If you found yourself fascinated by the dramatic scenery displayed on “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films, know that these lands don’t belong to mythical Middle Earth but to a country located closer to the ends of the Earth. Often overshadowed by its larger, more popular Oceanian neighbor (and we use that term loosely) Australia, New Zealand rewards travelers with breathtaking sceneries, endless stretches of beaches, and welcoming locals in a decidedly smaller package. One of only four countries to lie completely south of the Tropic of Capricorn, New Zealand consists of two distinct worlds: the subtropical, smaller yet more populous North Island, and the temperate, mountainous, and rugged South Island.