North Island, New Zealand

The North Island, is as its name indicates, is the northern-most of New Zealand’s two main islands.

It has a warmer, more temperate climate than much of the South Island, and is much more vastly populated. The North Island is home to NZ’s largest city —Auckland, also known as the ‘City of Sails’, and the Capital City of New Zealand—Wellington.

The northern areas of the North Island are sub-tropical. The centre of the island is primarily a volcanic landscape with expansive forests, volcanic peaks, and picturesque lakes. The eastern side of the island is where you’ll find a plethora of vineyards.

South Island, New Zealand

The South Island is the larger, and southern-most of New Zealand’s two main islands. With an area of 151,215 square kilometers (58,093 square miles), it is the 12th largest island in the world.

The largest city in the South Island is Christchurch and is known as the ‘Garden City’ due to its many stunning gardens and tree-lined streets.

Queenstown, famous as the adventure capital of the world is also found in the South Island

The west coast is lined by the Southern Alps mountain ranges with Aoraki/Mount Cook being the highest point at 3,754 meters (12,316 feet) above sea level.