Oceania
New Zealand
Campervans, great walks and a landscape that changes every hour.
New Zealand is made for road trips. Hire a campervan or ride the backpacker buses between Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown.
The Great Walks are the highlight, from the volcanic Tongariro Crossing to the fiords of Milford Sound. Book huts early for the summer season.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+12, GMT+13 in summer
- Plugs
- Type I, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 111 police, fire and ambulance
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected, though leaving a few dollars for great service is always welcome.
- SIM cards
- One NZ, Spark and 2degrees prepaid SIMs cost about NZ$30–50 for a month with plenty of data.
When to go to New Zealand
Best months to go: December to March. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
September
Spring lambs and blossom. Weather changes fast.
- Daytime high
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 65 mm
- Crowds
- Quiet
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C | 80 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| February | 22°C | 70 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| March | 19°C | 70 mm | Busy | Yes |
| April | 15°C | 65 mm | Quiet | No |
| May | 11°C | 70 mm | Quiet | No |
| June | 8°C | 65 mm | Busy | No |
| July | 8°C | 55 mm | Peak season | No |
| August | 10°C | 60 mm | Busy | No |
| September | 13°C | 65 mm | Quiet | No |
| October | 15°C | 75 mm | Quiet | No |
| November | 18°C | 70 mm | Busy | No |
| December | 20°C | 85 mm | Peak season | Yes |
What New Zealand costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$1,050for 14 days, about $75 a day (NZ$1,790 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $28 | $392 | |
| Food and drink | $20 | $280 | |
| Getting around | $12 | $168 | |
| Things to do | $10 | $140 | |
| Everything else | $5 | $70 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Hostel dorm bedNZ$38, about $22
- Flat whiteNZ$5.50, about $3.24
- Mince and cheese pieNZ$7, about $4.12
- Pint of beerNZ$12, about $7.06
- Fish and chipsNZ$14, about $8.24
- InterCity bus, Auckland to RotoruaNZ$35, about $21
- Tongariro Crossing shuttleNZ$45, about $26
Routes through New Zealand
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 6 stops
The highlights of both islands, with a flight from Wellington to Queenstown to save time.
Auckland
2 nights
Harbour views and a ferry to Waiheke Island.
Rotorua
2 nights
Geothermal pools, a hāngī dinner and mountain biking in the Redwoods.
Taupō
2 nights
The base for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Wellington
2 nights
Te Papa museum, craft beer and the cable car.
Queenstown
4 nights
Bungy, skydiving and the Fergburger queue.
Te Anau
2 nights
A boat cruise on Milford Sound.
Getting around
Private car
$30–90 a day for a campervan, plus fuel
The classic way to travel. Look for relocation deals at $1 a day, and only freedom camp where it is allowed.
Bus
$15–50 per leg
InterCity links most towns. Their FlexiPass lets you buy hours of travel rather than set routes.
Ferry
$45–75 for a foot passenger
The Interislander and Bluebridge cross from Wellington to Picton in about three and a half hours.
Flight
$50–150 one way
Air New Zealand and Jetstar save a day of driving between the islands.
What to eat and drink
Mince and cheese pie
The unofficial national snack, bought hot from a bakery or petrol station.
NZ$7, about $4.12
Fish and chips
Fresh fish wrapped in paper and eaten on the beach.
NZ$14, about $8.24
Hāngī
Māori feast of meat and vegetables slow cooked in an earth oven. Try it in Rotorua.
NZ$60, about $35
Hokey pokey ice cream
Vanilla ice cream with crunchy lumps of honeycomb toffee.
NZ$6, about $3.53
Flat white
Kiwis claim to have invented it, and the coffee is excellent everywhere.
NZ$5.50, about $3.24
Whitebait fritter
Tiny fish bound in egg and served in white bread, a West Coast speciality.
NZ$14, about $8.24
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello, thanks
Kia ora
Say it like: kee-ah aw-rah
Hello to one person
Tēnā koe
Say it like: teh-nah kweh
Welcome
Haere mai
Say it like: hy-reh my
How are you?
Kei te pēhea koe?
Say it like: kay teh peh-heh-ah kweh
Thank you very much
Kia ora rawa atu
Say it like: kee-ah aw-rah rah-wah ah-too
Food
Kai
Say it like: ky
Stay strong
Kia kaha
Say it like: kee-ah kah-hah
Goodbye (to someone leaving)
Haere rā
Say it like: hy-reh rah
Questions travellers ask
Can I work in New Zealand?
Yes, if you are eligible for a working holiday visa, usually for ages 18 to 30 (35 for some countries). Hospitality, fruit picking and ski resorts hire backpackers every season.
Where can I camp in a campervan?
Only certified self-contained vans can freedom camp, and only where councils allow it. Use the CamperMate app and expect fines for getting it wrong.
Do I need to book the Great Walks?
Yes. Huts on the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks sell out within days of opening, usually in winter for the following summer.
What should I pack?
Layers and a proper rain jacket, even in summer. Mountain weather changes fast, and the sun is fierce, so bring strong sunscreen too.
What are sandflies?
Tiny biting flies found around lakes and the West Coast. Their bites itch for days, so bring repellent.