New Zealand is a place where beautiful scenery and landscapes open up to a world of thrills and adventure.
Made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, New Zealand has something for everybody and is a popular destination for Canadian travellers.
New Zealand is an island country. Its nearest neighbours are Australia and the Pacific islands of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day – it’s 12 hours ahead of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Spring through to Autumn is the best time to visit. Peak season is mid December to early February, when the school holidays occur. Ski towns in the South Island, such as Queenstown, are quite busy through winter.
New Zealand has a changeable, maritime climate. There is no large landmass in the way to block the prevailing west-to-east breezes bringing systems off the Tasman Sea, so the weather can change quickly. Temperatures vary between the North and South Islands, with minus degree readings in the South during winter.
Public buses and private taxis are the most available forms of transport. Trains and ferries run in the largest cities.
World records New Zealand is home to the biggest flightless parrot, the oldest reptile,the biggest earthworm, the smallest bat, and the steepest street.
National icons are the nocturnal Kiwi Bird and the Silver Fern which is emblazoned on the National Rugby team, theAll Blacks’ uniform.
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