Broadly divided into the lush North Island and the rugged South Island, New Zealand is a stunner: a land of pristine beaches, soaring peaks, steaming volcanoes, primeval forests, gastronomical delights, and rich Maori culture. Our New Zealand Travel Guide will help you navigate this remarkable country — find out how many days you need to spend in New Zealand, the best time to go to New Zealand and its dreamiest destinations.

Though you can cover the major tourist spots in a week, we recommend spending at least 2 weeks in New Zealand. Roam the idyllic vineyards of Waiheke Island or try adventurous activities like zip lining here. Head to the Tongariro National Park, which is home to active volcanoes and offers plenty of hiking opportunities. Visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington and discover the country’s art, culture, heritage and history. Watch splendid superyachts, grab a coffee by the bay and stroll on Auckland’s waterfront.

While traveling to New Zealand in the summer is an excellent idea, winter in New Zealand is also a lovely time of the year. New Zealand in January falls in the middle of the peak tourist season, so plan in advance to get the best deals. If you want to skip the tourist rush, you can also visit New Zealand in March. Read our expert guide to learn more about epic tours to New Zealand.

Top Destinations in New Zealand

Discover the highlights of New Zealand.

City Exploration in Queenstown

City Exploration in Queenstown

Enjoy public artworks at the center of Queenstown, such as the sand and glass work in the Post Office Precinct. Visit St. Peter’s Church, built in the 1930s, and admire the stained glass, painted organ and bird-shaped cedar lectern. Don’t forget to stop by the Saturday Creative Queenstown Art and Craft Market to pick up locally-made merchandise. View Tours

Witness natural beauty at Milford Sound

Witness natural beauty at Milford Sound

Home to unique plant and animal life, Milford Sound is an astounding destination, a fjord shaped by ancient glaciers. One of the best ways of experiencing Milford Sound is by taking a boat cruise or kayaking to explore the pristine waterways. See eleven-legged sea stars and the black coral at the underwater observatory. View Tours

Relax in a hot spring in Rotorua

Relax in a hot spring in Rotorua

Rotorua’s boiling streams, thermal mud pools, lush forests, volcanic craters and cycling trails make it a popular destination. Sit back and relax in a natural hot stream, or pamper yourself in a new-age spa. There are kayaking tours too, and you can take a boat across a lake to see how the 1886 volcanic eruption altered the landscape. View Tours

New Zealand at a Glance

Quick facts about New Zealand.

CAPITAL CITY

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the southernmost capital in the world. The port settlement was named in 1840 after Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington. Today, Wellington is the country’s communications and transportation hub as well as New Zealand’s cultural capital with a sophisticated arts and food scene.

SIZE

268,021 square kilometers. Wellington has a vast public transport network, and you can get around easily using buses and trains. Smart Cards are better for longer stays.

COUNTRY CODE

+64 is New Zealand's country code for making calls from another country. Add an area code after the country code for areas, such as 4 for Wellington.

CURRENCY

New Zealand uses the dollar (NZD$). All major credit cards are accepted in the country, and Visa and Mastercard are widely used. Many retailers also have Apple Pay. Banks are usually open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday in all towns, big and small. ATMs can be found easily in towns and cities.

MAIN AIRPORT

Auckland Airport (AKL), 20 kilometers south of the city center, is the main airport for international flights to New Zealand. It is also New Zealand’s busiest and largest airport. Visitors can get connecting domestic flights by Air New Zealand and Jetstar. SkyBus, shuttles and taxi services connect the city to the airport, making for easy transportation. Code: AKL Closest City: Auckland

VISAS

Residents of Australia and the UK don’t need visas to travel to New Zealand. Australian residents can stay in New Zealand indefinitely, while UK visitors can stay up to 6 months. Some 60 countries, including the US, have visa waiver agreements with New Zealand and can visit New Zealand for up to 90 days. Residents of other countries must apply for a visitor visa. Check your country’s travel advisories before booking a trip.

LANGUAGE

New Zealand has three official languages: English, Te Reo Maori (Maori language) and New Zealand Sign Language. English is the most widely spoken language, making traveling to New Zealand a breeze. Once neglected, Te Reo Maori is undergoing a revival. Samoan and Hindi are some of the other languages that are spoken.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

The free-to-call emergency number is 111 if you need a quick response from the police, ambulance, fire service, or search and rescue.

WHAT'S UNIQUE

When paying with cash, follow Swedish rounding, that is rounding prices to the nearest multiple of 10, since there are no 1, 2 or 5 cent coins in the local currency.

When to visit New Zealand

Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit New Zealand.

°C°F
  • Excellent
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor
  • JanAvg Daily: 20.2 ° CAvg Nightly: 15.9 ° C
  • FebAvg Daily: 20.2 ° CAvg Nightly: 16.5 ° C
  • MarAvg Daily: 19.6 ° CAvg Nightly: 15.3 ° C
  • AprAvg Daily: 17.6 ° CAvg Nightly: 14 ° C
  • MayAvg Daily: 15.5 ° CAvg Nightly: 12.3 ° C
  • JunAvg Daily: 13.6 ° CAvg Nightly: 10.8 ° C
  • JulAvg Daily: 12.6 ° CAvg Nightly: 9.7 ° C
  • AugAvg Daily: 13.1 ° CAvg Nightly: 10.1 ° C
  • SepAvg Daily: 13.7 ° CAvg Nightly: 10.3 ° C
  • OctAvg Daily: 15.1 ° CAvg Nightly: 11.3 ° C
  • NovAvg Daily: 16.7 ° CAvg Nightly: 12.7 ° C
  • DecAvg Daily: 18.8 ° CAvg Nightly: 14.8 ° C

How long to stay in New Zealand

Read about the ideal duration to stay in New Zealand.

Sustainable travel — How to travel through New Zealand responsibly

In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through Nepal. As part of this effort, we carbon offset any Nepal tour that you purchase through us. Read more details about our carbon offsetting program.

Here’s what you can do to travel to New Zealand more responsibly:

  • Carbon offset your transport to New Zealand via Ekos. If you purchased your New Zealand tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
  • You can donate to organizations like Greenfleet (which operates in Australia and New Zealand) and Carbon Neutral NZ Trust to aid their green efforts.
    You can travel sustainably to New Zealand by visiting the country in the low season to prevent overtourism, packing reusable items such as water bottles and tote bags, and using public transport instead of domestic flights.

New Zealand travel tips and insights

  • New Zealand is an excellent country for road-tripping. But always plan ahead as shops and petrol stations are not abundant in remote places.
  • Invest in some insect repellent and cover your ankles and head to avoid being bitten by sandflies. If you are bitten, your saliva can act as a temporary itch relief before you can buy proper cream.
  • Get a data pack, as free wifi is scarce in remote areas.
  • New Zealand law allows people to camp just about anywhere (unless posted otherwise). Consider renting a campervan for an incredible trip across the country.
  • It is always useful to learn a few Kiwi phrases. “Bush” means forest, while “togs” are swimsuits and the local “dairy” is the corner store.

Ready to customize your New Zealand Vacation

Book your trip when it is perfectly designed and customized, just for you.

  • David Tupper
    David TupperTravel Expert in Australia & New Zealand
  • Geoff Venning
    Geoff VenningTravel Expert in New Zealand
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