Mumbai, Oct 8 (IANS): Young and dashing Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra has been named the first Indian ambassador for Tourism New Zealand, which markets New Zealand as a visitor destination.

He is excited to embark on a visit to the picturesque land to experience its diverse landscapes, culture and adventure activities.

As a lover of nature, great outdoors and extreme sports, Sidharth is looking forward to visiting New Zealand later this month.

During his trip, he will be visiting both the North and South Islands, getting a chance to soak in the joys of an array of activities and an experience of the country's local Maori culture.

Talking about it, Sidharth said in a statement: "I've heard from my friends about the many activities that New Zealand has to offer and I'm very excited for this trip. I'm a traveller who believes in experiencing everything that a destination offers and New Zealand has so much to offer."

He is especially "gearing up for some hardcore adventure such as skydive, SkyWalk and diving. I can't wait to experience the local wildlife in New Zealand. I have also heard extensively about the food and wine, Maori culture and other unique experiences that the country offers," he added.

The actor, who has amassed a fan following with roles in entertainers like "Student of the Year", "Hasee Toh Phasee", "Ek Villain" and "Brothers", has managed to capture the attention of youth in particular. And that's evident by the over 4.3 million followers that he has on social media.

While in New Zealand, he is is also upbeat about interacting with some of his fans during his trip to the Kiwi land, which is replete with spectacular landscapes - from vast mountain ranges, steaming volcanoes to sweeping coastlines.

Officials at Tourism New Zealand are also trying to ensure that Sidharth has an experience of a lifetime.

"Sidharth is young and dynamic, and extremely keen to experience New Zealand's offerings. From adventure activities to food and wine experiences, local culture to luxury indulgence, New Zealand is gearing up to surprise Sidharth at every step of his journey. We look forward to hosting him and making him feel at home," said Steven Dixon, regional manager, South and South East Asia, Tourism New Zealand.