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The Southern Alps glisten with fresh spring snow, and the buzz of enthusiastic spring skiers is unmistakable. Bigger than the Swiss, French and Austrian Alps combined, the Southern Alps stretch 2000 metres high across the South Island.

The start of spring coincides with the beginning of the whitebait season on the West Coast. South Islanders and tourists flock to river entrances with nets to collect the translucent, thin inch-long whitebait.

In spring, New Zealand's vast mountains are usually more accessible for hikers, with receding snow, longer daylight hours, and warmer conditions.

With nearly 16,000 km (10,000 miles) of coastline, it’s almost impossible to escape the sea in New Zealand.

Since man first stepped ashore on the islands of New Zealand, the sea and sailing have played a vital role in the lives of New Zealanders.

Hall, an Olympian from the Athens games, is an integral member of the Emirates Team New Zealand afterguard.

The beauty of the New Zealand landscape means that wherever you are in the country, you are within hours of getting anywhere else. Aside from the standard transportation options of flying, driving or training, there are a variety of other options available. Whether by vehicle, on foot, by air or over water, the choice is limited only by one's sense of adventure.

In the heart of the King Country (Te Rohe Potae) and nestled in the greater Waikato region of the Central North Island, visitors will find a wealth of natural wonders, many of which lie underground amidst hundreds of caves.

A selection of eco-friendly food outlets throughout New Zealand, inlcuding eco-friendly cafes and restaurants, accommodation, festivals and suppliers.

There are many opportunities for visitors to New Zealand to interact with local Maori people and to see the country in a new way, through the eyes of the indigenous people of the land.