How big is New Zealand

How big is New Zealand? Here's everything you need to know

How big is New Zealand? Well, you may be surprised to learn that it is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom. Our total land mass covers around 270,000 square kilometres (around 104,000 sq miles). By comparison, the United Kingdom covers around 240,000 square kilometres.. New Zealand is long and narrow, and stretches around 1,900 kilometres (nearly 1,200 miles) from top to bottom, and is around 400 kilometres (about 250 miles) wide at the widest point. New Zealand has two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. Our next largest is Stewart Island, and there are also hundreds of other smaller islands scattered around our beautiful coastline.

How big is New Zealand's North Island? New Zealand's North Island covers just under 114,000 square kilometres (just under 44,000 square miles). It's the world's 14th largest, and stretches from Cape Reinga in the North to Ngawi, near Cape Palliser in the south. The driving distance between the two is around 1,092 kilometres. Our North Island is filled with natural wonders and Maori heritage. Active volcanoes, bubbling mud pools, geysers, stunning bays and beaches, rolling hills, and of course some vibrant cities, are all part of what makes New Zealand's North Island so special. You can learn more about it here.

How big is New Zealand's South Island? Our South Island covers around 150,000 square kilometres (around 58,000 square miles), which makes it the 12th largest island in the world. The northern most point of the South Island is Cape Farewell, and the southern most point is Slope Point. If you like stunning scenery, New Zealand's South Island is the place for you. Towering snow-capped peaks, deep dark fiords, beautiful bays and beaches, "Great Walks", ancient glaciers, and a "picture around every corner". The South Island is a very, very special place. You can learn more about this beautiful island here.

What about Stewart Island/Rakiura?

Stewart Island, which sits around 30 kilometres off the South Island's southern coast, is 1,746 square kilometres, or 674 square miles.

Where is New Zealand?

New Zealand sits in the Tasman Sea, around two thousand kilometres east of Australia's east coast.

Direct flights to New Zealand from Australia's east coast (Sydney or Brisbane) take around three hours.

Direct flights from the U.S. West Coast (Los Angeles or San Francisco) take around 13 hours.

From London to Auckland takes around 24 hours.

New Zealand Driving Distances - North Island

Our relatively compact country can fool you into believing that driving from point A to point B won't take long, and we are often asked if it's easy to drive around New Zealand.

The simple answer is yes. Our roads are generally well maintained, and outside the major cities, traffic levels are often low.

But there are some things to be aware of, just to be sure that your holiday runs smoothly:

• in New Zealand, we drive on the left hand side of the road.
• distances on a map can be deceptive, and what can appear to be a short drive can if fact take longer than expected. Our roads can be narrow and winding and can pass through mountainous areas, adding to travel times.
• in winter and late spring (June through October) some of our alpine roads can be affected by snow, so please check conditions on the New Zealand Transit Agency website.
• almost without  fail, your driving time will be longer because you will be stopping regularly to take pictures (see the image below).

The distance tables below should be used as a guide, along with other resources like Google, to calculate approximate driving times.

And of course if you need help planning your self-drive adventure, just ask us. You can learn more about our great service here.

New Zealand Driving Distances - South Island