New Zealand Tourism

New Zealand isn’t in the news very much because it is a very peaceful place with rarely any political, religious or social upheaval. People are often surprised to learn therefore that it comprises a large expanse of land almost one hundred and three thousand seven hundred and thirty eight square meters of area. It comprises of two main islands, The North Island (also called Aotearoa, the ‘land of the long white cloud’ or Te Ika-a-M?i ‘the fish of M?i’) and The South Island (also called Te Wai Pounamu ‘the waters of jade’ or Te Waka-a-M?i ‘the canoe of M?i’).The South Island is the largest body of land of New Zealand. In addition to these a number of smaller islands such as The Great Barrier Island, Chatham Islands and the Stewart Island or Rakiura Island as well as island nations that are in free association with it (the Cook island and Niue) They are located in the South Pacific Ocean and are completely independent and autonomous except for the fact that their residents are considered citizens of the country of New Zealand.

New Zealand’s’ territorial claim on the frozen continent Antarctica is known as The Ross Dependancy.

New Zealand is part of a mostly submerged continent called Zealandia (which is almost ninety five percent underwater).The Norfolk Rise, Challenger Plateau, Campbell Plateau is some of the regions of the continent of Zealandia.

Most of the initial geographical knowledge about New Zealand was acquired by Captain James Cook in his sea faring voyage to map New Zealand. It consists of fifty seven districts with sixteen cities and twelve non unitary areas. It is a little larger than The United Kingdom and a little smaller than Japan. It has recently been used as a location for filming many Hollywood (all three Lord of the Rinds movies and the Last Samurai) as well as Bollywood films.

It is located adjacent to Australia in the South Western Hemisphere of the earth and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea. A sparsely populated country it has a population density of fifteen people per square kilometer of area which is less than the number of sheep per square kilometer of area!

The capital city of New Zealand is Wellington. It is the second largest urban area in Oceania, in the region of Wellington on the North Island and at the centre of the country.

Auckland is the largest metropolis of New Zealand. It is situated on the North Island of the nation and is the most populated urban area as it is the biggest. It is the city with the largest number of people of Polynesian descent. It is home to the busiest air port in the country The Auckland International Airport. Flights from all over the world make port at this air port.

New Zealand has a vast reserve of marine resources and under the law of the sea has is seventh in this respect.

New Zealand houses many natural wonders such as numerous hot springs, geysers, active and dormant volcanoes (A number of which are in Auckland), volcano cones, snowcapped mountains, fjords etc. The hill of Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu on the North Island has the largest recorded place name in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Record!

New Zealand is a very big country and consists of two main islands (the North Island and the South Island) as well as free associations (the residents of which are citizens of New Zealand) and various smaller islands. Finding hotel accommodation is therefore very much dependant on where you wish to stay and how much you are willing to part with for accommodation. Auckland is the country’s largest and most populated city located on the North Island. It is a popular tourist hot spot in addition to which houses the busiest air port in the country. Most flights landing in New Zealand do so at the Auckland International Airport. There are a great number of tourist attractions in the city from amphitheatres, stadiums, the Auckland Town Hall, The Auckland War Memorial Museum, Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and bridges as well as numerous natural volcanic cones. Auckland is the country’s commercial hub and is one of the most expensive places to stay at. Hotel rates are high and this is especially true during summer which is the peak season.

Summertime is the most pleasant time to visit the cool region of New Zealand. This is what most visitors to New Zealand do and this is when the hotel rates skyrocket. Advisable to visit the country during the off season as hotels will be reasonably cheaper.

Hotels are possibly the most expensive living arrangement that you could choose. But they also offer much more privacy, comfort, luxuries such as cable television, Internet access, telephone lines, gyms, pools etc and a variety of services from catering all meals (an especially good way to experience the local cuisine) to room service, laundry services etc. A very comfortable option for business people who are in the country on work and do not have to time to do all this on their own.

Many hotels across New Zealand offer you up to twelve months advance bookings. This is convenient for those people with a fixed purpose and agenda. It is also a good way to book your living arrangements before the rates begin to sky rocket.

In case you don’t trust your travel agent to make the right decisions for you are absolutely free to peruse the World Wide Web at your leisure to locate the best deal for yourself. Hotels are found aplenty all across the country even in the smallest towns so you will not be hard pressed to find something that suits your tastes and budget. Since there are so many hotels across the country they are always competing with each other which are beneficial to the customers. They normally offer several discount rates and schemes by which you can arrange for rooms at reduced prices. or example students can almost always get reductions on producing an I card for proof.

The rates also depend on the kind of room and number of rooms that you wish to rent. A modest room with minimum luxuries and a single bed will definitely cost less than a suite with kitchenette, en suite bathroom, television and the like.

Almost all hotels rooms can now be booked as well as paid for online. It is also possible to book a room online at the very last minute though at an extra fee.

A quick google search will almost always provide you with any other necessary information.

New Zealand is one of the newest areas of the world and is on the whole a very clean and exceedingly peaceful place. The people are very open, accepting and friendly and many choose to take a hitchhiking holiday across the land because it is considered to be such a safe bet. Yet getting traveler’s insurance if taking a trip to or across New Zealand is crucial. After all it really is better to be safe than sorry. No one can tell what may happen or what kind of people you may come across as the world is filled with all sorts.

It is a bit tricky gaining permission to enter New Zealand even with the country’s open immigration policies and welcoming attitude towards visitors, people on working holidays, prospective residents etc. Very recently a resident of the United Kingdom was denied a visa to kiwi land due to her obesity. The government claimed it would ‘put a strain on their resources’.

Making sure all your documents are in order is the first step, making copies of them all and keeping them safe is the second. Ensuring that you have complied with all the conditions set by the country to gain access to it is the next step. Once all these matters are taken care of you must decide not whether but from where to buy your insurance.

Travel insurance is a slippery business with many rules and loopholes. You must do your research thoroughly before buying any kind of insurance. Always read extensively on what you propose to buy and never skip the fine print. Most insurers in the UK require you to have stayed in the UK for six months before they insure your travel anywhere else. In some cases you might get very lucky and be insured for free. Residents in possession of BNZ Gold Visa cards receive free travel insurance.

Companies such as Trail finders do not require you to list a country of residence or place of departure while World Nomads is a very good option even though they do require this information (country of residence) in the eventuality that you have to be repatriated (the cost of which your insurance ought to cover). World Nomads also requires specific information about items such as MP3 players, cameras and other electronic goods you might be carrying which will increase the cost of insurance but ensure that such possessions are covered.

Good travel insurance should include emergency assistance to travelers and cover important basics such as medical expenses, legal aid, replacement of necessities in case of loss or theft, delayed or cancelled flights/trains/accommodation, rental excess, funds in case of theft, assistance in case of stolen or misplaced documents etc.

People traveling to New Zealand and looking to participate in the adventure sports the country is famous for would be better off purchasing insurance to cover their specific intention of participating in high risk sports.

Most insurers do not insure pre-existing medical conditions, the eventualities of any acts of terrorism, pregnancy related complications and any consequences of drug and/or alcohol use or abuse.

Keeping all these rules and clauses in mind choosing the right insurance to cover your travel needs and any eventualities that may arise ought to be a little bit simpler.

Camper van rentals are a very convenient solution to both accommodation and travel clubbing them as a single expense and including sightseeing and a cross-country trip in the bargain. They do not come cheap. However, but they will cost less than accommodation and traveling expenses calculated separately.

Depending on your budget there are quite a few options open to you. You could rent a luxury, top of the line but highly expensive camper van with facilities such as television, microwave and air conditioning to name a few. You could also rent a more basic, older model with provisions for bedding, linen, cutlery, crockery for a more modest sum. Sometimes a one-way rental fee is charged if you don’t plan on a round trip back to the agency (they effectively charge you for relocation)

Camper vans are classified by the number of berths they have. Each berth can sleep a single person. Depending on the size of the group you are traveling with you could choose a camper van with two, three, four or six berths. The more is the number of berths the higher the rent.

A couple of things must be taken into account before you actually do rent a camper van however.

For one thing they can only be driven on well-maintained roads and not through out of the way little forests, woods, etc. Most rental camper vans will not be allowed to travel on unsealed (non bitumen) roads which there are quite a few of in New Zealand though most popular tourist attractions are now accessible through sealed/bitumen roads. A definite itinerary must be therefore chalked out and stuck to. Chalking out an itinerary is also important, as it will aid you in making a decision regarding the campsites you want to stop at. The top rated and most well maintained campsites are absolutely modern and up to date with facilities such as showers, modern toilets and sometimes even working kitchens. The department of conservation also has various campsites under its domain which are beautiful national parks but which have very basic facilities like a water tap and a pit in the ground serving as a toilet. A caravan with a wastewater storage tanker and shower facilities would be advisable if such parks are on the agenda.

You must be over twenty-one years of age to rent a camper van in New Zealand even though the age at which you are allowed an official license is eighteen. Some companies even require you to be over twenty-three or twenty-five. Others ask individuals over the age of seventy-five to produce medical certificates giving them a clean bill of health.

Make sure that the agency has a help line you can contact in case any problems arise. The agency should also provide a good insurance scheme including insurance against damage by a third party.

Most companies charge excess, in the event of damage to their vehicle or a third party’s property, which can go from $1000 to $5000.You, should always look for possibilities of excess reduction. Be careful when you give your credit card for the bond you have to pay to cover any incidental liability. While most companies only take a card imprint some secretly debit some of your money possibly jeopardizing you finances!

Contrary to popular belief, New Zealand is in actuality a very vast country and it has a lot to offer tourists and travelers in the form of adventure holidays. A number of stunning natural wonders such as fjords, geysers, active volcanoes, spectacular mountains etc are also found here. The natural wonders of New Zealand are scattered across the two main islands the country comprises of, The North Island and The South Island. Traveling around New Zealand can get quite expensive once you factor in the costs of living accommodations, transport, local activities, sustenance etc. Smart traveling and practical decision making at every turn is therefore mandatory.

Renting a car for a cross-country whirl across the land is possibly the best way to do it right. Taxi rides will cost you a pretty penny in the urban areas and other public transport such as trains and buses even more so. In addition to which they take the convenient route over the scenic route. Summertime is the busiest and most expensive season in New Zealand and rates of accommodation skyrocket so if you choose to rent a vehicle and drive across the country you can avail of some of the many beautiful camping spots across it. Be cautious of horses on the road, though, kiwis love to ride from place to place. The speed limit varies with it being a 100 kilometers per hour on highways and open roads and half that in the urban areas.

Car rental agencies nationwide only rent out cars to adults aged 21 and over. Occasionally agencies require you to have a valid New Zealand license or an international driver’s license before they rent a vehicle to you. Some agencies will rent you a car if your country’s license is valid in New Zealand. Almost all international driving permits are acceptable for you to be able to drive in and around New Zealand. Some international licenses valid in New Zealand are Australia, USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and UK.

Contacting the Automobile Association of New Zealand for information and guidance on receiving a permanent and valid New Zealand license in case you wish to reside here on a long term basis is advisable. You must be 15years of age or over to apply for receiving a valid license in New Zealand.

Many websites (via google) will provide you with details and help you book a car if you want to work ahead of time.

Taking into account that the entire country is 103,738 square meters in area the cost of petrol will come to quite a lot. In addition to which we must factor in the cost of being ferried across water bodies and tollgates, too. The cost of petrol is assumed to be about $1.50 and will give you a mileage of about eight kilometers. Depending on the time of year and the amount of time you wish to use the car the rent would total about thirty to fifty dollars per day.

If you are very lucky though you might be given a car for free if the agency needs it relocated. They do give you a limited amount of time to use it and a location to bring it into but apart from that and the cost of petrol you might have it for free!

Flights to New Zealand usually land in Auckland, the nation’s largest metropolis that is located on the North Island of the country. Auckland International Airport is quite arguably the country’s busiest airport. There are flights to New Zealand from most major airports all over Europe and the rest of the world. A flight from the United Kingdom can take from twenty two to twenty four hours to reach the Auckland International Airport in New Zealand.

A concrete plan of what you are going to do is of utmost importance. Once you’ve selected your purpose of visit you must apply for the appropriate visa. You need a working holiday visa if you are visiting for temporary business related purposes, a residency permit if you plan on settling there, a work permit if you intend to do visit and do business there on a relatively permanent basis, a visitor visa if you’re just passing through and so on. Your visa must be valid for at least six months longer than you plan to stay to be on the safe side of the law.

People with visitors’ visas to New Zealand must have a return ticket, an onward flight or proof of funds to prove they can buy the same on reaching New Zealand. People with work permits and working holiday visas will be allowed entry on a one way flight only if they have proof of funds that will allow them to support themselves during the stay as well as buy an outward ticket. The outward ticket in addition must be to a country they are allowed entry into. People from Visa Waiver countries (such as Argentina, Brazil, Austria, Belgium, France etc) may only enter the country when they have outward flight tickets or official confirmation that one is booked and paid for in their name. Citizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand can enter the country with a one-way ticket only if have a valid passport or returning resident’s visa on their foreign passport for Australia or New Zealand. Entry into the country will be restricted if one does not comply with these rules.

Only after these conditions are verified is it safe to look at flight companies, peruse schedules and buy plane tickets. Unscrupulous travel agents may cunningly sell you a one-way ticket while knowing that you might not be allowed entry into the country on reaching the border. Be on the alert for any foul play while making all transactions. In case you do have a twelve-month working permit and intend to be in the country the entire duration flight schedules will not be available so much in advance and you will have to make careful and cautious arrangements.

The safest thing to do is do your own research regarding regulations (you can visit New Zealand’s immigration website), visit various travel agents, get quotations and compare them to find the perfect price for your budget. You can also visit online websites to search for the appropriate flight, book it and then pay for it with a credit card. A well-worded google search will aid your work to such an end.

Traveling to New Zealand without an onward ticket can be an expensive mistake, as you will not be allowed on the flight.

A word of advice: there is no such thing as paranoia while traveling !Crucial during travel is the possession of a passport and visa or permit to visit the country which should have at least a six month validity just to be on the safe side.

New Zealand has strict visa schemes (most recently a woman was denied a resident’s visa because the government felt her obesity would ‘put a strain on the country’s resources’) However, there are a number of countries the residents of which do not require a visa permit to travel or stay in Kiwi land for a period of three months or less as long as they have valid passports. Some of those countries are France, Brazil, Ireland, Greece, Belgium, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Malaysia etc.

Keeping copies of all documents ready in case the originals are misplaced or stolen is a necessary precaution. Inform a relative or friend to be ready to fax or e-mail you copies of any documents necessary in case the situation arises. Traveler’s insurance is a must and can be claimed in case any luggage is lost or stolen. As a side note there is no need to worry about snakebite kits, as the country has no snakes!

People wishing to travel the length and breadth of the country are well advised to backpack across it and stay at the simple yet affordable youth hostels of the International Youth Hostel Federation located in most areas (and can be booked via the Internet). Rent a caravan or other inexpensive vehicle to drive across if walking won’t suit you (though be warned that the cost of petrol does add up) since looking to public transport to travel everywhere will cause quick cash outflow.

There are beaureaux de change and foreign exchange kiosks in most places. Major credit cards and traveler’s checks are accepted across the country so carrying cash isn’t necessary. For students the possession of an international student I card will get you discounts on entry fees at a large number of museums, theatres, movies etc. You can get one made for a small fee at www.stictravel.com.

Eating well especially if you’re on an adventure holiday or backpacking is recommended but having every meal at a restaurant is not .It will cost approximately$25-$45 a head per meal. Preparing your own food is the best option. Youth hostels generally allow guests to cook for themselves in their kitchens. Shop for necessities at small local shops, not big department stores where rates are higher. In case there isn’t a kitchen to cook your own meals in the vicinity buying snacks off roadside vendors is another good way to eat well within a budget while experiencing local flavor. The country is very clean and any such food is reasonably hygienic. Avoid expenditure on alcohol, Internet, camera film etc as it adds up substantially.

Summertime is the busiest and most expensive. It’s smarter to visit during the off seasons. The climate is cool so carrying warm clothes (but not too many) is a good idea. Remember, while traveling packing light is the golden rule especially if backpacking or any kind of walking is on the agenda. Heavy trunks and suitcases full of unnecessary accessories are not the way to go. Do not carry pair upon pair of shoes. Wear a sturdy pair and your feet (and back!) will thank you.

New Zealand is probably one of the best places to take a trip to. It is a lovely, clean and richly bio diverse region and an exceedingly peaceful and accepting country but has strict visa schemes that must be abided by to gain permission to visit the country. Once permission has been granted finding accommodation is a piece of cake.Your choice of accommodation does for a large part depend on your purpose of visit.

If you are visiting New Zealand in a bid to live there on a near permanent basis for work or simply for a change of location then the first thing you need to do is obtain a residency visa or a residency permit (they are the same thing) Locating a reliable real estate company or agency to help you locate and lay claim to a good piece of property is crucial. Real estate is a competitive business in New Zealand and so it is extremely important to gauge the market and find an agency, agent or company you can trust to make you a good deal. This can be done with great facility via the Internet or via any contacts you might have in the region. Remember that business is a slippery game, though and to always appropriately repay any such services you might receive.

For people on a working holiday or people that are sightseeing or touring and have a more temporary itinerary there are a number of other options available.

Hotels, bed and breakfast inns, cottages, cabins, beach resorts in the traditional Kiwi style, and beach houses, farmhouses, holiday homes, hostels, motels etc are all valuable options. They are easily available (though at high rental rates) and are also largely self-catering thus eliminating your accommodation and sustenance worries in a single blow. Most of these places also offer discounts that can and should be availed of. The rental rates in New Zealand are comparatively very high as is the real estate market due to the property or housing bubble that exists in the country.

A lot of these temporary holiday homes are usually homes that are being rented to visitors when the owners are no using them. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit one’s tastes and can be located all over the country in any part of it that is necessary. New Zealand is on the whole a very clean and well-maintained country and almost any living arrangement will be suitable and comfortable. They do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage of personal property; injuries etc though so caution is necessary.

Another more feasible option is choosing to live in a youth hostel. Youth hostels are a comfortable and budget friendly option to travelers tight on money. New Zealand is associated with the International Youth Hostel Federation and so has many youth hostels nationwide that are open to travelers from all over the world twenty-four hours a day. They are completely modern and updated with laundry facilities, a Travel desk (to provide guests with any required advice and transport information), Internet access and kitchens where guests are free to cater to them. Booking can be done online, off the official website, or via telephone or email. Advance booking is generally wise especially during the summer, which is when accommodations are full, and your stay could be limited.

New Zealand is an island country located in the Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere consisting of the main islands The North Island and The South Island in addition to a group of smaller islands including the Chatham Islands and the Stewart Island or Rakiura Island. Cook Islands and Niue are island nations in free association with New Zealand. They have complete autonomy being independent nations even though they aren’t viewed by the United Nations as separate from New Zealand. The residents of these islands are considered citizens of the state of New Zealand. New Zealand also governs the territory of Tokelau. The Ross Dependency is New Zealand’s territorial claim on the frozen continent of Antarctica. Wellington is the capital of the country while Auckland is the largest and most populated metropolis.

New Zealand is a democracy and constitutional monarchy under the symbolic leadership of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth the Second. The parliamentary leader, the Prime Minister, holds the actual power of government who is appointed by the nominal Head of State, the Governor General and who acts as the categorical Head of State. The government is a democracy and thus the Parliament is democratically elected. The country is a member of the British Commonwealth, which is an association of fifty three nations that were previously British colonies many of which still recognize the British monarch as their own as a result of which they accept ‘God Save The Queen’ as their national anthem. New Zealand also accepts ‘God Defend New Zealand’ as a national anthem effectively giving it two national anthems.

The people of New Zealand are of European and Asian ancestry with percentages of the population belonging to the indigenous Polynesian or Maori people as well as people of Polynesian descent who are not of the Maori culture.

The culture of New Zealand is a fairly recently developed one as New Zealand was on of the last regions of the world that human civilization touched. It is a fascinating blend of contributing threads from its population of people of varying ancestries. It is a mélange of American, British, Australian; European as well as liberal splashes of Polynesian (chiefly Maori) and Asian influences. Festivals celebrated here are as far ranging and varied as Diwali, Christmas, the Chinese New Year and a grand Polynesian festival the Pasifika. A nation that considers religion a private matter it is exceeding peaceful and accepting of different ways of life. The Maori ways, which had been fading due to the introduction then spread of Christianity in the early half of the nineteenth century, have seen a rise in the last few decades.

As showcased in the Lord of the Rings movies New Zealand is lush with greenery and has snow capped mountains that dip down to the ocean. The flora and fauna of the land are almost exclusively unique to it and cannot be found in any other part of the globe. A richly bio diverse region consisting of a large percentage of endemic flora and fauna such as forests, home to rare birds like the kiwi, kakapo, kaka, kea parrot and takah? and a multiplicity of endemic insects. The nation is highly sensitive to ecological issues and spearheads projects to save its precious variety of endangered species.