by: Ramnish Gupta
New Zealand is one of the ultimate travel destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, with something for just about anyone. New Zealand has everything, right from ski fields to volcanoes, from big cities to small towns and from beaches to mountains.
New Zealand currently has a population of just over 4 million people. Auckland is the biggest city with over 1.2 million people and the capital city Wellington has a population of around 400,000. Most of the country's resident population is based in North Island and so, South Island offers the opportunity to get away from the busy cities and get up close and personal with the elements.
New Zealand offers a lot of activities, especially for the adventurous kind. You can bungee jump, ski and snow board, relax on the beach, go for a bike ride, take a 4 wheel drive adventure, ski dive, surf or simply, shop! Most adventurous activities are available in the South Island, whereas North Island offers the charm of the big cities, some great shopping as well as some uniquely New Zealand attractions, like the Maori village in Rotorua.
The best way to travel around New Zealand would be in a rental car. Most New Zealand cities are very well connected with the main motorways and traffic is usually not a problem. There are information centres in most tourist areas, providing useful travel information, maps etc.