New Zealand is not really that close to Australia.
New Zealand lies about 1,000 miles (1,610 km) southeast of Australia, across the Tasman Sea.
Most of the country consists of two main islands, the North and the South, which together extend for about 1,000 miles (1,610 km).
New Zealand’s closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.
New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation and distinctive fauna that populate the islands.
A number of the unique species of birds in New Zealand have became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.
New Zealand is one of the most recently settled major landmasses, and the first known settlers were Polynesians who arrived by canoe around 1250 AD.
