Quirky Facts About New Zealand You’ll Enjoy Discovering

Did you know?

1. The steepest residential street in the world can be found in New Zealand.

Located on the South Island in Dunedin. With a 38-degree slope, the street is called Baldwin Street.

2. The royal albatross – toroa – is found in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s unique landscapes and coastlines provide a home for remarkable wildlife, including the majestic toroa. It is one of the largest seabirds in the world, with a wingspan that can reach an impressive three metres.

3. New Zealand is the ‘home’ of bungy jumping.

A.J. Hackett founded the first-ever commercial bungy jump location at Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge in Queenstown.

4. Aotearoa is the Maori name of New Zealand.

'Aotearoa' can be translated as ‘The land of the long white cloud’.

And the town with the longest name in the world is called:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaunga-horonukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

Nz south island queenstown kawarau bridge bungy jumping

5. New Zealand is the first country in the world to see the sunrise.

If you want to be the first, head to the small surf town of Gisborne on the North Island’s East Cape.

6. New Zealand has more sheep than people

For every person living in New Zealand, there are at least 10 sheep!

Sheep grazing in a field with a backdrop of mountains in Glenorchy, New Zealand

7. Bats are the only native land mammals found in New Zealand.

All the other mammals were introduced by Maoris and Europeans.

8. New Zealand is home to a controversial bra fence.

A world-famous and wonderfully quirky fact: the Cardrona Bra Fence began in 1999 and has since become an unusual tourist attraction in Central Otago.

Nz south island Cardrona bra fence central otago

9. Wellington is the southernmost capital in the entire world.

A compact city that is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. It is also known by locals as the 'Windy City'.