New Zealand is a generally mountainous country although we do have a number of very large alluvial plains. The country has more than 220 named mountains exceeding 2,286 metres (7,500 feet) in height.

The principal mountain ranges of North Island extend along the eastern side. A volcanic range in the north central region has three active volcanic peaks: Mount Ruapehu (2,797 metres/9,175 feet), the highest point on the island, Mount Ngauruhoe (2,291 metres/7,515 feet), and Mount Tongariro (1,968 metres/6,458 feet). Mount Egmont (2,518 metres/8,260 feet), a solitary, extinct volcanic cone, is located near the western extremity of the island. Numerous mineral hot springs are found in the Lake Taupo district.

The North Island has numerous rivers, most of which rise in the eastern and central mountains. The Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, flows north out of Lake Taupo, its largest lake, and empties into the Tasman Sea in the west.

The principal mountain range of South Island is the Southern Alps, a massive uplift extending in a southwest to northeast direction for almost the entire length of the island. Seventeen peaks in the range exceed 3,048 metres (10,000 feet) in elevation. Mount Cook (3,764 metres/12,349 feet), the highest point in New Zealand, rises from the centre of the range, which also has a number of glaciers.

The Canterbury Plains in the east and the Southland Plains in the extreme south are the only extensive lowland areas of South Island, while the West Coast is indented by deep fiords.

Most of the rivers of South Island, including the Clutha River, the longest river of the island, rise in the Southern Alps. The largest lake is Lake Te Anau in the southern part of the Southern Alps.

New Zealand’s climate is generally mild, and seasonal differences are not great. The north end of the Auckland Peninsula has the warmest climate. The coldest weather occurs on the southwestern slopes of the Southern Alps.

Rainfall is generally moderate to abundant and, except in a small area in the south central part of South Island, exceeds 508 millimetres (20 inches) annually. The heaviest rainfall (about 5,590 millimetres/220 inches) occurs around Milford Sound on the southwest coast of South Island.

The average temperature at Wellington varies between 20°C (68°F) in January and 6°C (42°F) in July. The average rainfall is 1,230 millimetres (49 inches). In Auckland, the average January and July temperatures are 23°C (74°F) and 8°C (46°F), respectively. The annual rainfall in Auckland is 1,850 millimetres (73 inches).

NZ has hundreds of small towns and villages plus a number of larger cities. In NZ a town is called a city when its population excedes 20,000. Listing from North to South we have the following larger cities, and their approximate populations...

Whangarei (25,000)

Auckland (1,000,000) <- 35% of NZ's total population

Hamilton (160,000)

Rotorua (60,000)

Tauranga (80,000)

New Plymouth (55,000)

Napier (52,000) <- Our sister city.

Hastings (55,000) <- This is where I live.

Palmerston Nth (74,000)

Wellington (350,000) <- Our capital city

Nelson (52,000)

Christchurch (330,000)

Dunedin (112,000)