New Zealand, Maori Aotearoa, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. New Zealand is a remote land—one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled—and lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises two main islands—the North and South Islands—and several small islands, some hundreds of miles from the leading group. The capital city is Wellington and the largest urban area Auckland; both are located on the North Island. New Zealand administers the South Pacific island group of Tokelau and claims a section of the Antarctic continent. Niue and the Cook Islands are self-governing states in free association with New Zealand.

New Zealand is a land of great contrasts and diversity. Active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, verdant valleys, dazzling fjords, long sandy beaches, and the spectacular snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps on the South Island—all contribute to New Zealand’s scenic beauty. New Zealand also has a unique array of vegetation and animal life, developed during its prolonged isolation. It is the sole home, for example, of the long-beaked, flightless kiwi, the ubiquitous nickname for New Zealanders.

New Zealand was the largest country in Polynesia when Great Britain annexed it in 1840. It was successively a crown colony, a self-governing colony (1856), and a dominion (1907). By the 1920s it controlled almost all of its internal and external policies, although it did not become fully independent until 1947 when it adopted Westminster’s statute. It is a member of the Commonwealth.

Despite New Zealand’s isolation, the country has been fully engaged in international affairs since the early 20th century, being an active member of several intergovernmental institutions, including the United Nations. It has also participated in several wars, including World Wars I and II. Economically the country was dependent on the export of agricultural products, especially to Great Britain. However, Britain’s entry into the European Community in the early 1970s forced New Zealand to expand its trade relations with other countries. It also began to develop a much more extensive and varied industrial sector. Tourism has played an increasingly important role in the economy, though this sector has been vulnerable to global financial instability.

New Zealand is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) long (north-south) and about 280 miles (450 km) across at its widest point. The country has slightly less surface area than the U.S. state of Colorado and a little more than the United Kingdom. About two-thirds of the land is economically useful, the remainder being mountainous. Because of its numerous harbours and fjords, the country has a too long coastline relative to its area.

New Zealand is part of the Ring of Fire—the circum-Pacific seismic belt marked by frequent earthquakes and considerable volcanic activity. The North Island and the western part of the South Island are on the Indian-Australian Plate, and the remainder of the South Island is on the Pacific Plate. Their collision creates violent seismic activity in subduction zones and along faults. Numerous earthquakes occur annually, including hundreds that can be felt by New Zealanders. A number of these temblors have been disastrous, such as devastated Napier and Hastings’ towns in 1931 and a series of quakes that did likewise in Christchurch in 2010–11.

Mountains roughly bisect both the North and the South islands. Swift snow-fed rivers drain from the hills, although only in the east of the South Island have extensive alluvial plains been built up. The alluvial Canterbury Plains contrast sharply with the Westland region’s precipitous slopes and narrow coastal strip on the South Island’s west coast. The Southern Alps are a 300-mile- (480-km-) long chain of fold mountains containing New Zealand’s highest mountain—Mount Cook (Maori: Aoraki) at 12,316 feet (3,754 metres)—and some 20 other peaks that rise above 10,000 feet (3,000 metres), as well as an extensive glacier system with associated lakes.

There are more than 360 glaciers in the Southern Alps. The Tasman Glacier, the largest in New Zealand, with a length of 18 miles (29 km) and a width of more than one-half mile (0.8 km), flows down the eastern slopes of Mount Cook. Other important glaciers on the Southern Alps’ eastern slopes are the Murchison, Mueller, and Godley; Fox and Franz Josef are the largest on the western slopes. The North Island has seven small glaciers on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.

Tourism

• Abel Tasman National Park

  Stepping into Abel Tasman is in some ways like stepping into Thailand. The beautiful beaches and azure water feel like they belong in the tropics, not New Zealand. The hiking is beautiful, with giant ferns, huge, lush trees, and a temperate climate. It is also home to the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk, a 60km hike and one of the 9 Great Walks of New Zealand.

  If you want to explore the park beyond its hiking trails, rent a kayak. This will let you visit the tiny coves and beaches that make the area so unique. Rentals cost 60 NZD per day.

  The park is best as an overnight or multiday trip as it is too far from Nelson to do it justice in a day trip.

• Wellington

  Everyone talks about Auckland (which, contrary to popular belief, is not the capital), but the real magic takes place in Wellington (which is the capital). The architecture and eclectic vibe give this city a funky personality. Wellington is a city with character.

  It has a popping nightlife, tons of art galleries and cafés, a beautiful harbour (best seen from Mount Victoria, which overlooks the entire city), and is easily walkable. Be sure to hit some museums like the Museum of Wellington, Te Papa, and the Great War Exhibition.

• Queenstown

  The city has such a feisty and outdoorsy energy to it. Even though it has become hugely popular and filled with people, I cannot express my love of Queenstown enough. Beautiful peaks surround it. It has narrow streets and pedestrian lanes filled with shops and restaurants, a spectacular lake, tons of trails and parks, and Queenstown Hill watching over the city like a benevolent overlord.

  This is one of the country’s best spots to do an extreme sport (Bungy, skydive, Shotover jet, etc.), take a wine tour, or chill out on a nearby beach.

• Christchurch

  Though severely damaged by earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 (over 185 people were killed and 3,000 buildings were damaged), Christchurch has rebounded and evolved into a brand-new city. The old Christchurch felt stale to me, but this new one is really on the up. It has a new-found sense of hope and vibrancy, funky bars, more markets, new restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Locals are using this chance to make a better Christchurch. It is a brand new day for the city, and I love where it is going.

  If you are there for a few days, be sure to check out Canterbury Museum, which has a detailed replica of the city during the Victorian era; and Quake City, an interactive museum dedicated to the 2010-11 earthquakes. Do not miss riding the gondola into the nearby hills for a sweeping view of the city as well!

• Discover Stewart Island

  Tiny, out-of-the-way Stewart Island lies off the South Island at the very bottom of New Zealand. It is a place where Kiwis have their summer homes and go to escape the hustle and bustle of, well, I guess Auckland (there is not too much hustle and bustle in New Zealand). The town has maybe a dozen buildings; the coastline dotted with private homes and boats.

  Come here to see dolphins and do some single-day or multiday treks. If you are not into hiking, you do not need more than a day or two here, unless you want some peace, then stay forever.

• Visit Hobbiton

  If you are a The Lord of the Rings junkie, New Zealand is a must. This is where they did all the filming, and throughout the country, you can take Lord of the Rings tours and visit Fangorn Forest, Gondor, and where Frodo destroys the one ring. Most of the sets have been taken down, but a bit of the Shire and some of the hobbit houses remain on the North Island.

  To see Hobbiton, you will have to take a tour. Tours last around 2 hours and cost 89 NZD for adults and 44 NZD for kids under 16.