Travel New Zealand

Travel New Zealand

New Zealand Facts

Well here are a few facts about New Zealand...

The largest island in New Zealand is the South Island, with 150,718 square kilometers compared to the North Island of New Zealand at 114,453 square kilometers. To travel from the North Island of New Zealand to the South Island of New Zealand by ferry you actually travel north. You do this because the northern part of the South Island of New Zealand is actually north of the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand.

The hottest island in New Zealand is White Island in the Bay of Plenty. It is no place for tourists. The temperatures from cracks in the earth can reach 850 to 900 degrees Celcius and the rock glows dull red.

The smallest islands that are legally part of New Zealand are the Kermadecs. They are located 800km north-west of North Cape and are 34 square kilometers in area.

New Snowboarding Zealand

New Snowboarding Zealand

Snowboard New Zealand

New Zealand has a range of skifields across the country. The North Island of New Zealand fields can be found centrally on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand and there is one field located in the North Island on Mount Egmont in Taranaki, New Zealand.

In the South Island, New Zealand the fields are located all along the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs downwards along the centre of the island. The Rainbow skifield is the northern most field. The next field is Mount Lyford and then Amuri is located not far from the popular resort of Hanmer Springs where you can relax after your skiing/snowboarding in the hot pools.

From there we go to the more intense areas with a number of skifields through the Arthurs Pass region in the centre of the South Island on the main route from Christchurch through to the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. In this area there are a series of club fields where clubs run the operation of the field as opposed to businesses.

Close to Christchurch is the field that is renowned for some of the most reliable snow conditions in the country, the commercial Mount Hutt skifield with a season running from May through to late October in the average year. This field hosts a number of International events. From there all the way down there are skifields scattered through the mountains, too many fields to list here offering a range of different terrain and facilities.

Around Lake Tekapo is the Round Hill skifield an excellent field for beginners. Lake Ohau hosts the Ohau skifield popular with snowboarders.

Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand offers ski flights taking you up to ski the Tasman Glacier for something a little different and you will find heli-skiing and riding all along the Southern Alps.

Around Wanaka the two well known fields are Treble Cone and Cardrona. Opposite Cardrona you will find Snow Park, especially equipped for the snowboarder and not to be missed while boarding in New Zealand.

Queenstown has the Remarkables field and the more established Coronet Peak skifield is close nearby the Queenstown township.

In New Zealand you will find plenty of alpine snowboarding...