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New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and
pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a
great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated,
and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis
will impress it’s visitors. The great advantage of New Zealand is that
all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so
close to each other! New Zealand consists of two large islands, North
Island and South Island, plus several smaller ones of which Stewart
Island is the largest and often referred to as 'the third island'.
North Island is volcanically active with a central plateau. This
thermal belt contains active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe and Tongariro
- and magnificent examples of geysers, boiling mud pools, hot springs
and steam vents. In Waitomo District, the Waitomo Caves, with their
caverns, underground rivers and glittering glowworms, are one of the
island's most popular attractions, while up north, the historic Bay of
Islands is famous for its scenic islands and secluded coves. Wellington
is the capital, situated on the southern tip of North Island. The city
is compact and interesting, nestled between a dramatic harbour and bush
clad hills. Made up of four quarters each with their own distinctive
mix of shopping, cafes, transport, and accommodation. Places of
interest include the modernist Beehive building, the Old Government
Building (one of the largest wooden buildings in the world) and the
Katherine Mansfield Memorials. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu,
Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere's premiere four season alpine and
lake resort. Best known as the “Adventure capital” and a mecca for
extreme sports enthusiasts, adrenalin-pumping outdoor activities include
bungy jumping from either Skippers Canyon Bridge or out of a
helicopter, jet-boating on the Shotover River, whitewater rafting,
skiing, skydiving, river surfing, and heli-skiing.
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