A strikingly beautiful island grouping, hosting a racially diverse population, New Zealand attracts large numbers of tourists. It is located about 1200 miles southeast of Australia and is bounded on the west by the Tasman Sea and on the east by the Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is unique in that some 1500 indigenous plant species are found only there.
North Island has sub-tropical plants and trees.
The central plain has extensive grasslands. South Island's western side has temperate to alpine type vegetation, with its eastern side principally grasslands, except in the mountain regions. There is a large number of indigenous animal and bird species in New Zealand, one being the kiwi, a flightless bird from which New Zealanders get their nickname.