Which Place Outside of Europe Has the Most Similar Looking Countryside to the English Countryside?

Which Place Outside of Europe Has the Most Similar Looking Countryside to the English Countryside?: A Complete Guide

For the traveler who loves nothing more than the quintessential English countryside, with its rolling green hills, hedgerows, fields like a patchwork quilt, and quaint stone-built villages, the search for a place elsewhere in the world where it is possible to experience a like environment is a common quest. The English landscape is a unique entity, a land of a very specific and manicured charm, a land that is at once wild and yet at the same time perfectly tamed. While there are many places throughout the European continent, such as Tuscany or the Dordogne region of France, where a somewhat similar environment exists, a search farther afield reveals a surprising competitor to the English countryside, a place where a traveler can experience a like environment without crossing the Atlantic Ocean: the South Island of New Zealand, specifically the regions of Canterbury and Otago.

In a case where one is planning a trip to visit and explore local countryside with a similar aesthetic, there are various logistical considerations, especially if one is coming from an urban center. For example, if one is using a location such as Hertfordshire to plan a trip to learn about English landscapes, followed by a global comparison, one of the key considerations is ensuring transportation is available and efficient. For instance, for many tourists coming to visit the historic market town of Hemel Hempstead to visit and learn about the local countryside, such as the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Taxis In Hemel Hempstead is often a convenient means of transportation to get around and visit the hidden footpaths that characterize English countryside.

The Hallmarks of the English Countryside

Before we locate its twin elsewhere in the world, let’s first try to define what makes our English countryside so special. It’s rarely associated with dramatic, ‘jagged’ mountain ranges or arid deserts. Instead, think of:

Undulating Pastoral Landscapes: Gentle hills (wolds, downs, and moors) rolling away to the horizon.

Hedgerows and Dry-Stone Walls: Ancient boundaries dividing fields into a natural patchwork.

Deciduous Woodlands: Oak, ash, and beech forests exploding in a kaleidoscope of autumn colors.

Historic Architecture: Villages built from local stone (limestone, sandstone, or flint) topped off by a ‘thatched’ roof and a church spire reaching for the clouds.

A Lush, Green Color: Due to our high rainfall, our grass remains a vibrant emerald green all year round.

Spotting a match for this combination outside of Europe demands a specific type of climate: temperate oceanic. And a history of agricultural settlement similar to our ‘enclosure’ movement.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Plains and Otago: A Mirror Image

The area that most resembles the English countryside outside of Europe is the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand, specifically the Canterbury Plains that extend down into North Otago. When the British settlers came to New Zealand in the 19th century, they were immediately struck by the similarity of this land to “home” and set about making it look like home by planting hedges and building stone churches and sheep stations that look just like those back in the English countryside.

1. The Geometry of the Land

Just like the English countryside, the Canterbury Plains are characterised by their geometric pattern of fields divided by hedgerows of trees and shelterbelts of trees. As you drive through the Geraldine or Waimate regions, the pattern of the countryside is identical to the pattern of the English countryside - the same pattern of green paddocks with sheep grazing peacefully.

2. The Architecture and Settlements

Perhaps the strongest evidence for why New Zealand is the "England of the South" is the architecture. If you go to places such as Akaroa, which was originally settled by French people but was later heavily influenced by the British, or Oamaru, you will see evidence of this, with limestone buildings, Victorian post offices, and stone churches with spires that could easily fit in in a rural area of Suffolk or Kent. They didn't just copy the style of rural living, they copied the style of the village green, the pub, and the stone bridge.

3. Climate and Greenery

While the South Island is known for the rugged mountain ranges of the Southern Alps, the east side has the advantage of a temperate climate, giving it that famous English “green.” While Canterbury has more sunshine than most of England, the rainfall is adequate to keep the region lush. The absence of tropical undergrowth, replaced instead by the English oak, willow, and poplar trees lining the riverbanks, adds to the illusion.

The Role of Transport in Exploring Rural Landscapes

Whether traversing the narrow, hedgerow-lined roads of Devon or the long, sweeping rural roads of New Zealand, the mode of travel plays a significant role in the experience. In England, traversing the rural regions often means a combination of train travel to a rural town and then a road-based vehicle to access rural villages. However, for the traveler undertaking this journey, logistical detail is essential. In order to seamlessly transition between air travel and rural exploration, pre-arranged ground travel means that none of the beauty of the journey is missed. For example, in order to transition directly from Luton Airport to rural Hertfordshire, booking an Airport Taxi Hemel Hempstead means that the transition from the airport to the rural village roads is direct and seamless, much in the same way that one would want to transition when renting a car in New Zealand to travel the rural regions of the South Island.

Other Contenders: Tasmania and Patagonia

While New Zealand is the primary answer, there are two other notable mentions that hold fragments of the English countryside aesthetic outside of Europe.

Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania, being an island state, is referred to as “England with better weather.” The Midlands in Tasmania resemble the English countryside almost like a carbon copy. With its dry-stone walls constructed by English convicts and settlers, rolling hills, and historical estates like Woolmers Estate, it perfectly embodies the Georgian and Victorian architectural styles. However, Tasmania varies slightly due to the presence of indigenous flora like eucalyptus trees amidst the English hedgerows, whereas in New Zealand’s South Island, it would be possible to replicate England almost identically due to the clearance of indigenous bush to make way for English-style farming.

The Lake District of Chile and Argentina

It is interesting to note that the Patagonia region, which includes Chile and Argentina, has a temperate rainforest and glacial lake landscape similar to the English Lake District. For example, the Argentinean towns in Patagonia, such as Bariloche, have Alpine-style buildings, but their style is more Swiss than English. Nevertheless, the lakes, forests, and rolling hills are quite similar to the English landscape. The agricultural landscape, however, is not as “cultivated” and quilt-like as that found in the English lowlands; it is more mountainous and rugged.

Also read: The Real Cost of Living in the UK: What Salary Do You Need to Thrive in 2024?

Why New Zealand Wins the Comparison

Ultimately, the South Island of New Zealand emerges victorious in the title chase because it is the only location outside of Europe where the cultural landscape mirrors the natural landscape. In England, the rural landscape is a man-made work of art, designed over thousands of years of human habitation. In the Canterbury and Otago regions of New Zealand, the same human intent was put to work in the 1800s by British immigrants. They planted the same trees, built the same fences, and raised the same livestock. Travelers visiting the area and standing on the peak of the Campsie Range in New Zealand, looking south, swear that they have somehow transported themselves to the Cotswolds or the South Downs—until they look to the west and see the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

Conclusion

For those who long for the peace and quiet of England’s countryside but wish to indulge in adventure in the Southern Hemisphere, the South Island of New Zealand provides the closest visual and cultural equivalent. From the hedgerow-lined fields of Canterbury to the stone villages of Otago, the similarity is almost too great to believe. While England’s countryside may be unmatched in terms of history and charm, its “twin” exists 11,000 miles away, a testament to the fact that the British diaspora community succeeded in creating a legacy of beauty in a style reminiscent of rolling hills, sheep grazing peacefully, and quaint buildings. Whether you are out exploring the Chiltern Hills with a local taxi service or planning a fly-drive adventure through New Zealand’s rural heartland, the search for beauty in a rural idyll is an adventure always worth taking.