New Zealand
A country of natural splendour whose wide range of astoundingly
scenic landscapes are often the backdrop to countless television
programs and major motion pictures alike,
New Zealand stands in isolation in the south west regions of the
Pacific Ocean. It is understandable why the country is so often a
director’s location of choice, as not only does New Zealand offer a
multitude of vastly different panoramas—from the immense snow-capped
peaks of the mountainous areas to the extensive stretches of
undisturbed golden beaches—but so too are its natural spectacles
unsurpassed in size or grandeur by any other country on the planet.
New Zealand is definitely a land of outdoor activity, as to stay
indoors is to sacrifice the opportunity to see the many wonders of
the natural world at their finest.
Constituted of two islands, the North Island and the South Island,
along with a multitude of smaller islands, New Zealand is
geographically slightly bigger than the UK, though it houses less
than one tenth the number of the UK’s population. One of the world’s
most recently populated major landmasses, the country owes its great
diversity and uniqueness of flora and fauna to its long seclusion
and today, over a quarter of the nation is protected territory.
Where a tour to the smaller North Island will reveal a volcanic
territory interspersed with enticing hot springs, fizzling geysers
and intriguing caves, the South Island is marked by the awesome
Southern Alps mountain range, rippling lakes and cascading glaciers.
Travellers looking to get active on their tour to New Zealand have
on offer a multitude of activities; yachting or surfing in the bays
near Auckland, hiking or skiing in the beautiful mountainous areas,
bird watching in Rotorua, or the ever-popular New Zealand-invented
pursuit of bungee jumping in Queenstown.
Before man set foot on New Zealand soil, the country was an
ornithologist’s paradise, and though many of the species then unique
to New Zealand are now either extinct or endangered, New Zealand is
today recognised the globe across for its conservation efforts. Many
of the rarest animals and plants in the world find sanctuary within
the borders of New Zealand and the country’s lack of pollution,
along with its commitment to conservation, means that they are in
good hands.
It is perfectly understandable why New Zealand is among the top destinations for travellers, what with its natural environment that knows few rivals in terms of scenic beauty, diversity and sheer enormousness. The North Island, volcanic by nature, boasts bubbling mud pools, rolling hills and gushing geysers, where the South Island, the larger of the two, features the majestic Southern Alps mountain range, rich, lush rainforests and shimmering lakes. New Zealand is definitely a destination for the outdoorsperson, be it for an active getaway or just to enjoy nature at its finest.