New Zealand travel guide
Tips and advice on travelling New Zealand, from a New Zealand travel writer.
In this New Zealand guide
This page acts as a starting point for planning your trip and as a directory for the articles I have published on New Zealand. I have a lot to say, and there’s even more involved in planning all the details of your New Zealand travels. Feel free to use these links to skip ahead and find what you need.
Planning your trip
Resources I recommend
New Zealand regions
Getting the lay of the land
Where to go
Discover the North Island
Where to go
The South Island
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I’m here to help you discover the most beautiful places and best adventures in New Zealand. My ethos is one of less is more; sustainable where possible; and adventurous, always.
Resources for planning your New Zealand trip
A little quick fire round up of some of my top planning websites and resources.
DON’T FORGET: Immigration New Zealand’s information on the NZeta (essentially an online visitor visa)
MONEY
New Zealand is mostly cash free, with the occasional exception of campgrounds and roadside fruit stands. Generally, you can get away with paying for everything with a credit or debit card.
I use Wise, including in New Zealand (I love the way it helps me track my spending)
TRAVEL INSURANCE
I recommend World Nomads (it’s what I use outside of New Zealand — when I’m here, I only occasionally get a cheap plan to cover rental cars).
RENTAL CARS: RentalCars.com for comparing the prices of rental cars
RENTING A CAMPERVAN
Motorhome Republic for comparing the prices of campervans.
FINDING ACCOMMODATION
Booking.com is my preferred website for finding hostel or hotel accommodation in New Zealand.
It’s also worth checking Vrbo when you’re looking for places to stay outside of towns (some of the best places to stay are more remote).
Canopy Camping is great for a special stay.
BOOKING ACTIVITIES: Viator is an easy way to book tours (as a disclosure, I have written for them before!).
USEFUL APPS: Rankers is my favourite app for finding campgrounds in New Zealand.
Another great app is Gaspy for saving money on petrol.
SIM CARDS: I recommend getting a Skinny SIM card when you arrive
FIND WALKS AND HIKES: The DOC website is the best resource for all trails, scenic campsites, and mountain huts.
CHECKING THE WEATHER: Metservice is New Zealand’s main weather site, but NIWA provides good mountain forecasts (with details like how low the cloud will sit/what the visibility will be like) if you’re going hiking. I also love YR.
FIND RESTAURANTS: First Table is a great site which lets you book meals for 50% off.
KEEP YOUR SANITY: TripIt — an all-in one travel organiser for when the number of bookings starts to get overwhelming.
FOR TAILORED ADVICE: Book a call with me! If you need feedback on your itinerary or personalised travel tips, feel free to put some time in my calendar and let’s chat.
Fast facts about New Zealand
CAPITAL: Wellington
POPULATION: 5 million
LANGUAGE: English (with a few local quirks) and Maori (kia ora is a great place to start getting your head around the Maori language — it means hello).
Main airports: Auckland is where most international flights land, but Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown also have international airports. There are a handful of smaller regional airports around the country, but expect to fly in and out of these main ones.
MONEY: The currency is the New Zealand Dollar.
New Zealand is mostly cash free, with the occasional exception of campgrounds and roadside fruit stands. Generally, you can get away with paying for everything with a credit or debit card. We refer to most card payments as “EFTPOS.”
If you’re looking for a way to manage your money in New Zealand, I use and recommend Wise (I love the way it helps me track my spending)
Why you should visit New Zealand
Best time to visit New Zealand
The lay of the land
New Zealand’s regions at a glance
AUCKLAND
The Auckland region encompasses New Zealand’s largest city and beyond, from the rugged black sand beaches of the west coast to the pristine white-sand bays lining the coast north of the city.
NORTHLAND
Subtropical Northland — also called ‘the winterless North’ by locals — is famous for deserted beaches, Cape Reinga, and rich Maori history.
THE WAIKATO AND THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
The Waikato is largely a farming region, but there are a few tourist highlights (Hobbiton and Raglan). The Coromandel Peninsula is a worthy road trip destination, famous for beaches like Cathedral Cove.
ROTORUA AND THE BAY OF PLENTY
Rotorua is the hot spot of the Bay of Plenty, literally — this is where you’ll find bubbling mud pools and natural hot springs. Other towns in the region include Tauranga and Whakatane, both of which are forgettable. But, the coast in between them is a delight.
TAUPO AND THE CENTRAL VOLCANIC PLATEAU
Lake Taupo is all that remains of a massive volcanic eruption. Other volcanoes still persist in Tongariro National Park — squat Ruapehu and the perfect cone of Ngauruhoe make the skyline near here unmistakeable.
TE IKA-A-MĀUI
Where to go in the North Island
The North Island is, dare I say it, more diverse than the South. Sure, it’s more populated and has less of the wild, rugged beauty of the South Island, but there are some very beautiful corners of the North Island.
Most international flights land in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. From Auckland, you can road trip to North Island highlights like Hobbiton, Rotorua, or Tongariro National Park. Or, head north of Auckland to Northland, a luscious region of sun kissed coastlines.
TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND
Hobbiton is the most unique attraction in New Zealand for Lord of the Rings fans.
Rotorua delivers both geothermal and Maori cultural experiences.
Tongariro National Park is incredible for hiking, with the Tongariro Crossing the creme de la creme.
The glow worm caves around Waitomo are also fun to visit.
Cape Reinga and the far north of Northland is an under-the-radar destination for beaches, camping, and Maori culture.
The Bay of Islands is another Northland gem.
The Coromandel Peninsula is ideal for a beachy road trip.
Raglan is a fun little surf town.
The capital city of Wellington is New Zealand’s hub for food and politics.
Taranaki is a wild region ideal for surfers and hikers alike.
01 Rotorua
Geothermal and Maori cultural experiences
02 Waitomo
Glowworms and caves
03 Tongariro National Park
Incredible hiking, with the Tongariro Crossing
Cape Reinga and the far north of Northland is an under-the-radar destination for beaches, camping, and Maori culture
A few of my favourite…
TOWNS
AUCKLAND — Auckland has some of the best dining, shopping, and nightlife in the country
WELLINGTON — the capital city is a great place for drinking coffee, eating roti canai, and vintage shopping.
WHANGANUI — a surprisingly hip town famous for glass art and an old river boat.
RAGLAN — a laid-back surf town on the west coast.
ADVENTURES
Going black water rafting in Waitomo Caves is an exceptional experience (but you can skip the very touristy glow worm cave visit — if you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve caving, I highly recommend Spellbound Glow Worm Caves over the Waitomo ones).
HISTORICAL PLACES
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands is where New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was first signed by Maori chiefs and the British Crown.
Te Papa Museum in Wellington is a top notch places to get a broad overview of New Zealand’s history.
MAORI CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
HIKES
Duke’s Nose in Northland is a fabulous day walk
Tama Lakes in Tongariro National Park is an excellent alternative to the busy Tongariro Crossing
PLACES TO GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
If you want to get off the beaten track, head to Taranaki. I love driving the wild surf highway, looking for black sand beaches which are painted red at sunset, and views of Mount Taranaki in the distance.
Another favourite region is the wild Wairarapa, near Wellington, where you’ll find lonely lighthouses and windswept coast.
North Island destination guides
AUCKLAND
New Zealand’s biggest city is where you are likely to start or end your trip.
WAIHEKE ISLAND
Just a short ferry ride from Auckland, visit Waiheke for wine and beaches.
3 quick tips for planning your New Zealand visit
Don’t try to see everything. New Zealand might seem small, but it’s larger than the United Kingdom, and our roads and often narrow and winding.
Getting from A to B can take a lot longer than you anticipate, especially as you’ll want to stop so often to enjoy the view.
The best time to visit New Zealand is from February to March, when domestic travellers have gone back to work and school but the summer days are still sunny, warm, and long.
Winter is also a great time to visit, but bear in mind that shorter daylight hours mean you might need more days to see everything.
Consider an internal flight if you want to see both islands in a short time. Flying from Rotorua to Christchurch can make for an efficient two-week itinerary and make it easier to see all of New Zealand’s highlights.
Taking the ferry between the islands often costs more than a flight, and takes up a full day.
DISCOVER TE WAIPOUNAMU
Where to go in the South Island
From the golden bays of Abel Tasman National Park in the north of the island, to the wilds of Fiordland bordering the Tasman Sea in the south, the South Island of New Zealand is nothing short of spectacular.
The hardest part of visiting the South Island is narrowing down the list of places you want to go.
Every corner of the South Island has something different to offer (golden beaches in the north, marine wildlife in the east, rainforest and glaciers in the west, and alpine scenery in the south).
And it’s a big island — it can take several days to drive from the top to the bottom, and that’s if you’re rushing.
My best advice is to choose only a couple of regions (unless you have the luxury of a month or more) and focus on those. Don’t worry, when everywhere is this beautiful, you can’t go wrong.
WHERE TO BEGIN: Christchurch and Queenstown are the main entry and exit points to the South Island — most road trips link these cities in some way.
THE TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
Go on an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound, the quieter and lesser visited sister to Milford Sound, in Fiordland National Park.
Discover the glaciers and towering peaks of Aoraki/Mackenzie National Park
The adrenaline hub of Queenstown
See glaciers descend into rainforests on the wild west coast.
Spot whales and swim with dolphins in Kaikoura, marine wildlife capital of New Zealand.
A few of my favourite…
TOWNS
WANAKA
CHRISTCHURCH
OAMARU
ADVENTURES
Going on an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound is one of the best things I have done in New Zealand.
I also loved funyaking on the Dart River near Queenstown.
HISTORICAL PLACES
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands is where New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was first signed by Maori chiefs and the British Crown.
Te Papa Museum in Wellington is a top notch places to get a broad overview of New Zealand’s history.
HIKES
Alex Knob overlooking Franz Josef glacier
Welcome Flat hut
The Routeburn Great walk (you can hike as far as Harris Saddle for one big, epic day walk)
Ben Lomond, which starts in Queenstown (you can make it a little easier by taking the gondola up the first part of the trail)
PLACES TO GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
I love exploring the top of the South Island, from Golden Bay to the Marlborough Sounds. Both regions are a little less visited than around Queenstown and Wanaka — both are perfect for hiking and campervan trips.
South Island destination guides
My best recommendations for key South Island places
CHRISTCHURCH
The South Island’s largest town has cool street art and beautiful gardens
3 quick tips for planning your New Zealand visit
1. Don’t try to see everything. New Zealand might seem small, but it’s larger than the United Kingdom, and our roads and often narrow and winding.
Getting from A to B can take a lot longer than you anticipate, especially as you’ll want to stop so often to enjoy the view.
2. Consider an internal flight if you want to see both islands in a short time. Flying from Rotorua to Christchurch can make for an efficient two-week itinerary and make it easier to see all of New Zealand’s highlights.
3. The best time to visit New Zealand is from February to March, when domestic travellers have gone back to work and school but the summer days are still sunny, warm, and long.
Winter is also a great time to visit, but bear in mind that shorter daylight hours mean you might need more days to see everything.
How many days do you need to travel around New Zealand?
Two weeks is roughly the minimum amount of time you should spend in New Zealand, but you could easily spend more than that.
With two weeks, you can split your time between the North and South Islands, which are equally deserving of attention.
If you only have 10 vacation days, I recommend focusing on just one island.
Plan for travel days and more time than you think you’ll need when driving from place to place. Roads in New Zealand are scenic and often have beautiful lookouts where you’ll want to stop and admire the view.
When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
The best time to visit New Zealand is in February and March, when you can take advantage of long summer days and warm weather, without the crowds.
Having said that, there’s no bad time to visit New Zealand, with each month of the year offering something unique.
Visit in the off season (from May to September) and you might have colder weather, but there will be far fewer crowds and much better deals on activities and accommodation.
Plus, you won’t need to worry about booking everything in advance.
New Zealand winter means shorter, colder days and a higher chance of rain in the North Island, but if you like to avoid crowds, it’s an ideal time to visit.
How much does it cost to travel to New Zealand?
Flights to New Zealand can be expensive, as much as $1000 USD return from the United States, and even more from Europe.
Hotels can cost anywhere from $100-400 NZD a night, rental cars around $50 a day, and activities up to $500 for premium options such as going on a glacier heli hike in the South Island.
Having said that, you can travel New Zealand on a budget if you’re willing to stay in campgrounds and holiday parks, cook most of your own meals, and enjoy the many free activities such as hiking, museums, art galleries, beaches, and glow worm caves.
You could travel New Zealand on a budget of less than $1000 NZD a week by doing this.
Or, you could spend as much as $4000 a week by staying in hotels, eating in the best restaurants in Queenstown and Auckland, and enjoying activities such as heli hikes, winery tours, and boat cruises in Milford or Doubtful Sound.
What’s the best way to get around New Zealand?
The easiest way to get around New Zealand is to rent a car or a campervan.
Having your own vehicle means you’ll be able to access all of the more remote — and beautiful — parts of New Zealand.
The only caveat with this is that you’ll need to get comfortable driving on New Zealand roads (we drive on the left) and it’s not the most budget-friendly way to travel, especially if you are travelling alone.
It is possible to get around New Zealand on public transport.
There’s only one national bus network in New Zealand, and the only trains are designed to be scenic experiences rather than to connect main centres.
That makes travelling without a car difficult, but it’s not impossible.
Flights connect Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Queenstown, and Christchurch, so you could hop between cities and use shuttle services to reach places like national parks or popular hikes.
For some activities, such as the Great Walks, you often need to book a private shuttle anyway. And for other trips, such as scenic horse rides in Glenorchy, the operators often provide transport out to where they are located.