New Zealand's North Island is smaller than the South Island, but does have the country's largest city, Auckland, and the capital city, Welligton, at its southern tip.  It may be smaller, but it has an estimated population of 3.1 milion, which is three quarters of New Zealand's entire population!

The North Island is divided into 9 local government regions, starting in the very north with Northland, then north to south, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranakai, Manawatu-Wanganui and finally, Wellington at the southern tip.  There are 12 cities, Auckland, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hamilton, Hastings, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Wanganui, Whangarei and Wellington.  Other than Palmerston North, all the cities are mainly located around the coast, which indicates how important the sea has been to New Zealand in its history.

Being further north, the North Island has a warmer, more temperate climate than the South Island, and some northern areas have a sub-tropical climate.  This aids the abundance of green, from rolling hills and valleys, to vast tracts of lush forest and rainforest.

The north is lush and green with lots of small, islands, inlets, coves and sandy beaches, the centre of the Island is mainly a mountainous, volcanic landscape, with large forested areas, picturesque lakes and rivers, rugged volcanic peaks and geothermal areas of geysers, tendrils of hot steam and boiling mud pools, and the eastern side has fertile plains and valleys, important for agriculture and many quality vineyards and wineries.  Beaches are found all around the island, and amazing craggy, scenery is everywhere you look.

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