New Zealand travel tips I give every first time visitor
If it’s your first time visiting New Zealand, there’s a lot to think about.
First, of course, you need to figure out where you’re going. But that’s just the beginning.
Once you have your itinerary sorted, you can think about all the other little details that go into a great trip.
Like, whether you need cash, whether or not your should tip, and what you should pack.
Useful tips for your first visit to New Zealand
Make sure you get your NZeta before you travel
The number one, and most important thing to do before you travel, is arrange your NZeTA.
New Zealand is much bigger than you think
I recently saw an article that was titled “This country is so small, it’s been left off world maps.” It’s about New Zealand. Which makes no sense, as it’s not a particularly small country.
New Zealand is roughly the same size as the entire United Kingdom. If it were an American state, it would be ninth largest by land area, in between Colorado and Wyoming. So, it’s not tiny.
It might look small on world maps — when it’s there, we are frequently forgotten — but New Zealand is big.
On top of that, our roads might be different to what you’re used to. An American guy I spoke to recently in a DOC hut while out hiking the Kepler Track gushed about our “two lane highways.” Yeah dude, we just call those roads.
Our two lane highways/roads are often quite narrow and twisty, so it takes more time than you think to drive around.
My tips:
When driving, allow plenty of time to get from A to B.
You might need to take an internal flight to maximise your time. It takes a long time to drive and ferry between the islands, so flying from Rotorua to Christchurch can cut out a lot of time on the road. The ferries between the islands can also cost as much as a flight, so flying probably won’t add that much to your overall trip cost, either.
You’ll need to move to a new place almost every day
New Zealand is a tricky place to plan a trip because things are so spread out. It’s very unlikely that you will spend all your time in one place, with day trips to explore.
More often than not, you’ll spend 1-3 nights in a place before moving on.
Here are some itineraries which give you an idea of how much you might need to move around:
My tips:
If you’re up for an adventure, a campervan can make this style of travel a lot easier. Moving each day is logistically less travelling when you have your home on wheels.
I usually try to drive no more than 4 hours a day. More than that is exhausting. When planning your destinations, I would look carefully at the driving times and try and space things out to avoid any really long driving days, although it is likely you’ll end up with at least one big day of driving if you’re travelling for more than a week.
And the other important thing to note; the best of New Zealand is outside towns and cities
While you can do some pretty great day trips from the main cities in New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch all have a lot to do within two hours drive), the best things to see in New Zealand are a lot more remote.
From Queenstown, it’s a four hour drive to Milford Sound, for example.
What this means is that you might want to plan to stay outside of towns for parts of your trip, in campgrounds or more remote accommodation.
If you’re open to staying in Airbnbs/Vrbos, campgrounds, or other accommodation that’s not in hotels, you’ll be able to access more of New Zealand’s stunning scenery.
Don’t be afraid to miss some of the more popular attractions
I know that we’re all driven to hit the ‘top 10’ and ‘absolute best’ of every country, but like a lot of destinations elsewhere, parts of New Zealand are really struggling under overtourism.
Look at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. It truly is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, but it’s popularity is taking the shine off some of its star attractions.
Truthfully, you can see alpine scenery, glaciers, and incredible mountains in other parts of New Zealand, with far fewer people.
Don’t feel like you have to visit a place just because it always appears in those best of lists. I promise you that no matter where you go in New Zealand, you will love it — there is natural beauty everywhere, we’re spoilt with it.
My tips:
Some of my favourite parts of New Zealand are well off the classic tourist path. I love Golden Bay, the Marlborough Sounds, the Catlins — all lesser explored areas.
Outside of the larger towns, food options can be pretty limited
Food on the go can be a bit of a challenge in New Zealand.
You probably won’t want to eat out for two meals a day (unless you do, which is totally cool!).
A lot of cafes are closed by 3pm, so if you want a late lunch you might end up needing supplies from the supermarket anyway.
It’s even harder if you’re vegetarian or vegan, as cafes in smaller towns offer meaty options as the default. I quite often end up eating cheese scones or similar, because there’s nothing else vegetarian.
The one thing you can get anywhere, pretty much without fail, is excellent coffee. We New Zealanders are powered by flat whites — even a coffee from a gas station in New Zealand will be barista quality.
(We only really drink espresso based coffee though, no filter here).
My tips:
For a greasy and definitely not healthy, but reliable and still pretty good snack, I recommend Z Petrol Station pies. They have good vegan options as well.
Luckily New Zealand does have a strong hummus game. Raid supermarkets for dips and crackers for snacks on the go.
Save dining out for bigger towns where there are more options, and if you can, cook your own meals in smaller places.
A SIM card is handy for using maps — but reception can be patchy
Data in New Zealand can be pretty expensive compared to places like Europe, and our mobile data coverage is patchy at best.
I recommend picking up a Skinny SIM card in New Zealand — they are cheap and you can get 4GB of data for your trip.
You very rarely need cash in New Zealand
Some small businesses, like cafes, might charge extra for Paywave or credit cards — usually around 2%. I get around this by using my New Zealand debit card, or manually inserting my card.
Travel cards like Wise (which I use and recommend) are processed as credit cards, which means getting lumped with those fees.
My tip: A Wise card is how I recommend managing your money in New Zealand
Pack properly for day walks
One thing in New Zealand that visitors from other parts of the world might not be accustomed to is that you won’t find amenities like cafes or shops along most of our walks.
It’s standard for us to pack food, water and other supplies for the day when heading out for a walk or to go to the beach.
You could get any weather at any time of year, so pack accordingly
Driving is the easiest way to get around
Bring walking shoes. Even if you’re not a big walker, I think some of the very best parts of New Zealand are along our walking trails. There are options for everyone, including people who use wheelchairs or parents with prams. Get out and explore some of our nature, in a calmer way than you would in a jet boat.
Public transport is not one of New Zealand’s strong points.
If you want to strike up a conversation with a New Zealander, talk about the weather
If you’re travelling from late December to the end of January, you’ll need to book well in advance
From Christmas through to the end of January, travelling in New Zealand can be a little bit of a nightmare.
The roads are at their busiest over this time, so you’re more likely to get snarled up in traffic. Sights are also busy, and campgrounds are often booked out months in advance.
Key takeaway: Outside of peak summer, you can be more flexible with your plans.
If you are planning to visit over the Christmas and New Year period, try and plan everything as far in advance as you can.
New Zealand essentials
SIM CARDS: I recommend getting a Skinny SIM card when you arrive
FIND WALKS AND HIKES: The DOC website is the best resource for all trails, scenic campsites, and mountain huts
BEST APPS: Campermate for finding campsites, Gaspy for saving money on petrol
LANGUAGE: English but be prepared for some local quirks
I hope these New Zealand travel tips and insights have helped you plan your trip.
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