Guides › South Pacific Islands › New Zealand
City guide

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 700 smaller islands.

Type Country

Why go

  • Island country in the Pacific Ocean.
  • 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Tasman Glacier & Blue Lakes.
  • Served by Lake Station Airport.

History

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.

Must-see attractions

22 more attractions in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Lake Station Airport 34 km to the centre
TAS, NZ
Outdoor
Molesworth Airport 47 km to the centre
Molesworth, MBH, NZ
Outdoor
Murchison Airport 70 km to the centre
Murchison, TAS, NZ
Outdoor

Where to stay

Marlborough Region 7275, New Zealand · doc.govt.nz
Indoor
7935 Awatere Valley Road, Awatere Valley 7274, New Zealand · middlehurst.co.nz
Indoor
68 Tophouse Road, St Arnaud 7072, New Zealand · tophouse.kiwi
Indoor
75 Main Road St Arnaud, St Arnaud 7072, New Zealand · alpinelodge.co.nz
Indoor
55 Fairfax Street, Murchison 7007, New Zealand · murchisonmotels.co.nz
Indoor
33 Main Road, State Highway 63, St Arnaud 7053, New Zealand · nelsonlakes.co.nz
Indoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Lake Station Airport; 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for New Zealand. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach