New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area, and the country’s varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions.
The majority of New Zealand’s population of 5.1 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealand’s culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening of culture arising from increased immigration.
A developed country, New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. The country was the first to introduce a minimum wage, and the first to give women the right to vote.
From glaciers to beaches, whale-watching to wine-tasting, New Zealand has so much to offer. New Zealand is probably one of the most photogenic countries on earth. Each corner you turn changes into a completely different scene. From jagged glacial mountains to long sandy beaches, New Zealand is a feast for the eyes.
New Zealand, the first country to introduce bungy jump operation in the world, offers other adventure activities like jet boat rides, skiing, river rafting, hiking and biking.
The country has an unique culture, too. One can experience the haka, a ceremonial Māori dance. New Zealand celebrates its Māori culture in daily life and there are numerous places to experience it.
New Zealand wine is increasingly known the world over as one of the finest drops. It is a home to a magical blend of vineyards, olive groves, beaches, art studios and funky cafes. Here, you can sup New Zealand’s finest wines at one of the many vineyards while enjoying sea views.
Not only wine, but New Zealand is the birthplace of the flat white (coffee that is). An Auckland café claims to have invented the creamy, caffeinated burst of goodness that’s now a regular on café menus worldwide.New Zealand is also the home to some weird and wonderful wildlife, including birds that don’t know how to fly, monster marine mammals and a reptile that’s survived from dinosaur days. Swim with dolphins, take a whale-watching cruise and get up close to yellow-eyed penguins. Just two hours north of Christchurch, picturesque Kaikoura is all about sea adventures. Have an up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whales and pods of Dusky dolphins on a cruise or go snorkeling with friendly New Zealand fur seals.
For a truly unique experience, taking a helicopter to the top of Franz Josef or Fox Glacier for a guided walk onto the ice is highly recommended. With a temperate climate, these glaciers are among the most accessible in the world.
Feel Earth’s power in New Zealand, where you can witness erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming hot springs on your doorstep. To experience the geothermal wonders, head to the Volcanic Zone, including Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Ruapehu. Geysers, boiling mud pools & huge volcanic craters are in Rotorua, where nature’s forces escape by bubbling, steaming & hissing from the inner earth.
There is one obvious reason why New Zealand has to be on every map, and that is because the country is simply world-class. Beautiful, friendly, safe and simply awesome, you don’t have to go far in a country the size of New Zealand to find everything that you’re looking for.