Kia Ora, welcome
to New Zealand.
New Zealand is a natural wonder and contains just about every type of terrain
and landscape imaginable and some you cannot imagine. This section will help you discover some special places, some well known and others off the beaten track.
The
popularity of New Zealand with international visitors is growing year by year.
It is a land of contrasts, from pristine wilderness areas to modern and sophisticated
cities, there is something for everyone. New Zealand also enjoys an international
reputation for being safe and friendly. English is the spoken language and
the good exchange rate to the New Zealand dollar means you will get value
for money when you come here.
New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and its nearest neighbour is Australia. New Zealand along with Australia make up the area called Australasia and Oceania if you include the south pacific islands.
New Zealand is considered to be the most isolated country in the world in a geographical sense, yet it is a highly developed westernised country. The country is not much bigger than the UK yet within New Zealand's shores lie just about every type of climate from subtropical to subantarctic. It is possible to pass through a different climatic zone each day when travelling in New Zealand.
The majority of New Zealands
population are of European (English, Irish & Scottish) descent. Approximately
15% of New Zealands population is of Polynesian descent with the majority
of Polynesians being the native people the Maori. New Zealand generally enjoys
racial harmony with one of the highest percentages in the world for mixed
marriages.
New Zealanders are lovers of sports and are highly competitive. Rugby is the most popular game and the national team the All Blacks are regarded as the best in the world. Other popular games include cricket and netball. Yachting is a very popular and New Zealand has twice won the most prestigious yachting tropy, The Americas Cup.
For the traveller, New Zealand is unigue because packed in this relatively small country are examples of all the worlds natural features. Attractions as diverse as alpine terrain with steep mountains, stunning beaches, long glaciers, lush rain forests, volcanoes & thermal activity, tranquil and colourful lakes, steep fiords, thunderous high waterfalls, clear rivers, and even desert like areas.
To help plan your trip to New Zealand and give you an idea of the must see places, we have some links to your left that will you plan your trip. We recommend you start with our Top 10 places page. The Overview page is useful in getting a grasp on the different regions of New Zealand and what they have to offer.
Original versions of our photos can be purchased & web versions can be shared subject to conditions.