New Zealand
New Zealand has a dramatic and varied landscape. It’s so interesting New Zealand is a popular location for the production of television programs and films, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Last Samurai. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for some great scenery ideas!
The South Island is the largest land mass of New Zealand and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps. There are 18 peaks over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft). The southeastern corner of South Island is Fjordland, an area of high mountains cut through with steep fjords.
The North Island is less mountainous but is marked by volcanoes. The highly active Taupo volcanic zone has formed a large volcanic plateau and the country’s largest lake is a deep caldera filled by Lake Taupo. The island’s north is a flatter area once covered by huge kauri trees.
INTERESTING TRIVIA: New Zealanders aren’t necessarily rich but they’re happy. In a survey among 30 democratic nations, New Zealand ranked number 8 in terms of the happiness of its people even though the country ranked relatively low among the surveyed nations in personal wealth.
Here are some great pictures taken in New Zealand. Formerly owned by CN, the New Zealand railroads are now owned by Kiwi Rail. The gauge in New Zealand is narrow: 3’6”.
