New Zealand Overview

Fast Facts

Main Languages: New Zealand English (U.K. spellings), Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages.  

When to Go: A mild and temperate maritime climate, New Zealand’s weather changes rapidly. The country’s two islands, with their location in the Roaring Forties, are ‘freshened’ by prevailing west-to-east winds that carry wet and cold air from the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. With the western mountain ranges shielding them from the cool, damp winds, both the North and South Islands are drier on the east, though South Island is cooler. The best weather in most of New Zealand is in the warm months from mid-October to mid-May. December to February is when summer holidays are on, and most places will be quite crowded. The shoulder seasons (October/November and April/May) are the best time to visit. For winter sports however, June to August is skiing high season.

Local Transport: While the infrastructure is widespread and in good repair, one must keep in mind that distances between important towns and sights are large, and that travelling time is usually long. New Zealand offers good road, rail and air connectivity.

Bus: On road, bus travel is comfortable and efficient, covering nearly every corner of both islands. It is not very cheap however. There are plenty of private operators.

Intra-city: Buses are plentiful, but are not very frequent on Sundays. Wellington is the only city with a good suburban train service.

Train: Train travel in New Zealand is visually stunning, and as such, the journey itself is the bigger attraction than to reach your destinations. Major operators include InterCity and Tranz Scenicm and the latter operates many routes, such as the TransCoastal, Overlander, TranzAlpine, and Capital Connection (weekdays) all running twice daily, except the Overlander, which runs 3-days a week from May to September. Reservations can be made through Tranz Scenic directly, or at most train stations, travel agents and visitor information centres.

Plane: Air travel is ideal for those with limited time and travelling between major cities. New Zealand has a widespread network of intra- and inter-island flights. The major domestic carrier is Air New Zealand, and next comes Australia-based Qantas, which flies between the main urban areas. There are also several small regional operators, some of which provide the only air connectivity to outlying islands.

Car & Motorcycle: Renting cars and motorcycles in New Zealand is simple, and a great way to see the country, but do remember to take insurance for your hired vehicle. Also note, that fuel is not very cheap is New Zealand. Campervans (RVs, motor homes) are another great option, and rates can be pretty low in off-season.

Bicycle: Cycling around New Zealand is also a great option, especially in the summer, and the roads are almost always in good condition. Remember that by law all cyclists must wear an approved safety helmet or risk a fine, and major bus lines and trains only take bicycles on a ‘space available’ basis, and can charge up to $10. Renting bikes is a good idea, however, new cycles are quite expensive.

Boat: While there are plenty of ferries between short distances, there is not much long-distance water transport in New Zealand, except for boat services between Auckland and various islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and the inter-island ferries across Cook Strait.

Phone Code: +64

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 1 NZR is approximately 34 Indian Rupees (INR)

Voltage: 230-240 V / 50 Hz

Time Zone: GMT+12 hours. IST +6:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings – September to April): GMT+13 hours