My New Zealand Travel Guide: Everything I Think First-Time Visitors Should Know

Getting to New Zealand

The cheapest and easiest way of travelling to New Zealand: Fly into Auckland.

Auckland Airport is the main international airport, and the best way to get to New Zealand from abroad.

However, Auckland is not the capital, which can be confusing since usually the capital has the biggest airport in many countries.

Wellington is the capital, but it’s a small city with a short runway squeezed between the hills and the sea, so it can’t take most long-haul flights.

Therefore, Auckland takes most international flights! This makes it the perfect starting point for travelling around New Zealand.

So there’s a high chance that you will begin your travels to and from Auckland if you are travelling to New Zealand from abroad.

If you want to start in a specific location, you will most likely fly into Auckland and then catch a domestic flight to wherever you would like to go.

Some of the main airports include:

• Auckland (North Island)
• Wellington (North Island)
• Christchurch (South Island)
• Dunedin (South Island)
• Queenstown (South Island)

Which is the best way to start your travels in New Zealand?

Because flying into Auckland is the best way to travel New Zealand, most travellers will most likely start their trip here meaning most itineraries for travellers are the same.

From Auckland, you can choose to take a flight down south to the likes of Queenstown and then slowly travelling back up through the South Island, to the north island and back to Auckland.

Before you leave, check whether you need a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). Most visitors from visa-waiver countries need an NZeTA, and you pay a tourism levy with it. Apply through the official Immigration New Zealand website or app, not a third-party site.

Getting Around New Zealand

New Zealand is a long, skinny country with very little public transport outside the cities. Even Kiwis find it hard to get anywhere without a car.

Therefore, many travellers on a trip to New Zealand opt to hire a car or a campervan to see the country to give you the freedom to visit the most beautiful places.

1. Travelling New Zealand by car

Travelling by car is often considered the best way to travel in New Zealand, as you have control and will get to see the best places.

The biggest disadvantage of travelling by car is the fuel cost which can be high as well as daily rentals.

But it is also the best and most flexible way to get where you want to go, and to find whatever part you consider to be the most beautiful place in New Zealand.

You can read more about planning for a New Zealand road trip here.

2. Travelling New Zealand by campervan or van

This is one of the most popular ways to get around and I think it’s the best way to get around New Zealand.

New Zealand has a lot of great campgrounds in jaw-dropping locations.

I spent most of my childhood going on trips around New Zealand via campervan with my parents and we got to go and stay in some of the best places!

3. Travelling New Zealand by bus

Buses aren’t as common here, but any backpacker’s guide to New Zealand will include them as an option.

You can either travel by major national bus companies or you also have the option to pick a backpacker bus, which is the cheapest way to travel around New Zealand.

These buses are made for travellers in mind so you can buy a ticket and use it like a hop on hop off type situation.

There are a few great companies that will connect you to the major stopovers.

• Kiwi Experience (the most popular hop-on hop-off option)
• Stray (hop-on hop-off)
• InterCity (the main bus company for locals)

4. Travelling New Zealand by train

Travelling by train is a great idea. With incredible views, it’s the perfect way to travel the country and to just sit back and relax.

It’s a little more expensive than if you were to catch the bus or maybe even drive but it’s a great way to experience New Zealand and parts of the country which you wouldn’t see if you were driving.

I have heard great things about the train ride from Auckland to Wellington called the Northern Explorer.

I am eager to do this trip myself! There’s also the TranzAlpine, which goes between Christchurch and Greymouth through Arthur’s Pass and other picturesque places.

5. Hitchhiking in New Zealand

It might seem unbelievable, but hitchhiking is still pretty common in New Zealand.

Locals often stop to pick up travellers, and it’s generally safe, but use your common sense like you would anywhere.

My friend Jub hitchhikes all over the world and as a kiwi himself, he has a great article on what hitchhiking in New Zealand is like and his best tips for you.

Languages of New Zealand

New Zealand has 3 official languages: te reo Māori, New Zealand Sign Language and English (which only became official by law in 2026, even though almost everyone speaks it).

English is the most widely spoken language in New Zealand, but the original language of Aotearoa is te reo Māori.

Te reo Māori nearly disappeared last century, but it’s having a real revival now, and you’ll hear it more and more on TV, in schools and in everyday Kiwi English. It’s such a beautiful language and a big part of New Zealand’s identity.

If you want to try some Maori words on your travels, then try:

Kia ora: hello
Ka pai: good
Ngā mihi: thanks, or kind regards
Mōrena: good morning
Haere mai: welcome, come in
Aotearoa: New Zealand

A lot of the place names are in Maori so you may find it hard to pronounce some.

Some names like Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch are British names put by the British settlers.

But these names still have a Maori name. For instance, Wellington in Maori is Te Whanganui-a-Tara however most of Wellington residents wouldn’t be able to tell you that!

Try saying New Zealand’s longest place name: Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu.

Kiwi English has a lot of slang too, which can be a tunnel of confusion! Kiwis love a good bit of slang.

Make sure to check out my guide on New Zealand slang words so that you’re not too confused or don’t accidentally insult anyone!

Capital of New Zealand

The capital of New Zealand is Wellington which is located at the bottom of the North Island. In my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful capitals in the world.

It’s small, quaint, artsy and unique! Wellington sits right on the water, and there are so many things to do in Wellington whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a week.

When to visit New Zealand

It’s not just the change in hemisphere that makes people ask, “When is the best time to travel to New Zealand?”. There’s also the weather to consider.

New Zealand weather can be very unpredictable. It’s very common to experience 4 seasons within one day.

In the south you can experience -10 degree temperatures, in the north, you can experience late 20’s in the summer.

The South Island is closer to the south pole which is why sometimes it can be super chilly!

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

My favourite time is spring as the flowers are in bloom, the lambs are being born and it’s just an all-round great time to visit.

I also think this is when the New Zealand climate is at its best.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect in each season (my guide to the best time to visit New Zealand goes into more detail).

1. Summer (December, January & February)

This is the most popular time to visit New Zealand, seeing as the New Zealand weather in December is hot and summery instead of cold and snowy.

During summers New Zealand tourism is at its busiest and some sites and cities can get pretty crowded.

But the New Zealand climate during summer can be also very unpredictable depending on where in the country you want to visit.

In the likes of the north island, temperatures can reach the high 20’s!

There are some pockets in the North Island such as Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Tauranga that can experience temperatures in the early 30’s during the summer.

2. Autumn (March, April & May)

The leaves are falling, the temperatures are cooling, it’s time for autumn. And for many, March/April is the best month to visit New Zealand.

Autumn is probably my second favourite time in regards to the weather in New Zealand.

Temperatures on average will be around 15-20 degrees throughout the country but that will also depend on where, as mentioned above.

If you are coming to New Zealand this can be a gamble, especially if you want to do hiking (Check out this awesome hiking guide to NZ) and anything outdoors.

However, in my experience, the seasons are changing and it’s becoming winter a bit later than normal so you can choose to take the gamble and visit New Zealand at this time.

3. Winter (June, July & August)

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, then this season is a great time to come. There are great ski fields throughout the country, particularly in the south.

In the North Island, you can check out Mt. Ruapehu which regularly sees great snowfall in the winter.

4. Spring (September, October, November)

As mentioned above, this is my favourite time in New Zealand. The weather in New Zealand is starting to warm and nature becomes bright with colours.

Travel insurance in New Zealand

I have two travel insurance recommendations for you, which are outlined below.

SafetyWing: I have used this travel insurance provider and they are my top recommendation! SafetyWing is particularly made with digital nomads in mind.

World Nomads Travel Insurance: They have two great plans whether you are on a budget or want a more comprehensive insurance plan.

This is a great option if you want to do some outdoor activities or extreme sports which NZ is known for!

New Zealand holidays and celebrations

New year’s: one of the most popular holidays throughout the world is New Years, the Kiwis are no different.

Waitangi Day (6 February): this marks the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. It’s New Zealand’s national day.

The English and te reo Māori versions of the treaty say different things, and many of the promises made to Māori weren’t kept, which led to huge land losses.

So these days, Waitangi Day is a mix of celebration and some important, honest conversations about our history.

Easter: Easter weekend dates change every year, but it is celebrated in New Zealand, even if you’re not religious as New Zealand is originally a Christian country.

ANZAC day 25th of April: ANZAC day is one of the most popular holidays. It commemorates the thousands of soldiers who died in Gallipoli, Turkey.

Every year there is dawn services around the country.

King’s Birthday (first Monday in June): our head of state is the British monarch, and we get a long weekend for his official birthday (it’s not his actual birthday!).

Matariki (June or July): our newest public holiday celebrates the Māori New Year, when the Matariki star cluster rises again. The date changes every year.

Labour Day (fourth Monday in October): this celebrates the fight for the 8-hour working day, which New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to have.

To be honest, most Kiwis just enjoy the long weekend! And if you have to work that day, you get paid time and a half.

Christmas day 25th December: As New Zealand is originally a Christian country Christmas is celebrated in a big way whether you’re religious or not.

All the stores shut, and the streets are empty. People celebrate with their families and usually enjoy a nice BBQ!

Boxing day 26th December: Boxing day is a huge shopping day in New Zealand. After Christmas, you will find nearly every store has a big sale.

Prices in New Zealand

Is New Zealand expensive? I’m not going to lie, yes. Even basics like fruit, vegetables and cheese can be a shock at the checkout.

Rising prices are a real problem for everyday Kiwis, and the cost of living keeps going up.

You will find the likes of junk food much cheaper than healthier food, unfortunately.

Some top tips for saving money in New Zealand

• Buy at fruit and vegetable stores if you can and buy in season
• Go vegetarian, meat in New Zealand is expensive and just an extra cost
• Pak’nSave is one of the cheapest supermarkets, along with Woolworths (which used to be called Countdown)
• The Warehouse is also a cheap store where you can buy clothes, camping gear and some food
• Drink tap water, it’s free and safe to drink
• Relocate a vehicle rather than renting one! Hiring companies are always looking for people to relocate their cars and campervans around the country
• If you don’t need your own vehicle, travelling by bus is the cheapest way to get around New Zealand
• Travel in the off-season
• Cook your meals instead of eating out

Check out my guide for even more top travel tips for New Zealand to ensure the best trip!

Accommodation in New Zealand

Hotels: There is a range of hotels throughout New Zealand, but compared to other countries they are quite expensive for what they are.

Since you’ll likely be starting your trip in Auckland, check out my New Zealand guide on the best luxury Auckland accommodation options.

Hostels: As New Zealand is a backpacking destination; there are some great hostels throughout the country. Check out Hostelworld for the best prices and availability.

DoC camping grounds: this is my favourite option when travelling New Zealand.

There are some great camping sites which are run by DOC (Department of Conservation).

Some are paid and some are free, but they are set in some of the most beautiful locations around the country!

Other camping grounds: You will see the option of another privately-owned campground.

There’s a chain called TOP 10 Holiday Parks, with around 50 parks around New Zealand that are good value and have all the amenities.

These are paid of course, but if you want a proper shower (which most DOC campsites don’t have), stay at one of these holiday parks for a night and freshen up.

Freedom camping (camping outside a campsite) is only allowed in certain places, and since 2023 you generally need a certified self-contained vehicle to do it on council land. Check the local rules or the Campermate app, because the fines are steep.

Things to do in New Zealand

There are so many great things to do in New Zealand.

I teamed up with some of the biggest travel bloggers around the world and have published a guide on the 30 best things to do in New Zealand.

From nature to adventure and food (of course!), you’ll find something amazing to do here!

Check out the full post on the best things to do in New Zealand.

Places to visit in New Zealand

Depending on how much time and what you are into will depend on where you go in New Zealand if you love beaches and the warmer weather then the North Island is a great place for that.

If you want to experience some of the most beautiful nature and do some real adventure stuff then try the south, or you can do a mixture of both.

A lot of people do one week in the North Island and one week in the South Island.

I have a full guide on the best cities in New Zealand, but you can click on the bolded places below for more information on each place.

• Wairarapa
• Wellington
• Auckland
• Goat Island
• Coromandel
• Tauranga
• Taupo
• Rotorua
• Northland
• Nelson
• Abel Tasman Park
• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Queenstown
• Milford sound
• Marlborough Sounds

The best beaches in New Zealand

For many people, working out what to do in New Zealand includes visiting a lot of beaches.

Some of the best beaches can be found in the North Island. You will find white sand beaches, black sand beaches and rocky beaches.

The longest stretch of beach in New Zealand is Ninety Mile Beach (which is actually about 88 km long), up in the far North Island.

Read my full guide on the most beautiful New Zealand beaches.

New Zealand road trip

One of the most popular ways to see New Zealand is on a road trip by car or campervan. It’s not only a great way to see the country but also a lot more cost-effective.

You can cook your meals, stay in DOC campsites and experience the real New Zealand.

NZ is all about nature and the best way to experience that is by car so you can stop off at all the beautiful places along the way!

How Long to Spend in New Zealand

If you’re coming from a far destination I would really recommend you stay at least 2 weeks. The country is just so so beautiful and once you get there you will really want to spend longer.

New Zealand is quite the trip and it can take some time for your body and sleep pattern to go back to normal.

Make sure that you really make the most out of your vacation days and spend as long as you can in the country before going back home!

Facts about New Zealand

There are so many interesting facts about New Zealand that you probably didn’t know.

Did you know that New Zealand has over 20,000 earthquakes a year? Or that there are still around four or five sheep for every person?

Read more fun and interesting facts about New Zealand. You might even find some extra helpful New Zealand travel tips in there, such as what to see in New Zealand!

Wi-Fi in New Zealand

Wi-Fi in New Zealand is fine in cities, cafés and hotels, but it can be patchy (or non-existent) once you’re out in the countryside or camping, so it’s worth having mobile data too.

A lot of the cities now have free Wi-Fi which is awesome!

But, make sure when you are logging onto any public Wi-Fi, to get a VPN to keep your information private and protected when you’re online.

Getting a sim card in New Zealand

If you are going to some remote places it’s best to get a sim card just in case.

Prepaid SIM cards are cheap and easy to pick up at the airport, supermarkets or phone shops, or you can set up an eSIM before you fly.

The main networks are One NZ (formerly Vodafone), Spark and 2degrees. Skinny is a cheaper brand that runs on Spark’s network.

My personal favourites have always been Skinny and 2degrees, but check their current prepaid travel packs, because the deals change all the time.

Religion in New Zealand

New Zealand is a very multi-cultural country with lots of different people from lots of different countries.

In the 2023 census, just over half of New Zealanders said they had no religion, and about a third said they were Christian. For reference, the population of New Zealand is around 5.3 million people.

There is a lot of different religions that thrive in NZ as well including Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.

You will find that in New Zealand culture, most Kiwis are very open and considerate to every religion and nationality.

Is New Zealand safe

Absolutely! New Zealand has been deemed one of the safest countries in the world.

There have been a few horrible events over the years, like the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019, but incidents like these are rare.

If you look at how the Kiwis acted after these horrible events happened it will tell you a lot about the kiwi people.

They are very compassionate and when something bad happens we take it very personally and hard.

We take pride in our country being one of the safest and always look after the visitors coming to New Zealand.

You will find New Zealand one of the safest countries in the world, even after these horrible events.

Food in New Zealand

Food in New Zealand is very international! So you might be asking yourself, “what do they eat in New Zealand?

Well, we have a range of different cuisines from around the world, your typical New Zealand food might well be Asian, Italian, American and so on.

But if you are looking for a kiwi classic, it’s fish and chips. It’s one of the popular New Zealand foods and one of the most popular takeaway dinners you can get (and one of the most delicious!).

Traditional Māori food includes hāngī, which is a meal cooked in the ground. It’s delicious! If you get the chance to try one (like at Mitai Māori Village in Rotorua), do it!

I have an article all about the must-try New Zealand foods!

What to drink in New Zealand?

When trying popular food in New Zealand, you need to pair it with a delicious New Zealand drink. But what?

Well, wine is the most popular alcoholic drink in New Zealand, and we produce some of the best wine in the world! Some wine regions include:

• Martinborough
• Hawkes Bay
• Nelson
• Marlborough
• Waiheke
• Central Otago
• Waipara

New Zealanders are also big beer drinkers. Tui is one of the most popular beers that’s produced in New Zealand.

I hope this New Zealand travel guide helped you. If you have any further questions about travelling New Zealand be sure to leave them below!