New Zealand is well-known for its beautiful, picturesque and abundant natural resources which attract thousands of travelers each season to visit the country in Oceania. The country consists of two primary islands, both hold volcanoes as well as glaciations.
The capital of the island country is Wellington. For fans of classic fantasy books and movies, Wellington is the place which holds the Mt. Victoria along with the South Island’s Fiordland and Southern Lakes was the picturization of the mythical Middle Earth in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies.
If you’re planning a trip to the country in Oceania there are a few things you need to know before you embark upon the trip.
Climate
One of the best things about New Zealand is that the climate is mild and temperate weather is available almost throughout the year, but the experiences in those weathers are as vivid as you can think of. Enjoy the crisp spring mornings or the vibrant colors of the autumn day, and the best part is most of the sight-seeing spots and attractions around the country are open all year-long.
Passport and Visa
You have to have the right passport and visa if you want a trouble-free entry and a worry-free stay at the country. You can apply for passport online through Immigration New Zealand website and you can do it as early as six months before the start of your journey.
Currency and digital money usage
New Zealand’s currency is New Zealand dollars and all major international credit cards, as well as debit cards, are usable in the country. The most widely used cards are Visa and MasterCard which are accepted almost everywhere.
Food and Wine
Wherever you visit a new place remember to taste the food of that region no matter how short a time you have in hand. First, you get to experience a beautiful and new taste of the cuisine and secondly, the way the food is served and the cooking method, as well as the whole culinary culture, says a lot about the overall culture of the country.
You will get all kinds of food when it comes to the diversity and choice of spread you get in New Zealand food. With the growing number of vegetarians and Vegan food eaters, the number of restaurants that serve vegetarian food is also increasing. Whereas, the growing population of Islam followers and travelers of the same faith there are quite a few eateries which serve ‘Halal’ meals at various food joints across the country. Want to try Asian cuisines like Chinese or Indian? There are all kinds of flavors of the east available in New Zealand. If you want authentic New Zealand dishes, try beyond fish and chips and barbeques which are the bumper sticker food for countries in Oceania. Try the Pacific Rim cuisine which includes different kinds of seafood, green-lipped mussels, crayfish, as well as lamb and various sorts of cheese. Don’t forget to go on a wine trail starting from Napier, Wellington, and Marlborough to taste the best wine from the most beautiful and famous vineyards from across the country.
Driving cautionary
Due to the diverse geography of the country driving in the new country can be a bit tricky than driving down your regular metropolis. There are a number of reasons why it can be an unpredictable experience. Several of the roads in the country, especially outside the city limits are narrow and several times they are windy as well, due to the hilly terrain. There are gravel roads and single lane roads without any barriers in the middle. So, it is very important to drive safely, slowly and after having a proper idea of the distance and the road conditions. Also, distances can seem different on paper and in practical application as climatic conditions play a great role when it comes to long drives
Public transport and domestic air travel
The hop-on-hop-off buses for famous sight-seeing spots are the best options when you are going to visit the famous spots in a city. Apart from that intercity buses which are also frequent in availability and affordable option at the same time. Trains are also a common form of public transport in New Zealand. But my favorite is the ferry that goes between the North and south Islands. It is especially beneficial when you’re traveling between the mainland and the offshore islands like the Waiheke, Rangitoto and Great Barrier near Auckland city, and Stewart Island just below the South Island.
There are a number of options available when it comes to traveling within the country. Interconnecting flights between New Zealand cities are majorly available with Air New Zealand and Jetstar among others.
Tour
A lot of local travel agents arrange various trips around the country depending on your budget and your time availability you can choose to have a travel guide for your tour if you want to have a chauffeur ready in a new city and country you’re visiting for the first time.
