Facts about New Zealand

• New Zealand holds The Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest name of a place in the world. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu is a hill located on the North Island in the Hawke’s Bay region.
• One of the largest national parks in the world is located here. The Fiordland National Park on the South Island covers an area of 1.2 million hectares.
• In New Zealand sheep outnumber the human population 4:1. New Zealand has a human population of roughly 4 million, whereas its sheep population is around 40 million!
• It is home to the only beaked reptile in the world, the tuatara, which is the distant relative of the dinosaur. Tuataras are endemic to New Zealand, with most of them living in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Another strange fact about this lizard is that it has a third eye!
• New Zealand also has the distinction of being the first country in the world to grant women their right to vote. This took place in September 1893.
• New Zealand has an extremely high level of ultraviolet radiation. It is 40% more intense than in the Mediterranean! Thus, it is highly recommended you wear sunscreen as well as sunglasses while you are here.
• New Zealand is also the only country on the planet to have every type of climate within its boundaries.
• Another interesting fact about New Zealand is that on the South Island you can find the oldest exposed surface on Earth.
• Wellington, the capital of New Zealand is the southernmost capital in the world.
• Bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand by AJ Hackett and since then has gone on to become one of the most sought after extreme activities.