Are you thinking about heading off to New Zealand? Here’s all the basic information you should kind of know before you go!

🛂  VISA  Check here to see if you’ll need a visa.	💉 VACCINES Make sure you’ve got the necessary jab here.
💬 LANGUAGE English and Maori are the official languages.	💰 CURRENCY New Zealand Dollar. Code: NZD. Check exchange here.

IMPORTANT

Cultural

• Coming from heavily Western influences, New Zealand also prides itself on the Indigenous Maori culture. The best way to learn about this culture is to experience it, but you can also read up on it here.

English?

English is spoken everywhere in New Zealand. Signs can be both shown in English and Maori.

Insurance?

If you’re from the UK or Australia, you’ll have reciprocal healthcare*- otherwise travel insurance is always needed. For short trips, I tend to use Tick Insurance (affiliate)– it’s 4/5 stars with feefo and although I’ve never had to claim – it’s super within budget.

Public Transport?

Buses are the most common form of transport within New Zealand.  Intercity and Naked Bus are the two main providers. A ferry runs between the North/South Island, as well as some other offshore islands. Trains are few and far but do run between certain locations. One of the nicest routes you could take in NZ would be the TranzAlpine.

Tipping?

Tipping is not usual practice, nobody who is providing you with a service would be expecting it. If you’re taking a free walking tour where they run off a ‘koha’ (gift, donation, contribution) then you should look at tipping.

Water?

Yep! You can drink the tap water here! So fill up those drink bottles and stay hydrated.

Working ATMS.

There are plenty of ATMs in New Zealand, some of the most per capita. You’ll be able to withdraw $400-800 from any ATM. Cash won’t be very frequently used – however, it is always good to have.

OTHER

📡FREE WIFI – Starbucks – Restaurants & Cafes. – Hotspots in main cities. – Hostels, Hotels etc.	🔌 POWER Angled two or three pin plugs (the same as AUS.) 230/240 volts.
🥫 FOOD -Pavlova – Jaffa Candy – Pineapple Squares – Maori Hangi	🥃 DRINK -L&P Soda – Mulled Cider (Alc.) -Mulled Wine. (Alc) – Six Barrel Sodas

FUN FACTS

• No part of the country is more than 128kms (79 miles) from the ocean.
• New Zealand is the only country who have the rights to put Hobbit images on their money.
• The only native animals in New Zealand are bats.
• Ninety Mile Beach is only 90 kilometres long.
• New Zealand is around the same size as the United Kingdom but has 60 million fewer people.