New Zealand is a unique land of
breathtaking scenery. Craggy coastlines, sweeping golden
beaches, verdant rainforests, snow-capped alpine
mountains, gurgling volcanic pools, fuming active volcanoes, flashing fish-filled rivers and
glacier-fed lakes compete for attention, all beneath a brilliant blue sky. Pair this with a thriving indigenous culture, bustling cosmopolitan cities, traditional towns and friendly people with a distinct lust for life and you have an outstanding and unusual combination.
New Zealand is spread over several small
islands. The more developed
North Island is home to the main cities, whilst the vast empty spaces of
South Island are best for escaping the crowds. Tiny, undeveloped
Stewart Island is reminiscent of how New Zealand must have looked before the arrival of people.
Getting around is easy as the country has a modern and efficient transport network, quiet roads, plenty of flights and two stunningly
scenic rail journeys. The plant and
animal life are also excellent offering opportunities to see the varied
birdlife (including kiwis), seals,
dolphins and
whales.
Enjoy the chance to explore two of the richest New World
wine regions on the planet, taste wonderful
cuisine, stroll on moody beaches, tramp through the
national parks or over alpine passes on well-maintained, beautifully sited tracks.
The country is also perfect for every kind of
outdoor activity. Not surprisingly, some of the world’s most
cutting-edge adventure activities originated in New Zealand. Try bungee jumping, caving or white-water rafting. Or if that is not your bag, immerse yourself in
culture in the museums and galleries of New Zealand’s main cities -
Auckland,
Christchurch and the capital
Wellington.
New Zealand was first settled at least 1,000 years ago by the
Polynesian Maori, a well ordered tribal society. The first European arrival was Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642, although it was not until the voyages of Captain James Cook, in 1769 and 1779, that the islands were charted and explored.
Since then the country has developed into one of the cleanest, greenest, most popular places to live and visit. Tourist numbers rocketed around the release of the
Lord of the Rings trilogy, which showcased New Zealand’s fantastic scenery to a worldwide audience.
GeographyNew Zealand is 1,930km (1,200 miles) southeast of Australia and consists of two major islands, North Island (116,031 sq km/44,800 sq miles) and South Island (153,540 sq km/59,283 sq miles), which are separated by Cook Strait. Stewart Island (1,750 sq km/676 sq miles) is located immediately south of South Island, and the Chatham Islands lie 800km (500 miles) to the east of Christchurch. Going from north to south, temperatures decrease. Compared to its huge neighbor Australia, New Zealand’s three islands make up a country that is relatively small (about 20% more land mass than the British Isles).
Two-thirds of the country is mountainous, a region of swift-flowing rivers, deep alpine lakes and dense subtropical forest. The country’s largest city, Auckland, is situated on the peninsula that forms the northern part of North Island. The southern part of North Island is characterized by fertile coastal plains rising up to volcanic peaks. Around Rotorua, 240km (149 miles) south of Auckland, there is thermal activity in the form of geysers, pools of boiling mud, springs of hot mineral water, silica terraces, colored craters and hissing fumaroles, which make Rotorua a world-famous tourist attraction. South Island is larger, although only about one-third of the population lives there. The Southern Alps extend the whole length of the island, culminating in Mount Cook, the country’s highest peak. In the same region are the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.
There are also four Associated Territories:
The Cook Islands, about 3,500km (2,175 miles) northeast of New Zealand;
Niue, 920km (570 miles) west of the Cook Islands (area 260 sq km/100 sq miles);
Tokelau, three atolls about 960km (600 miles) northwest of Niue (area 12 sq km/4 sq miles); and the
Ross Dependency, which consists of over 700,000 sq km (270,270 sq miles) of the Antarctic.
Note: Cook Islands and
Niue have separate individual sections in the
World Travel Guide.
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