New Zealand( Maori: Aotearoa) is famous for its gorgeous nature – geysers, mountains and lakes, forests and grottoes, glaciers and beaches. The widely developed environmental movement allows us to preserve all this treasure in almost its original state, even in the areas of large cities.
In addition to beautiful, unique nature and a rich excursion program, the country has another significant advantage for certain categories of tourists – professional training for parents in extreme and active tourism. Adrenaline is released into the blood even from a simple list of entertainment for the brave: bungee jumping, skydiving and gliding, rap jumping and air surfing, as well as zorbing and much more. In New Zealand, you can also watch whales, admire powerful fjords and millennial glaciers, wander around cozy Wellington or bustling Auckland, or, for good measure, learn English.
Fans of fantasy are undoubtedly aware that it was in New Zealand that the world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. The vicinity of the Tongariro and Ruapehu volcanoes, the Wickato River and Queenstown are still places of pilgrimage for fans of the movie.
The time difference with New Zealand varies depending on your location. New Zealand follows New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) during the standard time period and New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT) during daylight saving time. Here are the general time differences between New Zealand and some major cities:
Please note that the time difference can change due to daylight saving time adjustments, which are not consistent across all countries. It’s always recommended to check the current time difference before making any plans or scheduling calls with New Zealand.
To get to New Zealand, you have a few options depending on your location and preference:
Import and export of foreign and national currency is unlimited (a declaration is required if the amount exceeds NZD 10,000). Citizens over the age of 17 can import duty-free up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, or a mixture of all three types – no more than 250 g up to 4.5 liters of wine or beer, up to 1.125 liters of spirits or pure alcohol, as well as personal consumption goods with a total value of up to NZD 700.
Importation of food (including most types of canned food), drugs, any plants, items of animal and plant origin (including soil and wood), bee products, pet food, ivory in any form, products made of turtle shell, bone and tusk of marine animals, rhino horns and tiger skin, as well as products made of leather of the cat family is prohibited. Imports of a number of diuretics, sleeping pills and sedatives, cardiac drugs, tranquilizers, all types of vaccines, as well as medicines containing musk (unless their necessity is confirmed by the relevant medical prescriptions) are prohibited. Importation of weapons is prohibited, but if a special permit has been obtained in advance from the New Zealand police, firearms and cold steel weapons can be imported with a mandatory customs declaration. Importation of pets from countries where the rabies virus is registered or insufficient control over this disease is not allowed in any form (and Ukraine is included in this category).
The visa you need to go to New Zealand depends on several factors, such as your nationality, the purpose and duration of your visit, and whether you are traveling for tourism, business, work, study, or other purposes. Here are some common visa options for visiting New Zealand:
It’s important to note that visa requirements and application processes can change, so it’s advisable to check the official website of Immigration New Zealand or consult with the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate in your country for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding visa requirements and application procedures specific to your situation.
The country has well-developed intercity bus routes, although tickets for such flights are not cheap (a trip from Wellington to Auckland costs about 65-100 NZD). There is a system of discounts and concessionary travel passes. Prices for buses of small local companies are somewhat lower. Tickets for any intercity bus must be booked in advance.
There are city buses in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. There are also trolleybuses in Wellington. Ticket prices range from 1.20 to 3 NZD depending on the duration of the trip (routes are divided into zones). Tickets are available at special kiosks. There are ferries between the North and South Islands, several flights a day from Wellington to Picton. Travel time is 3 hours, the cost of the trip is about 44 NZD (or about 22 NZD if the ticket is booked a week in advance). There are also high-speed passenger catamarans between the islands (travel time – 2 hours and 15 minutes), but tickets for them are more expensive – about 60 NZD. It is also better to book these tickets in advance.
Taxis are widespread in New Zealand. The cost of a trip is about 1 NZD per person for boarding and 4-5 NZD for each kilometer. Rail transport in the country is relatively poorly developed (only 8 lines), but train fares are often less than for a bus that runs on the same route.
To rent a car, you need to show an international driver’s license in English and be at least 21 years old. The rental price starts from 60 NZD per day (insurance included), with a long-term rental (from three weeks), the rent is almost halved.
New Zealand is a very safe country, the attitude towards tourists is very friendly. The crime rate in the country is very low. There are no poisonous snakes or dangerous animals, and there are almost no mosquitoes. The only harmful insects are sand fleas, which are abundant on the beach (they, like ordinary mosquitoes, are afraid of repellents). The islands are also home to a very rare poisonous spider, the Katipo.
The tap water is suitable for drinking. Milk and dairy products are carefully processed. Meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables and fruits are also quite safe, if you do not forget about basic hygiene rules.
Tobacco is sold everywhere, but is quite expensive. Smoking is prohibited in all public places, in all forms of transportation, as well as in hotels and even some restaurants. Spirits are sold only in specialized Bottle Stores. Some restaurants allow you to bring your own alcoholic beverages: there is a sign with the abbreviation BYO (Bring Your Own) on the door of such establishments.
The streets and public places are very clean, and it is not customary to litter on the streets.
The local population is friendly and helpful. There are no special prohibitions on clothing, even when visiting churches and traditional Maori holidays. There are also no restrictions on photography, but you should still ask permission in museums and churches (or pay attention to the explanatory signs).
The country has a subtropical maritime climate. January is the warmest month (the height of the local summer), with an average temperature of +19 °C on the North Island and +14 °C on the South Island. July is the coldest month, with an average temperature of +12 °C on the North Island and +5 °C on the South Island. New Zealand winters are accompanied by heavy snowfall in the local Alps (South Island) and in the mountains in the center of the North Island. Sometimes snow falls in the lowlands of the country, mainly in the south of the South Island, but more often it rains heavily.
The tides in the morning and the tides in the evening are very noticeable.
New Zealand hotels are of a good level, their “star” rating is fully consistent with international standards. There are “lodges” – hotels located in nature (usually near a water source).
The mains voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets are three-pronged with flat rods, and an adapter can be purchased or rented at the hotel. Most hotels supply rooms with 110 V with a power of no more than 20 W per outlet, sufficient only for electric razors.
The country’s currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD), with 1 dollar equal to 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.48 NZD, 1 EUR = 1.67 NZD.
Currency can be exchanged at airports, bank branches and specialized exchange offices. Banks are open from 9:00 to 16:30 Monday through Friday.
Credit cards of the world’s leading systems and traveler’s checks are accepted everywhere. Traveler’s checks are exchanged at the official exchange rate at banks, large hotels, and some shops. To avoid additional costs when exchanging, it is better to use traveler’s checks in US dollars, pounds sterling, or Australian dollars.
In a New Zealand restaurant (but not in a simple cafe), it is customary to leave 10% of the order amount. Tipping is usually not accepted in provincial establishments. It is also customary to tip guides and drivers.
The islands are dominated by Anglo-Saxon cuisine with its traditional fish or meat with fried potatoes, steaks and roast beef. Oddly enough, seafood is relatively rare, but you can still find oysters, lobsters, crustaceans, and various varieties of fish on the menu. The local culinary specialty is fried or baked sweet potatoes “kumara” and various products cooked on an open fire.
New Zealand produces many first-class French-style cheeses. As for alcoholic beverages, the local beer and wine are considered to be among the best in the world.
Shops are usually open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:30, many large stores are open on weekends from 10:00 to 13:00. In resort areas, most outlets are open from 9:00 to 19:00-21:00.
In the country, you can buy good quality clothing, children’s goods, and sheepskin products. Local souvenirs include samples of Maori folk art, jewelry made of New Zealand oyster pearl, and medicinal cosmetics based on unique plants that grow only in New Zealand.
It is distributed mainly in the North Island area – on the Poor Knights Islands. The season here lasts all year round, and each period has its own characteristics: from January to April, the water temperature is +20…+23 °C, visibility is 20 m; from May to September, +15…+17 °C, visibility is up to 30 m; from September to January, +20 °C, visibility is worse (but at this time you can see the largest number of fish species).
Diving near the Soviet cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov, which sank in 1986 in the Marlborough Sounds National Park, is organized on the South Island.
Credit cards are very popular in New Zealand. Cash is extremely rare here. Even taxis have terminals for cashless payment.
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