An island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island and more than 700 smaller islands. New Zealand is a land of great contrasts and diversity. Active volcanoes, spectacular caves, deep glacier lakes, verdant valleys, dazzling fjords, long sandy beaches, and the spectacular snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the South Island. New Zealand is a top holiday destination with incredible nature, scenery and adventure opportunities, also providing a glimpse of Maori culture. There are 14 national parks through the country and almost a quarter of the territory is protected.
“Haka” by Shiny Things is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“File:Apteryx mantelli -Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand-8a.jpg” by The.Rohit is licensed under CC BY 2.0
New Zealand is formed of mountainous islands in the Southwest Pacific and the weather tends to be unpredictable, but may be the best time to visit New Zealand is during the warmer months, from September until May, which bring long, bright and sunny days and day temperatures of 16°C to 24°C. These time is ideal for visiting the lovely beaches or enjoying the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking. However, there is a wide range of conditions from the north, with subtropical weather, and the south, more temperate. Generally, the north has no extremes while winter can be quite cool in the south, with snow in the mountains. The western coasts are rainy and humid, and the eastern coasts are drier and sunnier. You are very likely to experience four seasons in one day, just be prepared for a fair sprinkling of rain whenever you decide to visit.
Beach, surfing, snorkelling and diving: New Zealand is renowned for its coastline of pristine, sandy beaches and magnificent rock formations. High beach season occurs in the summer months of December, January, and February. Coastal destinations are filled with travellers from around the world, as well as New Zealanders enjoying their Christmas and New Year’s holidays. December and January are the best months for snorkelling and diving. Surfing is possible year-round but winter can be cold especially in the South Island, so the warmer season between September and April is the better choice.
Hiking and skiing: Spring (September to November) is one of the best times for hiking, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. At the beginning of spring, the mornings and evenings can be chilly, so it’s worth packing an extra layer or two that you can take off once the sun starts to warm things up during the day. September is the coolest month in spring and things start to heat up as the months progress. If you are looking for warm temperatures and longer daylight hours, probably, the best months are November and December. Autumn (March to May) is also a good season and enjoys mild temperatures and settled weather, with plenty of clear sunny days. March is the perfect time of year for those who want to make the most of the warmer temperatures while avoiding the crowds, while days get cooler and shorter as winter approaches. The ski season in New Zealand starts in early June and runs through late October.
Birdwatching and other wildlife: The best time to visit in search of whales and birds is during the southern spring between late September and mid-December. The peak time for wild flowers is usually the second half of January.
Southern lights: although auroras happen all year round, the best time to see them in New Zealand is during the winter months (June to September). The noteworthy locations for seeing the Southern lights are the southern most spots of country.
Wine taste: New Zealand is one of the world’s best wine producers. Vineyards and wineries are splendid throughout both the North Island and the South Island. The country has become very well-known for its wines, especially its sauvignon blanc and pinot noirs. The wine harvests fall on the local autumn months between February and April, with some late-harvest types being picked as late as June in the Otago area.
The New Zealand Dollar is the official currency (NZ$). Typically, 1,40 to 1,80 nz dollar per Euro and 1,30 to 1,70 nz dollar per US Dollar.
New Zealanders speak English as a first language, although some may still speak traditional Maori.
Foreign nationals from several countries may enter New Zealand visa-free as a visitor as long as they present a valid passport for up to 6 or 3 months depending on the nationality.
There are plenty of ATMs in New Zealand so, if you are in a city or major town, you shouldn’t ever be too far away from one: look for them at local bank branches, shopping centres and in certain shops. New Zealand is well equipped when it comes to card payments, which means you shouldn’t have a problem if your card is from one of the major networks. All international credit cards are widely accepted.
Most shops and businesses are open 9:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, as a minimum. Many stores also open Saturdays and some open on Sundays. In resorts you will find most stores open in the evenings. Banks are closed at weekends. Restaurants typically open for lunch from 12:00 to 14:00 and for dinner 18:00 to 22:00, while cafes open earlier in the morning and some close in the evening.
GMT + 12 hours.
The airports for foreign travellers are: Auckland Airport (is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, located on the North Island), Christchurch Airport (the main airport of the South Island), Wellington Airport (is located south of the capital in the south of the North Island) and Queenstown Airport (is the second busiest airport on the South Island).
Buses are the main form of public transport, with some areas also offering trains and ferries. Buses are the cheapest and most common form of public transport available for travelling between towns. The company Intercity and Skip are the two main providers of this service, and fares start from around NZ$10. Additionally, hop-on-hop-off buses are also a popular way to get around New Zealand, especially among backpackers. The legendary backpacker bus is a fun and flexible way to get the best out of New Zealand while still having the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Trains are not a common form of public transport in New Zealand; however, there are three main train lines operated by KiwiRail: Auckland to Wellington, Picton to Christchurch, and Christchurch to the West Coast, considered one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. Train tickets start from around NZ$49 per person.
Ferries are popular for travel between the North and South Islands. The two major providers are InterIslander and Bluebridge, and fares start at NZ$55 for foot passengers. Ferry travel is also available between the mainland and New Zealand’s offshore islands, including Waiheke, Rangitoto and Great Barrier island from Auckland, as well as Stewart Island just south of the South Island. In some coastal areas, ferries connect towns which are closer via water than via road including Russell and Paihia in the Bay of Islands.
Water taxis are smaller vessels which offer a scheduled services handy for reaching out of the way hiking and mountain biking spots in places like Queen Charlotte Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park. Most water taxi operators can also put together a customised scenic tour of local sights. Hauraki Express and Auckland Water Taxis offer private tours and also transfers between Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Kawau Island and Rakino Island.
Another good option is to rent a camper, during your stay, because New Zealand features excellent facilities for camping. Here is an idea to get you started: Peak Season (Dec to Feb): $120 – $420 NZD per day / Low Season (June to Aug): $30 – $120 NZD per day. Some companies to rent campervans are: Britz, KEA, and Maui.
Disrespecting Maori culture
Ignoring sun effects
Forgetting that New Zealanders drive on the left
New Zealand food scene offers a unique blend of flavours from indigenous Maori culture, European settlers and recent Asian immigrants. Some culinary specialities are: Bacon and egg pie (consisting of a combination of flaky pastry, egg yolks, and salty bacon) Māori Boil-Up (is a unique Māori technique of preparing vegetables such as watercress, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and sweet potatoes by boiling them in a large pot filled with water with a choice of meat in large chunks), Kiwi Meat Pie (the meat pie is a soft pastry with a crusty exterior wrapped around a filling often minced beef served with a big dollop of tomato sauce), Roast Lamb (flavoured with rosemary and plenty of seasonal veggies), Pavlova (is a much-loved dessert in New Zealand made with meringue, whipped cream and fruit).
New Zealand’s electricity supply runs at 230/240 volts, and we use angled two or three pin plugs (type I), the same as Australia and parts of Asia. Most hotels and motels provide 110-volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option.
New Zealand has a very high level of ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer. The sun’s rays are more harmful here than anywhere else in the world and it is very easy to get sunburnt, even in as little as 10 minutes. The New Zealand public hospital system is free of charge to Australian, British and New Zealand citizens but will charge other nationals for treatment received. An exception to this is in the case of any accident when the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) will pick up the tab. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Visiting the doctor will cost about $60 and may vary between practices and towns.
Tipping in New Zealand is not obligatory, even in restaurants and bars. However, tipping for good service or kindness is at the discretion of the visitor. Hotels and restaurants in New Zealand do not add service charges to their bills.