New Zealand: Everything you need to know
A complete guide to New Zealand: documents, climate, transport and tips to best experience Middle-earth.
New Zealand, made up mainly of two islands — the North Island and the South Island — is a country of rare beauty and landscape variety: glacial mountains, long deserted beaches, rushing rivers, crystal-clear deep lakes, volcanoes, geysers and bubbling mud.
Adventure lovers can try all kinds of dynamic outdoor activities: hiking, skiing, trekking, rafting and bungee jumping. You can swim with dolphins, whale-watch or fish for fat trout. Travelling in New Zealand will introduce you to those fairy-tale lands that brought the Lord of the Rings to life.
The local people, custodians of a culture that blends European and Maori heritage, are ingenious, caring and incredibly friendly.
DOCUMENTS & VISAS
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required. From 1 October 2019, a NZeTA entry visa and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) are mandatory.
More info: www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/visit
WHEN TO GO?
New Zealand can be visited year-round, though the best time is from November to March for pleasant temperatures and drier weather. October and April are also good, though slightly cooler.
CLIMATE
New Zealand's climate is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers, but rainfall is constant throughout the year.
Climatic conditions vary greatly between the South Island (cooler, wetter west coast, drier east coast) and the North Island (abundant rainfall year-round).
LOCAL TRANSPORT
PLANE: Air New Zealand and Qantas connect major urban areas.
BUS: Comfortable with 12-month Travel Passes available.
CAR: Drive on the left, 100km/h on motorways. International licence required.
TRAIN: TranzAlpine (Christchurch–Greymouth), Northern Explorer (Wellington–Auckland).
FERRY: Interislander between Wellington and Picton.
CURRENCY & LANGUAGE
LOCAL CURRENCY: New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Credit cards widely accepted. Cash recommended for national parks.
LANGUAGE: English is the official language. Widespread Maori cultural influences.
WHAT TO WEAR
Informal and comfortable. Trekking shoes, sweatshirt, waterproof jacket. Weather can change rapidly — expect "four seasons in one day".
ELECTRICITY
220–240 volts, AC 50Hz. An adapter for European plugs is required.
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