Nature paradise. Middle-earth. Endless vast dream landscapes. Lush primeval forests, rushing rivers, and surreal-colored lakes. The last distant relatives of the dinosaurs. Quirky, crazy, and flightless birds. Parrots frolicking in ice and snow. The smallest dolphins and the rarest penguins in the world. Evergreen broadleaf trees and plants that exist nowhere else on Earth. New Zealand offers an abundance of exotic experiences within a small area—about the size of the former Federal Republic of Germany—and a cross-section of the world! This book describes what makes New Zealand so unique. It provides the background of the scenery that every visitor sees and explains how all these natural wonders came to be. A very special nature guide, so you can not only experience New Zealand but also understand it.