2003.05.07   New Zealand Scenery Definitives
On May 7, the vast abundance of scenic delights, from majestic snow-capped mountains to glorious white-sand beaches, from ancient glaciers to hissing geysers and boiling mud pools, of this 270,000 square kilometres country are celebrated again oh five new definitive stamps, depicting scenery from both the North and the South Islands.

50c - Ailsa Mountains

Towering over 3500 metres above sea level, the Ailsa Mountains form a magnificent western backdrop to Lake Wakatipu, in the South Island's Fiordland region. The mountains are drained by the Greenstone and Caples Rivers, whose waters contain a rich resource of rainbow and brown trout and whose valleys and surrounding beech forests are popular choices for tramping and camping expeditions.

$1.00 - Coromandel
The Coromandel Peninsula - just two hours' drive from Auckland, New Zealand's largest city - is a haven of untouched beauty. An historic logging and gold-mining area, it today offers a getaway destination of lush forests, deserted beaches and secluded bays. A marine reserve off the east coast shelters a wealth of fish, shellfish and marine plant species.

$1.50 - Arrowtown

When gold was discovered in central Otago's Arrow River in the 1860s, thousands of miners flocked to the district. 'Arrowtown', established in 1862, soon earned itself a reputation for lawlessness and constant squabbles over claims for gold. Today, more than 100 years after the gold rush, Arrowtown's original buildings have been restored and the 'living historic town' is a popular tourist destination.

$2.00 - Tongariro National Park

Located in the central North Island, Tongariro is New Zealand's oldest national park. It includes and protects three major active volcanoes - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro - as well as forests, tranquil lakes and a desert-like plateau. In this strongly contrasting landscape you'll find hot springs and winter snowfields, alpine herbs and dense beech forests, as well as many native birds, animals and insects.

$5.00 - Castlepoint

This small holiday settlement on the North Island's Wairarapa coast is dominated by a white-coloured headland named 'The Castle' by explorer Captain James Cook. With its fossil-rich reef, sheltered lagoon, extensive beach and undulating sand dunes, Castlepoint is a popular location for water-based recreational pursuits - and a visiting point for dolphins, fur seals, sea birds and the occasional small whale.
 

Date of Issue 7 May 2003
Stamp Designer CommArts Design , Wellington, New Zealand
Stamp Size 30mm x 25mm
Perforation Gummed: 13.5 x 13.25
Self-adhesive: Diecut
Paper Type Gummed: De la Rue103gsm red phosphor coated litho stamp paper
Self-adhesive: 210gsm PSA gloss back stamp paper
Printer Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand
Sheet Size 50c and $1.00 sheets of 100; 
$1.50 in sheets of 50 and self-adhesive booklets of five; 
$2.00 and $5.00 in sheets of 50
  
  
Original information and image from New Zealand Post