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 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 shall be.
Measurement-wise, New Zealand is a bit tough when seen on the map. It does seem like simply a few droplets within the ocean, particularly when the big 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 received glaciers, glowworm caves, snow-capped peaks, iconic filming areas, and charming cities. And chances are high, 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 isn’t straightforward or low cost, so take advantage of out of it by staying longer and seeing extra, particularly in the event you plan on making a cease at a number of cities.
However in the event you can actually allocate a number of days, that’s high-quality, but it surely’s going to be more difficult 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’ll 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, in the event you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, I’m certain you’ll not forgive your self in the event you don’t set foot in Hobbiton. Proper?
So record them out. In our case, we solely had a number 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 will join all of those and might 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 essentially the most standard jumpoff level to Hobbiton. However as an alternative of going again to Auckland, we determined to remain for a few days to Rotorua, since it is usually a preferred 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 way in which. So we’ll solely be reserving 4 accommodations, 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 an alternative of reserving a direct bus, we found that there are one-way excursions on Klook. One-way as a result of it’s going to decide 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 by way of Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook dinner, and Auckland to Rotorua by way of Hobbiton.
✅ Auckland to Rotorua by way of Hobbiton
✅ Christchurch to Queenstown by way of Mt. Cook dinner & Lake Tekapo
✅ Queenstown to Christchurch by way of Mt. Cook dinner & Lake Tekapo
Step 3: Determine 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 inform you that the easiest way to get round is by renting a automotive or a campervan.
I agree. By driving, not solely do you might 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, be sure you have a legitimate driver’s license and that you simply’re assured driving on the left facet of the street.
However in the event you’re touring alone or a pair, you would possibly find yourself spending extra. It’s extra preferrred in the event you’re a part of a bunch so you might have companions to separate the price with.
If driving is out of the image for no matter purpose, you possibly can 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 out there. However you possibly can completely make it work in the event you plan your journey properly.
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 too fly. Home flights in New Zealand are delightfully cheap, so don’t depend them out simply but. For instance, once 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 varied cities throughout Australia, america, 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 primarily based within the Philippines and there aren’t any direct flights out there. 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.
For those who e book prematurely, a roundtrip flight from Manila often 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 least airways with code-share agreements, so that you gained’t must clear immigration at your layover airport and decide up and examine in your luggage once more. Particularly in the event you’re connecting in Australia, which would require you to acquire a Transit Visa first.
Anyway, in the event you 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 you might want to contemplate is lodging. The excellent news is, most New Zealand metropolis or city facilities aren’t 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 concept, so long as you’re inside the metropolis heart or city heart, you ought to be high-quality.
However one factor you might want to be ready for is the price. 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. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Rotorua, we stayed at Rock Stable 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 tub. We paid USD 87 (NZD 147, PHP 4950) per night time. Sure, for a fan room. That’s how costly rooms are right here. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
- In Christchurch, we booked a non-public room at Haka Home, which I believe 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 rest room and tub and every thing was squeaky clear, so it felt like we have been staying at a boutique lodge. 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 when you’ve got heavy baggage. This room set us again NZD 183 (USD 109, PHP 6145) per night time. Test 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 cost effective that we discovered even when we booked this fashion prematurely. Test Charges & Availability! ✅
By the way in which, 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 accommodations 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, similar to with flights and transpo, don’t decide to your lodge reserving but. As an alternative, select properties that supply FREE CANCELLATION. Each Klook and Agoda have these choices.
- For those who 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 would possibly change sooner or later so finest to only go to thepoortraveler.web/klook to redeem up to date low cost codes!
- For those who want AGODA, use our promo code AGODATPT for 10% low cost.
No matter you select, be certain that it’s FREE CANCELLATION as a result of there’s one essential factor that you might want to handle 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. Properly, 2 causes:
First, a New Zealand visa isn’t low cost. It prices NZD 100 (PHP 3300), as of this writing. And it’s often 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 in the event 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 finest 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 lodge addresses, and you’ll even submit an in depth day-to-day itinerary to bolster your case. Having a strong journey plan will tremendously improve your probabilities of approval. You can too add your lodge bookings as supporting paperwork, though it’s optionally available.
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! ✅
For those who want it in Tagalog or Filipino, simply watch this video.
In keeping with the official New Zealand Immigration web site, visa processing often takes 4 weeks or 1 month. I received mine after solely 2 days however don’t depend on it. It’s at all times finest to use at the 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! E-book these flights, excursions, transfers, and different stuff that you simply have been eyeing. Or if issues change, alter accordingly.
Once more these are all of the promo codes that you should utilize. We have now reductions for accommodations, 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 Type 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!