dozen world-class surf breaks, interspersed with pretty beaches, quaint rural towns and mountain views. Don’t miss: New Plymouth’s Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand’s first contemporary art museum, is dedicated to internationally renowned modernist filmmaker and kinetic sculptor Len Lye. The Govett Brewster Gallery is to New Plymouth what the Guggenheim is to Bilbao, a visual feast both inside and out.WellingtonNew Zealand’s capital regularly features in lists of the world’s most livable cities. Wellington is ridiculously pretty. Look out for quirky wooden homes perched on vertiginous slopes, lots of green space, mountain biking tracks, the award-winning bird sanctuary Zealandia and innumerable beaches.It’s also home to Peter Jackson’s film empire (look for the ‘Wellywood’ sign as you fly in or drive across the Miramar Peninsula) and the extremely kid-friendly Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, the country’s national museum.Wellington’s position at the base of the North Island, between the Tararua Ranges and Cook Strait, makes it the windiest city in the world. Prepare to be invigorated by northwesterly gusts and do as the locals do — wear a raincoat instead of carrying an umbrella when exploring.Don’t miss: Head to Point Howard and the majestic Massey Memorial, a white marble mausoleum to former Prime Minister William Massey and his wife Christina, hidden high above Shelly Bay on the Miramar Peninsula. Climb up through the bush to the memorial, or the gun emplacements above, for views of the distant mountains of the South Island.SOUTH ISLAND Marlborough SoundsMarlborough Sounds is home to more than 50 reserves and 20% of the country’s coastline.Rob Suisted/Tourism New ZealandThis intricate web of sheltered waterways accounts for 20 percent of New Zealand’s total coastline. The three distinct waterways, Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds, formed from sunken river valleys that were flooded in the last Ice Age. There are more than 50 reserves in this scenic playground — pick up a kayak, fishing charter or relaxing boat ride to appreciate them fully. The Marlborough region produces nearly 80 percent of the country’s wine (particularly sauvignon blanc) and there are nearly 40 wineries to choose from. Don’t miss: The 70 km (44 mile) Queen Charlotte Track gives you the chance to experience the best of the area’s history, scenic delights and cuisine, either on foot or by bike. In New Zealand, Waitomo is home to thousands of “glowworms” that create an amazing luminescent effect day or night. KaikouraThanks to a deep sea trench running along its coastline, Kaikoura is one of the best places in New Zealand to see marine life. It’s one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be seen year-round, along with seals, dolphins and seabirds.If you’re keen on ‘kai moana’ (seafood), Kaikoura also has a reputation for the island’s best crayfish (local lobster) and other fresh fish. A huge stretch of the eastern coastline of the upper south island around Kaikoura was uplifted in a 2018 earthquake, but the town recovered despite disruption to transport links and infrastructure. It remains an unforgettable place to visit, with the mountains looming over long, deserted pebble beaches.Punakaiki Pancake Rocks + Paparoa National ParkThe Great Coast Road between Greymouth and Westport on the West Coast of the South Island was recently named one of the world’s greatest drives by Lonely Planet.This wild, practically uninhabited stretch of coastline has near-mythical status in New Zealand, thanks mostly to its varied and unspoiled geography, down-to-earth locals and rich history. With the pounding waves of the Tasman Sea on one side and the tropical rainforest of the Paparoa National Park on the other, the drive between Greymouth and Westport is punctuated by the famous limestone formations and blowholes at Punakaiki. Don’t miss: Head up to Denniston above Westport for stunning views of the coast before descending into the historic underground coal mine, or tackle the caves at nearby Charleston.Milford Sound + FiordlandFiordland National Park has super-sized scenery.ShutterstockThe South Island has no shortage of incredible scenery, but Milford Sound and Fiordland are something else. Milford Sound, a fiord carved by Ice Age glaciers, is the jewel of Fiordland National Park, a 1.2 million hectare wonderland encompassing mountains, lakes, fiords and rainforests. Rudyard Kipling called it the ‘eighth wonder of the world.’The scenery here is on such a super-sized scale — towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, seemingly bottomless waterways — that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of computer-generated trickery. QueenstownQueenstown sets the standard for all resort party towns.Its global reputation as a bucket-list destination comes back to three things: location, location, location. Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges like The Remarkables. While there’s plenty to see and do in the immediate area — especially if you’re into skiing, hiking, jet-boating, bungee jumping and skydiving — it’s is also the gateway to picture-perfect towns like Glenorchy, Wanaka, Arrowtown and Alexandra. A ‘continental’ climate with hot, dry summers makes for excellent wine-growing conditions – the central Otago region around Queenstown is famed for its pinot noir. Stewart Island/RakiuraThis is the little island at the ‘end’ of the South Island. An hour by ferry from the mainland and as close to Antarctica as you can get without leaving the country, it’s full of wildlife and raw, untouched landscapes. Stewart Island’s remoteness makes it one of the least-visited parts of the country — which is even more reason to make the effort. Brown kiwi outnumber the 400 human inhabitants and more than 85 percent of the island has protected national park status. There’s just 28 km (17 miles) of road, compared to 280 km (173miles) of walking and hiking tracks.Need another reason to make the trip? Stewart Island’s Maori name, Rakiura, means ‘the land of glowing skies’ thanks to the frequent appearance of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.

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(CNN) — A suburban London street has been renamed in honor of late musician Freddie Mercury.However, Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara, did not grow up on that street. The Bulsara family lived nearby at 22 Gladstone Avenue, which is marked with one of the round blue plaques that the UK uses to commemorate places that have historical connections. The neighborhood, which is close to Heathrow Airport, is also home to a community of Zoroastrians — the faith that Mercury’s family practiced.Before forming the rock band Queen in 1970, Farrokh Bulsara worked as a baggage handler at the airport. Among the guests who gathered on a rainy British morning to watch the street sign unveiling was Kashmira Cooke, the late Queen frontman’s sister.Although Mercury died in 1991, his musical legacy has endured over the years. After touching down at Heathrow and popping over to Feltham to visit Freddie Mercury Close, Queen fans can head into central London to the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel to see the Kirkwood piano on which the teenage Bulsara practiced in the family home. Mercury’s last home was Garden Lodge, a high-walled mansion in the well-heeled London neighborhood of Kensington. It’s now a private home owned by his ex-girlfriend Mary Austin, after he left her the property in his will.

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Flights have resumed in the Canary Islands after a massive sandstorm, which blew in from the Sahara Desert, left travelers stranded over the weekend.

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The International Emergency Response Coordination Center first received an alert about a medical emergency Saturday morning, according to Alaska State Troopers. “Searchers from Tri-Valley Fire Department and AST responded on snow machines and located the group approximately 13 miles in from the Stampede Road trailhead,” AST said in a statement. One of the hikers was treated for severe frostbite to his feet. Tri-Valley Fire Chief Brad Randall told the Anchorage Daily News he believed the group was in the area at least overnight. Temperatures were about 5-10 degrees Saturday morning, Randall told the newspaper. The nearly 20-mile trail leading up to the abandoned Fairbanks Bus 142, known as the “Magic Bus,” has become somewhat of a pilgrimage for hikers ever since Jon Krakauer’s book “Into the Wild” was published in 1996. A movie based on the book was released in 2007. The nonfiction book chronicles the life of Christopher McCandless, who grew up in an affluent suburb of Washington. But after graduating from Emory University in 1990, he left behind his comfortable life and headed west without telling his friends and family members. In April 1992, McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska, where a man dropped him off at the head of the Stampede Trail, according to the book. A few days later, he came upon the abandoned bus and lived there for about three months before deciding to head back to civilization. As he attempted to make his way back, he arrived at a crossing of the Teklanika River. But because the river was running fast and high from the rain and snowmelt from glaciers, he was unable to make his way across, according to Krakauer.Defeated, he turned around and headed back toward the bus, where he survived for about a month before he died in August 1992.Hikers from around the world attempt to retrace McCandless’ steps every year, but many fail and have to be rescued. Some even die. Last year, a 24-year-old woman from Belarus died while trying to reach the bus. And in 2010, a Swiss hiker drowned while trying to cross the same river McCandless failed to cross.

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(CNN) — Think your driver’s license is enough to get you through airport security in the United States and onto your domestic flight? Maybe not. Some two-thirds of US state driver’s licenses are not compliant with a post-9/11 security law set to go into effect on October 1. Those who are not compliant will not be able to fly if they don’t have other forms of “REAL ID-compliant” identification.Concerned about the impact on travel, the head of the US Department of Homeland Security loosened the restrictions this week, allowing the various state agencies to accept identity documents electronically.”Ensuring every state is REAL ID compliant by October is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, in a press release. “While progress has been made, the real work is still ahead because approximately two-thirds of all licenses are presently not compliant with REAL ID. “Rest assured, our Department will continue to examine other viable options to improve upon this process and continues doing everything it can to inform Americans of the requirement to obtain a REAL ID before the full enforcement deadline later this year.”Todd Hauptli, CEO of the American Association of Airport Executives, shows his REAL ID-compliant driver’s license during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on October 1, 2019. Manuel Balce Ceneta/APWhile Wolf says this “pre-submission” of documents will result in a faster application process, it’s not clear how much faster it will be. That’s because, as Wolf says, “an in-person visit is still required, as is showing up with physical copies of your documents.”Starting October 1, travelers must have a “REAL ID-compliant” driver’s license, US passport, US military ID or other acceptable identification to fly within the United States. The REAL ID Act, which established minimum security standards for the issuing of state licenses and their production, prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses from states not meeting those minimum standards for certain activities. To get a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license, the DHS requires applicants provide documentation showing their full legal name, their date of birth, their Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status. States may impose more requirements.No REAL ID, no flyingTravelers need to make sure their IDs are REAL. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesIf you can’t produce acceptable identification, your US airport’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint will not clear you for flight. The TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security. That could lead to serious backups at US airports starting October 1.While many states have been issuing compliant documents for years, travelers shouldn’t assume their driver’s licenses and other documents meet the requirements. For example, Georgia became compliant in 2012 and California became compliant in 2018, but their driver’s licenses issued prior to those times in those states are not compliant.Check if your state driver’s license or identification card is REAL ID compliant simply by looking for a star in the upper right-hand corner. Some state departments of motor vehicles will confirm REAL ID status online. Still a backlogThe Department of Homeland Security reported this week that 48 of 50 states in the US are REAL ID compliant, up from January 2017, when only 26 states were. The two remaining states that haven’t started issuing new IDs are Oklahoma and Oregon.Collectively, those 48 states have issued more than 95 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards.While the US Travel Association applauded the government’s “pre-submission,” decision, “the challenge remains that tens of millions of Americans do not yet possess REAL ID-compliant identification,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA executive vice president of public affairs and policy, in a statement.A post 9/11 measureThe REAL ID Act’s requirement were part of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Since the act’s 2005 passage, the federal government has implemented TSA Pre-Check and other programs that offer more security than REAL ID, said Barnes. That’s why the USTA is lobbying federal authorities to accept membership in those programs as a substitute for REAL ID. (DHS hasn’t said yes, at least not yet.)US House Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona) and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Florida) have introduced legislation that would allow the TSA to accept membership in its Pre-Check program as a substitute for REAL ID. Officials at USTA, which represents major airlines, hotels, state and local tourism boards and other travel industry members, worry that their members will lose customers who suddenly can’t fly within the US starting October 1, 2020.What qualifies as REAL IDA US passport qualifies as a REAL ID. Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images• REAL ID-compliant state driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards • US passport• US passport card• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)• US Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents• Permanent resident card• Border crossing card• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID• HSPD-12 PIV card• Foreign government-issued passport• Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card• Transportation worker identification credential• US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)• US Merchant Mariner Credential

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(CNN) — Visitors to Rome have long enjoyed visiting a host of ancient architectural sites, from the fascinating Coliseum to the grandeur of the Pantheon.Now, a newly unearthed archaeological discovery offers further insight into the Italian capital’s cultural history.It’s long been believed that there could be a heroon, an ancient Roman shrine, dedicated to Romulus, Rome’s legendary founder, underneath the site of the Roman Forum, which was the political hub of Rome in days gone by.Now, an underground chamber has indeed been unearthed, next to the Curia-Comitium complex — the public meeting space for the senators of ancient Rome. And yes, it is believed to be dedicated to Rome’s mythical father.This underground chamber has been unearthed in Rome, Italy.Courtesy Parco archeologico del ColosseoRomulus is a figure from Roman mythology, one of two twin brothers raised by a wolf, he is said to have killed his brother Remus during a fight to found the city of Rome.In a official press conference held in Rome on Friday morning, Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, described the chamber as Romulus’ tomb, not his actual burial place. “This place is highly symbolic,” she said.Romulus is the legendary founder and first King of Rome, pictured here in an enscribing from circa 720 BC.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesInside are intriguing treasures including a tuff (a volcanic ash rock) sarcophagus that’s about 1.4 meters in length, and what’s believed to be an altar. The sarcophagus is thought to date back to the 6th century BC.Inside the chamber are treasures including a tuff sarcophagus and what’s thought to be an altar.Courtesy Parco archeologico del ColosseoRome’s mayor Virginia Raggi Tweeted about the findings, writing: “Rome always amazes with its treasures” — and thanking the archaeological team.Speaking to CNN in Rome, head archaeologist Patrizia Fortini said more research needed to take place: “Let us keep digging,” she said.Russo said excavation would resume at the end of April, and to expect “further surprises.”CNN’s Barbie Latza Nadeau, Livia Borghese and Hada Messia contributed to this report.

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