New zealand is what kind of island

The two largest islands, Chatham and Pitt, are the only ones inhabited; most of the other islands have restricted access or are completely off-limits. You can fly in from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington to immerse yourself in a hilly showcase of shrubbery, photogenic beaches, dunes and epic lagoons.

As with Waiheke, passenger ferries departing from downtown Auckland will take you to the island. Its eastern shores feature high cliffs and awe-inspiring surf beaches, while the western side is best known for its serene, sheltered bays. Its importance to local conservation efforts means that access to the pest-free island is highly restricted. Little Barrier lies 80km 50mi north of Auckland and is a good place for birdwatching, diving and snorkelling.

Here, you can immerse yourself in various nature-based activities, such as diving, snorkelling, cycling, walking and marine wildlife spotting.

It is the main island among the Campbell Islands, which are surrounded by various rock formations and islets — the most well known are Dent Island, Folly Island and the Isle de Jeanette Marie. Campbell Island is steep, rocky and surrounded by cliffs and is also home to several endemic birds, including the Campbell Island teal and snipe, both of which are critically endangered. The island, which emerged from the sea just years ago, is a short ferry ride from the city and a favourite spot for those wanting to go hiking and participate in water sports.

Enderby is a key nesting site for endemic seabird species such as the Auckland shag, teal and snipe, as well as being an excellent place to spot New Zealand sea lions, brown skua, northern giant petrels and yellow-eyed penguins.

Here, divers can marvel at the underwater steam vents and resident marine critters, while avid fishers will have plenty of opportunities to cast a line during specialised chartered boat tours.

It is considered a protected nature reserve, and access is highly restricted. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK".

Many Kiwis also enjoy cricket. Because of its remote location, New Zealand is rich in unusual wildlife not seen anywhere else in the world. Nearly all the land animals are birds and many of these species have lost the ability to fly. The Maori people and European settlers introduced animals to the islands and the flightless birds had no defense against them. In the last 1, years, half of all animals on the islands have become extinct. Deforestation and draining of swamp land is also threatening many remaining species, including the kiwi bird.

Fewer than 75, wild kiwis remain. Several species are recovering, including the kakapo, kokako, kiwi, and tuatara. Bats are the only land mammals to have made the ocean crossing. Birds and insects, such as the weta, evolved to fill the gap of mammals on the islands. The giant weta, at 2. It is a relative of crickets and is considered one of the world's heaviest insects. Pilot and humpback whales visit the islands on their way to breed, and orcas come to feed on dolphins.

New Zealand's government is based on the parliamentary democracy based on the system used in Britain. There are seats in the House of Representatives and each is elected for a three-year term. Seven seats are reserved for the Maori and they are chosen by Maori voters. There are two main parties, National and Labour. The party with the most elected representatives forms the government.

Because these plates are constantly shifting and grinding into each other, New Zealand gets a lot of geological action. Visit Te Puia to experience the might of the iconic Pohutu Geyser that erupts up to 20 times a day, spurting hot water up to 30m skyward.

This subterranean activity blesses New Zealand with some spectacular geothermal areas and relaxing hot springs, as well as providing electricity and heating in some areas. First settled by Maori who used the hot springs for cooking and bathing, Rotorua soon attracted European residents. Beyond Rotorua, you can enjoy hot springs and other thermal activity in most regions of the North Island north of Turangi, as well as in Hanmer Springs and the West Coast in the South Island.

At low tide, when you can walk the length of Wharariki Beach past enormous sand dunes, rugged rocks and beautiful scenery. New Zealand has over 15, kilometres of beautiful and varied coastline. The north of the South Island has some beautiful sandy beaches, while the coastline around the rest of the South Island tends to be wilder and more rugged.

About a fifth of the North Island and two-thirds of the South Island are mountains. Stretching from the north of the North Island to the bottom of the South, these mountains are caused by the collision of the Australian and Pacific Plates. Over millions of years, alluvial deposits eroded from the mountains by rivers formed the vast Canterbury Plains in the South Island and a number of smaller plains in the North.

On the South Island's West Coast you can find ancient glaciers that extend almost to the sea. Gouged out by moving ice over thousands of years, these spectacular glaciers are easily accessible to mountaineers and hikers. You can walk up to the glaciers or do a heli-hike — fly up by helicopter and walk down. One of the most dramatic and stunning parts of New Zealand Fiordland is a mix of fiords, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.

Over thousands of years, the process of subduction has seen parts of the New Zealand landscape become submerged. These areas provide some of New Zealand most picturesque scenery, with steep lush hills plunging down to the deep still bays below. Clear, deep still water surrounded by beautiful bush makes these areas ideal for boating and kayaking. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit s with our partners.

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