"Sharrie's New Zealand Adventure" New Zealand by Sharrie

New Zealand Travel Guide: 16,477 reviews and 34,813 photos

NEW ZEALAND (NZ) is a country of great diversity in terms of landscape and vegetation. To a visitor, NZ is an entirely unique country in that one can experience America (for its similarity to Yellowstone's geysers), Canada (for its glacier lakes), Switzerland (its picturesque mountains) & Scandinavia (its fiords) all in one (on a smaller scale naturally)! Therefore, if you talk to a traveler who has been to NZ, you do have to know whether he/she has been to the NORTH ISLAND or the SOUTH ISLAND. They are two very distinctive landscapes.

My first approach to NZ was at the North Island. It was an eye-opener for me. For someone who has never been to a volcanic country (in its rarest state; Japan is an exception in that it is very well developed with modern skyscrapers), a tectonic plate was a mysterious & new concept to me. Ok, the following paragraph is for the benefit of those readers who has not been acquainted with this natural occurrence.

In geologist term, when one tectonic plate slides under another, it forms a subduction zone. The North Island is on the southern reaches of the zone where the oceanic Pacific plate is sliding underneath the Continental plate, resulting in volcanic activity which in turn created a number of large volcanoes and thermal areas and some equally impressive volcanic depressions. Lake Taupo, NZ's largest lake was formed by gigantic volcanic explosion in 186 AD.

As for the South Island, the geological process is different. Here, the 2 tectonic plates are (still) smashing into each other, resulting in a process called 'crustal shortening'. This has caused the Southern Alps to rise; my visit to the FOX GLACIER & FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER an experience of a lifetime! Check them out on South Island travelogue.

Facts about New Zealand

Do you know that NZ's Capital is Wellington?! (Population: 410,000)
Population: 3.82 million.
Largest City: Auckland (Population: 1 million)
Languages: English, Maori.
National Holiday: Waitangi Day, Feb. 6 (1840).
GDP Per Capita (PPP): US$17,900.
Currency: NZ$ = 100 cents.
Trivia: NZ has more sheeps than citizens!

Web Resources
National Anthem: GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND
Country Code: 64
Yellow Pages: YellowPages.co.nz
Newspaper: NZ Herald
CIA World Factbook: Year 2009
Online Travel Guide: Columbus World Travel Guide
Online Destination Guide: LonelyPlanet.com
Map: Lonely Planet Map

Last visit to New Zealand: Mar 1997
Intro Updated Dec 19, 2009
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Reviews (28)

Cruise to Cape Brett & Piercy Island - New Zealand

Cruise to Cape Brett & Piercy Island Things to Do (9)

Enjoy a cruise to Cape Brett & Piercy Island. With such a beautiful scenery, one can't help but drink it all in and... more travel advice

Lake Taupo Things to Do (9)

New Zealand's largest lake (606 sq km) formed by one of the world's greatest volcanic explosions is very serene these... more travel advice

Bungy Jumping Things to Do (9)

Most popular location in North Island because of its scenic setting on the cliffs of the Waikato River. You have to... more travel advice

Bay of Islands Things to Do (9)

After a long journey from Rotorua the stunning coastal scenery and clear turqoise water is a welcome sight. I was told... more travel advice

What to Pack (1)
Essentials
Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All KAIKOURA
Favorites (10)
See All ROTORUA

Transportation (2)
See All Web Resources
Hotels (4)
See All CDL Group of Hotels
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Comments (61)

hunterV Mar 18, 2010 at 12:13 PM Report Abuse

Great page about NZ! Thanks!
36waterfalls Aug 10, 2006 at 11:49 AM Report Abuse

Love the travelogues; brings back great memories...
Libi73 Mar 5, 2004 at 2:24 AM Report Abuse

I really loved NZ. You too love NZ. Been there in january.
dragontml Feb 13, 2004 at 12:48 AM Report Abuse

4 months in NZ was a backpacking trip ! Yeah, those sandflies can be a pest at times !
margaretvn May 18, 2003 at 3:25 AM Report Abuse

great page and wonderful photos! I enjoyed your page.
shelnlin Apr 26, 2003 at 4:24 AM Report Abuse

I am very Homesick... seriously Sharrie you have done a beautiful job of my home and I thank you for sharing it with us all. I hope to do one when I return.
M0B1US Apr 1, 2003 at 1:38 AM Report Abuse

Great Page! Especially about Rotorua - though I'm not sure about the fresh air...;-)
kenmerk Mar 10, 2003 at 10:13 PM Report Abuse

Sharrie, as always great page... I can never get enough of NZ...
rozehill Feb 7, 2003 at 2:19 AM Report Abuse

Dazzling pictures. I am glad to live here and enjoy the glory of all our extraordinary scenery etc
truus_s Feb 7, 2003 at 1:52 AM Report Abuse

Wow!!Great page!!and beautifull photos!!