Along with Madagascar, Canada, Tanzania and a host of other countries filled with nature reserves, New Zealand is among the top ecotourism destinations. The untouched nature of this country, with its vast forests, glaciers, waterfalls, fjords and volcanoes, is its main draw.
The northern island of the country is replete with sandy beaches, green valleys and peaks of long-dormant (although occasionally showing signs of life) volcanoes. The main one is Taranaki, which is often compared to Japan’s Fujiyama because of its regular cone shape. Natural wonder number two is the islet of White Island, the tip of an active underwater volcano that is no less than two million years old. The giant Bay of Plenty region is a picturesque coastline cut by many bays. Here, on the North Island, there are two capitals of New Zealand: the official, but at the same time terribly cozy – Wellington, and the economic – the metropolis of Auckland.
The South Island is larger and more picturesque than its northern neighbor, and it experiences guests not only with breathtaking views, but also with regular gusty winds and sudden downpours. You need to go here to see the Milford Sound fjord that does not fit into any lens, drive through the Marlborough vineyards, break off pieces of ice from the millennial Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, swim with fur seals and, of course, see blue whales emerge from the ocean depths, flapping their powerful dorsal fins.
