Fiordland, in the south-west of the South Island, experiences some of the highest rainfall in the world. The region has received up to 10 metres in some years, with over 200 rain days a year! As well as producing incredibly lush vegetation unique in the world, this high rainfall creates some spectacular waterfalls. It is also responsible for a phenomenon known as 'deep water emergence,' which enables you to see marine life, such as black coral, in much shallower waters than elsewhere in the world. So if you're visiting the West Coast of the South Island - 'Godzone's Wet Zone' - take a raincoat. Drier areas of the country include Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago in the South Island, and Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa in the North Island.