Hollywood director James Cameron wants you to check out New Zealand

Yes, he really wants you to visit.
 By 
Johnny Lieu
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

New Zealand will never stop showing off its natural beauty.

Ever since Crowded House soundtracked those "100% Pure New Zealand" ads in the early-2000s, the country has been dazzling audiences with its awe-inspiring mountains and scenery. The country's pretty, we get it.

In recent years, the lure of Hollywood has influenced its advertising, thanks to films such the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, which were both filmed in New Zealand. 


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Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron is next up to promote the country. The Hollywood director is in front of the camera this time as part of New Zealand's new tourism campaign. 

It makes sense: New Zealand became Cameron's second home four years ago, according to an online statement, and he now divides his time between a coastal estate north of the city of Wellington and California.

In the campaign's lead video, Cameron weaves through the country's South Island, walking along stunning hiking tracks, exploring ice caves and paddling in a canyon. All this as he waxes lyrical about "discovery" in the background. Yes, he really wants you to visit.

Cameron extols the virtues of the country's arts scene, wine, driving and hiking in a number of other videos in the series. He first visited New Zealand in the mid-1990s.

"I came as a stranger, I knew very little about New Zealand, and I left in love with it. Not just the beauty of the land that is very seductive, but the dynamic spirit of the people. I had never felt a connection to a place that strongly before. And I never really lost that dream," he said.

Okay Cameron, you've got us looking up flights. You win.

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Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com

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