Wellington, December 31: New Zealand is one of the first countries in the World that will welcome the New Year 2019 at the stroke of midnight. Partygoers are all set to enter the New Year 2019 with grand celebrations organised in New Zealand and around the world. For those who want to witness the arrival of the New Year 2019 twice in a few hours, New Zealand and Cook Islands are the two places where they can get this rare opportunity.

By travelling to the Cook Islands from Auckland, the second capital of New Zealand, one can go back to the past to celebrate the New Year twice. Since New Zealand is one of the first countries to celebrate the New Year, revellers there can go almost anywhere they want to celebrate it for the second time. Interestingly, Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands, is just about four hours away from Auckland but there is a 23-hour time difference between the two places. Which Countries Will Enter New Year 2019 First & Last?

Therefore, the Cook Islands is one of the last places to ring in the New Year. Kiwis can easily visit the Cook Islands to celebrate New Year's eve for the second time because the island country has the same currency as New Zealand, and political links. Since there is a 23-hour time difference between the two places, New Zealanders will have plenty of time to travel the Cook Islands to witness New Year's eve for the second time. Melbourne & Sydney New Year Eve 2019 Fireworks Live Stream: Watch Free Telecast & Streaming of NYE Celebrations Online From Australia.

Depending upon the geographical location, and time zones each country enters the new year at a different time. The first countries that have entered the New Year are Samoa Islands, Tonga and Kiritimati (Christmas Island). When it was 3:30 pm in India, these places had already entered 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2018 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).