17 Australia and New Zealand

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

- Deep in the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), is one of the most photographed natural wonders in the country. The striking red monolith forms the centerpiece of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a World Heritage Site jointly managed by Parks Australia and the traditional landowners, the Aṉangu people.

- Uluru, meaning "shadowy place" in the local Aboriginal dialect, rises to a height of 348 meters from the surrounding plain. Most of its bulk is hidden beneath the earth's surface.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is to be found south-east of Australia situated in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two large islands – the North Island and the South Island, and several small islands. Population of New Zealand is 5 million people and the area is 268,680 sq km. Native people are the Maori. English and Maori are both the official languages.

History

Maori first settled in New Zealand in the 13th century. The Dutchman Abel Tasman was the first European to reach the island. The British explorer Jams Cook visited the island in the second half of the 18th century. In the late 18th century whalers and sealers from Britain, France and the USA visited the island and trade with the Maoris. In the early 19th century there were a lot of inter-tribal conflicts which are known as the Musket Wars.

The Maori went to war with newly acquired muskets. New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the vote, in 1893. In 1907, New Zealand gained dominion status, so it was no longer a colony of Britain. New Zealand participated in both World Wars.

Government type and administration

The capital city is Wellington, it is the second largest city in the country. It is located on the North Island. It has many important buildings, such as parliament and the Supreme Court. The city suffers from many earthquakes.

The country is a part of the British Commonwealth. The head of the country is the British monarch – Charles III who is represented by the Governor General. The flag is dark blue with the Union Jack (flag of the UK) and the Southern Cross.

Climate, geography, nature, New Zealand's wildlife

The North Island has a sub-tropical climate, which means that there are warm to hot summers and cool mild winters. This island has a lot of volcanic activity. There are volcanoes, hot mud springs and hot water springs. The South Island is much more mountainous. This Island is larger than the North Island but it has only one quarter of the country's population. The Island is much colder and snow and glaciers are found in the mountains´ ranges. The country suffers a lot from earthquakes. The highest peak Is the mountain Mount Cook/Aoraki (3,754 m) situated in the Southern Alps.

New Zealand's prosperity Is founded on dairy farming. The pleasant climate allows cattle and sheep to stay outside even in winter. Grass grows faster in New Zealand than in most countries and is called "the green gold" there.