Each trip to New Zealand can make for a completely different holiday experience and should grow as the family grows. Children are excited at the hot water beaches, caving and bio diversity of the wildlife. New Zealand also has some of the best children's play parks in the world, including Luge rides, not to mention some of the most accessable and family friendly ski runs from beginners to advanced levels.
Teenagers might meet their limits with the extreme sports, from zorbing, bungy jumps to jet boating. Whilst young adults can try their hand at exotic sports of kings, like para gliding and tandom sky diving. The more adventurous, mature person will exhault in early morning balloon trips, gondola rides and spectacular cruises. The older or frail will be happy to be shown just the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Take time to imagine your next tour of New Zealand. Click on a place name to explore the region:
Quick Facts
- Name: Aotearoa/New Zealand
- Population: 4 million
- Area: 270,534 sq km
- Capital City: Wellington (North Island)
- Largest City: Auckland (Pop. 1.4 million)
International airports are in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Peak travel months are summer's December - February.
New Zealand 's Record Breaking Facts
Famous New Zealanders include:
- Scientist Baron Ernest Rutherford was the first in the world to split the atom in 1919. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts in radioactivity.
- Sir Edmund Hilary - first to climb the tallest mountain in the world, Mt Everest.
- Entrepreneur and daredevil AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungy site in 1988. In June 1987 AJ bungy jumped illegally from the Eiffel Tower. AJ Hackett now lives in Paris.
- Brothers Davis and Andrew Akers created the world's first Zorb, a unique adventure activity involving a giant plastic ball, a slope and speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.
- Farmer William Hamilton developed the world's first propellerless jet boat in 1953. He went on to invent the hay lift, an advanced air compressor, a machine to smooth ice on skating ponds and the water sprinkler amongst other things.
- Referee William Atack was the world's first to use a whistle to stop a game of sport in 1884.
- Inventor Ernest Godward invented eggbeaters, burglar proof windows & the first spiral hair pin.
- Running great, Arthur Lydiard invented jogging, a training technique that saw his two protégés Peter Snell and Murray Halberg win gold medals on the same day at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
- Inventor, Alan Gibbs, invented the world's first high speed sports amphibian, the Aquada.
- A computer-controlled surf reef designed by a New Zealand company (led by Dr Black) has been built in USA. The "Versareef" can be moulded into different shapes by computer controls.
- Mt Maunganui & Wellington have artificial reefs to give good surf on demand.
- Films directors Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Andrew Adamson (Shrek and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) and Niki Caro (Whale Rider).
- Sport icons Jonah Lomu, Michael Campbell and Sarah Ulmer.
- Actors Russell Crow, Sam Neill, Keisha Castle Hughes, and Anna Paquin.
- Singers Kiri Te Kanawa, Daniel Bedingfield, Neil Fin and Bic Runga.
Sixty-five per cent of electricity in New Zealand is generated with renewable energy, primarily hydropower (52%) and geothermal power (9%) (2008 data).
New Zealand produces 14% of the world’s wool to countries like Australia, China, Italy, UK, India, USA, Belgium, & Germany. Stock are grazed in paddocks, often with moveable electric fencing around the farm. Agriculture is the main export for New Zealand. Wool accounts for nearly half total exports, Dairy 21%, meat 13.2%, wood 6.3%, fruit 3.5% & fishing 3.3%. The wine industry is also thriving.
Geography
Glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, geothermal geysers, bubbling mud, hot springs, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateaus, miles and miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches, rounded boulders or rocky outcrops, teeming with seals, dolphins, whales, gannets, albatross and even the odd, very cute kiwi bird.
The small distance into which all this awesome landscape is compressed (unlike the vastness Australia & USA) makes it appealing especially to those short of time. No wonder New Zealand is so popular as a movie location!
New Zealand consists of two main islands, aptly named North and South. The North Island has a 'spine' of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and hot geothermal area. The massive Southern Alps dominate the South Island's west coast. To the east is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat, fertile Canterbury Plains.
Climate
New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine throughout most of the country. Its climate is dominated by two main geographical features — the mountains and the sea! Locals say the term "Four Seasons in one day" was coined especially for us! Read More>
History
The first settlers Polynesians, arriving around 2000 years ago. A distinct culture developed, now known as Māori. The first Europeans to reach New Zealand was Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman and his crew in 1642. Māori killed several of the crew and no Europeans returned to New Zealand until British explorer James Cook's voyage of 1769. New Zealand was visited by numerous European and North American whaling, sealing and trading ships. They traded European food and goods, especially metal tools and weapons, for Māori timber, food, artefacts and water. On occasion, Europeans traded goods for sex. From the early nineteenth century, Christian missionaries began to settle New Zealand, eventually converting most of the Māori population.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in the Bay of Islands in 1840. The Treaty is regarded as New Zealand's foundation as a nation and is revered by Māori as a guarantee of their rights.
Initially under British rule, New Zealand was a colony of New South Wales (Australia) and Russell (Bay of Islands) was the capital, but it was moved to Auckland in 1841. At first, Māori were eager to trade with the 'Pakeha', as they called them but as settler numbers increased, conflicts led to the New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s and 1870s, resulting Māori land loss. The European acquisition of land from Māori remain controversial.
The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II under the Royal Titles Act 1974. She is represented by the Governor-General, whom she appoints on the exclusive advice of the Prime Minister. Elections are held every 3 years and Parliament has only one chamber, the House of Representatives, which usually seats 120 Members.
Maori Culture
In Māori culture the marae (meeting house) and extended family are important. As in traditional times, Māori habitually perform karakia to ensure the favourable outcome of important undertakings, but today the prayers used are generally Christian. Māori still regard their allegiance to tribal groups as a vital part of personal identity. With the resurgence of Māori culture in the late 20th century, the tradition-based arts of kapa haka (song and dance), carving and weaving are now more widely practiced, and the architecture of the marae maintains strong links to traditional forms. "Waka ama" (outrigger canoe racing), is now an international sport involving teams from all over the Pacific.
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