Tips & Info

Climate / Weather

New Zealand's climate varies, but it is generally mild with wet winters and warm, dry summers. Temperatures in the summer (December to February) range from 20˚C to 35˚C and average between 10˚C and 20˚C in the winter (June to August).

Culture

New Zealand has a diverse multi-cultural population, the majority of whom are of British descent. New Zealand's indigenous Maori make up around 14 percent of the population.

The culture of its indigenous Maori people affects the language, the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders.

New Zealanders embrace new technology and culture, but they also have a background of quiet but rugged individualism, self-reliance and a passion for invention.

Many New Zealanders travel extensively and thrive on learning and experiencing other cultures. They are renowned for their openness, ingenuity and “easy-going” nature.

Environment

Fourteen spectacular national parks preserve New Zealand's natural heritage... enshrining a huge variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife, New Zealand encompasses rich farmland, mountains, rivers and unsurpassed scenery.

The country is slightly bigger than the UK in size. Three-quarters of the population live in the North Island with more than a third of New Zealand's population living in the largest city, Auckland.

The South Island - with its lakes, fiords and spectacular outdoor scenery is the most popular destination for tourists.

The gateway to the South Island is Christchurch - a city of approximately 340,000 people.

Recreation

New Zealand's stunning landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to relax and enjoy life.

New Zealanders love the outdoors, especially tramping, camping, skiing and snowboarding. Sailing, surfing and swimming are also favourite pursuits. New Zealand's sports and recreation facilities are inexpensive, abundant and very accessible.

My Map

Google Maps are an efficient GPS alternative to finding your way around. You can look up your destination, print off a map (or maps) and use them when you are out walking, cycling or driving. Google Maps now have a facility called 'My Maps', where you can create and save any number of detailed, personalised maps for free - perfect for trip planning.

It's very simple to use. Log on to Google Maps (www.maps.google.co.nz), then click on the 'My Maps' option. Pull up the area you want to build your map around, for example, Christchurch. Then click on 'Create New Map' and give it a name and brief description. You can use line-draw tools to show routes e.g. river walk route. It's like having your own personal map library