New Zealand Travel Information

New Zealand Geography

Exploring New Zealand takes you on an unmatched adventure through a breathtaking and varied landscape, captivating travelers with its striking contrasts. One moment, you are exploring the vibrant city of Auckland and the next, you can be hiking a glacier on Mount Cook. Whether it is the geothermal wonders of Rotorua to the majestic peaks of the Southern Alps, there is always something to do for all ages. Just Add Flights will help you to design your personalized vacation, paying close attention to your travel preferences, to ensure that you have a trip of a lifetime to this magnificent country. Come explore the fjords, beaches, and mountains with Just Add Flights.

Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand

Visiting New Zealand from January to March offers warm, sunny days that make it an ideal time for outdoor activities. The summer season sees large numbers of tourists and school vacations extending into the first two weeks of January, so finding accommodation can be more challenging. New Zealand hosts several notable events and festivals, including the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival in February, the country's longest-running wine festival, and the Wellington Fringe Festival, running from February to March, which brings a lively array of music, comedy, and theater to various venues across the capital city.
Exploring New Zealand from April to June offers the serene beauty of fall, with cooler days and quieter roads. The weather becomes more changeable, but the vibrant autumn foliage adds a dynamic new aspect to the landscape, and there remains a fantastic array of wildlife to observe. This period is ideal for travelers who enjoy cooler weather and want to take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds. Notable events and festivals during this time include the Bluff Oyster Festival in May, which celebrates the oyster harvest with music, food, and wine, and the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, held every other year over Easter weekend, featuring historic aircraft and modern fighter jets.
July to September offers the tranquility of fewer crowds, as the colder and more unpredictable weather deters many tourists. This winter period brings crisp days, and the opportunity to experience New Zealand's stunning landscapes dusted with snow, particularly in the South Island. Ski enthusiasts will find excellent conditions in renowned ski regions such as Queenstown and Wanaka. While the weather can be chilly and variable, the lack of crowds makes it a peaceful time to explore the country's natural beauty. Wildlife spotting remains rewarding, with the possibility of encountering native species in quieter settings. Festivals and events during this time include the Queenstown Winter Festival in late June to early July, celebrating winter sports and entertainment, and the Christchurch Arts Festival, which offers a diverse range of performances and cultural activities. Despite the colder weather, this season provides a unique and serene experience for those willing to embrace the winter chill.
Heading into October, you start to get the early days of spring which turn into summer as the months continue. You will find blooming landscapes and gradually warmer weather. The time right before the holiday season (Christmas and New Year) is ideal for exploring the country without the peak-season crowds, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. As spring blossoms and lush greenery becomes a backdrop for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and scenic drives. For events, you will find the Auckland Diwali Festival in October, and in the wine country of Martinborough, there is the Toast Martinborough wine festival in November. With its pleasant weather and lively events, visiting New Zealand from October to December provides a wonderful blend of natural beauty and events.

Finances

In New Zealand, they use the New Zealand Dollar which you can exchange at banks, hotels, and international airports or you can withdraw money from ATMs, which are widespread throughout the country.

The easiest way to pay for things is by credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. American Express and Discover are taken in only a handful of establishments. Merchants can impose a credit card surcharge, and some credit cards charge up to 3% for an international charge, so it is worth calling your credit card company to understand additional fees.

Whenever paying via credit card, ALWAYS pay in the local currency to avoid extra transaction fees from the bank.

Tipping in New Zealand is not a common practice in everyday life in New Zealand. Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges to your bill, and you can choose to tip any service provider if you want. It is common to tip waiters, at a sit-down meal, up to 10% of the bill.

Visas

As an American tourist, it is essential to obtain a New Zealand visa before visiting the country. For a majority of Americans, you can apply for the NZeta, which is valid for 2 years and costs $17 NZD per person. It takes up to 72 hour to process your visa.

Travel Logistics

Driving

Kiwis drive on the left side of the road, thus for Americans, it is worth being extra diligent at looking both ways at pedestrian crossings and on streets to make sure you avoid danger.

In New Zealand, all drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt in the car, and children under seven must be in a car seat appropriate for their size and weight. We highly recommend bringing your own car seat for traveling, as car hire companies do not guarantee the availability of the correct size and weight.

While driving in New Zealand, you can encounter wildlife frequently. At dawn and dusk, proceed with caution and always drive at a safe speed to make sure you can stop.

E-tags for tolls are recommended when you collect your car hire, as it makes it easier to pay and move on to your next destination.

Phone Services

The international dial code for New Zealand is +64. When calling from outside of New Zealand, you will want to dial +64 plus the number of the establishment. If there is a “0” at the beginning of the code, leave it out when dialing from a phone outside of New Zealand (i.e +64 3 3999 6545).

We highly recommend downloading WhatsApp as many suppliers communicate with customers via this app.

Flights

From the US, there are multiple carriers and routes that you can fly to New Zealand direct. We recommend starting and finishing your vacations with Auckland or Christchurch as you will have direct flights back to the U.S. with Air New Zealand, United, Delta, American Airports, and Hawaiian Airlines. You can depart from Houston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

There are alternatively indirect flights that you can fly from the U.S. to Australia via Fiji, French Polynesia, Australia, and multiple Asian countries.

A majority of flights with leave in the late evening (after 10pm) and arrive early morning into New Zealand. Please note that you cross over the International Date Line, so many times you arrive 2 days later when you fly from the U.S. to New Zealand and you arrive the same day as you depart when you leave New Zealand and fly back to the US.

Electrical

When coming from the U.S, you will need an adapter to plug your appliances into the power sockets. You will need plugs that have two flat metal pins that form a “V” shape, and have an electrical current of 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz.

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