Save for a few (million) sheep dotted over the rolling hills and baron tussock grasslands, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is Middle Earth: snow-capped mountains, majestic waterfalls, pristine lakes, snaking glaciers (but not an Orc in sight).

If you’re a globe-trotter inspired to travel Down Under by the scenery from the Lord of the Rings movies, you won’t be disappointed. New Zealand’s diverse - and sometimes extreme - landscapes make it the one place in the world that Tolkien's epic masterpiece could come to life.

But the country also known as Aotearoa (“the land of the long white cloud”) has some stories of its own. Legend has it a Maori warrior called Maui managed to, among other things, harness the sun and make the days longer. His biggest claim to fame however was his capture of an immense fish which became the North Island of New Zealand, called Te Ika a Maui (The Fish of Maui). Maori believe the far north to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour the mouth. The South Island was his canoe: Te Waka a Maui (The Canoe of Maui), and Stewart Island (Rakiura) his anchor. Lake Taupo, the country’s largest lake, is thought to be formed by the perforation from Maui’s magic fish hook.

One of the most isolated countries on the globe, New Zealand seems more “edge of the earth” than Middle Earth. But that’s the price you pay for being young and beautiful. Surrounded by uninhabited islands, its nearest neighbour, Australia, is 990 miles away.

Yes it is a young country, technically, but the Southern Alps bear testimony to the powerful geological forces that have been shaping this small place for the last 600 million years, since it was a piece in the puzzle of the once super continent: Gondwanaland.

Now, due to the quantity of geothermal activity, there are numerous thermal pools dotted throughout the country, which makes for some great relaxation after an action-packed day. Geysers explode, erupting boiling mud over steaming cauldrons of natural spring. Deeper still the rims of two massive tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust collide.  Some of the largest trees in the world tower over an isolated land. And making their way through dense virgin rainforest are flightless birds, lizards, giant snails, primitive frogs, and a living dinosaur called Tuatara.

From the incredible peaks of The Remarkables, to the glistening expanse of the Tasman Glacier, travelers to these far shores will have the opportunity to experience a landscape that has barely altered in 15,000 years.

In the North Island the most astounding scenery has volcanic origins. Rotorua and Taupo are highly active geothermal areas. Take a spade to the Coromandel and dig your own spa on the beach and hot water will bubble up through the sand from a subterranean spring. 

Head to the South Island where it’s greener, leaner, slower paced (arguably more picturesque), and host to the highest mountain in Australasia (Mount Cook). There’s the primordial wildness of the West Coast, the serenity of the 'big sky' farming country of Southland, and the beautiful beaches of Nelson.

The meteoric rise of the wine industry has meant remarkable success for New Zealand in recent years, with the country producing some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Paying a social call to one of the copious vineyards should be included in even the most whirlwind tour of New Zealand. The long growing season and temperate maritime climate makes conditions ideal for breeding the perfect grape, producing some highly distinctive, premium quality whites.

When it comes to thrill-seeking in New Zealand nothing’s off limits. The vast open spaces, rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and thunderous surf make it an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. Daredevils continue to pioneer more thrilling sports for visitors, whether it be jet-boating, bungy-jumping, mountain biking, tramping (hiking), caving or kayaking. And what makes New Zealand such a hot spot is that it’s compact enough to make all of these diverse landscapes, environments, and ecosystems so accessible.

By Abbey Stirling/MOLI