New Zealand from Above

We travel to the Southern Alps in the Central South Island and discover the dramatic alpine landscape carved by glaciers, learn about the 1860's gold rush and the Pinot Noir now being produced in the region. We fly over the interior of Otago, the center of an 1860's gold rush which saw thousands travel to New Zealand by ship, arriving at the east coast city of Dunedin.

We travel to the wild West coast and see a pristine environment dominated by rain forest, glaciers and fast flowing rivers, then we fly to the East coast and see whales feeding before flying on to Christchurch and the Northern region of the South Island. The landscape that gives the West Coast of New Zealand its beauty also makes it inhospitable.

We cross from the South to the North Island, flying over Cook Strait and the capital city Wellington, then on to the centre of the North Island and the Volcanic Plateau located on the fault line of the Pacific "ring of fire". The Islands are separated by Cook Strait crossed by ferries sailing between the small town of Picton in the South and the nation's capital Wellington in the north.

We travel towards the Far North, above Auckland, New Zealand's largest city and then on to the region of Northland, the home to many Maori. The northern part of the North Island is the most densely populated region of the country. Auckland, the nation's largest city and often referred to as the 'City of Sails', is situated at the narrowest part of the island.