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NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND CANTERBURY PLAINS CHRISTCHURCH
NEW ZEALAND
Located about 1,000 miles southeast of Australia, New Zealand comprises two main islands, the North and South islands, and numerous smaller islands. About one-third of New Zealand is mountainous; the two principal islands are long and narrow, affording many bays, fjords, and harbors. The North Island is studded with active volcanic mountains and hot springs; it also boasts New Zealand's largest lake, Taupo, and longest river, the Waikato. The South Island, affectionately called "The Mainland" by its residents, contains the country's largest regions of virgin forest, and the Southern Alps run along its length. New Zealand is home to a variety of exotic animals, including the kiwi, the tuatara, and unusual species of parrots, reptiles and frogs. The only land mammal native to New Zealand is the bat.
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CANTERBURY PLAINS
New Zealand's Canterbury plains cover an area of 140 by 45 miles from the east coast to the Southern Alps in the east-central region of the South Island. Summers are generally hot on the plains, with less than 30 inches of rainfall annually. This is the largest lowland farming region in New Zealand; principal crops include grains, fodder crops and pasture seed, and the sheep industry thrives in the region. Around the city of Christchurch, farming consists mostly of poultry, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Scenes from the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring were filmed in the beautiful valleys and lakes near Christchurch. The Canterbury plains also offer visitors ample opportunity for excellent skiing, fishing and hiking.
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CHRISTCHURCH
Christchurch, famous for its elegance, beauty and hospitality, is the third largest city in New Zealand, with a population of 337,000. 1996, a Conde Nast Traveler poll named Christchurch "Friendliest City in the World"; in 1997 it ranked second in Travel & Leisure's "10 Top Cities of the World" poll; in 1998, the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration voted it the "Garden City of the World." The latter name derives largely from the fact that one-eighth of Christchurch is reserved for public recreation areas and lush parks.
The city's avenues are lined with excellent examples of Victorian architecture that, along with the parks and the Avon River, make it an inviting environment for walking tours. For visitors wanting more adventurous excursions, there are exciting day trips available for skiing, hiking and fishing on the surrounding Canterbury plains. One of the easiest ways to get around Christchurch is by bus; a new suburban bus system services the outlying districts without requiring riders to go into the central city.
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