New Zealand is a beautiful area with lush rain forests and spectacular mountain views. It is also home to some of the world's rarest species of plants, insects and birds. There is much to see and do in New Zealand, which makes it a great place to vacation or live. However, there are probably some interesting facts about New Zealand that you don't know, even if you've visited numerous times or even live there.

Interesting Wildlife Facts
The official national symbol of New Zealand is the flightless Kiwi bird. Although the bird is quite small, it lays eggs that are about six times larger than eggs laid by other comparably sized birds. The Weta is a New Zealand insect that is considered to be a relic from the age of the dinosaurs. These ancient insects have incredible survival instincts, but today face many threats from other wildlife species. New Zealand is also home to the Tuatara, which is the oldest native reptile species, which is believed to have survived for over 200 million years.

Facts about Plants in New Zealand
Although you might think from the name that the Kiwi fruit originated from New Zealand, this is not actually the case. Although this fruit has become well-marketed in New Zealand, it was actually introduced to the country as late as 1959. The Kiwi fruit actually originated from China, and is often called a Chinese gooseberry. The Pohutukawa tree, which is often called the New Zealand Christmas tree, is quite beautiful and interesting. They are covered in red flower heads during the New Zealand summer season, which extends from November through January. These plants are quite unique and durable, and yet they too have been threatened by animals in more recent years. The original New Zealand natives considered these trees to be "chiefly", and even considered some of these trees to be sacred. These trees were often planted in memory of battlefields and chiefs, and the bark and nectar were thought to have healing powers. There are plenty of lush plants in New Zealand, and in fact, thirty percent of the country is covered with forests.

Interesting Geography Facts
New Zealand is home to the Sky Tower in Auckland, which is the tallest building currently in existence in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand was officially "discovered" in 1642 by Abel Tasman, who was a Dutch navigator. However, if you believe in the ancient Maori legends of New Zealand, the country was originally discovered by Maui, who made a fish hook from his grandmother's jawbone, using it to fish the North Island right out of the surrounding sea. The Maori were the first known settlers of New Zealand, until the arrival of Captain James Cook in the 18th century. In fact, the first map that showed New Zealand was drawn by Captain James Cook.

Other Fun New Zealand Facts
The location of New Zealand allows it to be the first country to see the sun rise every day. Farming is quite prevalent in the country, and in fact it is estimated that for every person in the country, there are also nine sheep. The country is also home to over nine billion dairy and beef cattle. Plus, if you've ever enjoyed bungee jumping, you'll be interested to know that it originated in New Zealand.

Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on decorative crosses and outdoor wall decor.