New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, enjoys a reputation as a unique country blessed with magnificent nature. Under a brilliant blue sky, rugged coastlines, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains, hyperactive volcanoes, rushing rivers, glacier-fed lakes, and unique wildlife unfold. Even the "Kiwis"—named after the lovable bird that has become the national symbol—seem to be constantly amazed by the fantastic vistas their homeland has to offer. The first settlers, the Māori, called it Aotearoa—"Land of the Long White Cloud." The former obstacle of its isolated location (even Australia is almost 2,000 km away) has proven to be a boon for tourism: While New Zealand's green image may be more a geographical accident than the result of prudent government policy, it is skillfully marketed. Despite its growing popularity, New Zealand has so far been spared mass tourism. The various destinations are easily accessible, as the entire landmass is barely larger than Great Britain. New Zealand has only about 4.1 million inhabitants, more than half of whom live in the three largest cities. Elsewhere, you can drive for miles through rolling farmland and hardly encounter another soul. Furthermore, there are some areas in New Zealand so inaccessible that it is highly likely no human has ever set foot in them.