New Zealand is only 1,000 miles long, 280 miles across at its widest, and home to just under five million people, but this long, narrow country contains an enormous variety of things to see and do. Travelers can ski on snow-capped mountains and bask on subtropical beaches, learn about Maori culture and discover its British heritage, sip on some of the world’s finest wines and hike through uninhabited wilderness. Whatever kind of travel experiences you enjoy, you can probably find it in New Zealand.

The country comprises two main islands—imaginatively named the North and South Islands in English, and Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu, respectively, in Maori. Although the South Island is larger, more than three-quarters of New Zealand’s population lives in the North. Ideally, visitors should spend time on both islands, although picking one isn’t a bad approach. Here are the 15 best places to visit in New Zealand.

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