WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL PACIFIC ISLANDS THAT ARE NEW ZEALAND

Our unique, beautiful nation comprises two main islands, the North and South Islands, separated by Cook Strait, 20 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. New Zealand is about the size of the United Kingdom.

New Zealand has a dramatic and varied landscape, due mainly to the dynamic boundary it straddles between the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates. The South Island is the largest Island with 18 peaks over 3000 metres (9843 ft). The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanism. Both Islands have high rainfall on the west coast while more arid areas on the east coast.

Of the main cities, Auckland is the largest with over 1 million inhabitants, Christchurch in the south and the capital Wellington come second with around 400,000 inhabitants.

As well as the world renowned reputation as a safe, friendly country, New Zealand abounds in wonderfully scenic wilderness areas where game and fish offer the sporting hunter a wonderful challenge.

With over 400 golf courses, the highest number of courses per capita anywhere in the world, New Zealand is the pure golf experience. Some of the finest new golf courses in the world have been created in New Zealand and Horizon Tours offer you a unique opportunity to enjoy these wonderful new layouts.

New Zealand has a temperate climate, ranging from subtropical weather during summer in the north to temperatures as cold as -10°C in winter in the south. Most of the country, however, lies close to the coast with mainly mild temperatures. The average temperature generally decreases as you travel south or inland.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere our seasons are:
* Summer is from December to February
* Autumn from March to May
* Winter from June to August
* Spring from September to November