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New Zealand Overview
Posted under New Zealand AttractionsNew Zealand is located in the South Pacific, just off Australia, and often referred to as the "land of the long white cloud."
While it is a geographically small country - touring the entire country in a camper van is very popular - it has incredible variety. You can sunbathe on the beach, ski in the Alps, or just about anything in between. It is also fascinating for its Maori culture and history.
Mount Cook
New Zealand is famous for its scenery and became very popular with Tourists recently because it was the setting for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The beautiful New Zealand landscapes used in Lord of the Rings are just one side to New Zealand; fantastic fjords are equally inspiring.
While its scenery is probably the main tourist attraction it also has some very beautiful cities, including its capital Auckland, Wellington, and the tourist capital of Queenstown. New Zealand is actually two different islands, with the capital Auckland in the North Island and the tourist capital Queenstown in the South Island. Perhaps the most popular national park is Mount Cook on the South Island. I personally have fond memories of Mount Cook as this was my first helicopter ride, to the summit of Mount Cook; an experience not to be missed if you are there.
While Auckland is the largest city and major international airport, the capital of New Zealand is actually Wellington. Another popular tourist destination is Rotorua, famous for its hot springs.
A major attraction is the prestigious yachting event, the America's Cup. Other favourites in Auckland all year round are Kelly Charlton's Underwater World and the Antarctic Encounter. Auckland also boasts a great zoo, botanical Gardens, and a National Maritime Museum