East of Taupo lie the mountain ranges that form the backbone of the North Island. Beyond them, by the bay at Hawkes, is the wonderful wine region and the beautiful Art Deco town of Napier. To the south lies the Martinborough wine region. It is just an hour’s drive from Wellington, New Zealand’s sophisticated capital city with beautiful harbors, glistening bays, steep hills and an incredible array of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.

The South Island begins with the world famous Marlborough wineries and the charming town of Nelson. It is surrounded by beautiful beaches and is in close proximity to the mountainous terrain around Nelson Lakes National Park, as well as Abel Tasman National Park, where spectacular sea kayaking is practiced. From the top of the South Island you can head to the summits of New Zealand’s mighty Southern Alps (not to be confused with the European Alps), and then continue along the west coast to the fabulous Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. If you prefer the sea to the mountains, aim east to the eco-tourism center of Kaikoura, where you can watch whales and dolphins. Traveling along the east coast will take you to the South Island’s largest city, Christchurch. Although its English architectural heritage was completely destroyed by earthquakes, the rebuilding process is gathering pace and the town is now close to becoming the most interesting in the country.

From here you can cross the island in a cross-country route, enjoying one of the most scenic rail routes, or head southwest past the patchwork of farmland of the Canterbury Plain to the magical foothills of the Southern Alps and New Zealand’s highest point, Mount Cook (3754m).

From the fields of the Canterbury Plain, past the stunning architecture of Oamaru, to the equally luxurious Scottish town of Dunedin, there are opportunities to explore the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula with its albatrosses, seals, sea lions and penguin colonies. In the mid-nineteenth century, gold prospectors came here to explore both the peninsula and the central regions of the South Island, particularly around Queenstown. It is a magnificent resort on the shores of beautiful Lake Huakatipu, where you can go bungee jumping, rafting, jetboating and skiing on the mountain slopes.

One of New Zealand’s most famous hiking trails, the Routeburn, starts from Queenstown. It takes you to the stunning fjords of the Tasman Sea and glaciers in Fiordland National Park, as well as the small town of Te Anau on the shores of its namesake lake. Further south, you’ll feel the prickly Antarctic winds, which will increase in intensity as you approach the isolated and sparsely populated Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest island. However, the climate of the island itself is fairly temperate. Much of its territory is covered with dense forests, which give you the chance to see the rare nocturnal kiwi birds in their natural environment. An even more fascinating fact about this island is the chance to see the Northern Lights, which is unusual for its high latitude. Scientists call it a magnetic anomaly, and tourists in love with New Zealand call it natural magic.

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Rocky coasts, wide beaches, dense forests, snow-capped mountains, impressive geysers and volcanoes… New Zealand’s landscapes are majestic and indescribably beautiful. The forests here are home to strange rare birds, the coasts are home to penguins and seals, and the coastal waters are teeming with whales, sharks and other no less interesting wildlife. The indigenous Maori tribes, who settled on the islands 800 years ago, have created a unique culture with customs and traditions that can still be found in remote villages. Maori culture is also present in New Zealand cities, but here it is also enriched by European, Asian and other cultures, which gives city life a special flavor.

New Zealand is located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean on two main islands and several hundred small islands. Its closest neighbors are Australia (to the west, across the Tasman Sea), and New Caledonia, Tonga, and Fiji (to the north). The western part of the country is washed by the Tasman Sea, the other parts by the Pacific Ocean.

The two main islands, North and South, are separated by the Cook Strait. The South Island is New Zealand’s largest island. It is divided along its entire length by the Southern Alps, where there are 18 peaks over 3,000 meters high, including the highest point in the country, Mount Cook (Aoraki). The southwest coast, with its high mountain ranges and extensive glaciers, is riddled with fjords.

The northern island is less mountainous, but it is a particularly active volcanic zone. It is also home to the country’s largest lake, Taupo, sheltered in the basin of a huge volcano of the same name.

Other major islands include Stewart, Antipodes Islands, Auckland, Bounty and Campbell Islands.

The population of New Zealand is about 4.5 million people. The capital is Wellington (located on the North Island).

Given the stunning landscapes and limitless entertainment options, vacations in New Zealand can range from walks on wild windswept beaches and multi-day hikes on mountain trails to adrenaline-charged adventures such as bungee jumping, extreme skiing, sea kayaking or rafting. Some travelers see New Zealand as a huge playground for a large-scale quest, where you have to complete as many tasks as possible in the allotted vacation time. The choice of territory is up to you, as it is impossible to travel the country and see everything it has to offer in a few days. Most likely, you will want to come back to complete this exciting “challenge” to the end.

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