New Zealand, also know as the ‘Long White Cloud’, is a sparsely populated country consisting of two major islands, the North and South islands. Known for it’s magnificent and natural beauty, incredible landscapes and vast open space.

Very popular with travellers and backpackers from across the globe, New Zealand greets new arrivals with fresh air, breathtaking scenery and an extensive list of outdoor activities.

With a tremendously friendly, honest and helpful population, appropriately nicknamed after their country’s distinct symbol, the kiwi bird.

Both the North and South Island can be distinguished via different characters and scenery.

Upon arrival of the North Island, you’ll notice dramatic volcanic landscapes and highly active thermal areas, with long stretches of beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient indigenous forests and a strong Maori cultural influence.

The South Island has a much chilled out, slower pace of life, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and the snow covered, Southern Alps, also including fantastic scenery of the southern waterways of the fjord lands, including glaciers, deep lakes and verdant forests.

I’ll put together individual posts on both the North and South Islands, this is just a little introduction for you guys

New Zealand offers a huge variety of action-packed and laid back activities, from bungee jumping to skiing, swimming with dolphins, scenic flights and boat cruises on the fjords, as well as several world famous walking trails with unrivalled scenery. Alternatively visitors can immerse themselves in culture at the museums and galleries of the country’s main cities – Auckland and the capital Wellington in the North, and Christ Church in the south.

New Zealand is an easy and compact place in which to travel and its spectacularly dramatic landscape alone, famous for its setting for the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy, makes the long trip to these southern islands more than worthwhile.