New Zealand enjoys varied landscape and dramatic geographical features - from cascading glaciers, to active volcanoes, from placid lakes, to vast mountain ranges. Everyone who lives here has an ocean of fascinating country and culture that's unparalleled. It's time for those who haven't been to make their way. Unspoiled scenery is waiting. Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands--the North Island and the South Island. In addition, Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore.
New Zealand is a developed country with a market economy that is dominated by the exports of dairy products, meat and wine, along with tourism. New Zealand is a World Bank high-income economy and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life.
New Zealand is roughly the same size as the UK but has one fourteenth the population (4.4m versus 62.6m).
New Zealand is the 5th most democratic country in the world, according to the Economist Magazine Intelligence Unit (source).
The Weather: Nothing can get better than the weather in New Zealand. The winters are mild, with temperatures around 10ºC (50ºF) and slightly wet. In higher altitudes, you will see snow, but it's not common in lower altitudes. In the summers, the climate is warm and dry with temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF). As you would expect in the southern hemisphere, the summer lasts from December to February; winter lasts from June to August. Spring and fall are similar, with cooler temperatures and little rain.
This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who looks for adventure. In New Zealand, there are literally thousands of things to do. Do you like to hike? There are plenty of mountains for you to explore. Do you enjoy being a beach bum? Then you get to enjoy the beaches throughout the year. Want some excitement? There are always new things to do . The scenery is different depending on where you go; you could drive an hour and have a completely different geography. We'll look at this more in our sports and recreation section.
