Travel to South Island
With the spectacular snow-covered Alps, opaque turquoise glacial lakes, fjords and dramatic coastlines, New Zealand’s South Island is home to an incredible diverse amount of break taking scenery to explore.
Whale watch in Kaikoura, learn about Maori culture in Nelson, whitewater raft down the Buller River, see the world’s only Southern Royal Albatross colony, hike thousands of miles of walks and take a leap of faith with a bungy jump.
Watch the scenery unfold from the comfort on the train on one of the two scenic rail journeys on the South Island. The TranzCoastal train travels along the coast between Picton and Christchurch, while the TranzAlpine train travels through the mountains between Christchurch and Greymouth a great jumping off point for seeing the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
Fiordland National Park in the south west of the island features shimmering lakes, towering granite peaks and massive fjords. The towns of Manapouri and Te Anau are close by making them great bases to experience this area. Take a boat trip through Milford Sound and experience the narrow fjords that open up to the Tasman Sea.
People
New Zealanders, or Kiwis, as they call themselves, are among the friendliest people on earth.
Language
English is the most common language in New Zealand; however Maori is also an official language.
History
Maori, who are Polynesians, were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, who are thought to have arrived more than 1,000 years ago in double-hulled waka (canoe), from islands in Eastern Polynesia (Hawaiki). Maori settled on both main islands of New Zealand and named the country Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud).
Dutch Navigator Abel Tasman, the first European discoverer, arrived in 1642 and named the islands New Zealand. He didn’t stay, and it wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived over a century later that the area was colonized.
From the late 1790’s on, whalers, traders and missionaries arrive, establishing settlements mainly along the far northern coast of New Zealand. From 1839 to 1841 New Zealand was administered as part of Australia’s New South Wales colony.
In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It established British law in New Zealand, while at the same time guaranteeing Maori authority over their land and culture. The Treaty is considered New Zealand’s founding document. The grounds and the building where the treaty was signed have been preserved and, today, the Waitangi Historic Reserve is a popular tourist attraction. The original Treaty itself can be seen at the New Zealand Archives in Wellington.
Gold was discovered in the mid-19th century in the South Island and many more European settlers arrived – many staying to establish farms in the South Island. In the early 1880’s new refrigerated ships made it possible for New Zealand to begin to export dairy products and meat to the United Kingdom and the economy became heavily agriculturally based.
New Zealand was the first sovereign state to give voting rights to women in 1893. In 1907 New Zealand gained dominion status within the British Empire and was granted autonomy in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster which was formally accepted in 1947.
New Zealand today is an independent nation within the British Commonwealth. The British Monarch, although constitutional head of state, plays no active role in the administration of New Zealand’s government.
The capital city is Wellington, although the largest city is Auckland, both situated in the North Island.
Currency
The official currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$).
Weather
New Zealand’s climate is mainly mild. The far north is subtropical in the summer (November to March) and the far south can get below freezing in the winter (May to August). Nevertheless most of New Zealand has lots of sun, moderate temperatures and modest rainfall.
The average rainfall in New Zealand is between 25 and 60 inches. This provides the country with excellent farming and lush rainforest but it also means that a rain protection is necessary.
Health Requirements
Must be in acceptable standard of health to enter New Zealand
Visa Requirements
From October 1, 2019, anyone entering NZ now requires a Visa by completing an ETA - Electronic Travel Authority. The ETA’s must be completed online via NZ immigration’s website platform. The only exceptions to this requirement are passengers travelling on a New Zealand or Australian passport, as well as travelers who hold a valid NZ visa. Visit: https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/ to apply for your New Zealand ETA. In addition, anyone entering New Zealand from October 1, 2019 will need to pay the IVL (International Visitor Levy). The levy cost is NS$35 and can be paid a the same time as the ETA.
Tipping & Porterage
Tipping is not as entrenched a custom as it is in the US, however, generous donations by American visitors have changed the expectations of many who work in the tourism industry. Generally, a 10% tip at finer restaurants is sufficient, and taxi drivers only expect a tip if they helped with luggage.
Credit Cards
All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand.
Money
Currency is New Zealand dollar denominations:
Coins: 5c,10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2
Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100
Electrical Appliances
230/240 volts, 50 hertz.
Most hotels and motels provide 110 volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only.
Water
The urban water supply in New Zealand is safe to drink.
Related Destinations
Abel Tasman National Park
Christchurch
Dunedin
Glaciers and West Coast
Kaikoura
Mount Cook
Nelson and Marlborough
Queenstown and Wanaka
South Island
Te Anau
West Coast
Explore the rest of our New Zealand destinations:
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Bay of Plenty
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
- Glaciers and West Coast
- Hamilton & Waikato
- Hawkes Bay
- Kaikoura
- Mount Cook
- Nelson and Marlborough
- New Zealand
- North Island
- Queenstown and Wanaka
- Rotorua
- Ruapehu
- South Island
- Stewart Island
- Taupo
- Te Anau
- The Coromandel
- Wellington/Martinborough
- West Coast
Build your own custom brochure
Finally, information the way you want it, when you want. Create your own customized information brochure from anything on our site with this magical tool called a brochure builder. Add destination information, hotels, resort and lodges and even vacations that you are interested in. Simply find a product you are interested in, and click to add to your brochure.
Once you have finalized your selection, press select and your own customized brochure will be created, filled with all sorts of hints and tips to get you started. What a great way to get your friends and family interested in a trip, or perhaps to surprise your husband or wife with, or even to just have a memory of your own vacation?
The selection on this website is just a small showcase of the offerings available, ask the travel experts for more details. We're here to inspire!
Featured Hotels
Popular Vacations
_290_200_c1.png "#captionv_classic-new-zealand")
Hotels
Vacations
_100_75_c1.png)
Tours
Safari of the Scenes
Duration: 4 hours A truly breathtaking excursion through the diverse…
Learn More
_241_100_75_c1.jpg)
Follow Us