New Zealand
Geography
The two main islands are very different. North Island is the smallest (115.100 sq km) and very indented. At the north of the capital Auckland, the Northland throws a long land gad to the tropics, and the stunning Bay of Islands is its main attraction spot. On the west coast, 90-mile Beach is the largest one of New-Zealand. In south-east of Auckland, the wild peninsula of Coromandel adds to the tropical sceneries of the country. Beyond that point, the volcanic landscapes take over to peak at Roturoa; volcanoes, lava flows, caldera lakes, hot springs... New Zealand stands on the Pacific ring of Fire and is often subject to natural hazards like eruptions and earthquakes. However, natural wonders follow on, always fascinating. In the east near the very sunny Hawke's Bay, vineyards spread over the plains. South Island (151.000 sq km) is by far the most mountainous. The grassy hills quickly disappear in front of the towering snow-capped New Zealander Alps, peaking at 3754 m with the Mount Cook, which steep slopes are flanked with glaciers. Only a narrow bang in the north is not under the hold of the mountains; Marlborough County, a vineyard hot spot, and Tasman Bay benefit from a mild climate in the National Park of Abel Tasman. The very rainy west coast sharply dives into the ocean and goes as far as the Fiordland. Cutting deep into the hinterland (40km for a few) due to past glaciers actions, the -sounds- of Fiordland offer wonderful sceneries of a monumental nature. The smoother shaped east coast is home for a varied wildlife.