New Zealand may look like a few small islands at the edge of the map, but it’s a larger-than-life destination for language learners. Whether you’re looking for off-the-grid woodsy living or prefer the glam of city life, this country does not disappoint. Here are some of the best places to learn languages in New Zealand.

Auckland is a cosmopolitan center with an international business vibe, though you’re never far from nature in every direction. Here students can find everything from small language institutes to New Zealand’s largest university and undeniably some of the best language education the country has to offer. Keep in mind that city living comes with a price tag; as the city has grown, so have rent prices, and living expenses in Auckland are consistently the highest in the country.

A bit further south, Wellington dishes up hipster delight for aspiring language students. Littered with Victorian architecture on a hillside overlooking the Pacific, Wellington is a vibrant hub of arts and culture, chock full of galleries, museums, theatres, and dive bars. Portlandia’s southern hemisphere soul sister, students are likely to leave Wellington with at least one of the following: a sleeve tattoo, a mustache, or a pallet for craft beer — in addition to impressive new language skills, of course!

Dunedin may not have been on your radar, but as home to one of New Zealand’s top universities and the bedrock of the country’s Scottish heritage, it’s a lively and hospitable destination for international students. Rockin’ a lively indie music scene, Dunedin is an approachable student town surrounded by the natural beauty of the Otago Peninsula on the South Island.