New Zealand is famous for its gorgeous nature that offers great opportunities for an active holiday. This modern, English-speaking island nation charms its visitors with stunning views on mountains, sandy beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, fjords and rainforests that are perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, golf or rock climbing as well as adventure sports such as bungee jumping, rafting, skydiving, surfing... You name it. No wonder New Zealand receives approximately 2.4 million international tourists a year.
A twin-island country located in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia, New Zealand consists of two main islands – North Island and South Island, as well as several smaller ones. Most of the population of New Zealand is concentrated on the subtropical North Island, especially around Auckland, whereas the South Island that has a cool temperate climate and high mountain areas is much less populated. The diverse nature of New Zealand includes volcanic and alpine areas, glaciers, fern forests and magnificent waterfalls.
Beach & activity destinations. Located on North Island, the beautiful beaches of Tauranga are excellent for beach holidays and water sports, and the volcanic Lake Taupo is a center for outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, rafting and adventure sports. Queenstown, located on South Island in the middle of a lake region is called the adventure capital of the world: Here you can do numerous activities like skiing, bungee jumping, paragliding and mountain biking. Queenstown is also a good base for trekking excursions to the Southern Alps, including Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook. If you want to go touring on the South Island, try Alpine Pacific Triangle with attractions available from wildlife watching to spas and wine culture.
A twin-island country located in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia, New Zealand consists of two main islands – North Island and South Island, as well as several smaller ones. Most of the population of New Zealand is concentrated on the subtropical North Island, especially around Auckland, whereas the South Island that has a cool temperate climate and high mountain areas is much less populated. The diverse nature of New Zealand includes volcanic and alpine areas, glaciers, fern forests and magnificent waterfalls.
Sights and activities in New Zealand: beaches, mountains, trekking and adventure sports
Auckland is a large, multinational city that is a contrast to the rural and natural setting of the rest of the country. This Pacific metropolis, also called the City of Sails, offers beaches, cultural sights and seaside restaurants as well as great possibilities for cruises to the sea and excursions to the small islands on Hauraki Gulf nearby. Rotorua on North Island is a spectacular volcanic and geothermal area that offers good mountain biking and hiking as well as spas and contemporary Maori culture.Beach & activity destinations. Located on North Island, the beautiful beaches of Tauranga are excellent for beach holidays and water sports, and the volcanic Lake Taupo is a center for outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, rafting and adventure sports. Queenstown, located on South Island in the middle of a lake region is called the adventure capital of the world: Here you can do numerous activities like skiing, bungee jumping, paragliding and mountain biking. Queenstown is also a good base for trekking excursions to the Southern Alps, including Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook. If you want to go touring on the South Island, try Alpine Pacific Triangle with attractions available from wildlife watching to spas and wine culture.
New Zealand travel information and practical tips
New Zealand can be reached by air or by sea. Most of visitors to New Zealand arrive by air to the country’s largest city, Auckland, but also the seaside capital Wellington is a popular starting destination.
Photo: thinboyfatter, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There are also other, smaller international airports in New Zealand. Passenger ferry service to New Zealand is not available, but the country can be visited by your own yacht.
Once in New Zealand, there are good bus and domestic flight connections between all the major cities and towns. New Zealand is a rich country with plenty of tourism, so you can find hotels, hostels, motels, restaurants and activity options in virtually all parts of the country. Lively nightlife in New Zealand can be found in all bigger towns and popular tourist resorts. The English-speaking New Zealand is a safe country to travel in where you are unlikely to experience any problems with crime, and where safety concerns are more often associated with adventure sports or occasional earthquakes.
Climate in New Zealand ranges from temperate and warm on the North Island to cool on the South Island and alpine in the high mountain areas. The West coast of South Island receives plenty of rain because of its mountainous terrain. The mountain areas of South Island have snow in the winter, while the northern tip of North Island hosts subtropical rainforests. The best time to visit New Zealand is generally between December and April.
