NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL GUIDE
Things to Know
New Zealand is a country located in the Southern Pacific Ocean. It is primarily made up of two main Islands, the North Island, and the South Island. In addition to the North and South islands, there are an additional 600 smaller islands that make up the country. Of the two main islands, the South Island is the larger covering just over 93,000 square miles while the north island is a little over 71,000 square miles in size. Both islands are far longer than they are wide stretching the country out over a greater distance. This one factor that attributes to the different climates that each island experiences. The North Island is known for its white sandy beaches, volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs. It is also home to the country’s capital, Wellington, and to the country’s largest city, Auckland. The South Island on the other hand still has a lot of beautiful beaches but is known for its mountain ranges, giant glaciers, breathtaking fjords, and winter sports.
Currency:
The official currency of New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar. The currency code for the New Zealand dollar is NZD and the sign is $ (also abbreviated as NZ$). There are banks and ATMs regularly throughout the country and credit and debit cards are accepted widely throughout the country.
Language:
The three official languages in New Zealand are Māori, English, and New Zealand Sign Language. Māori is the language spoken by the indigenous people, but only accounts for about 4 percent of the population. English is the primary language and is spoken by 96 percent of the population. The third official language is New Zealand Sign Language which was granted official status in April 2006.
Popular Destinations
Abel Tasman National Park
Auckland
Bay of Islands
Cape Reinga
Christchurch
Coromandel Peninsula
Franz Josef Glacier
Hobbiton
Milford Sound
Piha Beach
Queenstown
Rotorua
Waiheke Island
Wellington
When To Visit
New Zealand is a beautiful destination that has something for every traveler no matter the time of year you visit. As the country is in the southern hemisphere, their seasons mirror that of ours in the northern hemisphere. For example, our summer in the United States is New Zealand’s winter and vice versa. This can make New Zealand a nice winter escape to enjoy their beautiful summer weather. Below is a breakdown of the different times to visit and what you can expect during them.
The Peak Season: December to February
The peak season in New Zealand are the months of December to February. As I mentioned above, this is their summer as they are in the southern hemisphere. This time of year offers great hiking, busy beaches and beautiful weather to explore all that New Zealand has to offer. The crowds tend to be at their peak during these months. Especially from Mid- December till the end of January as New Zealand’s schools are out for summer vacation making for a popular time for kiwis to go on their summer vacations. Prices tend to peak this time of year and often book up well in advance.
The Shoulder Season: March to April & September to November
The shoulder season in New Zealand is from March to April and September to November. These are the spring and fall seasons in New Zealand and provide an excellent time to visit the country. March to April is the fall season providing cooler but comfortable temperatures with the fall colors taking over many of the trees (especially on the South Island). September to November is the Spring in New Zealand. Spring in New Zealand marks the temperatures warming back up from winter and many of its trees and flowers blossoming. This time of year is great to go hiking, visit the beach, and explore many of the country’s popular towns and attractions.
The Low Season: Season: May to August:
The low season in New Zealand are the winter months of May to August. This time of year brings colder temperatures, more rainfall and snow in many of the country’s mountainous regions. It can be a great time of year to visit if you want to avoid the crowds, but depending on the regions you want to visit, the rain and snowfall can make for dangerous road conditions. Ski and Snowboarding are two of the most popular activities during the winter months. Locals and tourists both head to the country’s popular ski areas located both on the North and the South Island. For the North Island, these areas are Ruapehu and Taranaki and on the South Island they are Wanaka, Otago and Canterbury.
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