Introducing New Zealand
You already know how ludicrously photogenic New Zealand is. The otherworldly peaks and valleys of Middle Earth brought this not-so-hidden secret to the world with good reason. But these views are no Hollywood-crafted mirage- they are the real deal, and certain to take your breath away.
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On top of their looks, the islands’ rich Maori culture, passion for rugby, sheep outnumbering people, and exquisite sauvignon blanc create a country that defies even the most imaginative adventurers’ expectations.
But it’s not all look and don’t touch. In New Zealand, adventure sports rule. This is, after all, a nation so dedicated to doing odd things with bits of rubber and plastic that it invented bungee jumping, black-water rafting and zorbing. Whether you’re climbing the Fox glacier or skydiving over a stunning patchwork of mountains and fields, New Zealand is certain to get adrenaline coursing through your veins.
And there’s another aspect of Aotearoa – as New Zealand is known to Maori people - that keeps people coming back for more. The average Kiwi wants you to have a really, really good time. It is in the interactions with exuberant, everyday Kiwis that lasting memories will be made. As a Maori proverb suggests: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people!).
Kiwis love sharing their spectacular country with visitors and in turn seeing it anew through foreign eyes. They never tire of being reminded of the rugged beauty of their beaches, mountains, fiords, glaciers, native forests and thermal regions. And once you experience these natural highlights, you won’t tire of reminding them.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Take a trip to the outdoorsman’s paradise of The Bay of Islands
- See the best of the South Island on a 4-day tour from Christchurch
- Explore the North Island in 12 days
- Trek the breathtaking Southern Alps
Last updated: Jan 11, 2013
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New Zealand
Things to do
- All things to do (3,857)
- Activities (1,374)
- Entertainment (472)
- Restaurants (951)
- Shopping (234)
- Sights (776)
- Tours (50)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For New Zealand
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1 Abel Tasman National Park
Parade past golden-sand beaches, rocky outcrops and turquoise inlets, by foot or by kayak
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2 Auckland
Alternate volcano- and island-hopping with culture and culinary stops in NZ's biggest city
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3 Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
On the ground or in the air, discover the icy grandeur of these centuries-old ice floes
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4 Kaikoura
Whales, dolphins and crayfish – postcard-perfect Kaikoura is intertwined with the sea
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5 Raglan
Ease into the chilled vibe of this laid-back surf town
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Fast Facts about New Zealand
- Unemployment
3.5%
- Number of NZ glaciers over 100m long
3100
- Area
268, 680 sq km (similar to Colorado, bigger than the UK)
- Inflation
3.2%
- Population
4.2 million humans, 40 million sheep
- Number of international visitors
2.2 million in 2007
- Width of Cook Strait
23km (14 miles)
- Life expectancy
100 for tuatara (lizards); up to 2000 for kauri trees
- GDP growth
2.6%
- Number of microbreweries
45 in 2007