The climate in New Zealand ranges from warm sub-tropical in the North Island to cool temperate in the South Island, with severe alpine conditions in the mountainous areas.

Wellington	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain (mm)	81	81	81	97	117	117	137	117	97	102	89	89
Sun (hrs)	8	7	6	5	4	4	3	4	5	6	7	7
Temp(Max)	21	21	19	17	13	13	12	12	14	16	17	19
Temp (Min)	13	13	12	11	8	7	6	6	8	9	10	12
Days of Rain*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hum (%)	67	71	69	76	77	78	76	74	75	74	69	69
Christchurch	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain (mm)	56	43	48	48	66	66	69	48	46	43	48	56
Sun (hrs)	7	7	5	5	4	4	4	5	5	6	7	7
Temp (Max)	21	21	19	17	13	11	10	11	14	17	19	21
Temp (Min)	12	12	10	7	4	2	2	2	4	7	8	11
Days of Rain*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hum (%)	59	60	69	71	69	72	76	66	69	60	64	60
Auckland	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain (mm)	79	94	81	97	127	137	145	117	102	102	89	79
Sun (hrs)	7	7	6	5	4	4	4	5	5	6	7	7
Temp (Max)	23	23	22	19	17	14	13	14	16	17	19	21
Temp (Min)	16	16	15	13	11	9	8	8	9	11	12	14
Days of Rain*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hum (%)	62	61	65	69	70	73	74	70	68	66	64	64

Currency

New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)

1 US$ = 1.5 NZ$

1 UK£ = 2.7 NZ$

 

Common coins

• 5 cents
• 10 cents
• 20 cents
• 50 cents
• 1 dollar
• 2 dollars

Common notes

• 5 dollars
• 10 dollars
• 20 dollars
• 50 dollars
• 100 dollars

NB GST - Goods and Service Tax adds about 12.5% to the cost of most goods in New Zealand.

 

Most hard currencies can be changed at the banks, which usually open from 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Exchange Offices, also change money and are sometimes open at the weekend.

 

The majority of people take most of their money in the form of Traveller’s Cheques. The exchange rate of T/C’s is usually a little better than that of cash. However, it’s becoming increasingly popular to access funds from home accounts using ATM’s (Automatic Teller Machines), which are found at most of the big banks.

 

Networks such as Maestro, Cirrus and Plus are available, though you should first check with your own bank prior to departure.

 

Credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere.

Holidays

National

New Year’s Day	-	1 st January
Day after New Years Day	-	2 nd January
Waitangi Day	-	6 th February
Anzac Day	-	25 th April
Good Friday	-	March/April
Easter Monday	-	March/April
Queens Birthday	-	1 st Monday in June
Labour Day	-	4 th Monday in October
Christmas Day	-	25 th December
Boxing Day	-	26 th December
New Year’s Eve	-	31 st December

 

Regional

Wellington	-	22 nd January
Auckland and Northland	-	29 th January
Nelson Region	-	1 st February
Otago	-	23 rd March
Southland	-	17 th January
Taranaki	-	31 st March
Hawkes Bay and Marlborough	-	1 st November
Westland	-	1 st December
Canterbury	-	16 th December
Chatham Islands	-	30 th November

 

Are always held on a Monday and take place during the summer months. If the actual date falls on Tues, Wed, or Thurs, the holiday is held the Monday before. If the date falls on any other day, the holiday takes place on the following Monday.

 

For exact dates of holidays and festivals for the coming year please click here

 

NB Banks and government offices are closed during the holidays above.

Religion

Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986).

Vaccinations

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary and are subject to change. You must consult your GP on current vaccinations needed for your destination. You can also visit our travel health website at:

 

TravelHealthZone

 

This has links to up-to-date information on vaccination requirements as well as much more general travel health information and advice.

 

For direct, up-to-date information on vaccination requirements for New Zealand please click here

Customs

• New Zealand society is very similar to that of the UK and, most New Zealanders are in general, very relaxed and hospitable. Casual dress is also widely acceptable.
• The very best way to experience Maori culture is to visit a Marae, which is a sacred place to a Maori. A Marae is either a meeting area in front of the traditional meeting house, or, as is more common today, the entire compound (all the buildings).
• If a visitor is invited to a formal Maori occasion, the Hongi (pressing of noses) is common.
• A visitor visiting a Marae must remove their shoes, before experiencing several welcoming rituals performed by the hosts. It is customary to make a donation to the upkeep of the Marae before leaving.
• Tipping is not compulsory in New Zealand, and is still an effective way of rewarding good service. However, a tip of 5-10% is expected at many reasonable restaurants (as long as you’re happy with the service of course).

Security

New Zealand is a very safe country in which to travel. The most common form of crime against tourists is theft, usually by stealth rather than violence, so visitors should take care to secure their personal possessions at all times (as you would in your own country). As with all countries, a measure of common sense will go a long way.

 

For more specific, up-to-date security information and how this may affect your tour, please visit our regional security page.

Visas

Many nationalities do not require a visa for New Zealand, and instead are issued with a 3-month extendable visitor permit when they arrive. These nationalities include: Canada, Ireland, South Africa, UK and USA. You are also required to be able to show an onward ticket and sufficient funds.

 

However, check with either the New Zealand Embassy or Consulate if in doubt.

 

There is a NZ$20 departure tax payable from Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin airports prior to departure. If departing from Christchurch, Hamilton or Palmerston North, the departure tax is NZ$25.

Flights (from the UK)

Many international airlines fly to New Zealand from all over the world. The major international airport is Auckland (in the north), although Christchurch (in the south) is becoming increasingly popular to fly into. Local flight operators service all other internal airports regularly. Direct flights operate between New Zealand and Australia.

 

Long haul flights can be expensive, so you need to start researching early. Full time students and people under 26 will find some good deals on offer, either through student organisations like the STA or on the Internet.

 

An increasing number of people are travelling to New Zealand on a short term holiday, though the majority of travellers, continue to be on a multi country, round the world trip, e.g. a gap year. It’s important to make this distinction, as the price you pay for a return trip to New Zealand, could be the substantial part of a ‘round the world ticket’.

• Round the world tickets (departing UK) can usually be found for as little as , depending on the number of stops you want.
• High season return tickets start at around UK£700 and go upwards rapidly, especially the closer to departure you book. Mid-December through to the end of January is high season and you can expect to pay about UK£900 at Christmas.

Flights to New Zealand are cheaper from about 12 ^th April (just as winter starts) and start from around UK£600 - though the earlier you look for flights, the better.