New Zealand. Aotearoa. Center-Earth. No matter you wanna name it, one factor is identical: it’s a spectacular vacation spot. And for many people, it’s a place now we 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 could be an epic vacation spot, however it additionally takes a little bit of technique.
Step 1: Resolve how lengthy your journey might be.
Dimension-wise, New Zealand is a bit tough when seen on the map. It does appear like 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 bought glaciers, glowworm caves, snow-capped peaks, iconic filming places, and charming cities. And likelihood is, you’d need to see all of them.
Our first recommendation is to keep longer. We stayed for 10 days, and it felt actually brief. Attending to New Zealand shouldn’t be straightforward or low-cost, so take advantage of out of it by staying longer and seeing extra, particularly when you plan on making a cease at a number of cities.
However when you can actually allocate just a few days, that’s high-quality, however it’s going to be more difficult except 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 establish what locations are non-negotiable for you. For instance, when you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, I’m certain you’ll not forgive your self when you don’t set foot in Hobbiton. Proper?
So record them out. In our case, we solely had just a few: 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 give you a route that might join all of those and may realistically be loved in 10 days.
From the get-go, we knew our entry level can be Auckland. As New Zealand’s largest metropolis, it has the nation’s greatest airport and is probably the most traditional jumpoff level to Hobbiton. However as a substitute of going again to Auckland, we determined to remain for a few days to Rotorua, since it’s also 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 needed to journey by land so we might admire the landscapes alongside the way in which. So we’ll solely be reserving 4 lodges, one every in Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
However as we continued researching, we realized that we might additionally go to different sights. For instance, from Christchurch to Queenstown, as a substitute of reserving a direct bus, we found that there are one-way excursions on Klook. One-way as a result of it would choose you up in Christchurch, make a number of prolonged stops at vacationer spots alongside the way in which 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 turned obvious early on whereas researching for this journey was that public transportation choices between cities in New Zealand have been fairly restricted. That is why, many on-line publications will let you know that one of the best ways to get round is by renting a automobile or a campervan.
I agree. By driving, not solely do you have got complete management of your time, you additionally don’t get restricted by inflexible bus or tour schedules. However earlier than you lock it in, be sure to have a sound driver’s license and that you simply’re assured driving on the left aspect of the highway.
However when you’re touring alone or a pair, you may find yourself spending extra. It’s extra excellent when you’re a part of a bunch so you have got companions to separate the associated fee with.
If driving is out of the image for no matter purpose, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to completely make it work when you 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 can even 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 needed to fly straight from Rotorua Airport to Christchurch, however this route was twice or thrice costlier so we determined to journey again to Auckland Airport as a substitute.
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 service is Air New Zealand, which has direct flights to and from Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Vancouver and varied cities throughout Australia, the USA, 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 aren’t 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 higher Australia-New Zealand journey so we flew from Melbourne.
In the event you e-book prematurely, 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 doable, attempt to e-book each legs of the journey with the identical airline or at the very least airways with code-share agreements, so that you received’t have to clear immigration at your layover airport and choose up and verify in your luggage once more. Particularly when you’re connecting in Australia, which would require you to acquire a Transit Visa first.
Anyway, when you see fares and preparations that you simply like, don’t e-book simply but. Simply examine and canvas. Don’t finalize something.
Step 5: Examine lodging choices.
One other factor that you must think about is lodging. The excellent news is, most New Zealand metropolis or city facilities usually are not that massive. Even Auckland, which is the nation’s largest metropolis, isn’t as bustling and is definitely fairly chill in comparison with different massive cities in different nations. So in idea, so long as you’re throughout the metropolis heart or city heart, you have to be high-quality.
However one factor that you must 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 night time. Nice location, and the Sky Drive, which is the airport bus terminates simply across the nook. Examine Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Rotorua, we stayed at Rock Strong Backpackers, a hostel proper within the metropolis heart inside strolling distance of main sights. It was only a fan room, however New Zealand summers are fairly delicate so we didn’t thoughts. It’s outfitted with all the fundamental facilities, a TV, a desk, toiletries, and all. And sure, it has an ensuite rest room and bathtub. We paid USD 87 (NZD 147, PHP 4950) per night time. Sure, for a fan room. That’s how costly rooms are right here. Examine Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Christchurch, we booked a non-public room at Haka Home, which I believe can be labeled as a hostel, however it didn’t really feel prefer it in any respect. It was newly renovated and our room had ensuite rest room 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. That they had 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 night time. Examine Charges & Availability! ✅
- However Queenstown was the priciest of all of them. We stayed at one other hostel referred to as BLACK SHEEP Backpackers Hostel, in a fan room with out its personal rest room 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 night time for this. And this was the most affordable that we discovered even when we booked this manner prematurely. Examine Charges & Availability! ✅
By the way in which, you don’t have to memorize all these particulars. We compiled all of the NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL ESSENTIALS together with a listing of all of the lodges 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 world wide. Examine Charges & Availability! ✅
So yeah, New Zealand lodging is tremendous costly. Simply preserve it in thoughts when budgeting in your journey. That’s most likely why some vacationers select to simply hire a campervan.
Anyway, identical to with flights and transpo, don’t decide to your resort reserving but. As a substitute, select properties that provide FREE CANCELLATION. Each Klook and Agoda have these choices.
- In the event 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 simply go to thepoortraveler.internet/klook to redeem up to date low cost codes!
- In the event you want AGODA, use our promo code AGODATPT for 10% low cost.
No matter you select, make sure that it’s FREE CANCELLATION as a result of there’s one essential factor that that you must maintain first earlier than you make any reserving remaining…
Step 6: Apply for a New Zealand visa.
You is perhaps questioning why I’m mentioning the visa simply now. Nicely, 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 yr. It’s not just like the US or Canada visas which may give you as much as 10 years. No, simply 1 yr. So when you’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 utility 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 may even submit an in depth day-to-day itinerary to bolster your case. Having a strong journey plan will enormously enhance your possibilities of approval. You can even 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 now we have mentioned it intimately in our complete NEW ZEALAND VISA GUIDE! ✅
In the event you want it in Tagalog or Filipino, simply watch this video.
In keeping with the official New Zealand Immigration web site, visa processing normally takes 4 weeks or 1 month. I bought mine after solely 2 days however don’t depend on it. It’s at all times greatest to use at the very least 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! Guide 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 need to use. We’ve reductions for lodges, excursions, and eSIM for web connection. We even have particular charges for journey insurance coverage, unique for TPT subscribers.
Be certain that to additionally accomplish and submit the New Zealand Traveller Declaration Kind inside 24 hours earlier than your departure flight. It needs to be of their system by the point you arrive in New Zealand.
That’s all for now. Bear in mind, plan sensible, journey secure, and make each journey WORTH IT!
