New Zealand is all your dreams and nightmares rolled into one.

Known to Maori as "the land of the long white cloud" and adrenaline junkies as "the land of the long brown stain", New Zealand rarely fails to inspire - whether it's to create blockbuster movies, jump out of a perfectly good airplane or strap on a pair of boots and conquer a glacial peak.

With its squeaky clean, green image, abundant natural beauty and sparse population (only four million people reside in an area roughly the size of Italy), it's not surprising much of life in New Zealand revolves around the great outdoors.

Straddling two continental plates and encompassing three main islands (North, South and Stewart), nature has shaped New Zealand with haphazard abandon, literally throwing up a cornucopia of geological surprises.

Encompassing the towering mountains of the Southern Alps, the turquoise hue of Lake Tekapo, the foggy fjords of Milford Sound, the bucolic farmland of the Canterbury Plains, the rocky coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula, the surf beaches of Raglan, the dense forest of Stewart Island, the gigantic sand dunes of the Hokianga, the snow-capped volcano Mount Taranaki, the boiling mud pools of Rotorua - few nations fit the textbook definition of paradise like New Zealand.

Although still a relatively young country (the Polynesian Maori have been here for less than 2000 years and Pakeha - New Zealanders of European descent - less than 200), New Zealand has well and truly shed its "little Britain" tag and emerged on the world stage as a confident, innovative Pacific nation.

Indeed, while "rugby, racing and beer" still rule the roost, they no longer define the country, and in recent years, national obsessions have broadened to include adrenaline sports (bungy jumping was invented here), sailing, tramping, kayaking, fine wine, gourmet food, coffee, film and fashion.

Survival guide

Countering the sheer drama of the landscape, Kiwis are resolutely laid-back. A friendly and helpful bunch, travelling around their country is an absolute joy.

One of the few things that boils New Zealanders' blood is having their country belittled as a second-rate Australia. Kiwis' resentment of Australia is taken out on the hapless possum, which somehow made its way "over the ditch" to cause extensive ecological damage and now often ends up as artistic road kill or expensive knitwear.

The ozone layer above New Zealand is extremely thin; even if the sun may not feel intense or indeed may not even be out, burning time is just 10 minutes in spring and summer. Slather on the sunblock, cover up with a hat and sunglasses and stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.

If you're spending time on the West Coast of the South Island in the summer, sandflies can be a problem, so remember to pack repellent.

English and Maori are the official languages, but in the North Island you are likely to hear a number of Polynesian languages spoken, including Nueian, Samoan and Tongan.

Despite the plethora of winding roads, driving - which is on the left - is the best way to get around the country.

New Zealand has three long-distance train routes all run by Tranz Scenic; trains run between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island and in the South Island between Christchurch and Picton and also between Christchurch and Greymouth.

Tour and backpacker buses are other popular ways of getting around.

A ferry plies the Cook Strait, linking Wellington in the North Island with Picton in the South Island.

Domestic flights are offered by Air New Zealand and Qantas.