FAQ about how long to visit, what time of the year is best etc
Written: Apr 30 '04 (Updated May 15 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Great Outdoors, variety of scenery, different culture
Cons: Distance from Northern Hemisphere
The Bottom Line: Come down to the bottom of the world and enjoy the beaches, bush, lakes, mountains and many activities
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| jamsnz's Full Review: New Zealand |
As a New Zealander I thought it was time I wrote a review about the country I live in. I get asked many questions from people overseas prior to their visit and here are some of the frequently asked questions and the answers I give them:
How long should I visit for?
As New Zealand is a long way from the Northern Hemisphere (and a costly airfare for many) it is worth visiting for a decent period of time. However, it is unrealistic for most people to get here for the two months that I would recommend so I usually say that two weeks is the absolute minimum, four weeks allows you to see more of a cross section of the country.
What is it like?
New Zealand consists of two main islands (the North and South Islands) with lots of smaller islands offshore - many of these are unpopulated. Although it is not large (approx 1000 km from the top of the North to the bottom of the South) is is quite mountainous. It takes a full day driving from the main cities of Auckland to Wellington in the North Island, and around two days to drive from the top of the South Island to the bottom (not allowing for any sightseeing. It is a very green country due to quite high rainfall in many areas and has lots of areas of native bush.
What will I expect to see?
If you are person whose idea of a holiday/vacation is to visit theme parks and/or big cities this is not the place to come to. But if you like seeing beautiful scenery and enjoying the outdoors you will be in heaven. New Zealand is known for its varying scenery from stunning beaches to impressive mountains with lots of beautiful bush and lakes in between. It is also reknown for its adventure tourism with many activities to please the thrill seekers (and some for the more timid) such as bungy jumping, jet boating and rafting. The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and you can get an insight into their culture at places mainly in the North Island.
What is the climate like?
New Zealand is a narrow country with a lot of coastline making it very vulnerable to storms off the ocean. Having said that it has a pleasant temperate climate rarely getting very hot or cold. Be prepared though for rain at any time of the year with the west coasts of both islands generally much wetter than the east. The summer temperatures have a maximum for most parts of the country in the 20s (celcius) - low 80s (farenheit). Winter time in the South Island (and the central North Island) brings snow to the mountains and at times to the lower ground - this doesn't often affect the roads but if visiting in winter you would be advised to bring warm clothes.
When is the best time to visit?
Like most countries accommodation is at a premium during the summer school break. For New Zealand this is from Xmas until the end of January. For people coming from overseas I would advise not to visit at this time as you have to book accommodation in advance (for some popular locations this can mean many months in advance). Also January doesn't usually have the best summer weather - February and March often have nicer settled weather. When to come really depends on what you want to see and do - if it is for general sightseeing and enjoying the outdoors February and March are probably the best times but as they are popular with overseas visitors you may still have to book in advance for many tourist locations. If you are wanting to miss the main 'tourist season' but avoid the cold the shoulder months of April, May, October, November and early December are good bets. If skiing/snowboarding is your main reason for visiting then August provides the most reliable month for good snow conditions. The ski season can start as early as June in the South Island and finish as late as October in the North Island but this is fairly unpredictable.
What is the best method of transport?
The best way to see the 'real New Zealand' is to hire a car or motor home and tour the country. However, be aware that driving on the New Zealand roads is not for everyone. Just as a New Zealander visiting Los Angeles can be overwhelmed by the freeway system, those from the USA and other countries do not enjoy some of New Zealand road conditions. Take into account the fact that we drive on the left hand side of the road, the narrowness of most roads and the many curves, and the sometimes not so great manners of New Zealand drivers before making a decision to drive. New Zealand only has a population of around 4 million people with sparsely populated areas so the public transport system is not that great. There are bus and very limited train services. Also there are organised bus tours that you can take but many of these offer only 'whirlwind' tours giving you a taste of the country. However, they suit the needs of many people. Kiwi Experience is a 'hop on, hop off' bus that is very popular with the young backpackers. Most major cities, towns and tourist locations have airports with frequent services, although not an inexpensive option, using air travel can allow you to see many parts of the country in a short period of time. The North and South Islands are linked by ferry services which you can travel on as a passenger but you can also take your vehicle as well. The voyage takes around 2 - 3 1/2 hours depending on which boat you are on. It is not unusual to see cyclists on the road although the distances between locations can mean this is not an easy option especially with the road conditions that I mentioned earlier.
What is it going to cost me?
Once here the exchange rate makes New Zealand a reasonably priced holiday for most people from North America, UK and Western Europe. Accommodation prices vary depending on what time of the year you are visitng and what type of accommodation you are staying at. Most locations have campgrounds, backpackers, motels and hotels as well as a growing number of homestays (bed and breakfasts). As a general guide campsites are the most economical at around NZ$20 a night for two people, cabins cost around double that upwards, a good quality motel or hotel room will start at around NZ$90 a night. Another option (especially if you want to spend some time in one place) is to hire a holiday home. Several books and websites have details of holiday homes to rent. For other accommodation check out the AA and Jasons websites. For a meal out expect to pay around NZ$20 - $30 for a main course. Petrol and diesel prices fluctuate a lot in price due to demands on oil and the exchange rate - at the time of writing a litre of petrol costs around NZ$1.10 (remember that New Zealand uses metric measurements).
Where should I go?
This is the big question and the answer will a lot depend on how much time you have and what you want to see and do. Take into account that although the North Island has the majority of the population, the South Island has the most varied and beautiful scenery. I recommend that you spend at least two thirds of your time 'down south'. I also suggest that you don't spend too much time staying in the cities in New Zealand - this is not the real New Zealand.
Most international flights fly into the largest city, Auckland, so this is where most tourists start their holiday in New Zealand. From here most people go south through the Central North Island and over to the South Island.
In summary, some of the most visited locations in the North Island include:
- Coromandel Peninsula (stunning beaches, fishing, diving, art and crafts)
- Rotorua (geothermal activity such as geysers and mud pools, maori culture shows, trout fishing)
- Taupo (geothermal activity like Rotorua, trout fishing, views to and near the largest mountains in North Island - skiing in winter)
- Waitomo Caves (glow worm caves with stalactites and stalagmites, black water rafting)
- Hawke's Bay (the city of Napier has many art deco buildings, wineries)
- Wellington (capital city of New Zealand, national museum of NZ, ferry link to the South Island)
In the South Island many tourists do a circuit (e.g. down one coast and up the other visiting Queenstown in the middle). Places to visit include:
- Malborough Sounds (the ferries from the North Island travel through these waters with beautiful bays and bush, Queen Charlotte Walk is also a popular walk)
- Kaikoura (whale watching, swimming with the dolphins, seafood)
- Christchurch (largest city in South Island, Tranz Alpine railway to west coast)
- Dunedin (a 'Scottish' city, wildlife including seals, penguins and albatross)
- Queenstown (major tourist destination of South Island - it is situated on the edge of a lake with mountains surrounding, many adventure activities including skiing, bungy jumping, jet boating, rafting)
- Fiordland (waterfalls, boat tours, pristine bush, tramps)
- West Coast (glaciers, bush, rugged beaches with blowholes)
- Nelson/Golden Bay (Abel Tasman National ark, wineries, arts and crafts)
Beaches - there are many beautiful beaches in New Zealand. As a general rule the west coast beaches tend to be more rugged with big swells, east coast beaches are less wild and more suitable for swimming. In the North Island down the east coast from the top (Bay of Islands area) right down to around to the northern Hawke's Bay has lovely sandy beaches. The areas that are most popular especially in summer are the Bay of Islands, the coast north of Auckland (around Warkworth,)eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty (Mount Manganui in particular) and Gisborne. The Nelson/Golden Bay area at the top of the South Island has gorgeous golden sand beaches - the Abel Tasman National park is well worth a visit either via a kayak, water taxi or on foot.
Tramping - there are many walks through National Parks in New Zealand ranging from day tramps to those that take several days. Most of the tracks go through beautiful native bush, some have the coastline as a feature, others have lakes, waterfalls or mountains. Some tracks have catered options (such as the Milford Track) or you can have your pack transported each day (Queen Charlotte Track).Some have accommodation in huts, other have tent sites only. If you are interested in tramping in New Zealand, I recommend you read the Lonely Planet guide "Tramping in New Zealand".
Why should I visit New Zealand?
If what I have said above hasn't made New Zealand appealing I will give you some more reasons to visit. As it has a small population many places are uncrowded especially if you are prepared to venture off the beaten track. You can visit a beach with no one else there or be the only ones walking through the bush (forest). It is like no other country with its unique culture and scenery. It is even very different from Australia its nearest neighbour. Come and visit us soon - I am sure you will find New Zealand a friendly and beautiful place to visit.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
jamsnz
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Location: New Zealand
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Kiwi (New Zealander) who loves to travel the world (but can rarely afford to).
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