New Zealand Travel Tips

Social Conventions
Should a visitor be invited to a formal Maori occasion, the hongi (pressing of noses) is common. Casual dress is widely acceptable. New Zealanders are generally very relaxed and hospitable. Stiff formality is rarely appreciated and, after introductions, first names are generally used. Smoking is restricted where indicated. It is banned in pubs and restaurants as well as on public transport or in public buildings.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Air New Zealand (NZ) (website: www.airnz.co.nz).

Departure Tax
Up to NZ$25 (depending on airport); children aged under 11 are generally exempt, but age range varies according to airport. Transit passengers are generally exempt for 24 hours, but again this is dependent on airport.

Main Airports
Auckland (AKL) (website: www.auckland-airport.co.nz) is 22.5km (14 miles) south of the city (journey time - 40 minutes). To/from the airport: Airbus runs an efficient service between the international terminal and the city center. In addition to regular taxis, there is a shuttle taxi service that operates 24 hours. Heletranz has a helicopter service from Auckland’s North Shore and city to the airport (journey time - 12 minutes). An interterminal bus operates daily. Facilities: Duty-free shopping, banks/bureaux de change, post office, restaurants and cafes, car hire and baggage facilities/left luggage. There is a wide selection of hotels near the airport.

Christchurch (CHC) (website: www.christchurch-airport.co.nz) is 10km (6 miles) northwest of the city (journey time - 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses operate all day between the city center and the airport (journey time - 40 minutes). A door-to-door shuttle service operates. A journey into the city center by taxi takes approximately 20 minutes. Facilities: Currency exchange, ATM, mobile phone rental and bank. Good hotels are within 10km (6 miles).

Wellington (WLG) (website: www.wellington-airport.co.nz) is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (journey time - 30 minutes). To/from the airport: Stagecoach Flyer operates a bus service to the city center every 30 minutes. The shuttle service operates on demand (maximum 10 persons). Taxis are available from outside the terminal. Facilities: Duty-free, bar, restaurant, ATM and currency exchange.

Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) (website: www.queenstownairport.co.nz) is 7km northeast of central Queenstown. To/from the airport: A taxi into the town center takes 10 minutes. Shuttle buses are available (a discount is available for more than one passenger) and the journey lasts 15 minutes. A bus takes passengers into town and will also pick up from some hotels (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free, currency exchange and baggage storage.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Opua, Picton and Wellington. They are served by international shipping lines sailing from the USA and from Europe.

A few cruise ships visit New Zealand, but there are no regular passenger ship services. For further details, contact Tourism New Zealand (see General Info).

Overview
The following items may be imported into New Zealand by persons of 18 years of age and over without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco or a mixture of all three weighing no more than 250g.
• 4.5l of wine or beer.
• 1.125l or 40oz of spirits or liqueurs.
• Goods to a total value of NZ$700.

Prohibited Imports
Because of the importance of agriculture and horticulture to the New Zealand economy, it is illegal to import most foodstuffs (meat, meat products, honey, fruit and dairy). Take care when importing wood products, such as golf clubs, shoes and items made from animal skin. For further information, contact the nearest Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The import of the following items is also prohibited: firearms and weapons (unless a special permit is obtained from the New Zealand police); ivory in any form; tortoise or turtle shell jewelry and ornaments; medicines using musk, rhinoceros or tiger derivatives; carvings or anything made from whalebone or bone from any other marine animals; cat skins or coats and certain drugs (eg diuretics, depressants, stimulants, heart drugs, tranquillisers, sleeping pills) unless covered by a doctor’s prescription.

Prohibited Exports
There are export restrictions on wildlife, plantlife, antiquities and works of art.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
Air New Zealand (NZ) (website: www.airnz.co.nz) and Qantas (website: www.qantas.com) operate domestic flights between the major airports. Several smaller airlines, including Air Nelson, Eagle Air and Mount Cook Airlines, are wholly owned by Air New Zealand and have been grouped together as Air New Zealand Link. They serve many of the smaller airports throughout the two islands. Soundsair (website: www.soundsair.com) fly between Wellington and Picton daily (journey time - 25 minutes) and offer you the chance to parachute into the city from high above it.

Getting Around by Water
North and South Islands are linked by modern ferries operating between Wellington and Picton, carrying passengers and vehicles across Cook Strait. Interislander (tel: (4) 498 3302 or 0800 802 802; website: www.interislander.co.nz) (journey time - 3 hours) and Bluebridge (tel: 0800 844 844; website: www.bluebridge.co.nz) (journey time - 3 hours 20 minutes) ferries run all year. Reservations on all ferry services are highly recommended, particularly for visitors taking their vehicles. Information can be obtained from Tourism New Zealand (see General Info) or via the Toll New Zealand reservation line (tel: (4) 498 3000).

Getting Around by Rail
Toll New Zealand (tel: (4) 498 3000; website: www.tollnz.co.nz), formerly Tranz Rail Ltd, operates what is left of New Zealand’s passenger train service. There are commuter trains in Auckland and Wellington and a handful of scenic routes aimed at tourists.

Tranz Scenic (tel: (4) 495 0775 or 0800 872 467; website: www.tranzscenic.co.nz) operates three scenic long-distance routes. The Overlander runs between Auckland and Wellington (daytime and overnight) with good views of forests, gorges and volcanic peaks. The Transcoastal runs between Christchurch and Picton along the east coast between the snow-capped Kaikoura Mountains and past the Kaikoura coast, which is famous for whale-watching. The TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Greymouth through spectacular landscapes of gorges and river valleys and across the snow-capped Southern Alps. There are buffet cars on all trains, but there are no sleeping cars on overnight services. All services are one-class travel only.

Rail Passes
Travelpass New Zealand: offers a 2-in-1, 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 travel pass. The 2-in-1 pass offers unlimited coach travel and one ferry journey. The 3-in-1 pass offers unlimited coach travel, one ferry journey and one train journey. The 4-in-1 pass offers unlimited coach travel, one ferry journey, one train journey and one domestic flight. InterCity coaches, Tranz Scenic trains and Interislander ferry services across Cook Strait are available with the pass. It is issued for periods between five and 15 days; extra days can be purchased. The pass can be bought outside New Zealand from any InterCity Coachlines office, Toll New Zealand travel center or accredited travel agency.

Scenic Rail Pass: unlimited travel on Tranz Scenic trains available for seven days or one month, and including a journey on the Interislander ferry. For further information, contact Tourism New Zealand (see General Info).

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Main roads are paved, but some quieter roads are not.

Coach: InterCity Coachlines (website: www.intercitycoach.co.nz) operates scheduled services throughout the country. Coach passes are available. Newmans Coach Lines (website: www.newmanscoach.co.nz) operates services in both islands. It is advisable to make reservations for seats. The Kiwi Experience (website: www.kiwiexperience.com) is a coach transport network for backpackers and independent travelers, as is Magic Travelers Network (website: www.magicbus.co.nz); the latter offers a slightly less comprehensive selection of trips. Stray (website: www.straytravel.com) aim to get further off the beaten track and have better coverage of South Island.

Bus: There are regional bus networks that serve most parts of the country and are on the whole friendly and cheaper than the larger companies.

Taxi: There are metered taxis throughout the country.

Car hire: Major international firms and local firms have offices at airports and most major cities and towns. It is recommended to hire vehicles from members of the New Zealand Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association.

Regulations: The minimum age for driving a hired car is 21. The legal speed limit is 100kph (62mph) on the open road and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Both driver and passengers are legally required to wear seat belts at all times. For further information, contact The New Zealand Automobile Association (tel: (9) 966 8800 or 0800 500 222; website: www.aa.co.nz).

Emergency breakdown service: New Zealand Automobile Association (tel: 0800 500 222).

Documentation: All international driving licenses are recognized by New Zealand. And, although not compulsory, an International Driving Permit is recommended. Motor insurance is not a legal requirement in New Zealand because New Zealand law has removed the right of accident victims to sue a third party in the event of an accident.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Good local bus services are provided in the main towns; there are also trolleybuses in Wellington. Both Auckland and Wellington have zonal fares with pre-purchase tickets and day passes. For public transport information and advice on journey planning in and around Auckland, call Maxx Regional Transport (tel: (9) 366 6400; website: www.maxx.co.nz). Positively Wellington Tourism (website: www.wellingtonnz.com) has information about getting around the capital.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Wellington to other major cities/towns in New Zealand:

	Air	Road	Rail
Auckland	1.00	9.00	10.00
N. Plymouth	1.00	8.30	-
Christchurch	0.45	*7.20	*5.20
Dunedin	1.20	*12.20	-

* Plus ferry crossing of three hours.


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