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New Zealand Information
New Zealand, also known in the native Maori language as Aotearoa, is a temperate to sub-tropical island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. A former British colony, it has a population mainly of European descent, with a sizeable indigenous Maori minority and smaller minorities of various Polynesian and other groups.
A modern but sparsely populated country, it boasts natural beauty and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities.
Islands
New Zealand consists of the two main islands, North and South, and a number of smaller ones:
* North Island - Warm, with scenery ranging from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland and forests to active volcanic peaks with bubbling mud pools.
* South Island - Spectacular mountains and fjords, large beech forests, beautiful beaches, large glaciers.
* Stewart Island - Heavily forested, a wilderness paradise for trampers with wonderful bird song and the only place to a see a sun-bathing (feathered) kiwi on Masons Beach!
* Chatham Islands - One of the most remote parts of the world. Some of the worlds most Rare and endangered birds, plants and insects. Unique Tree carvings done by the peaceful Moriori people hundreds of years ago.
* Sub-Antarctic Islands - Now wildlife preserves, these islands are very difficult to get to unless you're on a scientific expedition or deep sea fishing vessel.
Cities
It's the country that's magnificent in New Zealand and we only list nine of the most prominent settlements. Here they are from north to south:
North Island:
* Auckland - "The City of Sails" - largest and most populated conurbation, with over a million in the metropolitan area, making it the largest in Polynesia by far
* Hamilton - 128km south of Auckland, capital of the Waikato, home to the Chiefs (super 14 rugby) and the Magic ( ANZ cup netball). Leafy. Recently voted the world's fourteenth least cycle-friendly city (above Mexico City but below Jakarta).
* Tauranga - known for its great weather, sun and beach Tauranga is a great holiday spot.
* Rotorua - famous for Maori culture, geysers, hot pools and that funny "rotten egg" (sulphur dioxide) smell
* Wellington - the national capital, also known as "The Windy City" - Parliament and the Beehive and the wonderful, free Te Papa museum
South Island:
* Nelson - safe and friendly, with New Zealand's highest sunshine hours. Nelson is the geographic centre of the country and surrounded by three stunning national parks, vineyards and orchards
* Christchurch - The Garden City and the Air Gateway to Antarctica
* Queenstown - adrenalin and adventure capital of the world, where you can skydive, bungy jump, jet-boat, thrill yourself to your hearts content
* Dunedin - the Edinburgh of the South, proud of its Scots heritage, chocolate factory, Southern Albatross colony and its wonderful tramping tracks within a short drive from the CBD
* Invercargill - the southernmost city and one of the very few places to see a living Tuatara
Other destinations
* Taranaki - Mountain to Sea! The stand alone near perfect cone of the majestic Mount Taranaki guards over this province of rugged black sand coast line with world class surf beaches.
* Taupo - Very popular tourist destination, largest lake in the Southern Hemisphere and a centre for adventure sports, sailing and fishing.
* Havelock North - a great base for exploring the Hawkes Bay wineries, and home to Te Mata peak
* Hokianga - Pristine, unspoilt, untouched and untamed, this rural region features many cultural and natural attractions.
* Blenheim - Grape vines to the horizon with sauvignon blanc to die for
* Kaikoura - Great for whale watching, Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater.
* Southern Alps - stretching the length of the South Island, these imposing mountains are great for mountain climbing, sightseeing and skiing.
* Aoraki/Mount Cook - New Zealand's highest mountain. Walking, kayaking, skiing, scenic flights and mountaineering are on offer.
* Omarama - World famous gliding destination.
* Milford Sound and Fiordland - New Zealand's largest National Park and one of the largest in the world. The park, together with the adjoining Mount Aspiring National Park, occupies the south west corner of the South Island and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Time zones
New Zealand Standard Time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). New Zealand utilises daylight saving in summer. From 30 September 2007, daylight saving hours will be changed to extend the period to 27 weeks. It commences at 2am on the last Sunday in September (clocks go forward an hour) and ends at 2am on the first Sunday in April (clocks go back an hour) of the following year. During daylight savings time New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT. The Chatham Islands have their own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of the rest of New Zealand.
Sports
The "national sports" in New Zealand are rugby union and netball in winter, and cricket in summer. The Super 14 season runs from February to May, and the National Provincial Championship runs later in the year. The national team, the All Blacks, generally play matches at home during June through to September, mainly in the Tri Nations.
Climate
New Zealand has a temperate climate in the south island and sub-tropical climate in the North Island and the nature of the terrain, the prevailing winds and the length of the country lead to sharp regional contrasts. Temperatures sometimes exceed 30°C and fall below 0°C only in the elevated inland regions. Generally speaking, rainfall and humidity is higher in the west than the east of the country due to the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges and the prevailing westerly/north westerly winds.
Part situated in the "Roaring Forties", unsheltered areas of the country can get a bit breezy, especially in the centre, through Cook Strait and around Wellington. The winds seem to be stronger around the equinoxes. In the winter, southerly gales can be severe but they also bring snow to the ski-fields and are usually followed by calm clear days.
Driving in New Zealand
Driving around both the main islands by car is generally not a problem. You can reach almost anywhere you might need to in a two-wheel-drive car or even a small camper van. You do not need four-wheel drive to reach the best places. The volume of traffic is normally low and drivers are usually fairly courteous. Within the cities, traffic density is higher and some confusion may set in, given that many drivers are used to the open roads.
To legally drive in New Zealand then you need to be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid drivers licence from your home country. It's important to note that if you plan on staying and driving in country for over a year then you need to get a New Zealand driver's license.
Self drive holidays are a great way to travel around New Zealand as they offer independence, flexibility and opportunities to interact with the locals. Click on our supplier logos at the top of this page for full details of rental cars on offer.
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