Destination: New Zealand

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION

Getting Started

The relative ease of travel in New Zealand and its established network of all-budgets accommodation and organised activities make this country easy to explore. That said, look beyond the idyllic, hassle-free persona pushed by tourism brochures and videos or you'll end up taking NZ's idiosyncratic people and landscapes for granted.

There's a lot to see and do, so think about your priorities and allow enough time to achieve them. But don't forget to factor some space into your itinerary for those serendipitous moments that can make your trip.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...

  • Double checking the visa situation
  • Knowing what your embassy/consulate in NZ can and can't do to help you if you're in trouble
  • A travel insurance policy specifically covering you for any planned high-risk activities
  • Insect repellent to dissuade sandflies from dropping by for lunch
  • Packing a range of clothing to suit the changeability of the weather
  • Preparing yourself for the fact that every kea (parrot) in NZ is apparently born with a gene that makes it 'cheeky'

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  Learn the Lingo on your iPod - Join the locals and have fun with our series of free language guides that contain around 30 basic phrases that you can download onto your iPod.