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Overview

New Zealand (Aotearoa) is a Southwestern Pacific Island nation that lies approximately 1500km southeast of Australia between latitudes 34 degrees south and 47 degrees south.  It is a long and narrow country that is comprised of two major islands; the North Island and the South Island.

Trips to New Zealand:

7 Day New Zealand Adrenaline

7 Day New Zealand Adventure

3 Day New Zealand Adventure: add-on

3 Day New Zealand Adrenaline: add-on

The North Island is home to the capital city of Wellington and the largest city of Auckland which also serves as the main gateway into the country.  The North Island has a `spine’ of mountain ranges running through the middle with gentle rolling farmland on either side. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area.

The mountainous South Island is the larger land mass and is divided along it length by the Southern Alps which are the `backbone’ of the island and caused by the meeting of the Australian and Pacific plates.
The South Island is spectacular in nature and home to Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand highest mountain (3,724m) plus numerous glaciers, deep fiords, and braided rivers which attract visitors to New Zealand from all over the world to experience it’s incredible year round adventure and nature.

New Zealand was settled by Maori people who voyaged great distances across the Pacific Ocean in small ocean-going canoes and became the first inhabitants of Aotearoa New Zealand, some 400 years prior to European exploration and settlement.  The rich Maori culture is a core part of New Zealand’s identity to this day.
The people of New Zealand, or Kiwi’s, are friendly and down to earth in nature and are made up of Maori, European, Pacific and Asian cultures and heritage.

The land mass of New Zealand is comparable in size to the United Kingdom, Japan or the state of California in the USA and has a population of roughly 4.8 Million people.

Entry Requirements

All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country.

Visitors from most of the world including Europe and the United States who intend to stay for less than three months do not require a visa. If you want to stay longer than three months, or your country of origin does not have a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, then you will need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa. Click on the following link to see the New Zealand Immigration’s official “Guide to Visiting New Zealand”.
https://www.newzealand.com/int/visas-and-immigration/

Vaccinations

The World Health Organization indicates that there are no specific vaccination requirements for any international travellers visiting New Zealand, however make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Weather and Climate

Being a long narrow country surrounded by the ocean, New Zealand’s maritime climate can be unpredictable at times. During October to April when we conduct most of our trips the maximum temperatures are generally 18-30 degree Celsius or 65-86 degree Fahrenheit. During the peak of summer (December to January), we have long days, sunrise can be as early as 5am and sunset at around 10pm.  Because of the clear, unpolluted atmosphere and relatively low latitudes sunlight is stronger than much of Europe or North America, as a result people generally burn quicker than at home.

Sturdy footwear for biking and hiking plus a good rain jacket, fleece/wind breaker and natural fibre base layers are good packing considerations along with your summer gear. Don’t forget that your accommodation will always have facilities to recycle your clothes overnight to help you avoid over packing.

Communication

The New Zealand county code is +64.  All overnight destination will have mobile access and internet available. Many daytime destinations such as National Parks will have limited or no mobile access.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 hertz), although most hotels and motels provide 110 volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. For all other equipment, an adaptor / converter is necessary, you can purchase these at the airport, and most electric stores.

Travel Advisories

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, and any visas. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Be sure to inform your credit card company as well as your bank you will travel internationally to New Zealand.  This will eliminate any credit card holds for fraudulent activity.

Currency

The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar.  You can exchange money at the airport, at any bank or bureau de change for a small fee. Credit cards can be used in most places except for remote locations and generally have good exchange rates.  Travellers cheques are still accepted at major banks however their processing can be time-consuming.  ATM’s are abundant and accept most international cards.

Government

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. As head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General and the country led by the elected government.

Religion

The most common religion in New Zealand is Christianity at 44%, however 38% of New Zealanders follow no religion. The remainder of the population follow a number of other religions and beliefs.

Ethnic Groups

Approximately 74% of people are identified as European, 14.9% as Maori, 11.8& as Asian, 7.4% as Pacifikas  and 1.2% as Middle-Eastern, Latin American and African.

Languages

New Zealand has three official languages: English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language.  English is the most widely spoken language.

Economy

New Zealand has a market economy, and the service sector makes up a large portion of the GDP. In 2013, the service sector contributed to 63% of the GDP. The economy is dependent on international trade with other countries. The biggest industries in New Zealand include the Agricultural and horticulture sector, forestry, mining, and fishing industries.