in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand [1] is a temperate to sub-tropical island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.

A former British colony, the majority of the population is of European descent, with a sizeable indigenous Maori minority and smaller minorities of various Polynesian and other groups.

A modern but sparsely populated country, it boasts natural beauty and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities.

Islands
New Zealand consists of the two main North and South islands and a number of smaller ones:

North Island – Warm, with scenery ranging from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland and forests to active volcanic peaks.
South Island – Spectacular mountains and fjords, large beech forests, beautiful beaches.
Stewart Island – heavily forested, a wilderness paradise for trampers with wonderful bird song. Only place to a see a sun-bathing (feathered) kiwi on Masons Beach!
Chatham Islands
Sub-Antarctic Islands – Very difficult to get to unless you're on a scientific expedition or deep sea fishing vessel

Cities
New Zealand follows general Commonwealth useage in only describing conurbations that are the seat of a bishop as "cities".

It's the country that's magnificent in New Zealand and we only list nine of the most prominent settlements. Here they are from north to south:

North Island:

Auckland — "The City of Sails." The largest and most populated conurbation, with over a million in the metropolitan area, making it the largest in Polynesia by far.
Tauranga - Known for its great weather, sun and beach Tauranga is a great holiday spot.
Rotorua — Famous for Maori culture, geysers, hot pools and that funny (Sulphur Dioxide) rotten egg smell.
Wellington — the national capital — Parliament and the Beehive and the wonderful, free Te Papa museum. "The Windy City".
South Island:

Nelson — Safe and friendly, with New Zealand's highest sunshine hours. Nelson is the geographic centre of the country and surrounded by THREE stunning national parks, vineyards and orchards
Christchurch — The Garden City and the Air Gateway to Antarctica.
Queenstown — Adrenalin and adventure capital of the world… skydive, Bungy jump, jet-boat, thrill yourself to your hearts content.
Dunedin — the Edinburgh of the South. Proud of its Scots heritage, chocolate factory, Southern Albatross colony and its wonderful tramping tracks within a short drive from the CDB.
Invercargill — the southernmost city and one of the very few places to see a living Tuatara.

Other destinations
Havelock North, a great base for exploring the Hawkes Bay wineries. and home to Te Mata peak.
Hokianga - wild, beautiful, bi-cultural
Elsthorpe - in Hawkes Bay is a beautiful country settlement
Feilding - voted New Zealand's most beautiful town 12 times in a row
Opiki - potato capital of New Zealand
Blenheim - Grape vines to the horizon with sauvignon blanc to die for
Kaikoura - great for whale watching.
The Southern Alps stretch the length of the South Island.
Aoraki/Mount Cook — New Zealand's highest mountain.
Omarama — World famous gliding destination. Scenic alpine glider flights and pilot training
Milford Sound and Fiordland.

Understand
New Zealand was named god's own country and 'paradise of the pacific' as far back as the early 1800s and travellers generally agree it deserves that description.

A common mistake is to allow insufficient time for a visit. (Since it's a long and expensive way to go for most people, many folks end up spending all their time in Australia and then wishing that they had spent an equal or longer time in this very variegated archipelago).

Relax and allow at least three or four weeks for each island!

Lonely Planet named New Zealand the world's top travel destination for the second year running (2003/2004), and it was voted best long-haul travel destination in the 2004 Guardian and Observer’s People’s Choice award. It has won the award in three out of the past four years. At the 2005 Cond? Nast Traveller Awards, readers voted New Zealand as the best holiday destination in the world. New Zealand is also known by the Maori name of Aotearoa, which is usually translated as "(Land of the) long white cloud".