When is the best time to visit New Zealand? You can visit New Zealand at any time of the year. Summer and winter temperatures vary by only about 10ºC over most of the country, making New Zealand an ideal holiday destination all year round.
New Zealand has four quite distinct seasons - Spring (Sept-Nov), Summer (Dec-Feb), Autumn/Fall (Mar-May) and Winter (June-Aug). In summer there's plenty of sunshine, and activities in and around the water include rafting, snorkelling, diving and kayaking. You'll find snow on the mountains in winter and excellent skiing. Away from the mountains, New Zealand winters are mild and temperatures generally do not fall below freezing.
How safe is New Zealand? New Zealand is considered one of the safest destinations in the world. We have one poisonous spider that the majority of the population has never seen and not dangerous animals. Crime is low and problems can generally be avoided by using common sense. The water in our cities and towns is excellent and in all cases tap water is fresh and safe to drink. When you’re visiting our great outdoors, it’s a good idea to boil or treat water from rivers and lakes to be on the safe side.
Is there much to do in New Zealand? Yes! New Zealand is lucky enough to have a wealth of outdoor activities on hand. You can hike through pristine native bush, walk in active geothermal areas, raft or kayak in crystal clear rivers, conquer mountains and at the end of the day, bathe in bubbling mineral pools. The more adventurous traveler could also ski a volcano, walk on a glacier, shoot the rapids in a jetboat or scuba dive in our beautiful, scenic waters. There are also plenty of activities for those who are not so focused on the outdoors. For example, exploring a traditional Maori village amongst the geysers and hot pools of our incredible geothermal areas, enjoying internationally renowned food and wine trails, or visiting the many exceptional museums, galleries and historic buildings scattered throughout the country. And even after having done all that, you’ll have barely scratched the surface.
Is it easy to get around in New Zealand? All of the main international car hire companies operate throughout New Zealand plus there are many reputable local companies. You will need to be twenty-one years of age to hire a car and twenty-five to hire a campervan. A current driver’s license from your home country or an International Drivers License (in English text) will be required. Then the country is all yours. New Zealand offers a wide range of other transport options, including local airlines, trains, coaches and more.
Will you send out driving directions once I reserve my trip with Active Downunder? We
strive to provide as much relevant pre-trip information as possible, but we do
not send out detailed driving directions with your travel documents. Closed roads and route changes are very
complicated for us to monitor and accurately keep track of.The last thing we want to do is give you
driving directions that are incomplete.We've found that the best possible resource you could use is to ask the hosts
at the property you are departing from for the best way to get to your next
stop.The locals know the most efficient
current routes, and are sometimes able to give you shortcuts, or recommend nice
rest stops along the way that coincide with your interests. Roads in New
Zealand are small and few in number compared to the USA, so directions will
generally be simple and straightforward.
Will my rental car have a GPS navigation system? GPS systems are available in rental cars in New Zealand, however, they must be pre-booked. Depending on the rental car company used, you should expect to pay approx NZD$15 - $20 per day.
I've heard that there are some strict policies upon arriving for what you can and cannot bring into New Zealand. What should I expect? New Zealand's agricultural industries are free of many insects, plants and animal diseases common elsewhere in the world. It is a priority at ports and airports to minimize the risk of new diseases being introduced. You are required by law to declare all plant and animal materials you bring with you, including the following* food of any sort* plants and parts of plants (alive or dead) * animals (alive or dead) or products of animals * equipment used with animals * camping gear, golf clubs and used bicycles * biological specimens * fruit, meat, honey, bird nests and reptiles.If you declare restricted items you won’t be charged with any offense. The goods will simply be inspected for safety before you are allowed to enter the country. Some items may be treated (for example, fumigated) and then returned to you, while others may be prohibited from entry.For more information, visit: www.maf.govt.nz. You will also find details of restricted items on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry website.
Is it easy to visit a National Park in New Zealand? It’s hard not to. We have fourteen national parks including three world heritage sites covering more than five million hectares throughout the country. More than a third of our country is protected in parks and reserves and all are open to visitors. www.doc.govt.nz
What type of food can I expect in New Zealand? Our wines and Pacific Rim food are world class. New Zealand has an excellent reputation for this delectable type of cuisine, mainly due to our innovative chefs who deftly combine the flavors of Asia and the Pacific into new taste sensations. We also offer a wide variety of exotic cuisines, from Asian to Mediterranean, and more. Freshly grown produce is abundant and our seafood is plucked directly from the ocean so the quality of our food is unsurpassed. New Zealand wines regularly pick up international awards and you’ll be able to appreciate why for yourself. You can also enjoy our local favorite, fresh fish and chips.
What is a ‘Kiwi’? The kiwi, New Zealand’s national emblem, is a flightless bird with hair-like feathers and a long, slender bill, which it uses to pull worms and insects out of the ground. Found only in New Zealand, it is active at night in the wilderness areas of the country. Be sure to visit one of the many kiwi houses where you can watch them under special ‘nocturnal’ lighting.
New Zealanders often refer to themselves as Kiwis, and the term is also used as a short form for the famous kiwifruit. On the stock exchange, the New Zealand Dollar is also referred to as ’the kiwi’.
Where is the capital of New Zealand? Wellington is the political, banking and financial centre for New Zealand. The Parliament building known as the ‘Beehive’ is one of the city's top attractions. The National Archives, National Library and Old Government Buildings (the second largest wooden building in the world) are located nearby and are open to casual visitors free of charge.
What types of activities are available for children? If you are thinking about visiting with your family, you can be confident that New Zealand has a wide range of activities to keep your children happy.
New Zealand’s parks and large areas of unspoilt wilderness are ideal places to expand your children’s appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors. Horse riding, snow activities, whale watching, fruit picking and wildlife centres and zoos are just some of the choices available.
If you are visiting the larger centres, you will find a range of themed attractions including Rainbow’s End (Auckland), Splash Planet (Hastings), Marine Land (Napier) and the International Antarctic Centre (Christchurch). Te Papa, New Zealand’s interactive national museum, has a range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including Story Place, a haven for small children.
Most family restaurants have childrens’ menus and high chairs. Many cafes also have high chairs, and a toy basket to amuse babies and toddlers is becoming increasingly common in both cafes and shops. Most public gardens have well equipped play areas for young children, as do many holiday parks. Adventure playlands such as Chipmunks or Lollipop’s Playland are always popular with the very young—these can be found in most main centres.
Can I rent a cell phone during my trip? The
rental of a Nokia 1600 cell phone from Vodaphone in New Zealand is NZ$25 per
week, excluding call charges.You may
contact Vodaphone directly to reserve a phone at: auckland@vodarent.co.nz
Call Charges:
* A flat national rate throughout New
Zealand of $0.89 per minute.
* All calls to voicemail are charged at the
above rate.
* Premium rate and International calls
accrue higher call charges.
* Calls to the USA are $2.30 per minute.
* Connection fee of $0.45 per international
call applies.
* No charge for incoming calls while in New
Zealand.
* SMS / TXT messages charged at $0.45.
* Your credit card will be debited on a
weekly basis for all call and rental charges.
* All prices quoted in NZ $ exclude GST
(12.5%) and are subject to change.
* Auckland Airport store is open from 5am -
8pm, 7 days a week.
At
the time of rental, Vodaphone will pre-authorize your credit card for
NZD$250.00. This just ensures that funds are available at the time of rental.
The money is NOT deducted from your card. It is set-aside for a period of time,
and allows Vodaphone to bill directly to your credit card. Please be aware that
debit cards cannot be accepted.
To
complete the rental, you must present a photo ID or driver's license upon
picking up your phone.Vodaphone pickup
and drop-off points are conveniently located at Auckland International Airport,
or Christchurch International Airport.
