When planning a holiday to a foreign country, it’s difficult to know what to expect if you’ve never been. So here are some handy tips to help you get started, ensuring you’re not left in the lurch at the last minute.
Passport
First things first, and this is the most important. You NEED a valid passport. This needs to have a validity date of at least 3 months’ past your intended departure date.
Visa Permits
Secondly and just as important as your passport, you need to check if you require a visa. A Visa grants you permission to enter New Zealand for a specific period of time. Some countries are automatically waived like Britain and Australia.
The New Zealand Immigration website will provide you with all the information to check if you are required to have a visa or not.
Driver’s Licence
Thirdly, if you intend to hire a car or motorhome/campervan in New Zealand you will also need a current, valid driver’s licence from your own country that needs to be in English or an International Driving Permit. In New Zealand, we drive on the left-hand side of the road so, please be sure to familiarise yourself with our road rules. If you’re travelling with kiddies also check out our child restraint laws.
Packing
It’s actually not an easy task. You either under pack, over pack or completely forget to pack items all together.
Like mamma always said “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” and when it comes to New Zealand weather mamma sure is right. The weather in New Zealand is unpredictable and is like having all four seasons in one day. Dependent on the time of year is dependent on what you will pack the most of.
Summer – Dec-Feb – Hot during the days – cooler at nights.
Autumn – Mar-May – Still warm in March and April – cooler in May.
Winter – Jun-Aug – Cold, cold and cold.
Spring – Sep-Nov – Colder in September and October – warming up in November.
Remember it can be sunny one minute and then raining the next. Always check the weather forecast for a guideline on what to expect before you depart.
Day Light Savings
New Zealand also has day light savings. This gives us extra day light hours to take advantage of. It usually begins on the last Sunday in September and ends on the first Sunday in April the following year. During this period the sun goes down between 9pm and 10pm. Times vary from North Island to South Island.
With all of that out of the way, it’s time to plan what you want to do. So many options await you. New Zealand tourism offers something for everyone.
- Relax – Spa treatments, hot pools, golf and cruises.
- Walking – Day walks to Multi day hikes.
- Activities – Bungy jumps, jet boats or Helicopter flights.
- Wine – Numerous wineries throughout both islands specialising in Red or White.
- Culture – Maori concerts, Hangi feasts, Myths and Legends told by locals.
- Nature – Glowworms, Glaciers, Milford Sound and Wildlife.
Plus so much more!!!!!
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Happy planning travellers. New Zealand is looking forward to seeing you soon, and with the help of our expert consultants your trip will be a memorable one.