Usually I’m the type of person to research the destination I’m travelling to months in advance. Everything from how to get from A to B to what restaurant I’m going to eat at. But this trip I didn’t research a whole lot. My reasoning, New Zealand is similar to Australia right? Yeah in some ways but there are a few things that caught me off guard. So in this blog post I’ll fill you in on the things you should know before you come.
You Need Your Passport for ID
My cousin and I learned this hard way, especially on our night out in Auckland. At first we thought the security was using the fact we didn’t have our passports with us as an excuse for why we weren’t getting into the club. We thought maybe he’s having a bad day or he doesn’t like Aussies. We tried showing our Australian drivers license and copies of our passport but none of that was acceptable.
Turns out he was just doing his job and by law the only form of I.D they can accept is your physical passport. Stupid right, on a night out you’re expected to carry your passport around.
It’s Easy to Spend Money
New Zealand is comparable to Australia in terms of expenses. One Australian dollar is basically the equivalent of 1 New Zealand dollar. It’s not hard to chew through your money in New Zealand. Especially with all the unforgettable activities you will be doing like hiking glaciers, riding jet boats and bungy jumping… right? You’re going to want to eat out sparingly if you are budget conscious. A typical dinner meal at a restaurant cost NZD $20-$40 and a beer cost NZD $8-$10. The average fast food meal will set you back NZD $8-$15.
Hiring a car is quite inexpensive depending on the model you choose. I hired a Nissan Tiida for 15 days travelling from Auckland to Queenstown which only cost NZD $260. Due to my age I was required to pay a NZD $2500 bond for the car in case of any damages to the vehicle. Petrol on the other hand costs upwards of NZD $2 per liter.
Keep in mind tipping is not required in New Zealand. This doesn’t affect the service you get, you’ll notice everyone is super friendly.
The Road Rules
If you’re doing the popular north to South Island itinerary, familiarize yourself with the road rules because you have a lot of driving ahead. Now this isn’t such a bad thing as the scenery will keep you visually entertained. To ensure your road trip is accident free, there are a few road rules to know.
Just like Australia you drive on the left hand side of the road. You will often encounter narrow and windy roads with sharp turns. Take it easy on these roads as truck drivers don’t seem to hold back and fly around these bends which can be a little scary.
New Zealand has these bridges that are one way and only fit one car at a time. They are more common in the South Island. There will be a sign telling you who has the right of way. Basically if the red arrow is on the left side of the sign it means you give way. If you approach the bridge and can clearly see there are no cars on the other end, feel free to drive across.
Most of the time you will be driving on single lane roads. Every so often there will be an overtaking lane on the right. Either let the quicker traffic pass or overtake with care.
The speed limit on these roads is 100km/h. You will often pass highway patrol police so don’t get complacent.
If you’re travelling during the winter months the roads tend to get icy so take care and drive safe.
The Scenery Will Blow Your Mind
You can look at all the pictures on Instagram but nothing will prepare you for the mind-blowing scenery New Zealand offers. Plan for additional driving time because you are guaranteed to make regular stops to take in the scenery and get some pictures.
Towering snow capped mountains in the Alps of the South Island. Great lakes so still and clear they resemble mirrors. Open green pastures abundant with livestock… especially sheep. Gasses rising from the ground in Rotorua’s geothermal valleys. Long stretches of unspoilt coastline. New Zealand’s landscapes change frequently but will constantly have you saying “wow”!
The Internet Is Slow & Unreliable
I come from Australia and just like in sport, we are also superior in internet and that’s saying something. In the big cities/towns such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown the internet is tolerable.
I remember trying to upload a YouTube video in Franz Josef, it literally went up 1% every 15 minutes. Just know that the internet is going to be comparable to somewhere in Africa and you won’t get as mad. At least you have some of the best scenery in the world to keep you company.
You Won’t See It All
New Zealand is bigger than you probably think. Two weeks should be the absolute minimum if you are travelling around both islands. Ideally you would spend 2 weeks in each.
A large portion of your trip will be spent on the road and if you try and fit too much into your itinerary it may feel rushed. My advice is if you’re going to New Zealand for longer than 2 weeks consider doing both islands. If you only have 2 weeks or less stay in either the north or South Island.
I guarantee New Zealand is going to exceed your expectations. I believe it’s an underrated destination that doesn’t get the love it deserves. While the country has its shortcomings, the incredible scenery, friendly people, unrivaled range of outdoor adventure activities and Maori culture make up for the less than ideal internet.
