New Zealand Travel Tips: 8 Things You Need to Know Before You Go

Our Top 3 Travel Tips for New Zealand

After every trip, there are a few things where we think: “If only we’d known that beforehand!” You probably know the feeling, right?

Our experience in New Zealand was no different. That’s why we want to kick things off by sharing our 3 most important lessons from six weeks on a New Zealand road trip.

#1 Don’t underestimate the distances!

What looks like a quick road trip on the map can easily turn into a full-day affair in New Zealand.

Sometimes it’s due to poor road conditions, but often it’s simply because of the many beautiful viewpoints along the way. Or, if you have a campervan, the fact that it moves at a more leisurely pace.

Our tip: Add about 50 percent to any travel time Google Maps gives you.
#2 Fill up on gas and groceries in time!

Many places — especially on New Zealand’s South Island — are incredibly remote. We’re not just talking about small towns. We mean: no supermarket, no gas station, no cafés or restaurants — and that can easily cover a 30-mile radius.

More than once we stressed about whether we’d have enough gas to make it. Or we had to backtrack an hour because there were no stores around. So make sure to check Google Maps ahead of time to see what kind of infrastructure is available at your destination.

#3 Respect nature!

This should really go without saying, and applies to every country. But we were struck by just how deeply connected and proud New Zealanders are of their natural environment. If you leave trash behind while camping or picnicking, you definitely won’t be winning any friends.

North or South Island: Which Is Worth It More?

New Zealand consists of two main islands, and one of the first and most important questions when planning your trip is: North Island or South Island? Or can you manage to see both?

If you have a maximum of 3 weeks, we recommend focusing on one of the two islands. Otherwise your road trip will feel rushed, you’ll only get a quick glimpse of the New Zealand highlights, and you’ll spend most of your time in the car.

Neither island is more beautiful than the other! You’ll have an amazing time on both. Depending on what you’re looking for in a trip, however, either the North or the South Island will suit you better.

We’ve summed it up in a few bullet points below. For detailed information on each island, check out these two articles.

Who is the North Island better for?

• You like warm weather: New Zealand’s North Island is always a bit warmer than the South Island, and the weather is generally more consistent.
• You’re a city person: With Auckland and Wellington, the North Island is home to two of New Zealand’s largest cities. There are also simply more towns overall where you’ll find a good selection of cafés, restaurants, and hotels.
• You’re interested in culture: The majority of the Maori population lives on the North Island, so there are more opportunities here to learn about the indigenous culture.
• You want to surf: There are surf spots on both islands, but the North is more consistent and has a larger surfing community.
• You don’t like long drives: The distances between attractions on a New Zealand North Island road trip are shorter.

Who is the South Island better for?

• You love road trips: The South Island is home to some of New Zealand’s — and even the world’s — most scenic drives. The routes are longer than on the North Island. If you enjoy driving, you’ll love the road trips on New Zealand’s South Island.
• You want to ski: The South Island has the most ski resorts and better snow conditions. It’s also generally cooler than the North Island.
• You like solitude: The South Island is incredibly remote. You can drive for ages without seeing any signs of civilization or another person. Even New Zealand cities like Dunedin or Christchurch are fairly manageable in size.
• You want pure nature: Precisely because the South Island is so sparsely populated, nature is the absolute highlight. There are many places where you’re allowed to camp right in the middle of the wilderness.
• You love mountains and hiking: Mountains exist on both islands, of course. But the South Island has the highest peaks and even some glaciers. It’s a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

When to Travel to New Zealand?

Since New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. Summer, for example, runs from December through February.

The best months to visit New Zealand are in spring from October to November and in fall from March to April. Temperatures are pleasantly warm and the weather is fairly stable during these periods.

Why don’t we recommend the summer months? The weather is even nicer in summer, but hotel and flight prices can be truly eye-watering at that time of year. And on top of that, the popular attractions are much more crowded.

Travel Tips for Getting to New Zealand

We won’t sugarcoat it: getting to New Zealand is just a pain. It takes a long time and is incredibly expensive. Here’s everything you need to know about flying there.

Which airport in New Zealand should you fly into?

There are really only two airports that make sense for arriving in New Zealand: Christchurch and Auckland. All other airports are simply too small.

We clearly recommend flying into Auckland. Auckland is the largest airport, has the most connections, and flights to Auckland are also cheaper than to Christchurch. Often they’re so much cheaper that it’s worth flying to Auckland and then taking a domestic flight to Christchurch.

How long is the flight to New Zealand?

You should plan for at least 23 hours and one layover for your flight to New Zealand. That’s for a very good connection, such as with Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Air New Zealand.

Personally, we can also highly recommend a stopover in Singapore.

For connections like these, you should budget at least 1,600 euros for a round trip.

Cheaper connections take significantly longer — sometimes up to 48 hours.

Important: Book your flights to New Zealand as early as possible — we mean several months in advance. This can make a difference of several hundred euros.

Search for flights to New Zealand on Skyscanner

What’s the best way to plan flights for a New Zealand road trip?

If you’re doing a road trip across both islands of New Zealand, here’s one option to consider:

• You land in Auckland and pick up a rental car at the airport.
• You take the ferry to the South Island and bring your rental car with you.
• You fly from Christchurch directly home or back to Auckland. In either case, you return your rental car in Christchurch.

The alternative is simply to take the ferry back and depart from Auckland. One-way rentals have their pros and cons:

• You save time and gas, since you don’t have to drive back to Auckland.
• You don’t have to pay for the ferry twice.
• Going from Auckland to Christchurch, you’ll pay an extra fee for the one-way rental of your car.

Our tip: Most travelers fly into Auckland and out of Christchurch. As a result, rental cars tend to pile up in Christchurch. Rental companies are happy when you plan your trip the other way around and bring a car back to the North Island. That’s why there’s usually no one-way fee charged for the direction from south to north.

What do you need to know when arriving at the airport in New Zealand?

New Zealanders are very particular about ensuring that you don’t bring anything into the country that could harm the natural environment or spread new diseases.

Before you leave the security area at the airport, you’ll need to go through an additional inspection where you must declare certain items. These include, for example:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables (must be disposed of in special bio-waste containers)
• Hiking and camping equipment such as hiking boots, tents, and sleeping bags (may need to be cleaned of soil and dirt at the airport)
• Equipment for water sports such as wetsuits and diving gear

Important: Be very thorough when filling out the form. Failing to do so can result in fines of at least 400 dollars.

Do You Need a Visa for New Zealand?

For most visitors, you’ll need what’s called an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand. It’s not a full visa — it’s simply an electronic application, much like the ESTA for the USA.

Once your application is approved, your NZeTA is valid for 2 years in total. During that time, you’re allowed to spend up to 6 months in New Zealand, but no more than 3 months at a stretch.

You can apply for the NZeTA online. All you need is a passport photo and your passport. You’ll also theoretically need to be able to show proof of a return flight ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one.

On the official New Zealand Immigration website, you can submit your application in English. We found the process very intuitive and straightforward. This way, you only pay the unavoidable fees: 23 dollars for the NZeTA itself plus a tourist levy of 35 dollars — so 58 dollars in total.

Important: There are many third-party providers that will help you with the application. However, their service comes with an additional fee of around 35 euros, which is often very well hidden. The only way to apply without extra charges is through the official website.

Processing can take up to five days. In our case, the confirmation arrived within just a few minutes. For urgent situations, there is also an expedited application option available.

Do You Need Travel Health Insurance in New Zealand?

Yes, you do!

New Zealand is not part of the EU. If you need to see a doctor in New Zealand, something happens to you (which we certainly hope it won’t), or you need a medical evacuation, your home country health insurance likely won’t cover any of it.

Travel health insurance covers you in exactly these situations. Make sure you have a solid policy in place before you go — it’s one of those things you really don’t want to skip.

Our Tips for Currency and Withdrawing Cash in New Zealand

In New Zealand, you pay with New Zealand dollars (NZD). Note that this is not the same as US dollars. You get about 0.50 euros for 1 NZD.

If you want to exchange euros for dollars after arriving, you can do so right at the airport, for example. However, the exchange fees there are often quite high. In the cities, there are many additional exchange offices and banks that offer better rates.

Card payments are completely normal in New Zealand, even for very small amounts like a cup of coffee. You can really pay by card everywhere and withdraw cash — sometimes even with your debit card.

Most credit cards, however, charge a fee when you withdraw cash and when you pay in a foreign currency. We recommend using a fee-free travel card to avoid unnecessary charges — it’s something we always travel with ourselves.

Travel Tips for Driving in New Zealand

In New Zealand, traffic drives on the left side of the road, and honestly, we were pretty nervous about it.

But we can put your mind at ease — you get used to it very quickly. Driving in New Zealand is very relaxed.

Even city traffic is nothing compared to what you’d find in most major cities back home. On the open road, you just have to be careful not to drift to the right side when you haven’t encountered another car for a very long time.

Here are the most important rules for driving in New Zealand:

• Maximum speed of 100 km/h on highways and rural roads
• 50 km/h in built-up areas
• Roundabouts are driven clockwise
• Despite left-hand traffic, give way to traffic on your right — though almost everywhere one side has a stop sign anyway
• When overtaking, you pass other vehicles on the right
• You pay after fueling up (unless the pump has a sign saying “Prepay only”)

Important: Roads in New Zealand are often in pretty poor condition. Especially in the Northland, we saw potholes nearly half a meter across. Drive a little slower and avoid driving in the dark.

Also important: In New Zealand, there are often no gas stations for 30 miles or more. Always make sure to fill up your tank in time. In many areas there’s little to no cell service, so you might not even be able to call for help.

Do you need an international driver’s license for New Zealand?

Sort of. Your home country driver’s license alone may not be sufficient in New Zealand, but an international driver’s license is just one of your options.

You can apply for your international driver’s license at your local licensing authority. You’ll need your national ID or passport, a passport photo, and your existing driver’s license.

Alternatively, a certified translation is also accepted. There are specialized, authorized translation agencies in New Zealand for this purpose. That’s actually what we did ourselves, and it worked perfectly. Here you’ll find a list of all approved agencies.

You simply send the agency a photo of your ID and your driver’s license and receive the translation by email. It usually only takes three days and costs about 35 euros. If you need the translation urgently, expedited options are available as well.

Important: In both cases, you must also be able to present your original card-format driver’s license in addition to your international driver’s license or certified translation.
Want to explore New Zealand by campervan? This article has all the important tips you need.

What You Need to Know About the Maori?

The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. They had lived on the islands for several hundred years before Europeans arrived.

Today, only about 15 percent of New Zealanders have Maori ancestry. Nevertheless, Kiwis are extremely proud of their Maori culture. Street names, signs, and many informational panels are still written in the Maori language.

In Rotorua, for example, there is a Maori village where you can learn a lot about the culture. We found the meaning of Maori tattoos particularly fascinating. There are also many sacred Maori sites in nature, where you should of course behave with special respect.