Below, we’ve compiled a roundup of the most compelling images, along with a few dozen more to get you fired up on Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. 
1
Sunset beach reflections
This is what day's end can look like on the west-coast beaches near Auckland, which include Piha, Te Henga, and Karekare, among others.Photo: 무늬만사진사-Oh kim
2
Whananaki timelapse
An awesome nighttime timelapse captured at a beach campsite in Whananaki, on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand.Photo: Alex Schwab
3
Milford Sound in sun
The most famous of Fiordland's many sounds, where the Tasman Sea cuts into the deep, glacially carved inlets in the southwest of the South Island.Photo: paul bica
4
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
The points of greenish light on the cave ceiling are produced by a species of glowworm that is endemic to New Zealand and gives this well-visited attraction its name. Find it in the King Country region of the North Island.Photo: Donnie Ray Jones
5
Mangawhai cottage
A vibrant late-spring view of the landscape around Mangawhai Harbour, Northland.Photo: Sids1
6
Thunderhead over Lake Tekapo
A storm takes shape over the glacially fed Lake Tekapo, in the South Island's Mackenzie Basin.Photo: f2n_downtown
7
Moturoa beach break
A surfer attacks this beach break at low tide near New Plymouth, in the Taranaki region of the North Island.Photo: Dave Young
8
Lake Wanaka
Spring blooms on the shores of Lake Wanaka, in the Otago region, South Island.Photo: paul bica
9
West Coast aerial
Here's an aerial view down the West Coast region of the South Island, with the snow-capped peaks and ridges that comprise the western extent of the Southern Alps.Photo: Alan Lam
10
Tui and harakeke
An intimate look at two native New Zealand species: the tui, a bird belonging to the honeyeater family; and a stalk of harakeke, also known as New Zealand flax or hemp. Photo taken near Waikawa, in the South Island's Marlborough region.Photo: Sid Mosdell
11
Rob Roy Glacier Track
A half-day round-trip hike on the Rob Roy Glacier Track, which begins in Wanaka, takes you into Mt. Aspiring National Park and accesses glaciers and epic waterfalls.Photo: Andrea Schaffer
12
Ngarunui Beach
Ngarunui is the main beach in the chill surf town of Raglan, about 30 miles west of Hamilton in the Waikato region.Photo: My Daily Sublime
13
Downtown Auckland
New Zealand's largest city is home to around 1.4 million people, accounting for a third of the country's population. This is Queen St., the main drag.Photo: Kenny Louie
14
Elliot Bay
This small Northland Bay is a sweet little surf spot far removed from most development. Find it north of Whangarei.Photo: Alex Schwab
15
Auckland coast
An overhead perspective of wave action on the west coast of greater Auckland.Photo: nosha
16
Sperm whale flukes
Kaikoura, a town a little over 100 miles north of Christchurch, is one of the world's best locations to spot a sperm whale. These legends of the sea can grow to 67ft long, are the deepest diving mammal on Earth, and feed on giant squid.Photo: Gopal Vijayaraghavan
17
Wharariki Beach
If you travel to the northernmost point in the South Island, you'll eventually arrive at Cape Farewell to see deserted beaches like this one.Photo: Aaron Jacobs
18
Mount Taranaki from below
This 8,260ft volcano is one of the most iconic peaks in New Zealand and looks impressive from any angle, as you'll see when you scroll down.Photo: Dave Young
19
Mount Taranaki from above
Flanked by lowland, the volcano is by far the most prominent terrain feature in the region that shares its name.Photo: Phillip Capper
20
Mount Taranaki from its summit
And finally, here's what you'll see if you climb Taranaki. This sunrise view takes in the Sharks Tooth formation in the foreground and the distant Mount Ruapehu, just peeking above the clouds, in the background.Photo: Dave Young
21
Kea
The world's only alpine parrot species, the kea is endemic to New Zealand and hangs out in or near the southern beech forests of the South Island.Photo: Phillip Capper
22
Milford Sound waterfall
Lady Bowen Falls, above, is one of the only permanent waterfalls to adorn the cliffs of Milford Sound. After a rain, however, it's joined by hundreds more.Photo: Daniel Chodusov
23
Moeraki Boulders
Found at Koekohe Beach in the Otago region, these boulders are the result of natural processes of concretion and erosion. Maori legend ascribes them a more interesting origin, identifying them as the beached remains of a mythical shipwreck.Photo: ed 37 ~~
24
New Zealand sheep
A portrait of one of New Zealand's best-known mammals, looking out over Makara Bay from the Quartz Hill Track.Photo: Phillip Capper
25
Watermelon lanterns
The Auckland Lantern Festival takes place each year on the first full moon after the Chinese New Year. In 2014, it will be celebrated February 13-16.Photo: Kitt Foo
26
Maori carving
Traditional Maori carving utilizes materials such as wood, bone, shell, and stone. The Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua preserves and perpetuates the skill.Photo: Neil Mackinder
27
Cherry blossoms
You can find cherry blossoms blooming in September in temperate regions of New Zealand. Nelson, a city on Tasman Bay, holds an annual festival.Photo: Abaconda Management Group
28
Lake Hawea
Views like this, from Lake Hawea in the Otago region, give the impression that New Zealand was made for road trips.Photo: lwtt93
29
Piha
Another great shot from the beaches west of Auckland. This one was taken on a cloudy day at Piha.Photo: Alex Schwab
30
Otago tableau
Note from the photographer: "Taking in beautiful scenery, Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak (1974m), and The Remarkables, Otago, New Zealand."Photo: Tomas Sobek
31
Gurnard
The gurnard, or kumu-kumu, is a fish common to the waters around New Zealand. This colorful specimen was caught off the Miramar wharf in Wellington.Photo: Jojoe.photography
32
Fox Glacier
The glacier visible behind this barn is one of New Zealand's largest, falling for over 8 miles in Westland Tai Poutini National Park.Photo: thinboyfatter
33
Fox Glacier cave
Fox Glacier is accessible via guided helicopter tour, allowing you to explore the ice and find features like this.Photo: anoldent
34
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The 6,490ft Tongariro is one of the main active volcanoes in the North Island. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is 12-mile trail that traverses it and is considered the best one-day hike in New Zealand.Photo: Jeffrey Pang
35
Fur seal pup
Despite the presence of the nearby city of Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula is a good place for wildlife viewing, which is where this pup was photographed.Photo: Dunedin NZ
36
Champagne Pool
Near Rotorua in the North Island, the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal area features geysers, boiling mud pools, and hot springs like the bubbling Champagne Pool shown above.Photo: Christian Mehlführer
37
The Remarkables
The Remarkables range, across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown, is home to a small skifield of the same name.Photo: markdarb
38
Rabbit Island
Sitting just off the coast of the South Island in Tasman Bay, Rabbit Island is part of a recreational reserve that was established way back in 1908, thanks in part to its expansive swimming beaches.Photo: Rosino
39
Milford Sound in clouds
Compare this shot to photo #3 up top and you'll get a sense for just how many moods this fiord can put on.Photo: Adam & Tess
40
Sky Tower
Auckland's Sky Tower rises over 1,000 feet, which apparently makes it the "tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere." Note the lines coming off to the right of the frame, and then scroll down...Photo: Kesara Rathnayake
42
Pohutu geyser
The North Island's Whakarewarewa valley is home to 7 active geysers, Pohutu being the biggest, with blasts reaching 100 feet high around 20 times per day.Photo: Neville10
43
Lake Pukaki and Aoraki / Mount Cook
The glacially fed waters of Lake Pukaki, within the South Island's Mackenzie Basin, stretch north towards Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak.Photo: matthew Hunt
44
Maori glass totem
An interesting combination of tradition and modernity, this totem is carved from colored glass and is a central feature of the Grand Hall at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.Photo: kiwinz
45
Waterfalls of Milford Sound
Another look at what happens in wet conditions along the cliffs of Milford Sound.Photo: Bruce Tuten
46
Auckland green space
Auckland contains significant green space, with multiple city parks situated on dormant volcanic cones that make up the Auckland volcanic field.Photo: Kitt Foo
47
Pauanui Beach
The beach town of Pauanui is situated on the Coromandel Peninsula, more or less marking the western end of the Bay of Plenty, and has served as a holiday destination for nearby Aucklanders for decades.Photo: daspunkt
48
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
A close-up look at the Peacock Fountain, one of the features of the botanical gardens in Christchurch, the South Island's largest city.Photo: Jocelyn Kinghorn
49
Mount Ngauruhoe
Appearing as Mt. Doom in The Lord of the Rings films, Ngauruhoe (peeking from behind the foreground crater) is part of the Tongariro volcanic complex and can be climbed on a day hike.Photo: Neville10
50
Port Jackson
At the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, looking north towards the Great and Little Barrier Islands, Port Jackson is seen here enjoying some dramatic late-afternoon light.Photo: Alex Schwab
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