Travel Guide New Zealand will take you to different fantastic places in New Zealand as well as some of the famous landmarks and notable places, so you will already have a general idea about New Zealand if and when you decide to actually travel and explore this fascinating country. And other than the places of interest, Travel Guide New Zealand will also give you valuable information such as the geography, demographics and the languages spoken in different parts of this country. Don’t forget to check out the travel safety tips in New Zealand as well as the other sections in our Travel Guide New Zealand! We do hope you will come back often to travel with us to other destinations around the world.

Introducing New Zealand

New Zealand is a land of stunning natural beauty. As early as the 1800s this country was already known in many parts of the world as a land of astounding beauty. Early travelers who were awed by its breathtaking land and water forms called it “God’s Own Country” and the “Paradise of the Pacific”. Now that centuries have passed, travelers from all over the world still agree that New Zealand still deserves those titles. Our New Zealand Travel Guide will give you a peek into the wonders of this beautiful country that make it truly deserving of being regarded as God’s Own country in the South Pacific.

The Maoris are New Zealand’s the indigenous people who called the country Aotearoa, which means “land of the long white cloud”. The Maori came in several waves from eastern Polynesia riding in big canoes. Maori influence can still be felt strongly in different aspects of life in New Zealand most obvious of this are the Maori names of many important locations in the country. It is said that it was a certain Dutch Captain Willem Jansz who gave the name “Nieu Zelandt” to the country upon seeing one of its islands off the coast of New Guinea. Historians say that Zelandt is the name of a Dutch province that got separated from the rest of the Dutch provinces by the sea.

Although it was Abel Tasman, a Dutch navigator who first sighted the island, the first European to land on New Zealand shores was Captain James Cook, a British navigator. This was in 1769. Settlers from England started to arrive in 1830s. As more and more settlers came, the Maori were driven away from their territories. Conflicts between the Maori and the British were not uncommon at that time. In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between England and several Maori chiefs. This treaty handed sovereignty of New Zealand to the British Crown. Today New Zealand is an independent country but still part of the British Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of England holds the title of Queen of New Zealand and is represented in New Zealand by the governor general.

New Zealand is located in the South Pacific Ocean, some 1,600 kilometers southeast of its neighbor, Australia. Its land area is almost like that of Italy. Geologists say that New Zealand, which used to be a part of Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent, got separated from this continent as a single land mass 80 million years ago. The different unique, “ancient looking” plant and animal species that are still abundant in the forests of New Zealand seem to support what geologists say about New Zealand’s origin. Because of movements in the earth’s tectonic plates, changes in the terrain resulted in the formation of many islands from what was once a single land mass. This is the New Zealand that we know today, which is composed of two main islands and several other small islands some of which are still uninhabited. The two main islands of New Zealand are the North Island, which has a sub-tropical climate, and South Island, which is temperate. The main islands are both long and slender and it is said that all areas in New Zealand are no more than 128 km or 80 miles from the sea. All areas in the country are one or two hours from the sea including its mountains. It is then extremely possible to be skiing in the snowcapped mountains in the morning and swimming in the sparkling beach a few hours later.

The sights that you will see in this country are stunning and diverse. Our New Zealand Travel Guide will show you New Zealand as a land of contrasts. It is this feature of this amazing country that attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. New Zealand has modern urban centers to boast of, but it is the wilderness and the countryside that truly make this country a unique and unforgettable tourist destination.

The country’s North Island which is volcanic and with a central plateau has towering mountains, magnificent active and dormant volcanoes, steaming hot springs, mud pools and powerful geysers. Rotorua is one tourist attraction in this island that is known for its geothermal activity. Tourists have been flocking to this destination since the 1800s not just because of the therapeutic benefits of the area’s hot springs but also because of the city’s beauty. This city has been named as the country’s most beautiful city six times. It is also in North Island where the Tongariro National Park is located. This is the country’s first national park established in the 1800s. In this park are the three sacred mountains of the Maori, the original settlers of the land. There are lakes and forests ready to be explored and enjoyed in the area too. The North Island also has beautiful sandy beaches, rolling farmlands and vast forests. The South Island on the other hand has spectacular snow covered mountains, large glaciers, enchanting fiords, rugged mountains, beech forests, placid turquoise and aquamarine lakes and raging rivers. This is where another national park is located. This is the Fiordland National Park. The different parks and destinations abound in flora and fauna, which are unique to the country. Some are endangered and closely monitored and protected by the government.

In almost every tourist destination are trails where travellers can walk and have a close look and feel of the wonders of nature in this beautiful country. There are many outdoor activities in store for tourists as they explore the hills, mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and lakes of New Zealand. There are leisure walks and rides by land, air and water that will take you around the beautiful sights of the country. There are also breathtaking and adrenaline pumping adventures like the Sky Walk at the Sky Tower and bungee jumping in Auckland Bridge. Our New Zealand Travel Guide will give you ideas on the many exciting activities you can try in this awesome country. You will be astounded at the number of possibilities that are available for you to enjoy the country’s natural beauty. Different accommodations are available in the various tourist destinations. There are hotels, motels, bed and breakfast lodges, backpackers’ accommodations, camp grounds, farm stays and even Maori homestays. There is definitely one that will suit your taste and budget. Because of the endless attractions this country offers, many say that one month is not enough to explore all of the country’s noted destinations.

New Zealand has a population of 4.4 million of which about 75% live in the North Island with 1 in 3 living in the city of Auckland. Around 73% of the total population are of European descent, mostly British. Around 11% to 12% is Maori and the remaining are from other South Pacific ethnicities and Asians. New Zealand is a predominantly Christian country with Anglican as the most common Christian denomination. Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other places of worship are seen all over the country.

The people of New Zealand are called New Zealanders. Mostly of European descent, they are known to have a strong affinity to nature. They love the outdoors and are very proud of their country’s natural beauty. The country has well established systems and policies that seek to protect their country’s natural environment and beauty. New Zealanders, also known as Kiwis after their national bird, are known to be friendly and honest.

New Zealand has three official languages. The first of these languages is New Zealand English, which is the most widely spoken of the three official languages. New Zealand English is very similar to Australian English but with marked differences in the pronunciation of vowels. The second official language is Te Reo Maori which is an Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the Maori, the original settlers of New Zealand. Although not widely spoken there have been major efforts in recent years to revive and nurture the language. The third official language, which was developed by and for the deaf, is the New Zealand Sign Language which was declared as the third national language just in 2006. So if you can speak and understand English, traveling around the country will be easy.

Read on and let this New Zealand Travel Guide give you an exciting glimpse of what is in store for you in this wonderful paradise.