The images were captured by German astronaut Alexander Gerst.

Astronaut Alexander Gerst has shared stunning new images of New Zealand from the International Space Station.

The images from the German astronaut, who works for the European Space Agency, provide a unique perspective of the South Island, including a photograph of the Southern Alps that looks surreal.

One is framed by the windows of the space station while another reveals the length of the island.

ALEXANDER GERST/ESA Astronaut Alexander Gerst's full shot of the "fabulous" South Island.

Gerst posted the pictures with the caption: "It was in this fabulous country that I first learned what it means to travel beyond my horizons and how to see the world with open eyes."

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He's no stranger to Aotearoa. In fact, he studied here.

ALEXANDER GERST/ESA The South Island as seen through the windows of the International Space Station.

In 2003 he received a master's degree in Earth sciences from the Victoria University of Wellington.

His biography states: "From 2001 to 2003, researching his master's thesis on a volcano in New Zealand, Alex developed new volcano monitoring techniques that might improve forecasts of volcanic eruptions. The results were published in Science Magazine."

Gerst was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009 and completed astronaut basic training in November 2010.

The photos of New Zealand that Gerst posted aren't his only photographs.

In fact, he frequently puts images of Earth from space on his social media. Everything from deserts to ice caps, auroras and storms feature in the photos.

ALEXANDER GERST/ESA The Southern Alps.