New Zealand remains an incredibly popular travel destination for global visitors.
In 2021, for example, NZ generated around $2.88 billion within its tourism sector. This accounts for approximately 1.2% of the country’s gross domestic product and 14% of all international tourism receipts in Australia and New Zealand, so if you’re planning a trip here, you’re likely to be in good company.
But what do you need to know ahead of a trip to New Zealand? Here are some key considerations to keep in mind!
Explore Before You Travel
This may sound counterintuitive, but as we live in the information age, it’s easier than ever to explore different countries around the world through articles and videos on the World Wide Web.
Browsing and exploring NZ online also allows you to both understand and respect the seminal Maori culture, which represents the heartbeat of New Zealand and offers a fascinating insight into its heritage.
Recognising the indigenous Maori people, their history and customs serve two key purposes. Firstly, it enables you to be respectful at all times during your stay and learn customary greetings such as “hongi,” which involves pressing noses together affectionately. It also teaches you to treat the land and surrounding nature with reverence at all times, as this is central to the Maori culture.
Secondly, this process helps to optimise your experience while overseas, as you can embrace a larger range of activities and benefit from a much greater knowledge base.
What About the Practical Considerations?
Once you’ve decided to book your flights to New Zealand and secured your accommodation, the next step is to factor in some practical considerations relating to travel and the timing of your visit. For example:
● #1. Understand Your Visa and Entry Requirements: The exact visa and entry requirements into NZ will vary depending on your country of origin. For example, if you’re travelling from the UK, you won’t need a visa to enter as a visitor for between 90 days and six months, but you will have to secure a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to your arrival. The NZeTA costs NZD 17 if applying via the dedicated mobile app or NZD 23 if completed online, while we’d recommend visiting the New Zealand Immigration website to learn more depending on your journey’s starting point.
● #2. Review the Weather and Seasons: New Zealand features an incredibly temperate climate with distinct seasons, while its precise positioning within the Southern Hemisphere sees summer run from December to February and winter take place between the months of June and August. However, the winds that tail off from the Pacific Ocean impact temperatures and conditions throughout alternative regions of NZ, with most visitors preferring to arrive between September and April as the climate tends to be warmer. Regardless, research your precise destination in New Zealand before choosing when to travel.
● #3. Currency and Banking: This country has its own bespoke currency in the form of the New Zealand dollar (NZD), which is one of the eight major currencies in the world and one that’s largely accessible to international visitors. Ideally, you should convert a small amount of cash into NZD at a competitive exchange rate before you travel, while we’d recommend alerting your bank and credit card companies so that you can use your various cards freely and securely while overseas. While you’ll also find plenty of functional ATMs in New Zealand, you’ll need to check the charges that may be applied before using them.
The Last Word
The final stage of your preparation requires you to create a viable travel itinerary, based on the duration of your stay, the address of your accommodation and preferred tourist activities (along with other factors).
On a fundamental level, this enables you to learn more about the region while you are there, and what it has to offer, particularly from a cultural and entertainment perspective. If you need some downtime while you’re there, New Zealand also offers many online gambling sites for when you have 15 minutes away from the beautiful vistas. Make sure to keep informed on these, as exploration can help when browsing the selection of licensed gambling sites online in NZ.
New Zealand boasts some spectacular natural landscapes and outdoor hiking trails, with the stunning coastline and islands that comprise Northland, meaning it is one of the best countries in the world if you love the great outdoors.
Stargazing, watersports and snowboarding are also incredibly popular and widespread in NZ
. This creates a broad array of activities and entertainment options, so you’ll need to build an itinerary that suits your unique tastes and preferences and existing financial budget!
Leave a Reply