New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
Getting to New Zealand
All visitors, apart from Australian citizens, require an electronic travel authority or a visa in advance of travel to enter or transit New Zealand. Citizens of the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue are New Zealand citizens. However, due to differing immigration laws, citizens of these countries need to present their passport when entering and leaving New Zealand.
Worth seeing
It can be said that in New Zealand it's the countryside that's magnificent, and perhaps no more so than the Southern Alps of the South Island. In the Mackenzie Country, the snow-capped jagged peaks rising above turquoise lakes have provided the inspiration for many a postcard. Tucked in behind is the country's highest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook (3724 m).
Things to do
Outdoor and adventure activities include: Bungy Jumping – The modern bungy jumping was invented here by New Zealander A.J. Hackett. Popular locations are Queenstown, Auckland, or Taupo.
Where to eat
Modern New Zealand cuisine has been influenced mainly by the country's British heritage, although immigration since the 1950s has put Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific twists to it. Māori have their own distinctive traditional cuisine. The evening meal, called dinner or tea, is considered the main meal of the day. Snack breaks between meals are referred to as morning/afternoon tea.
Getting around New Zealand the local way
- Get aroundNational passes include the Interislander ferry and a scenic boat cruise in Milford Sound.
- Get aroundFlexi-Pass hours can also be used to travel on the Interislander ferry and on Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Dolphin Watching cruises and tours to Cape Brett and the famous "Hole in the Rock".
- Get aroundSome rental car companies do not allow their vehicles on the Cook Strait ferries between the North and South Island, or only allow them on if you promise to return them back to their originating island.
- Get aroundMost rental car companies will allow you to drop off a car at one terminal, travel on the ferry and pick up another car at the other terminal at no extra cost.
- Get aroundTimed to meet the Interislander ferry between Wellington and Picton.
- Get aroundThere are two passenger and car ferry operators which cross Cook Strait between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island.
- Get aroundMake sure you pack essentials for every possible weather situation in your carry-on luggage; you can't return to your car once the ferry has left port.
- Get aroundThe ferry terminal at Picton is close to the railway station, and the Coastal Pacific train connects with Interislander sailings.
From Wikivoyage: New Zealand, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Michal Klajban (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.