New Zealand Fun Facts
New Zealand has the highest number of sheep per capita in the world.
The national bird of New Zealand is the kiwi, which cannot fly.
The country is home to the world’s steepest street, Baldwin Street in Dunedin.
The longest place name in the world is in New Zealand: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapiki-maungah-oronukupokaiwhenuakitnatahu.
New Zealand has more volcanic activity than any other country in the world.
The first bungee jump was performed in New Zealand off the Kawarau Bridge in 1988.
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is the southernmost capital city in the world.
The flightless Kakapo parrot is the world’s heaviest parrot and can only be found in New Zealand.
The country has unique hot springs, geysers, and mud pools due to its geothermal activity.
New Zealand has no native land mammals, except for bats.
The first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, was from New Zealand.
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies were filmed in New Zealand.
The national rugby team, the All Blacks, have the bestwinning percentage of any professional sports team in the world.
New Zealand’s Milford Sound was named the world’s top travel destination by TripAdvisor in 2008.
Lake Taupo, in the North Island, is the largest lake in New Zealand and the second largest volcanic crater.
The Southern Alps, running the length of New Zealand’s South Island, are higher than the European Alps.
New Zealand Fun Facts part 2
New Zealand is home to the oldest university in the southern hemisphere, the University of Otago.
Sir Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has his own private WWI battlefield museum in New Zealand.
The endangered Hector’s dolphin can only be found in New Zealand waters.
New Zealand is the first country in the world to see the sunrise each day.
The kiwi fruit, also known as the Chinese gooseberry, was renamed after New Zealand’s national bird.
Wellington is known as the world’s windiest city.
The Beehive, the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament, is shaped like a beehive.
New Zealand has 13 national parks covering over 30,000 square km.
The tallest structure in New Zealand is the Sky Tower in Auckland, standing at 328 meters.
The All Blacks perform the haka, a traditional Maori war dance, before rugby matches.
The national vegetable of New Zealand is the humble kumara, a sweet potato.
The Rugby World Cup has been held in New Zealand twice, in 1987 and 20
The Moeraki Boulders, large spherical stones on Koekohe Beach, are a unique natural attraction.
The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, is considered New Zealand’s founding document.
In New Zealand, there are more vending machines per capita than anywhere else in the world.
The fern, specifically the silver fern, is a national symbol of New Zealand and often associated with the All Blacks.
The world’s smallest dolphin, the Maui’s dolphin, lives off the coast of New Zealand.
New Zealand has a higher density of craft breweries per capita than any other country.
The Great Barrier Reef of New Zealand is the world’s largest cold-water coral reef.
The endangered kea, a large alpine parrot, is known for its curiosity and mischievous behavior.
New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis after their national bird.
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest ski resort, Turoa, is located in New Zealand.
Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world, offering activities like bungee jumping, skiing, and skydiving.
New Zealand has a lower population of humans than sheep.
The national colors of New Zealand are black and silver, representing the All Blacks.
The longest place name in the North Island is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaurehaeaturipukapihimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitnatahu.
New Zealand has one of the lowest corruption rates in the world, according to Transparency International.
The country is home to many unique and endangered bird species, including the takahe and the kereru.
New Zealand is a popular filming location for Hollywood movies due to its diverse landscapes and untouched beauty.