New Zealand Travel

New Zealand Travel questions and answers

Thinking of traveling to New Zealand? Check out the New Zealand Vacation Website and Travel Journal.

Question: Can anyone recommend a good New Zealand travel guide?
I am planning a trip to New Zealand this December, and thought that a travel guide will be useful as to help us decide where to go. We are starting in Auckland.

Answer: try this: http://wikitravel.org/en/New_Zealand
It is not a shiny travel guide, but has a lot of useful info organized in a very convenient way. I like it!

By reading through it, you'll find your own ideas what you want to see and where you want to go... so it is better somehow that you are not required to follow some predefined travel route and someone else's ideas..

 

Question: Is it possible to travel between New Zealand towns and cities by train?
When abroad, I always like to use rail as much as I can because train lines offer an opportunity to see scenery you otherwise wouldn't see because often train lines are more remote than roads; not to mention more comfortable than driving or travelling by bus.

Is it practical to travel via rail in New Zealand, how frequent are services? I would imagine there is better rail infrastructure on the North Island, how is it on the South Island?

Also, what sort of cost as I looking at, and how fast are trains in New Zealand, are speeds comparable to road travel?

Answer: the train that runs from Christchurch to Greymouth (the Tranz alpine) is a world renowned train trip and is considered an amazing experience!
I found the train to be very comfortable and you could purchase amazing food on there too! (devonshire tea, pancakes and maple syrup, big breakfasts etc).
I would say for Scenic purposes both the Tranz alpine and the Tranz Scenic (Christchurch to Picton, via Kaikoura) are a great way to travel in NZ (Haven't been on the Overlander from Wellington to Auckland before)
Also if you are tarvelling on your own this is a MUCH cheaper option than driving. Petrol is over $2.00 a litre now
This sight says it all http://tranzscenic.co.nz/
will give you an idea of prices etc.
In terms of speed, driving would be faster - but thats in large part due to the fact that a train has many more stops. I think they travel at around 90km per hour, speed limit on the open road is 100km per hour, but often when stuck behind trucks, campervans etc you get stuck going 85-80km per hour anyway.

I definetly highly recommend at least doing the tranz Alpine, its amazing and most of the scenery throughout it canNOT be seen from the road by driving

 

Question: Which bus company is the best and chepest to travel New Zealand?
Which Bus company would be the best and cheapest to travel all of New Zealand? Why? Does anyone know of a good website to find the best hostels? How are the prices in New Zealand? I heard that it's exspensive their.

Answer: Intercity does a flexi-pass that's good value, or there are other buses that you can use in parts of NZ, e.g. Atomic Shuttles, Cook Connection, etc. Or there are hop-on, hop-off tours like Kiwi Experience and Magic Bus, but I think that would work out more expensive. I used a flexi-pass, plus a few trips with other operators.

The best websites for hostels are http://www.bbh.co.nz and http://www.yha.co.nz.

 

Question: What is a good route to Travel New Zealand?
I am going travelling and will be visiting New Zealand for around one month...what is a good route to take for the time i am there?

Answer: 1 week in the North Island 3 weeks in the South Fly into Auckland take a hire car go to Rotorua Taupo to Wellington 2 nights Wellington drop off carTake the Ferry to Picton pick up another hire car go down the West Coast vi Queen charlotte sounds to nelson out To Able Tasman National Park Kaiter teri Carry on down the west Coast through Franze Joseph Fox Glacier . Some amazing places down South go down to Wanaka and Queenstown You will come across places to divert to and places you will want to stay longer at Go back to Christchurch to fly out

 

Question: What if I'm pregnant and want to travel in new zealand with my husband, it is posible to?
It is imposible for a pregnant woman to travel from another country such as new zealand? Do they issue a working visa to pregnant woman? or do they permit a pregnant woman to travel along with her husband who has a job offer in new zealand?

Answer: If you're pregnant, you just have to ask your doctor for permission (he should check if you're healthy enough to travel, and it depends how far along you are - pregnant women are allowed to fly in weeks 36 to 38 if the flying time does not go over 4 hours. BUT there are a lot of airlines that don't allow pregnant women after 36 weeks to board)

Now with your other questions, if your husband has a working visa, as a spouse you are entitled to an open work visa, so yes you can accompany him.

 

Question: How long does it take for mail from New Zealand to travel to the US and a Package from the US to NZ?
I've recently just bought something from the US and since this is the first time I am buying from another country I was wondering how long it would take for my post to get to the United States and how long it would take for the US package to come to New Zealand.

Answer: Airmail/air-freight can take anything from four days to two weeks, it all depends on flight schedules and the customs officers.

 

Question: Is it dificult getting a job on the travel industry in New Zealand?
Am planing to move to New Zealand next year but i wonder if i get a job there i also wonder if i need good qualifications or just a course in travel and tourism is what i need to get in... any suggestions?

Answer: No.
The tourism industry is very broad and also in need of more skilled employees. And also training is usually offered on the job (the case of many practical jobs i.e guides,activity supervisors etc). There are many great courses available in most cities, poly-techs offer cheap tourism courses but as long as you are not going for management roles most training is on the job.
If you are looking to manage tourism or travel agencies you will definitely need either good qualifications or lots of experience.

Here is a list of travel / tourism training in NZ (may be helpful)
http://www.unitec.ac.nz
http://www.tourism.net.nz
http://www.attto.org.nz/
http://www.sirgeorge.co.nz
http://www.skillnz.org.nz/strategy/tourism.html
http://www.itc.co.nz
http://www.manukau.ac.nz/departments/business

 

Question: What steps would I need to take to travel and work in New Zealand for a year?
I am interested in taking a year off from school and going to New Zealand (or maybe someplace else, but we can use it as a starting point) to work or travel for a year or so. I'm guessing I would need a visa of some sort, but is there anything else I would need to obtain or be aware of before starting on this journey? By the way, I am a citizen of the United States.

Answer: If you are planning to work you will need a working holiday visa. American's are eligible for a WHV from NZ.

This will require that you have a certain amount of money (usually approx $2000).

Be aware though, you can only get a working holiday visa once and it could be better getting it after you finish university so your potential income level is higher (earning more in NZ i mean).

You could also try wwoofing - willing workers on organic farms. Not sure if you need a working holiday visa for this (you never used to but this may have changed).

 

Question: If i travel across new zealand, will i be able to visit the filming locations?
In new zealand can tourists visit areas in which American movies like Narnia, the lord of the rings, .... were filmed?

For example, are there the same river, trees, houses and other places that i saw in the movie bridge to terabithia. If so, then i would be dying to go.

Answer: The sets will have been broken down, but the landscapes are still there. Do a search for Lord of the Rings tours. There are several companies offering them.

 

Question: What is the cheapest way to travel to Australia and New Zealand?
I traveled to Australia from NYC back in 2002, and a round trip ticket was over $1500. Is there a cheaper way to get to Australia or New Zealand (from the US) ? I alway hear rumors of dirt cheap prices to get there, but have never seen anything
for less than $1000

Answer:Package deals from a travel agent or places like expedia!! Honestly you never really save on airfare it is the hotel and whatnots that make it cheaper then getting all separate!!