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New Zealand's Maori name is both romantic and apt - Aotearoa,
meaning 'land of the long white cloud' brings to mind unspoilt
landscapes and immense natural beauty, and with its beautiful
extremes of rainforests and reefs, glaciers and volcanoes,
you won't be disappointed.
Located in the middle of South Pacific, to the south-east
of Australia, New Zealand is made up of two long thin
islands, with a land area not much larger than California,
but has a surprising amount to offer. It is culturally fascinating,
as home to a large population of Maori's, with plenty
of opportunities to get a glimpse of their traditional way
of life. It is also a very active country, both the people
and the land itself, with more crazy and original extreme
sports for you to try than any other country has ever
dreamed up, and equally amazing geothermal sites. It is also
has the world's largest person to sheep ratio, and as a result,
is home to a 'world famous' Sheep Shearing Festival
- unarguably a unique country! |
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In no other country of this size can you scuba dive
in one the top sites in the world, walk on glaciers,
fly down stream on a jet-boat, taste world-class wines
and spend Christmas on the beach. New Zealand is all about
being the best - the highest, the fastest, the lowest, the
longest, meaning that even the shortest visit will be a journey
of discovery and you'd have to be quite a cynic to find nothing
here to impress you.
Cash
The national currency is the New Zealand Dollar, NZ$, conversion
rates are roughly as follows:
£1 = NZ$3
US$1 =NZ$2
1 Euro = NZ$2
Check with your local exchange bureau or the International
Currency Converter for up to date conversion rates.
It is easy and comparatively cheap to travel, eat and stay
in New Zealand, and thanks to the abundance of affordable
and high quality hostels and campsites, it is possible to
survive on US$40 a day. The biggest expenses you are likely
to encounter are the many activities and tours that the country
has to offer, e.g. skiing, bungee jumping, winery tours etc
People
The population of New Zealand is 12% Maori and 88% of European
origin, (known as Pakeha). The country has a very small
population, just 3.8million, with over a third in the biggest
city, Auckland, which also has the highest concentration
of Polynesian settlers.
Travel
Getting around here is generally easy, affordable and efficient,
with buses being the most popular option. There are
frequent services, covering a wide range of routes all over
the country. There are two or three main service providers,
and for the few routes that they don't cover, there are minibus
services, which can often be booked through the local tourist
information office.
Internal flights can be quite cheap, and are good for
long hops from end to end of the country, as this can take
a long time overland. There are also a small number of trains,
covering limited but very scenic routes, and the cost is little
different from the bus. There are regular ferries that
cross the gap between the North and South Islands, Wellington
to Picton, taking you through the beautiful Marlborough
Sounds. The ferry meets up with bus connections at both
ends, but you'll probably need a taxi to the station if you
want to travel on by train.
Food
You'll find that the cuisine here is much like that that found
in America and the UK, and fast food is prolific and cheap.
National specialities include a wide range of fresh seafood,
and venison, while lamb and mutton are
particularly common due to New Zealand's infamously large
population of sheep.
Language
English is the national language, though the more unusual
colloquialisms might lead you to believe otherwise. There
are also a small number of Maori speakers, most of
them living on the North Island, but numbers are increasing
with the heightened interest in Maori culture. Many place
names are Maori, and with a little practice aren't hard to
get your tongue around, the least obvious pronunciation is
'Wh' which is said as 'F', while 'u' is always pronounced
'oo'.
Climate
The weather and temperatures vary dramatically from one end
of New Zealand to the other, due to the length of the country.
Contrary to some thinking, New Zealand has a lot cooler and
milder climate than Australia as it is situated much further
south of the Equator. The northern tip of the North Island
is sub-tropical, while the southern end of the south is much
cooler and very wet - resulting in the area known as the Fjordlands.
A line of mountains form the 'backbone' of country, providing
snowfields and glaciers, and much lower temperature, and also
causing considerably more rain on the west coast than the
east in the South Island.
The country's busiest tourist season is November through to
April, but temperatures are still comfortable either side,
and the attractions will be less crowded, if coming in peak
season (Christmas and New Year) it's best to book well ahead.
Mid-year is also ski-season for areas in the south
island, and can be just as busy as the peak summer months.
Dress
Clothes and styles are the same as all other western countries,
and thanks to the mild climate, you can dress completely as
you would at home, but you just won't fit in without your
'jandals' (sandals/flip flops) and 'togs' (swimsuit). If you're
planning to hike, (or tramp as the locals call it)
make sure you bring appropriate cold and wet weather equipment
and strong walking boots. If you're coming from England, you'll
find that the outdoor equipment here is of a high quality
and cheaper than in the UK, and there is a very good selection.
Visas
Almost all visitors can get a six month tourist visa on arrival,
as long as they have a passport valid for three months past
their planned departure from the country and proof that they
have enough money to support themselves for their stay. If
you want to work while you're there you'll have to apply in
advance, work permits are for one year, will only be given
to an individual once, and are in short supply. They are also
generally only given to under 26's, and allow you to stay
in any one job for just three months at the most. |
