Travel New Zealand • Oceania | She is Wanderlust Travel Blog

Located in southwestern Pacific Ocean in Oceania , New Zealand is famous for its “out of this world” scenery, with diverse beautiful landscapes, chosen as the location for filming The Lord of the Rings years ago. Its unique landforms allow unique wildlife to thrive, and offers a thousand of outdoor adventures to experience.

Why Visit New Zealand

LANDSCAPES

Made up of two main islands and a couple smaller ones, New Zealand is home to some of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world. The country is blessed with mountain ranges, glaciers, lush forests, thermal waters, coastline, caves, volcanoes, lakes and large flat plains, a diversity like no other.

WILDLIFE

Its diverse landscapes allow just as a diverse wildlife to thrive. There is a whole new world of wildlife to discover in New Zealand, with incredible endemic species like the famous kiwi birds, the New Zealand’s national symbol.

CULTURE

Thanks to its isolation, the native culture in New Zealand has survived many periods, integrating with modern society, but keeping its heritage and traditions. The Maori has been living in New Zealand for hundred of years, and nowadays you can find the unique cultural blend between this indigenous tribes and the european influences in the country.

ADVENTURE

New Zealand is one of the best destinations for adventure junkies. Bungee jumping (invented in here), caving, canoeing, skydiving, snowboarding, kayaking, tramping, sailing, those are just some of the activities you could do in New Zealand.

LOCALS

The New zealanders (also known as “Kiwis”) are very, very friendly. It’s quite common to say hello to strangers on the street and to smile to everybody. They are just naturally friendly and hospitable.

Why Visit New Zealand

LANDSCAPES

WILDLIFE

CULTURE

ADVENTURE

LOCALS

Name: New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
Official Languages: English, Māori
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Time Zone: UTC+12

Name: New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
Official Languages: English, Māori
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Time Zone: UTC+12

Bucket List

What to expect

LANGUAGE

New Zealand has three official languages: English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language. English is the predominant language, and almost all the population speaks it.

ELECTRICITY

In New Zealand the standard voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa; If you are traveling from the US you will need an adaptor.

CURRENCY

The New Zealand Dollar is the official currency in New Zealand. Other foreign currencies, like dollars and euros, might be accepted at tourist attractions and hotels, but they won’t be accepted at other establishments. Credit cards are widely accepted, and you can exchange your money at any bank, hotel, at the airport or your by withdrawing it directly from the ATM. 1 USD equals 1.54 new zealand dollars (as of 2020).

CLIMATE

New Zealand has a temperate climate in its majority.Although the inland alpine areas can be as cold as 14°CF in winter ( -10°C), most of the country is coastline, and features mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. Annual temperatures range from 50 °F (10 °C) in the south to 61 °F (16 °C) in the north.

SAFETY

New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates, especially violent. However, petty crime such as pickpocketing do happen, especially in crowded areas, tourist attractions or on parked vehicles. Be cautious and use your common sense like you would anywhere else.

How to get around

By plane: Flying is always the most expensive but most convenient way of getting around. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the domestic carriers of the country. There are 7 domestic routes available.

By Car: Driving in New Zealand is a great way to experience the country, as it has really good road conditions, incredible views and distances aren’t too great. It is a perfect destination for a road trip. All the major car-hire companies have offices in major cities and airports. 4WD are recommended when visiting the outback. International driver’s license is required if you home country license is not in English. Be aware that australians drive on the left.

By Bus: Traveling by bus is by far the cheapest way of getting around. The bus network in New Zealand is comprehensive, reaching almost every town in the country. Intercity is the public bus network of the country. There are 2 travel passes if you are planning on traveling a lot by bus: Flexipass and Travelpass.

By Taxi: Taxis are widely available in big cities and towns.

By Train: New Zealand only has three train lines: Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine. And although the rides are beautiful, train is more of a bucket list experience than a reliable way to move around the country.

By Boat: There are a couple bus routes available, most of them across the Cook strait, allowing you to enjoy the sea life as well.

By Campervan: Campervans are very famous in New Zealand. They are most commonly known as motorhomes in the west. As New Zealand has many parks offering facilities for them, is has become a popular way of moving around the country. All the major rental companies can be found in here: Britz, Maui Motorhomes, Jucy, KEA Campers and Apollo.

Visa Policy

Nationals of Australia can enter New Zealand without a visa for a indefinite period.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter New Zealand, but have a limited period to stay: All European Union Citizens, Andorra, Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, US, Uruguay and Vatican City.

Citizens from all other countries need to request a visa in advance through the embassy to enter the country, although not all of them will require a visa for transit. It is advice to research a little bit more through the embassy before buying your ticket.