High country
As High Country ( German about: Highlands, High Country ) are in New Zealand called high-altitude, rural areas. The term is usually only associated with the south-eastern parts of the South Island , and to a lesser extent with the interior of the North Island . This name can be distantly compared with the Outback in Australia , the High Veld in South Africa and the Pampas in Argentina and is synonymous with seclusion.
Specifically, "High Country" means mostly Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin on the South Island and partly the Volcanic Plateau on the North Island. All of these areas are characterized by low rainfall, a very thin population density and an altitude of mostly over 600 m . The former is located in the rain shadow of the New Zealand Alps and the plateau is protected from high levels of precipitation by the three volcanoes. Furthermore, all these areas have a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The areas, mostly overgrown with tussock grass, are often used for extensive grazing and, apart from the partly hilly soil, resemble a steppe . Sheep mainly serve as grazing cattle, but recently more and more deer and alpacas have been used .