Geography
New
Zealand lies in the southern Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km east
of Australia. It
is made up of the North and South Islands and a number of
smaller islands, with a total land area of 268,021 Sq ml.
Mountain
ranges and hill country dominate New Zealand's
landscape. One
of the most striking physical features is the Southern
Alps/Kä Tiritiri o te Moana, along with fiords,
glaciers and lakes, and the coastal plains of Canterbury
and Southland of the South Island. In
the North Island, the volcanic interior contains New
Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo. Most of the country's
active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro - are
all usually quiet, although Ruapehu has been active since
September 1995. Hot
springs, geysers and mudpools also form part of the
volcanic system centred around Rotorua.
Highest
mountain - Aoraki/Mt Cook (3,754 m) Deepest
lake - Lake Hauroko (462 m) Longest
river - Waikato River (425 km) Largest
glacier - Tasman Glacier (28.5 km long) Deepest
cave - Nettlebed (NW Nelson) (889 m)
Climate
January
and February are New Zealand's warmest months and July
normally its coldest. The
climate is temperate - averages range from 8°C in
July to 17°C in January - but summer temperatures
occasionally reach the 30s in many inland and eastern
regions. The
mean average rainfall varies widely - from less than 400
mm in Central Otago to over 12,000 mm in the Southern
Alps. For
most of the North Island and the northern South Island
the driest season is summer. However, for the West Coast
of the South Island and much of inland Canterbury, Otago
and Southland, rainfall is lower over
winter.
Currency
The
New Zealand dollar is a decimal system with 100 cents to
the dollar. Coin
denominations: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1,
$2 Dollar
denominations: $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 You
can exchange money and travellers checks at all major
banks, currency exchange outlets, and some travel
agencies. (There is generally a fee for currency exchange
services). Normal
bank hours are from 9am -4.30pm Monday-Friday.
There
are also currency exchange outlets at the international
airports, which may be open outside normal
hours. There
are many ATMs in New Zealand available 24/7 which accept
all major credit cards.
Map 
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