samantha brown's places to love -
Central North Island, New Zealand

Samantha explores the natural beauty of Lake Taupo by kayak and stops off for a soak in the hot springs before hiking upstream to the magnificent Huka Falls. At Te Puia, Samantha experiences Pohutu, the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere and learns how to cook in boiling hot geo-thermal pools. She also meets Katz, who heads the woodworking school of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, and talks about the Maori culture and the struggle to keep the culture alive. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley is filled with vast thermal activity and an active volcano, which is the next stop for Samantha, who tours the valley by boat and hikes to the Inferno Crater. Traveling by helicopter, Samantha gets a firsthand view of White Island, an active volcano, to further understand the thermal activity of this area. Hiking into the bush, Samantha joins a couple of rangers to learn about the national Kiwi bird and helps with their conservation efforts. At "The House That Came Home", Samantha takes part of a customary ritual and is welcomed into the Marae as part of the family, where she talks to Will about the history and community of the Marae. Concluding the ritual, Samantha is invited to a Hangi and joins the community for this traditional feast.

Episode Duration: 26 minutes and 46 seconds

Episode Number: 213

About Samantha Brown's Places to Love:

For more than 17 years, TV host Samantha Brown has been exploring all four corners of the world, visiting more than 260 cities in 62 countries, sharing her adventures and introducing new cultures to viewers.

Now, the two-time Emmy Award-winner embarks on her next journey with her new travel series SAMANTHA BROWN'S PLACES TO LOVE.

Unlike a traditional travelogue show with a formulaic itinerary, PLACES TO LOVE delivers decidedly refreshing and enriching travel experiences by taking viewers on a discovery of the emotional heart of travel and highlighting the people who are changing, challenging and strengthening a destination.

From Brooklyn, New York and Monterey, California to Shanghai, China and Donegal in Ireland, Samantha seeks out the little-known spots and haunts where innovators and disrupters are creating a brand new travel experience.

Whether it's through food and drink, art and design, culture or adventure, at the end of each episode, viewers will have a well-curated list of new experiences that focus on not just how to visit a destination, but how to fully immerse in it.

The 13-part series encourages viewers to experience the passion of people and the soul of a place in a way that only traveling can do.

Samantha's career as a television travel host happened by accident.

A producer spotted her work in a commercial and recommended her to the Travel Channel in 1999 to audition for a new show called Great Vacation Homes.

A decade of various series followed, including Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, Samantha Brown's Asia, The Trip, 50/50, and many others.

Samantha's fun-loving style has made her a beloved and engaging television personality whose approach is less expert and more a person you would want to travel with.

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