New Zealand Tourist Guide

New Zealand's outstanding landscape includes huge mountain
chains, steaming volcanoes, far-reaching coastlines, deeply
indented fiords and lush rainforests. Similar in size to Britain or
Colorado but with a population of only 4 million, it is one of the
least crowded countries in the world. A haven for those seeking
peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for
thrill seekers and adventurers, its temperate climate and marginal
seasonal variation makes it an ideal year-round ocean or river
cruising destination.
The capital city, Wellington, is set on the edge of a stunning
harbour surrounded by rolling hills at the southern tip of North
Island. It's a bustling modern city with a compact downtown area
easily explored on foot. It's also New Zealand's arts and culture
capital, with galleries and museums, notably the national museum,
Te Papa Tongrewa, on the waterfront.
Nearby is the Parliament building and the National Archive where
the original Treaty of Waitangi is displayed; this is the Treaty
between the British government and chiefs of the indigenous people,
the Maori, the founding document of the modern nation-state of New
Zealand. The Treaty Grounds at Paihia, north of Auckland, are the
country's most important historic site. You can take a trip aboard
a traditional Maori canoe to the sacred island of Motu Maire for a
close encounter with New Zealand's native culture.
Visit the South Island and you can get close to nature cruising
Milford Sound, a fiord with spectacular scenery and waterfalls. A
visit to the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory takes you 30 feet
below to view breathtaking marine life. You can also take a cruise
boat to explore the Marlborough Sounds at the northern end of South
Island, a very special part of New Zealand.
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