Auckland - skyline of the "City of Sails"

Capital:

Wellington

Population:

4,035,461

Religion:

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33%

Area:

268,680 km² (695,840 miles²)

Coast Line:

24,355 km (15,134 miles)

Lowest:

Pacific Ocean 0 m (0 feet)

Highest:

Mount Cook 3,764 m (12,349 feet)

Geographic Information

New Zealand is composed of two main islands and a number of smaller islands. The South Island is the largest land mass and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps, the highest peak of which is Mount Cook. There are 18 peaks of more than 3,000 metres on the South Island. The North Island is less mountainous than the South, but is marked by volcanism. The tallest North Island mountain, Mount Ruapehu, is an active cone volcano.

Key aspects of tourism
Tourism is quite important in New Zealand. The foundation for this is a unique and various landscape: coasts, lakes, fjords, glaciers, high mountains, volcanoes, hot springs and the exotic vegetation.