Nature
Nine different species of dolphin are found around New Zealand’s coastline. All dolphins in New Zealand are protected by the Marine Mammals Act, which is administered by the Department of Conservation. Species that you may see include bottlenose, dusky and […]
The tuatara is often described as New Zealand’s “living fossil”. It comes from a family of reptiles that was present 220 million years ago when the dinosaurs were evolving. It is a lizard like creature with spiny scales and can […]
Love them or hate them the Kea is one of the most memorable bird species you may meet in New Zealand. This large olive green mountain parrot will greet you with a loud keee-aa before proceeding to make a nuisance […]
One of the most prominent features of our native bush is the proliferation and variety of native ferns in the undergrowth. There are about 190 species of native ferns found in New Zealand. The silver fern has become an emblem […]
New Zealand has a rich alpine vegetation, with the range of species being greatest in the mountains of the South Island. Golden tussocks, spiky spaniards, rounded hebes and delicate alpine shrubs coexist in a fascinating environment. Accessing these environments can […]
New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and species are highly diverse. About 8000 marine species have been found in New Zealand waters, including 964 species of fish, 2000 species of molluscs (snails, shellfish, and squid), 400 species of echinoderms (kina and starfish), […]
The weta is a large native invertebrate. It is probably the only spectacular “creepy crawly” New Zealand can call its own as we have no snakes or other nasties. These guys do deliver a painful bite but that is the […]
The New Zealand Kiwi is our national icon, a symbol of our uniqueness as a country and a name we all associate ourselves with. New Zealander’s have been known as “Kiwis” since the First World War when the nickname was […]
Having been isolated for so long New Zealand has not only developed some unique bird species but also some very special trees. Here are some of our favourites New Zealand Trees. Pohutukawa This magnificent tree is also known as the […]
For 500 million years New Zealand was isolated geographically from the rest of the world. As a result the country has its own unique and fascinating natural environment. The country lies along the collision zone of two tectonic plates, the […]