Capital: Wellington

Language: English

Currency: $ New Zealand Dollars which is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations and notes in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.

Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs with two or three flat pins are standard. Outlets for 110 volts for small appliances can be found in most hotels.

New Zealand Northland Road Trip Itinerary

Northland New Zealand is an area of green rolling hills, farmlands and great forests. Surrounded almost entirely by water and snaked by rivers and inlets, you’ll….Read More

Driving from Christchurch to Marlborough

The road trip part of my New Zealand adventure began in Christchurch. I’d already picked up my super comfy and spacious Mitsubishi Outlander from the….Read More

Driving New Zealand’s Wild West Coast

Leaving Picton or Blenheim in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand’s South Island, there are two routes you can take to reach the Wild West Coast. Both….Read More

The Spectacular Drive from Franz Josef to Queenstown

I set off on my road trip around New Zealand’s South Island first driving from Christchurch to Marlborough, then across to the Wild West Coast. From there I made our way….Read More

Day Trip to Akaroa from Christchurch

Taking a day trip to Akaroa from Christchurch is one of the must do things when your visiting Christchurch. Akaroa is perfectly positioned for both a full or half….Read More

A Self-Guided Wine Tour of the Gibbston Valley

A visit to New Zealand wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some of its best wineries. And while we love taking a guided day trip through a wine region and think…..Read More

Two Week New Zealand South Island Road Trip Itinerary

New Zealand’s spectacular South Island is on the bucket list of many travellers all over the world. I’ve taken many trips over the pond to visit what is one of my favourite….Read More

Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary

The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island can easily be completed in one day, just under six hours if you don’t make any stops….Read More

Christchurch Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days

This Christchurch itinerary will help you decide how best to spend your time when exploring this beautiful and interesting city rising from the rubble of the earthquakes….Read More

Queenstown Itinerary: 5 Days

This Queenstown itinerary will help you decide how best to spend your time when exploring this absolutely breathtaking part of New Zealand’s South Island….Read More

Wanaka Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days

Wanaka, a breathtaking paradise nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. Surrounded by towering mountains, pristine lakes, and a plethora of outdoor….Read More

Marlborough 2 Day Itinerary

Discover the beauty of Marlborough, New Zealand, in just two days with this Marlborough 2 day itinerary. Situated at the northern tip of the South Island…..Read More

New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. They stretch from north to south and are separated by the Cook Strait.

The North Island is more developed and home to the country’s two biggest cities, Wellington in the south and Auckland in the north. The island is mostly rolling green hills and farmland, with the central heartland home to geothermal activity like boiling mud pools, geysers and active volcanoes.

The South Island is much more dramatic. Think snow-covered mountains, fjords and glaciers. There are no big cities, rather Christchurch and Dunedin are more like big country towns.

Because of the country’s length, it can, at different times of the year, experience a broad range of weather. It is subtropical in the north and more temperate in the south.

The north has no extremes of heat or cold, while the in the south, winter can be quite  bitterly cold with significant snowfalls in the mountains. The eastern parts of the country often experience drought conditions in summer and the west, particularly in the South Island, is likely to receive more rain.

If you’re not visiting New Zealand for a specific seasonal reason, then the best time to visit, is October/November or March/April. This is because the weather is good and it is less crowded with other visitors and vacationing locals.

However, if it is winter sports that interest you, then you’ll want to head to the South Island from May to September when you’ll find plenty of snow.

And over summer is when the country really comes alive with tons of great outdoor activities and festivals. If this is what you’re after, then visit from November to March.

It is always recommend to have a mixture of cash and bank/credit card with you when you travel anywhere in the world and this is no exception in New Zealand.

ATM’s are available in all cities and towns across the country and credit cards are accepted in most places too. The exception to this would be in some very small and remote towns where it is recommended to have plenty of cash on hand.

Things to Do in The Bay of Islands

New Zealand offers you the chance to visit some amazing coastal areas and beaches, most of which are used mainly for a stroll and a good view rather than the usual….Read More

Things to Do in Auckland, New Zealand

What’s the capital city of New Zealand? Go on, have a guess. Most of you will probably guess Auckland and up until a few years ago I thought the same thing. While it….Read More

Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch is one of the many cities around the world to have suffered terrible devastation over the last few years from natural disasters. The 2011 earthquake caused the…Read More

Things to Do in Marlborough, New Zealand

The Marlborough region of New Zealand can be found in the very north of the South Island and makes up roughly 20% of the countries coastline and nearly 80% of the….Read More

Things to Do in New Zealand’s Glacier Country

New Zealand’s Glacier Country is one area of the country you have to see sooner rather than later. Why you ask? Because the features that give this region its name are….Read More

Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand

The spectacular city of Queenstown, on New Zealand’s South Island, is a mecca for those who love being outdoors and those who love adrenaline pumping activities….Read More

The Best Day Trips from Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island and third largest in the country. A visit to Christchurch offers visitors a diverse range of things to do in….Read More

The Best Christchurch Sightseeing Tours

If you are the type of traveller that likes to maximise your time in a destination, then an organised tour can be a really great option to consider in your travel planning….Read More

9 Best Day Trips from Queenstown

A visit to Queenstown offers visitors a diverse range of things to do in the city itself, but it is also an excellent gateway to the incredible surrounding area. Within easy….Read More

The Best Queenstown Adventure Activities

Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and the place where a lot of daring travellers from around the world travel specifically to, to take part in….Read More

Best Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Wanaka is a picturesque town located in the heart of the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand. This stunning destination boasts crystal-clear lakes, snow….Read More

The Best Tours in Wanaka, New Zealand

Are you planning a trip to Wanaka and looking for the best tours to explore this stunning destination? With a plethora of outdoor activities and natural wonders….Read More

The Best Tours in Marlborough, New Zealand

Marlborough, New Zealand – a paradise for nature enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs alike! Nestled at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is renowned for….Read More

Things to Do in Lake Tekapo (and surrounds)

One of the most picture perfect regions of New Zealand, Lake Tekapo and its surrounds, lies roughly in the centre of the South Island between the sprawling plain of….Read More

Spring Time in The Christchurch Botanic Gardens

It’s no secret that I love spring and everything it comes with. I love the bright blue sky’s and mild temperatures of spring in the Southern Hemisphere . The mass planting….Read More

Sipping Sav: A Tour of the Marlborough Wine Region

When we made the decision to take a road trip around New Zealand’s South Island, top of my list of things to do was to take a tour of the Marlborough Wine Region….Read More

Cruising Marlborough Sounds on a Mail Boat

I’m always looking for a different way to explore a new destination. I’ve pounded pavement in my trusty walking shoes in cities around the world, seen some of….Read More

The 10 Most Stunning Lakes on New Zealand’s South Island

After multiple visits to New Zealand’s South Island, I am 100% convinced that the place is heaven on earth. And one of the things that has truly blow me away is the….Read More

7 Easy Walks in The Catlins, New Zealand

The Catlins is the most southerly region of the New Zealand South Island and is an adventure and outdoor lovers paradise. As part of the Southern Touring Route, The….Read More

A Walk Around Lake Matheson – In Photos

Have you ever been somewhere so immensely breathtaking that all you could do was sit in silence and let your eyes drink in the view? This is how I felt on my….Read More

Journey to Milford Sound – In Photos

When we decided to road trip around New Zealand’s South Island there was one place that we absolutely knew we couldn’t miss out on visiting, Milford Sound….Read More

The Best Tours in Lake Tekapo (and surrounds)

Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, Lake Tekapo stands as a jewel in the crown of nature’s grandeur. This stunning alpine haven seamlessly….Read more

A selection of major and budget airlines fly direct to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, from a few cities in Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Middle East and the US. If you are travelling from further afield, you’ll easily be able to find connecting flights through major hubs in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and east coast USA.

Remember, New Zealand is a long way from most other parts of the world. It takes pretty much 24 hours (with a short stopover) to get from the UK and Europe, and 12+ hours from the US. Asia is a little closer with Singapore and Bangkok about 9-10 hours away.

Flying

Air New Zealand is the country’s national airline and they fly between all the major cities and towns around the country including destinations popular with visitors like Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Queenstown and Nelson.

The budget airline, Jetstar, also operates a smaller choice of flights between the above and more cities too.

Because it is a small country, the longest flight time you’d encounter would be up to two hours flying between Auckland and towns in the far south of the South Island.

Doing plenty of research on the cheapest flight routes will help you keep your New Zealand trip costs down. As mentioned earlier, New Zealand isn’t the cheapest country to travel to and the cost of lots of flights can really add up. The alternative means of transport below may be a cheaper option in some case if you are travelling around a lot.

I use and recommend Expedia for researching and booking flights all around the world.

Driving

New Zealand is an excellent place for a road trip. The roads are well maintained, routes scenic and you’ll often find that, in some parts of the country, you won’t come across another car for ages.

All of the major car and camper van rental companies are represented in major cities and towns across the country, with outlets in all airports and some city centres. This makes it easy for collecting your vehicle at a time that is convenient to you.

On the South Island especially, we’ve always found having a larger vehicle, like an SUV, more comfortable. The island is very mountainous, so having a larger car has made us feel more safe and it also gives us lots of space to be comfortable for longer driving days.

I use and recommend Expedia for researching and booking car hire all around the world.

Bus

For those on a budget, buses are a great way to get around New Zealand and meet lots of like-minded people.

InterCity – These guys cover pretty much every place a visitor might want to visit on both islands. InterCity services run more frequently then the other bus services in the country.

Naked Bus – Similar to InterCity only Naked Bus generally has cheaper fares with one way fares starting from just $1. They follow much the same routes and might run a little less often. This is an excellent option for those on a really tight budget, who know where they want to go.

KiwiExperience & Stray – These are hop-on-hop-off style buses geared towards backpackers. Passes can be purchased for an amount of trips or for a specific route around the one or both islands. You can hop off and stay however long you like before joining up with the bus again when it passes through town.

Rail

New Zealand has only three rail lines all of which are more like scenic trains rather than a means to get form one destination to another.

The Northern Explorer bisects the North Island running from Auckland to Wellington showing off the diverse countryside.

The Coastal Pacific Train runs along the coast between Christchurch and Picton. It offers spectacular coastal, mountain and farmland views on the journey through this stunning part of the country.

And finally the Tranz Alpine train cuts right through the centre of the South Island running between Christchurch and Greymouth. It is the most spectacular of the three journeys because it traverses the towering Alps.

Check out KiwiRail for more details.

How to Get Around Christchurch

This is your essential guide on how to get around Christchurch’s transportation system and exploring all that it has to offer. Christchurch is a sprawling city….Read More

Where to Stay in Christchurch

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Christchurch can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable….Read More

Where to Stay in Queenstown

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Queenstown can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable….Read More

Where to Stay in Wanaka

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Wanaka can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable one….Read More

Where to Stay in Marlborough

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, choosing where to stay in Marlborough can make all the difference in making your trip a memorable….Read More

Where to Stay in Lake Tekapo

As you embark on your journey to Lake Tekapo, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make is where to stay in Lake Tekapo. In this blog post, I will guide you to exploring the best…..Read More

Eating out in New Zealand can be expensive in comparison to some other regions of the world. There are ways around this, especially if you willing to stay in self catering accommodation and do some simple cooking from time to time.

Supermarkets – New Zealand has quite a few supermarket brands. Countdown will be in every major town while you’ll find a Four Square in just about every town, big or small. New World and Pack’N Save are two more to lookout for because they generally offer cheaper prices.

Fast Food / Take-away – Chain fast food stores are in all major centres of the country. If you’re looking for a cheap and tasty fast food meal, skip the chains like McDonalds and go for a local family owned hamburger or fish and chip shops instead. You’ll find at least one of this style of take-away store in every city and town of the country.

Cafes – Cafes can vary greatly in price and quality depending on the city/town or area of a city/town. Meals range from simple sandwiches and salads to hot dishes made fresh or served from a food warmer. Cafes offer the chance to have a large hot meal at lunch time so in the night-time you’ll only need a snack.

Pubs – Every city or town in New Zealand has a decent pub or two. A beer and a meal at a Kiwi pub is just part of the way of life in New Zealand. Pubs can vary widely in price these days as a lot in the major cities have been converted to trendy venues serving food that can rival some four start restaurants. However in country towns the meals are cheap and usually made using local produce.

Restaurants – You’ll find a reasonably wide range of cuisines in restaurants across the country. Prices in restaurants can vary greatly depending on the location and quality of the food but there are some good cheap ones out there, you just need to dig a little deeper.

Fine Dining – New Zealand is blessed with incredible local produce and this is showcased at it’s best in fine dining establishments across the country.