New Zealand lies in the south-west 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 268,000 sq km. New Zealand is the most geographically isolated of all countries. Its closest neighbour, Australia, is 2,000 km to the northwest of the main islands across the Tasman Sea. The only landmass to the south is Antarctica, and to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. #newzealand #island #north #south #tasmansea

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Because of this geographical isolation, New Zealand was one of the last parts of the world to be occupied by humans. In contrast to Australia, the people considered to be indigenous, the Māori, only arrived themselves from Polynesia around 1300AD, just a few hundred years before settlement by Europeans. A good place to start to understand the history of conflict between Māori and Europeans is the Waitangi Treaty House in the Bay of Islands (open from 9am daily except Christmas Day). #newzealand #indigenous #māori #waitangitreatyhouse #bayofisland

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The North Island is where Māori culture is most visible, and if you visit Rotorua, 230km (130 miles) south of Auckland, you can combine an introduction to the indigenous people with an experience of the geothermal activity of hot mud pools and geysers at Whakarewarewa village. #northisland #newzealand #rotorua #auckland #indigenous

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Napier is an attractive art deco city which owes its architectural beauty to an earthquake in 1931, which resulted in a complete re-build in the fashionable architecture of the period. #newzealand #napier #art #deco #architectural

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Wellington, the second largest city after Auckland, is the capital. #wellington #newzealand #capital #train #nature

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The Bay of Islands, in the extreme north of North Island, is magical for boating and sea fishing. Take the “Cream Trip” excursion to visit some of the islands. #bayofisland #northisland #boating #fishing #creaptrip

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