The size of New Zealand is comparable to that of Great Britain or Japan. The coastline in its entirety measures 1500 kilometers/900 miles in length, strangely enough, the same distance that separates New Zealand from Australia across the Tasman Sea. 20% of the country is covered in national parks, forests and reserves. An interesting fact is that 80% of the flora here is native.

New Zealand is a country made up of two major islands, simply called the North and South Islands which are separated by the Cook Strait which is 22 kilometers/14 miles in width at its narrowest point. The contrast is not only in terrain and physical features but also in character and attractions.