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 or Oceania.
New Zealand is considered 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.
Travellers will find examples of all the worlds geographical features from mountains to beaches, glaciers to rain forests, volcanoes and thermal activity to land that is permanently covered in snow, from tranquil lakes and fiords to thunderous waterfalls and rivers.
New Zealand also contains areas that are as bleak and barren as the Australian Outback but it is the clean green image that most remember when thinking about New Zealand.
New Zealand is made up of 2 main islands aptly named the North Island and the South Island and many smaller such as Stewart Island.
The North Island has a warmer climate and contains all of the country's volcanoes and most of the thermal activity such as geysers, thermal rivers and boiling mud pools. There are many fine beaches especially the further north you go . It is a hilly island with one major chain of mountains that start from the East Cape and run down to Wellington. The North Island is very green and lush due to its regular rainfall and volcanic soil.
The South Island is a short ferry ride away but is remarkably different from the North Island. The South Islands main geographical feature are the mighty Southern Alps that run down the full length of the island. This mountain range is bigger than the European Alps put together and there are 200 mountains that are over 2500 metres. It is this mountain range that gives the South Island its great diversity. The north of the South Island is the sunniest part of New Zealand, the west is one of the wettest areas in the world, the south is very cold and very barren with some areas receiving less than 400 mm per year. (200 mm or less is classified as desert), the east is identical to England with its rolling green hills and the centre of the Island is mountainous and perpetually snow capped.
We will now take a quick
tour through the different regions in New Zealand starting with the North Island.
To the north is Northland
which lies in the subtropical zone and is also called the winterless north.
There
are many superb beaches and coves in the region the most famous being the
90 mile beach. One of New Zealands most popular tourist attractions The
Bay of Islands is also in this area. Northlands west coast contains New
Zealands best preserved Kauri Forests, which rate amongst the biggest and
oldest trees in the world.
Further
south lies the Auckland region which
is where New Zealands largest city Auckland
is found. Auckland City is home to 1.2 million New Zealanders which is about
one third of the country's population. The Auckland region also has many superb
beaches and bush walks are also popular here. The area is also dominated by
many extinct volcanic cones which rise abruptly out of the flattish terrain.
Next is the Waikato Region which contains some of the richest dairy country in the world due to its temperate climate and volcanic soil. The Waikato is home to Hamilton the biggest inland city in New Zealand.
The
Coromandel Peninsula lies to the
south east of Auckland. At the northern end of the peninsula you can actually
see Auckland City. The Coromandel is a popular escape for many Aucklanders
as it is a very scenic region
The landscape is dominated by extinct volcanoes which are covered in temperate
rain forest. There are many beautiful beaches including a thermal beach called
Hot Water Beach.
Further East is the Bay of Plenty region
which is the main area for volcanic
activity. The town of Rotorua which is New Zealands most popular tourist
destination is in the centre of the most violent thermal area. There are good
beaches to the north with the most famous beach located in the town of Tauranga.
Just
below the Bay of Plenty is the Taupo Region
which is also a volcanic zone. Most of the country's volcanoes are situated
here. The region also has the biggest lake in the country called Lake Taupo
which is world famous for its trout fishing. Most of the North Islands ski
fields are located on Mt Ruapehu the biggest volcano in New Zealand.
On
the east coast you will find the East
Cape and Hawkes Bay Regions . The East Cape is a scenic and mountainous
area and is also noted for its hot climate and beautiful beaches.
The Hawkes Bay Region
further south also enjoys a warm climate. The town of Napier
has the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world as the town
was completely rebuilt during the 1930s due to a devastating earthquake.
On the west coast is the Taranaki Region
which is dominated by Mt
Taranaki a huge conical shaped volcano The coastline is famous for its
rugged surf and black sand. New Plymouth is the main town here.
Further south lies the Manawatu Region This region is mainly rural with many towns, the biggest being Palmerston North. This region also has a many areas for hiking amongst the Tararua Mountains.
The
Wairarapa Region on the east coast
enjoys a warm climate and is a major wine producing area. This region is mainly
rural, but has some large towns including: Masterton, Carterton, Greytown
and Featherston. There are some nice beaches such as Castlepoint and Riversdale.
At the bottom of the North Island is the Welington region which is the location for New Zealands capital city. The city surrounds the most spectacular harbour in New Zealand.
South of Wellington is
a stretch of water that separates the North Island from the South Island called
the Cook Strait. This strait is one of the roughest seas in the world and
occasionally one can see Whales and Dolphins from the Wellington coast and
on the Ferry that transports passengers between both islands. The South Island
can be seen clearly from Wellington's south coast.
The South Island is quite different from the North. It is an island of many contrasts and climates. The Southern Alps are the most impressive geographical feature, and they run the entire length of the Island.
The Marlborough Region is situated
in the north of the South Island. The region is the sunniest in New Zealand
and this is the reason why many world class wines are produced here. A scenic
and complex area of waterways called the Marlborough Sounds are worth visiting,
and is a perfect location for those interested in fishing and boating. The
ferry connecting the North and South Islands travels through this area.
The
Nelson Region also enjoys a good climate
and contains some of the best beaches in the country. Nelson is the main city
and is a good base for organising trips to the famous Abel Tasman National
Park. Other areas of interest include Kahurangi National Park, Nelson Lakes
National Park, Farewell Spit and Rainbow Ski Field.
Further
to the south and on the west coast is The West
Coast Region which is the most isolated part of New Zealand. This area
is very narrow as it is bordered by rugged
coastline to the west and the Southern
Alps Mountains to the east. The area is sparsely populated and contains
large areas of wilderness.
Over
the Southern Alps to the east is the Canterbury
Region which is one of the few areas that are relatively flat although
it also runs into the Mountains to the west so it is a region of contrasts.
Christchurch is the major city here and is the biggest city in the South Island.
Immediately
to the south of the West Coast and Canterbury is the Otago
Region. Central Otago is a mountainous area and receives very little rainfall
so it contains many rugged and barren
landscapes. This part of New Zealand is the only area in the country that
experiences a continental climate like Australia or the USA. So unlike the
rest of New Zealand which experiences a maritime climate, Otago's climate
consists of very hot summers and freezing winters. Toward the east coast,
Otago becomes increasingly greener and back to a maritime climate, which means
the temperature is not so extreme as it is affected by the ocean. On the coast
is the beautiful city of Dunedin.
Queenstown
is the most popular tourist town in Otago and 2nd most popular in New Zealand.
This town is the main location for skiing and action adventure activities
such as Bungee Jumping and Jet boating. Both are New Zealand inventions.
At
the bottom of the South Islands lies the Southland
Region. Southland is home to the Fiordland
National Park which is one of the biggest National Parks in the world.
This park contains the most stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. Notable
features of this World Heritage area are the steep
mountains & fiords,
together with lush Beech Forests.
Just below the South
Island lies Stewart Island which is the
third biggest island. Stewart Island is an untouched wilderness area, and
is a safe haven for many of New Zealands endangered birds such as the Kiwi
and Takahe.
Not only is New Zealand famous for its beautiful scenery, but it has been said many times that New Zealanders are the friendliest people you could meet anywhere.
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 are Cricket and Netball and Rugby League.
Yachting is a very popular sport. New Zealand has won the Americas Cup (the
worlds oldest sporting trophy) on 2 occasions.
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