New Zealand Flag
Why visit New Zealand?
For the adventurous outdoorsy traveler seeking to enjoy beaches, bungee jumping, caverns, cycling, fishing, fjords, glaciers, golf, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, kayaking, meadows, mountain climbing, mountains, picturesque coastline, rain forests, sailing, scenery, scuba diving, skiing, surfing, thermal baths, vineyards, and wildlife.
Wellington, New Zealand (North Island). Photo Credit: Bernd Hildebrandt/Pixabay
At a Glance
- Souvenirs to Buy: Artwork, bone carvings, cheeses, fleece jackets, honey, glass vases, jade jewelry, olive oils, possum-skin accessories, shell jewelry, sheepskin rugs, tea towels, wood carvings, and wool sweaters.
- Local Cuisine to Try: Anzac Biscuit. Bouton d'Or Brie (cheese). Camembert (cheese). Cheerios (cocktail sausage). Cheese Roll (snack). Fish & Chips (staple meal). Hokey Pokey Ice Cream (honeycomb ice-cream). Jaffas (candy). Kāpiti Cheese. Kumara (sweet potato chips). Kiwi Meat Pie. Maori Hangi (traditional dish). Pavlova (dessert). Possum Stew. Rewena Paraoa (sourdough bread). Whitebait Fritter (fried fish). Whittaker's Chocolate (candy).
- Local Drink to Try: Lemon & Paeroa (soft drink). Lewis Road Creamery Flavored Milk. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (wine). Phoenix (beer). Speight’s (Beer). Stolen Rum.
Photo Credit: Pawel Grzegorz/Pixabay
Fun Facts
- Abel Tasman (1603-1659), Dutch Explorer upon arrival thought the islands were Staten Land.
- Auckland was ranked (2016) the world's third most livable city.
- Was formerly named Nova Zeelandia.
- Five largest inhabited islands are Chatham Island, D'Urville Island, Great Barrier Island, Stewart Island, and Waiheke Island.
- Consists of two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island with over 700 smaller islands.
- South Island is the largest landmass.
- Fiordland National Park (Te Anau) stretches almost 3 million acres.
- Horse races their most popular spectator sport.
- Home to 13 of 18 penguin species in the world.
- Tuatara lizard has a third eye sensitive to light.
- Does not have any poisonous animals.
- Home to almost half the world's population of dolphins, porpoises, and whales.
- Queen Charlotte Sound (South Island), is considered one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world.
- Dependent on international trade.
- Largely exports dairy cows.
- Hosts the world's largest Polynesian Festival (Pasifika) attracting over 200,000 attendee's annually.
Waiau River, New Zealand. Photo Credit: Makalu/Pixabay
Special Holidays/Occasions
- Annual Events: (January) ASB Bank Tennis Classic, Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, Heineken Open, KapCon, Wellington Cup Race Meeting, World Buskers Festival Festival, (February) Auckland Arts Festival, Brebner Art Deco Weekend, Couch Soup, Devonport Food & Wine Festival, Garden City Festival of Flowers, Hawke's Bay Wine & Food Festival, Marlborough Food and Wine Festival, Speight's Coast to Coast, (March) Arrowtown Autumn Festival, Celebrate Pasifika Festival, Ellerslie International Flower Show, Hokitika Wildfoods Festival, New Zealand International Festival of Arts, North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival, (April) Auckland Easter Show, Fletcher Challenge Forest Marathon, Warbirds Over Wanaka, (May) Bay of Islands Country Music Festival, Bluff Oyster & Food Festival, Matariki Festival, Māoriland Film Festival, Winetopia, (June) Food & Wine Classic (F.A.W.C), National Agricultural Fieldays, (July) Christchurch Arts Festival, G-TARanaki Guitar Festival, Queenstown Winter Festival, (August) Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival, Boobs on Bikes, Wellington on a Plate (WOAP), (September) Alexandra Blossom Festival, Gay Ski Week, Montana World of Wearable Art Awards, Whitianga Oceans Festival, (October) Dunedin Rhododendron Festival, Kaikoura Seafest, Nelson Arts Festival, NetHui, Queenstown Jazz Festival, (November) Canterbury A&P Show, Southern Traverse, Toast Martinborough, and (December) Nelson Jazz Festival.
- Holidays: New Year’s Day, Day after New Year’s Day, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Queen’s Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Auckland, New Zealnad. Photo Credit: Bernd Hildebrandt/Pixabay
Good to Know
- Local Customs may inspect digital cameras, hard drives, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets. Failure to comply could result in $5,000NZD fine.
- Failure to declare goods: honey, fresh fruit, plants, or seeds is subject to a $400NZD fine.
- West Coast area is best for surfing.
- North West Circuit (Stewart Island) is a challenging hiking trail.
- Insect repellent is required to protect against mosquitoes and sand fly.
Queenstown is a popular resort town (Otago).
- Swim on lifeguard patrolled beaches due to riptides.
- Avoid spitting in public.
- Sobriety checks are common.
- Christchurch (South Island) is the driest city.
- Has a strong anti-smoking environment in public places.
- Ferries service is available from Cook Strait between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island).
- Traffic moves from left.
- Auckland is densely populated.
- Failure to declare goods that should be quarantined, holds up to $100,000NZD and/or up to five years in prison.
- North Island is less mountainous.
- South Island has a cooler climate.
- Road roundabouts are popular.
- Hokitika Gorge (west coast) is a popular attraction for a bridge suspended over Hokitika River.
- Roads tend to be curvy, narrow, and steep.
- Cell coverage (South Island) can be spotty.
Photo Credit: VK1960/Pixabay
This international destination requires:
- A valid passport with three months of validity upon return and one blank page for entry stamp.
- Tourist VISA required.
- Required Vaccination from select countries.
- Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000NZD.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Tongariro National Park, North Island), New Zealand. Photo Credit: tongariro/Pixabay
Subject to cyclones, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions.
- Best Time to Visit: February - March
- Coldest Months: July - September
- Hottest Months: December - March
- Peak Season: November - March
Mount Taranaki (aka: Taranaki Maunga), (North Island), New Zealand. Photo Credit: Fred T/Pixabay
Your Must-See & Do
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Te Wahipounamu, Tongariro National Park, and the Subantarctic Islands.
Bob's Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo Credit: Bernd Hildebrandt/Pixabay
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.
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