New Zealand has had a digital makeover in the world of Minecraft where players can fully immerse themselves in a virtual adventure through Aotearoa.
To celebrate the release of the ‘Minecraft Movie’ filmed in NZ last year, Warner Bros and Mojang Studios have teamed up with Tourism New Zealand to create a special Minecraft game set right here.
From the comfort of your gaming chair, you and the rest of the world can explore some of the country’s most stunning spots before planning a real life adventure.
You can now explore some of our most iconic locations around the motu from the comfort of your gaming chair - before planning a real-life adventure.
Tourism New Zealand explains players start their journey on a marae, where they’re welcomed with a mihi whakatau before stepping into the heart of the game - a wharenui.
The wharenui wasn’t just any build, either - it was specially designed, named, and gifted by expert carvers and designers from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia.
Players can paddle a waka in Abel Tasman, walk through glowworm caves in Waitomo, travel by boat in Doubtful Sound, four-wheel drive and stargaze in Tekapo, spot rare native birds on Kāpiti Island, and experience the geothermal pools of Rotorua.
It’s not just sightseeing, NPCs - non-playable characters - including kāumatua (elders), will guide you through an immersive dive into Māori culture and heritage.
You’re not just exploring, you’re also stepping into the role of a filmmaker, tasked with capturing Aotearoa’s finest locations, like you’re making the movie yourself.
Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive, René de Monchy, said picking which locations to feature wasn’t easy.
“We selected places that were iconically New Zealand, incorporated Māori culture, and had sustainable values,” he told RNZ.
Ultimately what we want them to do is to come and play for real in New Zealand with a holiday.
And, of course, the goal is to inspire players to swap their gaming screens for the real thing.
“The opportunity for New Zealand is huge,” de Monchy said in another statement.
“By tapping into Minecraft’s immense fan base, we expect this activity to drive growth for New Zealand’s economy by attracting $50 million in visitor spend this year.”
While this will definitely be a win for tourism, let’s be honest - how many of us have actually been to all six of these bucket-list spots?
Maybe this is the nudge we need to start ticking them off ourselves, too.
