I want to share my top tips for a New Zealand trip to help make planning your trip easier.
I did a seemingly endless amount of research to prepare for my New Zealand trip. Before I went, I knew just three things: I would be on the road for two weeks, my flight was 17 hours long, and the lupin flowers would be in bloom around Lake Tekapo/Takapō. My cousin and I had been planning this trip since 2018 (the COVID-19 pandemic hit and things derailed from there) but we finally made it happen six years later.
I’m sure you’re doing your research now, too: how to plan the perfect itinerary, what to pack (and what NOT to pack), and deciding whether to rent a campervan or not. But if you’re looking for a quick list of tips to keep in mind as you plan, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve taken some of the legwork out of the planning process for you. You’ve definitely heard some of these before but I hope you’re still able to find something useful to take away from this.
Without further ado, here are my top tips for a trip to New Zealand.
Plan a Realistic Itinerary
This is the biggest piece of advice I can give you. Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to take 4-6 weeks off of work and fully explore the beautiful, breathtaking country of New Zealand. I was only able to do two! Yes, lots of travel influencers will tell you that “you just can’t see New Zealand in two weeks,” and they’re right, but we have to do what we can with the time we’ve got.
I shared my two-week itinerary here, where we covered both islands but spent more time on the South Island. No matter what you do, you’ll drive a LOT. New Zealand isn’t that well-connected by public transportation: in major cities, yes, but not between them or outside of them. All that driving will exhaust you. I advise planning one to three activities per day and leaving the rest up to chance. Your itinerary may also get derailed because of the weather! Don’t panic and go with the flow. You may end up enjoying the drive more anyway.
Be Flexible
So, you should definitely plan an itinerary, but be flexible! You won’t see and do everything that you want in one trip. You’re going to miss something, so make the most of the time you have. You will get unpredictable weather. You will find new things to do while you’re there. Perhaps you’d like to spend an extra day in Queenstown or incorporate ziplining into your itinerary. You should go with the flow. Even when we were planning our Milford Sound cruise, most folks advised taking one when it’s sunny. However, we decided to do it on a stormy day and we got to see the most gorgeous waterfalls in abundance. It was an unforgettable experience and something we wouldn’t have had the chance to do if we hadn’t been flexible.
Plan According to Season
Another no-brainer: plan your itinerary according to when you’re traveling to New Zealand. If you’re traveling during the peak summer months (December-February), you’ll get to do basically everything you want, but it’ll all be more expensive (car or campervan rentals, accommodations, dining, activities, etc.). Or if you visit in the winter months (June-August), you’ll have to spend less to do more, but certain excursions may not be available due to weather, and it’ll be more challenging to drive with road closures and icy conditions.
Traveling during the shoulder seasons give you the best of both worlds. Or if there’s something specific that you’d really like to do that’s only available at a certain time, plan your trip around then. My cousin and I wanted to see the lupin flowers in bloom so we flew to New Zealand in late November. This worked out well for me because it also coincided with American Thanksgiving, so I had to take less time off work.
Explore Beyond the Cities
You may not want to do this anyway, but I would recommend avoiding spending a ton of time in major cities like Auckland or Christchurch. They’re great, but New Zealand is so naturally beautiful, with stunning landscapes and an abundance of activities outside of them, that you won’t miss anything if you skip them. You can still do so if you’d like, but we planned our trip to pass through the major cities (and spend the night there), and spent most of our time in between them, in open country and on open roads. You truly won’t miss much.
Take the Long Route
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll be driving a lot, and there’s really no way around it. You might be tempted to just take the shortest route between one destination and the next to save time and squeeze in more but New Zealand is one of the ideal places for driving. I hate driving. My current work commute takes me between 2 and 2.5 hours (one-way) on average so I understand the hatred for getting behind the wheel.
However, if everywhere were like New Zealand, I’ll always take the longer road. I truly loved driving in Aotearoa and taking a longer route means you might stumble upon something you would have missed otherwise. My itinerary shared above includes places like Kawarau Falls and Lake Pukaki, which may not be on every traveler’s list. I was in awe behind the wheel, staring up at towering mountains and clear skies. Don’t just focus on the destinations; prioritize the journey.
Know Your Travel Documentation Requirements
New Zealand has strict entry requirements, particularly in terms of nature preservation. You’ll likely need an NZeTA (a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter the country if you’re from a visa-waiver territory or country. The application process is fairly simple, and I’ve written a blog post outlining everything you need to know here. Another key note: you must declare everything when you enter. They are very strict about biosecurity and you don’t want to screw up your trip before it’s even begun.
Book in Advance
If you’re traveling during New Zealand’s peak season (summer), it’s essential to book your accommodations and excursions as far in advance as possible. We booked our accommodations in July (for a November trip), and it still wasn’t enough time. We also had to pivot, as our first night’s stay in Auckland was canceled due to weather-related damage. Plan ahead and allow yourself enough time for unexpected issues.
Additionally, popular experiences like Hobbiton tours and even campervans sell out rather quickly or get more expensive. Once you have flights booked and a vague idea of your itinerary, book your Hobbiton trip if that’s something you want to do. We booked the activities we wanted to do the most and planned the rest of our trip around them (which made things infinitely easier).
Choose the Right Accommodation For You
One of the most common methods of getting around New Zealand is by campervan, so you’ll find camping grounds and spend the night in your vehicle. Other folks prefer staying in hostels or hotels, or backpacking. My cousin and I rented a hybrid vehicle for the two weeks, and we stayed in Airbnbs throughout the trip, with two exceptions (hotels in Auckland and Lake Tekapo). You don’t need to do what everyone else is doing because it’s been sold to you as the ‘only way to truly experience New Zealand’. Do what works best for you and your budget.
Car Rental
On that note, you’ll also want to do your car rental as far in advance as possible, whether you’re traveling during peak season or not. We did our car booking through Economy Bookings, and were able to pick up at the Auckland Airport and drop off at the Christchurch Airport. You will also need to check if you’re able to drive with just a driver’s license or if you’ll need to apply for an International Driver’s Permit. I was fine with just my US Driver’s License, but you will need to check if you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or not.
Pack Lightly
Even if you have a vehicle and/or are staying in hotels, you’ll still want to pack lightly. Not just because you’ll have to drag your bags everywhere and unpack virtually every night, but also because you won’t need most of the things you think you do (I’ve written a post about what not to pack).. Even if you forget something, you’ll have no trouble finding it. You can check out my full two-week packing list here but I’ve also shared what I consider ‘essentials‘.
Always Carry An Extra Layer
New Zealand’s weather is notorious for changing! You can experience all four seasons in one day. It can be warm and balmy during the day, but freezing at night. The temperature can change in an instant, and you don’t want to get caught without an extra layer. Bring a sweatshirt and/or a light windproof, rainproof jacket that you can keep handy.
Bring A Power Adapter
These are more expensive in New Zealand so make sure to take one with you before you leave! You don’t need anything expensive but you will need a three-pin adapter. I used this one from Amazon.
Bring Cash!
Many hiking trails and off-the-beaten-path excursions won’t accept credit card payments. It’s a good idea to keep some cash on you for these situations or when it’s more convenient to pay for smaller expenses, such as coffee. You won’t need a ton, just enough.
Know The Road Rules and Laws
This one is very important! If you’re traveling from the USA like I did, New Zealand drives on the left. This can take some getting used to, but don’t fret; I adjusted pretty quickly after a day or two. And also mind your speed limit as it’s in kilometers per hour and not miles. You’ll be very tempted to speed on open roads (we also saw maybe three cops during our entire duration), but you should avoid it, especially because you’re not local. If you get pulled over for speeding, you likely won’t get points docked on your license because you’re a foreigner (don’t ask me how I know this) but you will have to pay a small fine.
Bring Sun and Sandfly Protection
The sun is very strong in New Zealand so bring a solid, reef-safe sunscreen with at least SPF 50, like this one that I like. You should also bring a hat of some kind and polarized sunglasses for your eyes. During the summer months and in certain parts of the country, the pesky sandflies come out to play. You’ll want to bring insect repellent and other protective gear to prevent being bitten. Wear long pants and cover your skin as much as you can.
Bring Reusable Bottles
New Zealand’s water is completely safe to drink, even from the tap! Avoid using plastic bottles and bring your own reusable bottles to fill up wherever and whenever you can. You’ll leave less waste behind.
Don’t Fuck Up The Environment or Leave Anything Behind
Speaking of leaving less waste behind, even if New Zealand wasn’t strict about biosecurity and didn’t take the utmost care to protect their land, you shouldn’t be an asshole. Don’t litter or pollute. You should pick up your trash wherever you go and not leave anything behind. If you’re bringing hiking shoes, ensure they’re new or free from dirt. This advice isn’t just for New Zealand, but we have just one home on this one planet; there is no Plan(et) B. Let’s take care of it.
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