New Zealand is a country for extreme tourists who love active recreation and travel. If you are attracted by the beauty of pristine nature, volcanoes and geysers, waterfalls and lakes, exotic flora and fauna, then you will get a lot of positive emotions from a trip to New Zealand. The landscapes of this country were chosen for filming the famous trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”.
Why go?
New Zealand has the most beautiful coastlines and beaches, but there is no point in going so far just for the sake of a beach holiday. People come here to visit the valley of geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, caves and other natural attractions, surprisingly concentrated in one region. Anyone who prefers active tourism will find entertainment to their taste: from a measured acquaintance with the diversity of local flora and fauna to diving and conquering snow-capped peaks.
New Zealand is popular among tourists all year round. In summer, people fly here to admire the beauty of nature and enjoy local wines, in winter – to visit ski resorts. The highlight of the country is the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions of the indigenous population, the Maori tribes, who have carefully preserved their identity to this day.
When to go
The best time of year to visit New Zealand depends on the purpose of the visit. If you want to enjoy the beauty of nature, then the New Zealand summer (December to February) is ideal. If you want active skiing and snowboarding, then winter (June to August) is the best time. For those who want to relax with minimal expenses, you should choose the shoulder (when the temperature is still comfortable) and low season. They last from March to April and from May to August, respectively. During the New Zealand winter, only ski resorts provide services at full cost.
Winter. A restless period of the year with prolonged rains and squall winds. It lasts from June to August and is accompanied by heavy snowfalls in the mountainous regions. On the coast, the maximum air temperature reaches +15°C. Midwinter is the best period for lovers of skiing.
Spring. Lasts from September to November. The average temperature in Wellington is +8-17°C. In some bays the water becomes suitable for swimming. Nature comes alive, the birds begin their mating games.
Summer. When it’s summer here, it’s winter in New Zealand. New Year’s Eve is celebrated here in the middle of summer, so if you want to spend the New Year holidays in the most unusual weather conditions – welcome to the resorts of the island state.
December, January and February. Sunny and hot period of the year. This is the best time to visit New Zealand and get acquainted with its natural attractions. Average daytime temperature +18-20°C (maximum +30°C), nighttime +10-15°C.
Autumn. Lasts from March to May and is the harvest season. Daytime air temperature varies significantly depending on the region. For example, in April in Auckland the average daytime temperature is +20°C, in Queenstown +12°C.
Cloth
The most important qualities for clothing that you take to New Zealand are water and wind resistance, as well as comfort for long walks.
In summer you will need a hat, practical shoes (sneakers, sandals), shorts, T-shirts. For visiting mountainous regions – a sweater, pants, jacket. Be sure to take sunscreen.
In winter, you need a set of warm clothes: a waterproof warm jacket, gloves, a hat, trousers, comfortable boots or sneakers.
Customs
There is no limit on the import of national and foreign currency, but any amount exceeding NZD 10,000 must be declared.
You cannot take with you or export:
- beekeeping, dairy and meat products;
- any kind of nuts, vegetables, fruits, herbs;
- products made from ivory, bones and tusks of sea animals, tortoise shell, skins and horns.
There is also a ban on the import of a number of medical drugs (in particular, any vaccines), except for drugs prescribed to a tourist by a doctor.
Currency
The local currency is the New Zealand dollar. 1 NZD = 0.6 EUR. There are no problems with exchanging euros and US dollars. Numerous ATMs allow you to easily withdraw cash from bank cards.
Prices
New Zealand is not the easiest tourist region to visit. You need to fly with transfers, so the road takes quite a lot of time. In this regard, the cost of the tour cannot be very low. Depending on the places to visit and the hotel, the cost of the tour varies from $2000 to $5000 and above.
The amount of money you need for a full-fledged vacation in case of an independent trip to the country depends on your preferences. It should be calculated based on the minimum expenses of 55 NZD (33 EUR) per day. This will be enough to pay for a budget hostel, a couple of trips on public transport and a couple of lunches in local cafes. The cost of visiting local attractions can be considered moderate. For example, an adult ticket to Hobbiton will cost 80 NZD, and to the Waimang Volcanic Park – 37 NZD. For children and teenagers under 15 years old, tickets are 2-3 times cheaper.
Prices in supermarkets for food are almost twice as high as in Moscow, and for lunches in restaurants – by 40%. Visiting zoos, museums, amusement parks and other things will cost you an average of 20 NZD per ticket. An excursion – about 100 NZD.
All prices are valid for January 2022.
Language and religion
New Zealand has three official languages: English (used by 96% of the population), Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language. Television and radio broadcast primarily in English.
New Zealand has no official religion and is a multi-religious country. Half of New Zealanders are Christians, less than 10% of citizens are representatives of other religions, and the rest of the population is non-religious.
Attitude towards tourists
Since tourism is one of the main sources of income for New Zealand, the attitude towards guests of the country, both in terms of infrastructure development and in communication with the local population, is extremely friendly. You will always be ready to receive help if difficulties arise.
Interesting events
- The Centreburi Show is a fair and horse racing event in Christchurch. It is seven days of racing, fashion and music during the second week of November.
- Fiesta week is a fireworks festival that takes place in mid-March in Auckland.
- The Marlborough Wine Festival is a vibrant wine and food festival held on the second weekend of February, from Friday to Sunday.
- A magical kite festival. Held in early April, when the winds are most favorable for this purpose.
- Jazz festival. Held in the last week of December for over 30 years, the festival brings together jazz performers and just lovers of good music from all over the world.
- Summer City Programme: A fun and vibrant event with lots of shows, music and markets held in January in Wellington.
- New Year and Christmas. They take place at the height of the New Zealand summer. Moreover, Christmas is celebrated more brightly and actively.
Beaches
New Zealand is not a country with the largest number of beach resorts. However, there are a number of places that are a must-see for beach lovers.
- Karekare Beach, West Coast of Auckland, North Island. Endless beach with black volcanic sand.
- Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, North Island. A great spot for windsurfers, surfers and boaters.
- For lovers of green nature, Hot Water Beach, Coromandel, North Island will appeal.
- For those who enjoy secluded places, the beach at the foot of New Zealand’s Southern Alps – Gillespies Beach (West Coast, South Island) – will be to your liking.
- Manu Bay, Raglan – best place for surfing.
Resort towns
- Auckland. It is considered a city of volcanoes, the streets and parks of which are formed by flows of solidified lava. The peculiarity of the city is the access to two bays at once, belonging to different seas.
- Queenstown. A city for lovers of active recreation. In winter, skiers come here, in summer – those who want to go on lake cruises, horse riding or fishing.
- Rotorua: A city on the North Island, close to geothermal springs, geysers and picturesque lakes.
- Dunedin. The city with the steepest street in the world, as well as a lot of natural and architectural attractions. Nearby there live a large number of penguins, albatrosses and seals, which will not be difficult to meet.
- Christchurch. A beautiful city that won the title of “Garden City of the World” in 1996, beating out 620 other contenders.
Street in Dunedin
Attractions
- Waimangu Geyser Valley. A place with a unique hydrothermal system of geysers, gushing from underground to a height of up to 30 meters.
- Waitomo Caves. Very beautiful caves with a starry sky effect created by special glowworms and their larvae.
- Milford Sound Fiord. An area with a mountainous and forested landscape, the high humidity of the air always creates optimal conditions for the habitation of many endemic species of birds.
- Hobbiton Village. Created for the filming of the movie “The Lord of the Rings”, the village is a favorite place to visit for fans of Tolkien’s work.
- Sutherland Falls. The height of the waterfall, located on the South Island, in the large Fiordland National Park, is about 600 meters!
- Wai-O-Tapu Valley. An area with strong hydrothermal vents. Here visitors get the impression that they are in a cauldron, in which everything is actively boiling and bubbling.
Entertainment
The island state offers a wide range of entertainment, most of which will be of interest to fans of active tourism and natural attractions. Even traveling around the country itself gives a lot of impressions.
Popular here:
- all water sports (diving, surfing, sailing, kayaking, water skiing, etc.);
- extreme sports (skydiving, paragliding, snowboarding, skiing, flying in small planes).
- auto and motorcycle sports from amateur to professional.
Kitchen
New Zealand has welcomed many immigrants from different countries who brought culinary traditions from their homeland. Therefore, here you can taste national dishes from all over the world.
Souvenirs
Particularly interesting souvenirs from New Zealand will be:
- bone ornaments;
- New Zealand jade products;
- paua shells;
- jewelry made of natural pearls.
Transport
The country’s transport structure is well developed. The most common are city and intercity buses. Wellington has trolleybuses, tickets for which are sold at special kiosks. Rail transport is poorly developed: only eight lines, along which a train passes once a day. Nevertheless, this is the most convenient way to travel between large cities.
There are taxis and car rentals. High-speed catamarans run between the islands, tickets for which should be booked in advance, as they are actively sold out.
Safety
New Zealand has a high level of safety. As evidence of this, the first places in the Global Peace Index ratings are taken annually. However, as in any tourist region, visitors should carefully monitor their personal belongings and not leave anything valuable in cars.
Medicine
Medical services for tourists are paid, except for first aid. The emergency number is 111. Many hotels have professional doctors on staff or cooperate with one of the clinics.
Medical tourism is well-developed in the country. The services of New Zealand specialists are often used by citizens of the USA and Australia, since the prices for treatment of serious diseases and complex surgical interventions are 12-25% of the prices in the States.
Internet
To access the Internet in New Zealand, travellers are advised to purchase a SIM card from one of the following operators:
- Spark
- Vodafone
- 2Degrees
Coverage in populated areas is good, but in national parks and remote areas it can be weak or even absent. The cost of services is not the most affordable. 20 GB at 15 Mbps – 56 NZD.
Useful facts
- New Zealand’s power sockets are for three-pronged flat plugs. You’ll need adapters to charge phones and other gadgets.
- Strong alcohol is sold in special Bottle Store stores. You can bring your own drinks to cafes and other establishments with a strong “BYO” sign.
- Smoking is prohibited in transport, in all public places and some cafes.
- You can take photographs everywhere, except in places with prohibiting signs.
- Many public places close at 5:00 PM or earlier. Plan your shopping with this in mind.
- The standard tip in a restaurant is 5-10%. In small towns and villages, such material rewards are not at all obligatory.