New Zealand — Wine Region Guide
The New Zealand maps from Your Own Wine Encyclopedia — every name tag opens a study card. Below, the chapter's own geography, climate and geology notes.
Maps on this page
3 screens from the interactive map
On the map
North Island — Overview · South Island — Overview · Northland · Auckland · +17 more
Interactive map
Terrain & satellite · every name tag opens a study card
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From the encyclopedia — geography, climate & geology
Topography & Geography
Geographical Isolation
- Located in the South Pacific Ocean
- Distance from nearest land:
- 1,900 km south-east of Australia
- 5,000 km north of Antarctica
- 9,000 km west of Chile
- NZ's North Island lies on the same latitude as Tasmania
Latitude and Topography
- Spans 36°–46°S, contributing to climate variation
- South Island: mostly cool climate
- North Island: lower latitudes lead to moderate climates (e.g., Auckland and Gisborne)
- Cook Strait divides North and South Islands
- North–South city order: Auckland → Wellington → Christchurch → Dunedin (Central Otago)
Vineyard Locations
- Predominantly on the east of the islands
- Southern Alps run the length of the South Island, protecting vineyards from excessive rains and prevailing winds from the Tasman Sea (west of NZ)
- Rainclouds moving eastward from Tasman Sea deposit all moisture high in the mountains → rain shadow effect
- Marlborough: average of around 650 mm of rainfall per year
Climate & Weather
- Predominantly maritime climate.
- Exception: Central Otago — semi-continental climate, sheltered from ocean influence by surrounding mountains (the only region with a truly continental climate in NZ).
On the map
- North Island — Overview
- South Island — Overview
- Northland
- Auckland
- Matakana
- Kumeu
- Waiheke Island
- Gisborne
- Hawke’s Bay
- Central Hawke’s Bay
- Wairarapa
- Martinborough
- Gladstone
- Nelson
- Marlborough
- Canterbury
- North Canterbury
- Waipara Valley
- Waitaki Valley (North Otago)
- Central Otago
- Bannockburn