New Zealand. Aotearoa. Center-Earth. No matter you wanna name it, one factor is similar: it’s a spectacular vacation spot. And for many people, it’s a place we now have been dreaming of visiting. However how do you begin planning a visit to this real-life fantasyland? On this video, we’ll stroll you thru the necessities —from timing and transportation to must-visit spots. As a result of sure, it might be an epic vacation spot, but it surely additionally takes a little bit of technique.
Step 1: Determine how lengthy your journey might be.
Dimension-wise, New Zealand is a bit tough when seen on the map. It does appear to be simply a few droplets within the ocean, particularly when the large Australia is in the identical body. However it’s not that small. And even when it have been, there’s only a lot to see and do. It’s acquired glaciers, glowworm caves, snow-capped peaks, iconic filming areas, and charming cities. And chances are high, you’d wish to see all of them.
Our first recommendation is to keep longer. We stayed for 10 days, and it felt actually quick. Attending to New Zealand will not be simple or low cost, so take advantage of out of it by staying longer and seeing extra, particularly if you happen to plan on making a cease at a number of cities.
However if you happen to can actually allocate a couple of days, that’s high-quality, but it surely’s going to be tougher until you’ll be specializing in only one or two locations.
Step 2: Construct your itinerary.
As soon as you determine what number of days you may be spending in New Zealand, it’s time to begin constructing your itinerary. Step one is to determine what locations are non-negotiable for you. For instance, if you happen to’re a Lord of the Rings fan, I’m certain you’ll not forgive your self if you happen to don’t set foot in Hobbiton. Proper?
So checklist them out. In our case, we solely had a couple of: Hobbiton, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
And simply by wanting on the map, I spotted early on that they’re fairly far aside. So from right here, we tried to provide you with a route that may join all of those and might realistically be loved in 10 days.
From the get-go, we knew our entry level could be Auckland. As New Zealand’s largest metropolis, it has the nation’s largest airport and is essentially the most traditional jumpoff level to Hobbiton. However as an alternative of going again to Auckland, we determined to remain for a few days to Rotorua, since additionally it is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot.
Rotorua has an airport, which serves direct flights to Christchurch, so we opted to fly for this leg. However from Christchurch to Queenstown, we wished to journey by land so we might admire the landscapes alongside the best way. So we’ll solely be reserving 4 motels, one every in Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
However as we continued researching, we realized that we might additionally go to different points of interest. For instance, from Christchurch to Queenstown, as an alternative of reserving a direct bus, we found that there are one-way excursions on Klook. One-way as a result of it can decide you up in Christchurch, make a number of prolonged stops at vacationer spots alongside the best way together with Lake Tekapo and the areas near Mt. Cook dinner, after which drop you off in Queenstown. It’s like a bus switch and group tour in a single!
On Klook, they’ve Christchurch to Queenstown and Queenstown to Christchurch through Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook dinner, and Auckland to Rotorua through Hobbiton.
✅ Auckland to Rotorua through Hobbiton
✅ Christchurch to Queenstown through Mt. Cook dinner & Lake Tekapo
✅ Queenstown to Christchurch through Mt. Cook dinner & Lake Tekapo
Step 3: Work out transportation.
One factor that grew to become obvious early on whereas researching for this journey was that public transportation choices between cities in New Zealand have been fairly restricted. For this reason, many on-line publications will inform you that one of the best ways to get round is by renting a automotive or a campervan.
I agree. By driving, not solely do you may have whole management of your time, you additionally don’t get restricted by inflexible bus or tour schedules. However earlier than you lock it in, ensure you have a sound driver’s license and that you simply’re assured driving on the left facet of the highway.
However if you happen to’re touring alone or a pair, you may find yourself spending extra. It’s extra very best if you happen to’re a part of a gaggle so you may have companions to separate the associated fee with.
If driving is out of the image for no matter cause, you may take InterCity Buses. However once more, know that departures are few and much between. For instance, from Auckland to Rotorua, there are solely a handful of journeys obtainable. However you may completely make it work if you happen to plan your journey effectively.
An alternative choice is by becoming a member of the one-way excursions that I discussed within the earlier part of this video.
You may also fly. Home flights in New Zealand are delightfully cheap, so don’t depend them out simply but. For instance, after we flew from Auckland to Christchurch, we solely paid round 108 NZD (P3640) per particular person.
Initially we wished to fly straight from Rotorua Airport to Christchurch, however this route was twice or thrice dearer so we determined to journey again to Auckland Airport as an alternative.
Talking of flights…
Step 4: Examine flight costs.
New Zealand is fairly distant, so it’s no shock that flights going there are costly. Its nationwide flag provider is Air New Zealand, which has direct flights to and from Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Vancouver and numerous cities throughout Australia, the US, and the Pacific. Different airways like Qantas, Jetstar, China Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, Qatar Airways and Emirates fly to New Zealand too. So do plenty of American and Chinese language carriers.
We’re based mostly within the Philippines and there are not any direct flights obtainable. Philippine Airways used to supply direct Manila to Auckland flights, however that route has been discontinued. So we needed to join elsewhere. However this journey is a part of our better Australia-New Zealand journey so we flew from Melbourne.
In case you e book upfront, a roundtrip flight from Manila normally prices PHP 40,000 to 50,000 in off-peak season and round PHP 60,000 in peak season.
As a lot as potential, attempt to e book each legs of the journey with the identical airline or not less than airways with code-share agreements, so that you received’t must clear immigration at your layover airport and decide up and examine in your baggage once more. Particularly if you happen to’re connecting in Australia, which would require you to acquire a Transit Visa first.
Anyway, if you happen to see fares and preparations that you simply like, don’t e book simply but. Simply evaluate and canvas. Don’t finalize something.
Step 5: Test lodging choices.
One other factor it’s essential to contemplate is lodging. The excellent news is, most New Zealand metropolis or city facilities should not that large. Even Auckland, which is the nation’s largest metropolis, isn’t as bustling and is definitely fairly chill in comparison with different large cities in different international locations. So in idea, so long as you’re inside the metropolis middle or city middle, you need to be high-quality.
However one factor it’s essential to be ready for is the associated fee. Whereas planning our journey, we shortly realized that lodging charges in New Zealand are fairly steep particularly in the summertime months.
- In Auckland, we booked a room at SkyCity, which is simply subsequent to the Sky Tower, Auckland’s most iconic landmark. We paid round NZD 170 (P5740) per evening. Nice location, and the Sky Drive, which is the airport bus terminates simply across the nook. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Rotorua, we stayed at Rock Strong Backpackers, a hostel proper within the metropolis middle inside strolling distance of main points of interest. It was only a fan room, however New Zealand summers are fairly gentle so we didn’t thoughts. It’s outfitted with all the essential facilities, a TV, a desk, toiletries, and all. And sure, it has an ensuite bathroom and bathtub. We paid USD 87 (NZD 147, PHP 4950) per evening. Sure, for a fan room. That’s how costly rooms are right here. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Christchurch, we booked a personal room at Haka Home, which I feel can be categorised as a hostel, but it surely didn’t really feel prefer it in any respect. It was newly renovated and our room had ensuite bathroom and bathtub and all the pieces was squeaky clear, so it felt like we have been staying at a boutique resort. Superior location, too, near most factors of curiosity together with the Botanical Backyard and Riverside Market. They’d no elevator although, so it may be difficult if in case you have heavy baggage. This room set us again NZD 183 (USD 109, PHP 6145) per evening. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
- However Queenstown was the priciest of all of them. We stayed at one other hostel known as BLACK SHEEP Backpackers Hostel, in a fan room with out its personal bathroom and bathe. The place was neat and good, and it’s not too removed from the middle of the motion, however we shelled out NZD 215 (USD 128, PHP 7240) per evening for this. And this was the most affordable that we discovered even when we booked this fashion upfront. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
By the best way, you don’t must memorize all these particulars. We compiled all of the NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL ESSENTIALS together with a listing of all of the motels and hostels we tried within the TPT Masterlist. Simply go to and scroll till you see the part about New Zealand. We even have a compilation for different locations all over the world. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
So yeah, New Zealand lodging is tremendous costly. Simply maintain it in thoughts when budgeting in your journey. That’s most likely why some vacationers select to only lease a campervan.
Anyway, identical to with flights and transpo, don’t decide to your resort reserving but. As a substitute, select properties that supply FREE CANCELLATION. Each Klook and Agoda have these choices.
- In case you e book with Klook, please use our promo code THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK for as much as P300 OFF or TPTKLOOK5 for as much as P500 OFF. These codes may change sooner or later so greatest to only go to thepoortraveler.internet/klook to redeem up to date low cost codes!
- In case you choose AGODA, use our promo code AGODATPT for 10% low cost.
No matter you select, be certain it’s FREE CANCELLATION as a result of there’s one essential factor that it’s essential to deal with first earlier than you make any reserving closing…
Step 6: Apply for a New Zealand visa.
You may be questioning why I’m citing the visa simply now. Effectively, 2 causes:
First, a New Zealand visa isn’t low cost. It prices NZD 100 (PHP 3300), as of this writing. And it’s normally legitimate for simply 1 12 months. It’s not just like the US or Canada visas which can provide you as much as 10 years. No, simply 1 12 months. So if you happen to’re not but 100% sure that you simply’re New Zealand-bound, don’t apply. You’ll simply be losing cash if you find yourself not utilizing it.
Additionally, earlier than you begin the visa software course of, it’s greatest that you’ve a robust grasp of your journey plans. When making use of for a New Zealand visa, you’ll be requested in your journey dates and resort addresses, and you’ll even submit an in depth day-to-day itinerary to bolster your case. Having a stable journey plan will significantly enhance your probabilities of approval. You may also add your resort bookings as supporting paperwork, though it’s non-compulsory.
I’m not going to delve deeper into the method as a result of we now have mentioned it intimately in our complete NEW ZEALAND VISA GUIDE! ✅
In case you choose it in Tagalog or Filipino, simply watch this video.
In line with the official New Zealand Immigration web site, visa processing normally takes 4 weeks or 1 month. I acquired mine after solely 2 days however don’t depend on it. It’s at all times greatest to use not less than 2 months earlier than your goal departure date.
Step 7: Finalize all of your bookings.
When you’re granted a visa, finalize all of your bookings! E-book these flights, excursions, transfers, and different stuff that you simply have been eyeing. Or if issues change, regulate accordingly.
Once more these are all of the promo codes that you should utilize. We have now reductions for motels, excursions, and eSIM for web connection. We even have particular charges for journey insurance coverage, unique for TPT subscribers.
Be certain to additionally accomplish and submit the New Zealand Traveller Declaration Kind inside 24 hours earlier than your departure flight. It must be of their system by the point you arrive in New Zealand.
That’s all for now. Keep in mind, plan good, journey secure, and make each journey WORTH IT!