New Zealand is today one of the world’s foremost holiday destinations despite its remote location off the bottom corner off Australia. A combination of breathtaking scenery, as seen in the Lord of the Rings movies, low population levels, friendly people and value for money have sealed its reputation as a tourist haven.

The North and South islands make up the bulk of the landmass which is largely young and volcanic. Both islands are roughly the same size and slightly larger than Great Britain combined. The North Island has the biggest cities and most people, while the South Island has the bulk of the stark scenery and largest mountains.