The Breathtaking Landscape
New Zealand is world-renowned for its incredible and beautiful landscapes, which make it a popular travel destination. The country is made up of two main islands, the North and South Islands. It also has several smaller islands, including the Stewart and Chatham Islands. It is located in the Southwest Pacific, giving it the tropical feel that so many vacationers search for. New Zealand landscape is characterized by the dramatic: azure skies and emerald hillsides, sheer mountains and gorgeous seascapes.
Because of its island status, it has 15,134 km of breathtaking coastline. New Zealand is one of the greatest surf spots in the world, whether for beginners looking for mellower waves or the awesome power of spots like Raglan Bay. New Zealand waters also offer myriad opportunities for ocean kayaking, world-class sailing, and rowing. Its long uninterrupted coastline is also friendly to relaxing and watching spectacular sunsets or sunrises over the ocean. The beaches of the North Island are covered in dark sand that is heavy with iron. The South Island also has some long stretches of sandy beach, but transforms into a more wild and rugged coastline for its majority.
For those adventurers looking to conquer a peak or two, there is plenty of variety waiting. The spine of mountains jutting from the North Island is dwarfed by the even more impressive Southern Alps of the South Island. Tucked into the Alps are some formidable glaciers, the largest being the Tasman, and most famous being the Fox and Franz Josef. An increasingly popular way to enjoy these ice mountains is to do a heli-hike: fly up in helicopter and hike back down. The North Island also has active volcanoes and thermal areas in its center, called the Volcanic Plateau. The South Island’s other main geological feature is the Canterbury Plains, a vast alluvial plain that makes up a largest stretch of flat land on both islands.
The islands of New Zealand are actually just the tip of the continent of Zealandia, which is 93% submerged in the ocean. It sank after breaking off from Australia millions of years ago, and has its own under-water features, including peaks and plateaus.
