Geography
PHOTO: Mt. Cook (3754m), Mt. Cook National Park, New Zealand
From beach bums to those who love the mountain air, New Zealand has something for everyone.
New Zealand consists of the North Island - Te-Ika-a-Maui - and the South Island - Te Wai Pounam.
Though separated by just 20km of water, the islands are distinct in their physical properties, with the North Island mostly made of rolling hills and the South Island being bigger and more diverse with its alpine mountains and plains.
Stewart Island, or Rakiura, lying due south of the South Island is the third largest island.
New Zealand has over 700 offshore islands including the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Islands, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands.
Southern Alps: It cuts across most of South Island. To the west of the Alps, are rainforests. And to the east are the Canterbury Plains, which have rivers running down from the mountains.
Lakes: New Zealand has really huge scenic lakes. The largest one, Lake Taupo, is bigger than Singapore.
Glaciers: In defiance of all rules of nature, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have a temperate rainforest around them. There are many other glaciers further inside Mt Cook National Park.
The diversity in the landscape, apart from supporting the growth of a variety of flora and fauna, make for a great holiday in New Zealand!
New Zealand Vital Statistics
Highest mountain: Aoraki/Mt Cook (3,754m)
Deepest lake: Lake Hauroko (462m)
Largest lake: Lake Taupo (606 sq km)
Longest river: Waikato River (425km)
Longest glacier: Tasman Glacier (28.5km long)