New Zealand

Types of trips: Adventure, Outdoor and Active, Sight-seeing, City Tourism, Beach and Surf, Nature, Mountain, Sport, Music and Performance

Best known for: New Zealand All Blacks, Real life setting of Lord of Rings trilogy, Only 5% of the population is human - the rest are animals, no land snakes, longest place name in the world 'Taumatawhakatangihangahoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu'

Why Go?: Although it is on the other side of the planet, New Zealand is an increasingly popular destination for all kinds of trips from the UK, and it's no surprise. This idyllic country was chosen as the set for the Lord of the Rings trilogy for its raw beautiful and unscarred landscapes, and that's something that all visitors to New Zealand have the opportunity to enjoy. 

Fact File

Population: 4,500,000

Capital: Wellington

Language(s): English, Maori, NZ Sign Language

Ties to the UK?: Language and customs, increasingly popular holiday destination

Landscape: Mountains (See Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest mountain at 3,724m above) and Volcanoes, Islands, Beaches, Lakes, Rivers

Climate/Seasons: Hot summer and in the winter there is snow although remember their summer is during our winter and visa versa

When to Go: For better weather you're better to go during the British winter time, however this is the time of year that New Zealanders take their holidays, putting strain on accommodation and raising the prices so our spring or autumn might be a better idea.

Reasons to Visit: New Zealand is an idyllic setting for an amazing adventure, a location that the pupils and teachers will never forget

How to Get There: There are many flights to New Zealand, but you will have to change so the decision to make is which route to go and whether to spend any time at your destination, which will have additional cost and organisation impacts, as well as adding time into your trip, but add value to your students, and also assist in dealing with jetlag either way

Places to Go: Auckland, Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Lake Taupo

Famous People: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Edmund Hilary, Ernest Rutherford, Hone Heke, Russell Crowe, Peter Jackson, AJ Hackett, Janet Frame, Keith Urban, Colin Meads, Maurice Wilkins, Kimbra, Jonah Lomu, Neil Finn

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: A lot of sheep and other livestock. Hot Water Beach, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Rotorua's Geysers and bubbling mud

History: Colonisation, Maori Legend

Architecture: St Mary's Basilica, Wellington Harbour Board Head Office

Culture: Farming, The Māori People, Drama, Music, Comedy

Sport: Rugby Union, Cricket, Netball, Bungee jumping, White Water rafting, Tramping the Great Walks

Events: Wine and Food, Lord of the Rings tours

Watch Out For: Sunburn, sand flies on the South Island, quick changes in conditions

Medical Issues: Just be up to date on routine vaccinations