New Zealand's Proximity to Antarctic vs. Arctic Circles

New Zealand is much closer to the Antarctic than to either Arctic Circle.

Distances (Approximate)

• To Antarctic Circle (66.5°S): ~2,500 km (1,550 mi) from South Island
• To South Pole: ~5,500 km (3,400 mi)
• To Arctic Circle (66.5°N): ~12,500 km (7,800 mi)
• To North Pole: ~14,000 km (8,700 mi)

New Zealand's southern latitude (~34°S to 47°S) places it firmly in the Southern Hemisphere's temperate zone, with the Southern Ocean and Antarctica as its southern neighbors—while the Arctic is literally on the opposite side of the planet.