Which new zealand island is better

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Spread out: Australia's 11 best city picnic spots Contains:. Home Pacific New Zealand. New Zealand travel guide. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Queenstown on the South Island. Now, the whole country only covers roughly the same area as the state of Colorado, so there's not much land to really debate over.

The North Island is roughly 43, square miles. The South Island covers about 58, square miles, and feels much bigger when you are traversing through it. Smackdown winner: South Island. Tally: North Island — 0 South Island — 1. All of New Zealand is relatively accessible whether by plane, bus, car, boat, or what have you , but some areas are easier to get to than others. For example, the North Island has 4 of New Zealand's 7 international airports, including the one in Auckland, which handles most of the country's arrivals.

Wellington, too, has a large airport that handles a lot of domestic and international flights. On the South Island , the biggest airport is in Christchurch, which, while sizable, doesn't handle nearly as many international flights as Auckland. As far as buses go which is the best way to get around the country if you can't rent a car or campervan , the two biggest carriers InterCity and NakedBus both service more cities on the North Island than the South Island both make 34 major stops on the South Island, while InterCity has 41 stops on the North Island, and NakedBus has Many of the buses on the North Island also tend to run more frequently.

Though, this could be because the North Island is smaller, has more cities, and isn't divided in half by a gigantic mountain range…. Smackdown winner: North Island. Tally: North Island — 1 South Island — 1. Which brings us to the cities… This is a tricky one, because New Zealand is full of unique and interesting cities.

Roughly 76 percent of the country's inhabitants live on the North Island , with more than 30 percent calling Auckland home. But you know what? I don't really love Auckland. It feels like any other decent-sized city in the world; to me, Auckland lacks a bit of character. By contrast, Wellington also a North Island city is bursting at the seams with character.

It's no secret that this is my favorite city in the world. The North Island is also home to fun cities like Taupo a mecca for fishermen , unique stops like Rotorua full of geothermal wonders , and wine-centric towns like Martinborough. And we can't forget the farming community of Matamata, which is home to Hobbiton!

On the South Island , the largest city is Christchurch, which, while still recovering after a big earthquake in , is truly gorgeous. There's also the popular resort town of Queenstown , which will easily steal your heart if you're not careful. Then there are surprisingly cool towns like Dunedin and Invercargill, and coastal gems like Kaikoura.

But, since the South Island is much more sparsely populated than the North, that means that there are also a ton of really small towns that may not have much to offer other than stunning views. But really, do they need to offer anything else? Smackdown winner: Draw , because each island has some great towns and cities.

Tally: North Island — 2 South Island — 2. New Zealand is an interesting country because it's two islands can sometimes feel like completely different worlds. Set aside an afternoon at Te Papa Tongarewa the national museum of New Zealand in Wellington, visit the Waitangi Treaty grounds in the Bay of Islands, or take in a cultural dinner and concert in Rotorua.

The Maori culture is a very unique one, and it's worth your time to experience it while you're in the country. On the South Island , the cultural focus is different. Tally: North Island — 3 South Island — 2. So what's the food like in New Zealand? Well, there's a lot of lamb and mutton there are roughly 40 million sheep here, after all , fish and chips, and a delicious invention known as Hokey Pokey ice cream.

New Zealand is also known for its Green-Lipped Mussels, and, of course, its wine. But, since I'm not much of a drinker, I cannot personally back this claim up. So what sets the islands apart? The South Island is very different from the North Island. For starters it's larger than the North Island and generally considered more beautiful. It also has gorgeous coastline, though it's best known for the many mountains and fjords that define its inland. Temperatures are cooler on the South Island, with mountain regions obviously being the coolest.

There are of course plenty of other places on the South Island for these kind of things — and on the North Island for that matter — but Queenstown is unmissable, so you might as well get them out of your system there.

Most of our South Island trips stop off for a day or two in Queenstown and you can check them out here. Skiing is at its best in the mountains. You can even enjoy a dip in the natural hot pools afterwards at Lake Tekapo or Hanmer Springs. In New Zealand, it seems you are faced with beautiful scenery and landmarks in every direction. The North Island has stretches of idyllic bays Bay of Islands and harbours such as the twin harbours of Auckland.

The coastline also boasts the pristine Coromandel Peninsula. Here, you can experience cultural performances and dinners unlike anywhere else in the world. You can head to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where Maori guides will show you around geysers and the land of their ancestors. Geysers are common on the North Island and are an incredible spectacle to behold — Auckland has 22 volcanoes alone!

North Island is better than South Island for geothermal activity…. South Island is the rugged sister of the North Island. Fjords, lakes and mountains set the scene and the Southern Alps the highest mountain range in Australasia are home to Mt Cook. This iconic mountain is snow-capped all year round. Though, if vast mountains are not enough for you, how about taking in some of the amazing waterfalls such as Purakaunui and Mclean Falls?

How about a Glacier? The Franz Josef Glacier is an incredible sight. Further ruggedness, caves and rocks dotted about the sea, can be found at Nugget Point.