I've mentioned in the past that New Zealand is a fantastic place to visit and you may have got the impression that I'm a little fascinated with it. The Global Peace Index recently ranked it as the most peaceful country in the world, which could be reason enough to check it out.

But if it's not, how about the incredible views, laid-back lifestyle and fascinating history? It seems I'm not the only one that recognises how captivating the land of the kiwi can be, as Robin Wilson - head of overseas at UK property website Rightmove.co.uk - points out.

He reckons people see New Zealand as an "almost magical destination, truly on the other side of the world".

"The Lord of the Rings film series set amidst the stunning landscapes and scenery of the country must have had a big impact, acting as one big tourist advert," he added.

Now, he was referring mostly to the fact that people are keen to emigrate to the country, but I think it applies equally to those of us who want to make our visits a little more temporary.

Dan Johnson, director of TheMoveChannel.com, suggested that New Zealand's relaxed lifestyle and friendly people are also playing a part in growing interest.

And if you like your space there's also the fact that the country is roughly the size of the UK, but has 56 million fewer people. I actually once heard that there are more sheep in New Zealand so I've checked it out and it's true - there's about nine sheep to every person! So apparently it's pretty peaceful in more ways than one.

Sam Buckley