Australian model turned reality TV star Lara Bingle says she has fallen in love with New Zealand and wants to return.

Sydney-based Bingle is in New Zealand to film scenes for her show, Being Lara Bingle, and for Air New Zealand's "Kiwi Sceptics" promotional campaign, which aims to lure Aussies across the ditch.

It is her first trip to New Zealand, and she arrived in Queenstown on Saturday.

"I love New Zealand. I've completely fallen in love," she said.

"[It's] cold, friendly and enticing to come back. It's somewhere I would definitely come back to."

The 25-year-old, whose previous relationship with Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke made her tabloid fodder, spent three days in the South Island trying heli-skiing and snowboarding and even stayed overnight in an igloo.

"The people are nice, the restaurants and bars - I felt like I was in Melbourne when I was in Queenstown," she said.

 "Queenstown is almost like a little European town and I think the snow there is as good as it is anywhere in the world. I've only been here for a few hours, so I haven't really been out and about in Auckland yet."

Bingle, who shot to fame as the "Where the bloody hell are ya?" girl for an Australian tourism campaign, has singled out the beauty of New Zealand as a selling point to lure her countrymen to our shores.

Her time in New Zealand will feature on the reality show, which debuted in Australia on June 12, with nearly one million viewers tuning in.

"It's surreal to be honest to have your own show. It's not my goal in life to have my own reality show, it's something that's happened and I've kind of just taken everything as it comes."

Having a camera crew follow her every move is something Bingle said she would never get used to, but it has taught her to "respect and understand it's part of the job".

"I feel like I've finally got control of my life and putting out there who I am instead of people making their own judgement and passing comment on someone when they don't know [them]."

There are no plans for the show to run in New Zealand, but Bingle is pushing for it to hit our screens.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Meme   #1   10:12 am Jun 27 2012

What a fruit loop. I don't know what show I would prefer to watch. Hers or the Ridges! Ahhhh!

mmmmmmm.......   #2   10:17 am Jun 27 2012

Lara touring with Delta in NZ would make a GREAT headline. Both insanely hot. Clarky what the bloody hell were you thinking mate!!!

felix   #3   12:56 pm Jun 27 2012

@meme #1 I'm guessing your female. I'm guessing most Men would think she is hot. Fruit loop or not.

Pete   #4   12:59 pm Jun 27 2012

Lara is extremely unpopular in Australia - her show has bombed and she is considered a laughing stock. If NZ Tourism or others believe that paying for her to travel acros will likely result in increased Aussies visiting, then they will get a rude awakening - it is liable to have the opposite effect.

Steve   #5   01:00 pm Jun 27 2012

Who?!

sir lancelot   #6   01:16 pm Jun 27 2012

@felix #3 I'm guessing your male and single. I'm guessing you have day dreamed about consummating your lust for Lara.

blossom   #7   01:27 pm Jun 27 2012

@meme, she seems perfectly normal not to mention beautiful to me, jealous much!

N8   #8   01:34 pm Jun 27 2012

@sir lancelot #5. I'm guessing your are Dr S. Freud.

Peter North   #9   01:49 pm Jun 27 2012

I'd quite happily mingle with bingle.

Madelaine   #10   02:28 pm Jun 27 2012

I think she's gorgeous and I watch the reality show as I am in Australia. I don't think she's any more a fruit loop than any other 24 year old. Who wouldn't put a foot wrong now and then with the glare of publicity that surrounds her, she's followed all the time by cameras. If you never did anything wrong when you were in your early twenties, stand up! go Lara I think you're alright!