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Visitor Information
Here you'll find all the information you need to make planning your trip easier - everything from visa information and exchange rates to which side of the road to drive on and when it's summer or winter.
Getting to New Zealand Holiday Destination, Getting Here, Map, Time Differences Passports and Visas Passports, Visitor's Visa, Study and Work Visas, Immigration, Vaccinations Arrivals and Departures International Gateways, Arrival Cards, Customs, Agricultural Restrictions, Quarantine and Other Prohibited Items, Duty Free Goods, Departure Tax Exchange Rates and Money Currency, Exchange Rates, Banking, Goods and Services Tax (GST), How Much Does It Cost, Tips and Service Charges Health, Medical and General Insurance General Insurance and Safety, Health and Medical, Accident Compensation Scheme, Accident Advice for Visitors, Safety Precautions Road Information International Driving Permits, Road Safety, Driving Distances Chart Visitor Services Visitor Information Network, Qualmark, Poste Restante, Internet Cafes, Tourist FM Radio, Disabled Facilities Utilities and Holidays Electricity, Public Call Phones, Mobiles and Laptops, Public and School Holidays Entertainment Shopping, What to Buy, Food and Wine, Eating Out, Night Life, Shows Climate Temperature Chart, Recommended Clothing Natural Environment Geography and Environment, Flora and Fauna, New Zealand's Natural Heritage People and History Population, Early Settlers, Treaty of Waitangi, Language, Economy and Government, What is a Kiwi Frequently Asked Questions Answers to all those burning little questions about travelling to New Zealand.
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Getting to New Zealand
Holiday Destination New Zealand's spectacularly beautiful landscape includes vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.
Equivalent in size to Great Britain, California or Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 3.8 million - making it one of the world's least crowded countries.
It is a haven for those seeking peace, rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrillseekers and adventurers.
A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it a year-round holiday destination.
Getting Here New Zealand is a three and a half hour flight from Eastern Australia, a non-stop overnight flight from the United States, and around 10 hours flight from most places on the Pacific Rim, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
The Getting Here section of this site has a list of operators in your country who can fly you to New Zealand.
Time Differences New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day.
It is 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
In summer New Zealand has daylight saving, when clocks are put forward one hour to GMT+13.
Daylight saving begins on the first Sunday in October and ends on the last Sunday of the following March, when clocks are put back to GMT+12. |
Passports and Visas Passports
All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you intend to leave the country.
Visa Exemptions You do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand if you are: A New Zealand citizen or Resident Permit holder An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian passport An Australian resident with a current Australian resident return visa If you are a citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand Visa Waivers Currently travellers from more than 50 countries do not require a Visitor's Visa for stays less than 3 months.
You do require: A passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your departure from New Zealand An onward or return ticket to a country that you have permission to enter Sufficient money to support yourself during your stay - approximately NZ$1000 per month per person To find out if your country qualifies for a visa waiver, check out the Visiting New Zealand section of the New Zealand Immigration Service website.
You'll find a list of all eligible countries and other useful visa information.
Your travel agent, airline or nearest New Zealand Embassy will also be able to advise you if you require a visa.
British citizens and other British passport holders who have evidence of the right to live permanently in the UK may be allowed to stay for up to 6 months.
Visitor's Visa Applications If your country is not on the visa waiver list or you wish to stay longer than 3 months you will need to apply for a Visitor's Visa.
You can download application forms from the New Zealand Immigration Service website, or contact your nearest New Zealand Embassy.
Study and Work Visas The New Zealand Immigration Service also has information on work, business or student visas.
If you want to study in New Zealand, check out the websites of the New Zealand Independent English Language Schools and Education New Zealand Trust.
Immigration If you're thinking about living permanently in New Zealand, read the Migration section of the New Zealand Immigration Service website.
It contains a brief summary of immigration requirements and information on obtaining a residence application pack.
Vaccinations No vaccinations are required to enter New Zealand. |
Arrivals and Departures International Gateways
New Zealand's international airports are at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Some flights from Australia also land at Hamilton, Palmerston North, Queenstown and Dunedin.
Arrival Cards Every person arriving in New Zealand must complete the arrival card handed out on the aircraft.
Customs Comprehensive advice for travellers is available on the New Zealand Customs Service website.
Agricultural Restrictions and Quarantine New Zealand's agricultural industries are free of many insect pests and plant and animal diseases common elsewhere in the world.
We put a lot of effort at ports and airports into minimising the risk of these being introduced.
Heavy fines may be imposed on people caught carrying prohibited materials.
On arrival visitors should place any questionable items, particularly fruit, in the bins provided.
You will find details of restricted items on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry website.
Domestic pets such as cats and dogs also pose disease and pest risks, and entry is strictly enforced.
Import requirements for live animals differ according to the country of origin, so please check with your nearest Embassy before attempting to bring your pet to New Zealand.
Other Prohibited Items You should not bring the following items into New Zealand: * Firearms and weapons, unless a permit is obtained from New Zealand Police on arrival at the airport (includes sporting firearms).
The New Zealand Police website has more information on importing firearms.
* Class A drugs, certain drugs (e.g.
diuretics, depressants, stimulants, heart drugs, tranquillisers, sleeping pills), unless in their original bottle with a doctor's prescription * Ivory in any form; tortoise or turtle shell jewellery and ornaments; medicines using musk, rhinoceros or tiger derivatives; carvings or anything made from whalebone or bone from any other marine animals; cat skins or coats Duty Free Goods Visitors to New Zealand may purchase duty-free goods, which are not subject to local taxes, from airport duty free shops on arrival and departure.
Duty-free stores in downtown Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will deliver purchases to aircraft departure lounges.
Apart from your own personal effects, and as long as you are over 17 years of age, you are allowed the following duty-free concessions: * 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars, or a mixture of all 3 weighing no more than 250 grams * 4.5 litres of wine or beer (6 x 750ml bottles) and one 1125ml bottles of spirits, liqueur or other beverages * Goods up to a total of NZ$700 are free of duty and tax, but goods in excess of this may attract both duty and tax Departure Tax A tax of NZ$20-NZ$25 has to be paid at the airport when you leave New Zealand.
Please note that this tax is not included in your ticket price.
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Exchange Rates and Money Currency
New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$), comprising coins with values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2, and notes with values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought in or taken out of New Zealand.
However, every person who carries more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand is required to complete a Border Cash Report.
Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.
All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand.
Travellers' Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.
Exchange Rates Banks should be able to tell you what the current exchange rate is with the New Zealand dollar.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand provides a monthly online summary of the New Zealand Dollar's average value against the US Dollar, the Pound, the Australian Dollar, the Yen and the Euro.
You can calculate the approximate value of about 30 currencies in NZ Dollars on the Bank of New Zealand website.
The rate you are offered in your home country is likely to differ slightly.
Banking Banks are open from 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available at banks, along main shopping streets and in malls.
International credit cards and and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded.
Check with your bank before leaving home.
Goods and Services Tax All goods and services are subject to a 12.5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), included in the displayed price.
Visitors cannot claim this tax back, however when a supplier ships a major purchase to a visitor's home address the GST will not be charged.
How Much Does it Cost? Approx A hotel breakfast NZ$10- $25 Dinner (3-course, no wine) NZ$20 - $50 Lunch snack/sandwich NZ$5 - $10 Cafe lunch NZ$10 A postcard stamp to anywhere overseas NZ$1 Big Mac Hamburger NZ$3.95 Cappuccino NZ$2.50 - $3 Kodak Film, 36 exposures NZ$7.95 Tipping and Service Charges New Zealanders do not expect tips for normal service - even in restaurants and bars.
However, tipping for extra special service or kindness is at the discretion of the visitor.
Hotels and restaurants in New Zealand do not add service charges to their bills. |
Insurance
General Insurance and Safety New Zealand is one of the safest holiday destinations in the world.
However, you are advised to observe the same precautions with your personal safety and possessions as you would in any other country or at home.
We recommend you invest in comprehensive travel insurance before departing.
Health and Medical Insurance New Zealand is a country without snakes or dangerous wild animals, making it safe for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities.
New Zealand's public and private medical/hospital facilities provide a high standard of treatment and service but it is important to note these services are not free, except as a result of an accident.
We strongly advise you to arrange your own health insurance.
Visitors bringing in a quantity of medication are advised to have a doctor's certificate to avoid possible problems with Customs.
Doctor's prescriptions are needed to obtain certain drugs in New Zealand.
No vaccinations are needed to enter New Zealand.
Accident Compensation Scheme Visitors to New Zealand are covered under the local Accident Compensation Scheme for personal injury by accident.
Benefits include some medical and hospital expenses, but do not include loss of earnings outside New Zealand.
We therefore recommend your travel insurance policy also covers accidents.
Accident Advice for Visitors A private company called Accident Info Services can advise visitors to New Zealand on how best to access New Zealand's health system should they have an accident or need medical attention for an illness.
The 24-hour service can give advice on where to go and can arrange for a medical practitioner to visit the patient.
Safety Precautions Although there are no snakes or dangerous wild animals in New Zealand, you should be aware of the following: Variable Weather - Weather conditions in New Zealand alpine areas can change rapidly.
Be prepared for cold wet weather if you plan to walk in our National Parks, whatever the time of year.
Sandflies - In wetter areas, particularly in Fiordland, sandflies can be pests, but are effectively controlled by use of an insect repellent.
Giardia - Giardia is a water-borne parasite that causes diarrhoea.
To avoid contracting it, it is best not to drink water from lakes, ponds or rivers without first boiling, chemically treating or filtering it.
Sunburn - New Zealand's clear, unpolluted atmosphere and relatively low latitudes produce sunlight stronger than much of Europe or North America, so be prepared to wear hats and sun block if you plan to be out in the sun for more than 15-20
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Road Information International Driving Licences and Permits
You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver's licence from your home country, or an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Recent law changes mean all drivers, including overseas visitors, must carry their licence or permit when driving.
You will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country.
Make sure your overseas driver's licence is current.
If your licence is not in English, you should bring an English translation with you or obtain an International Driving Permit.
Contact your local automobile club for further details about obtaining a translation or an IDP.
Road Safety
If you prefer to drive yourself, please note the following important points:
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