Before leaving for any trip, I look for information on things to expect when I get there. New Zealand wasn’t too different from the US, but there were still some things we learned after our time there. I want to share all the things to know before traveling to New Zealand because I think being prepared and aware helps everyone have a better time traveling.
Also, it’s important to note that we visited New Zealand prior to the shutdown in March 2020. If you are planning a trip, make sure to check the most current travel restrictions and requirements. Be safe and always respect the people who live in the countries you are a visitor in (which means following all safety and health measures.)
Our List of Things to Know Before Traveling to New Zealand
Driving on the Opposite Side of the Road
This may seem like no big deal, but we watched quite a few people make stupid driving mistakes. There was also a test at the rental car place for anyone that doesn’t have a driver’s license from the UK, New Zealand, or Australia. It’s good to read up on the laws beforehand.
Roundabouts are everywhere here and they take some extra concentration. Also, be mindful about crossing the street. Instead of looking left, right, left – it should be right, left, right.
Kiwi and Penguin Protection
The wonderful birds that call New Zealand home need protection from humans. It is extremely important to follow any signs posted in parks and along coastlines to keep the birds safe.
You can find more information about Penguins on this site. There are places set up to give you eyes on the Penguins from afar and that’s what I would recommend.
Learn about Kiwis through this organization. Maybe you can volunteer or at least go learn more about them when you’re in New Zealand. We got a full lesson from our awesome AirBnB hosts who taught us about kiwi trained dogs. Chances are – you aren’t going to see a Kiwi in the wild, but you can follow all the posted signs and if you have a dog, just avoid the areas that they are in.
Road Trips Take Longer…
You may look at a map and see that New Zealand isn’t too large. But if you think that you can easily travel from one side of the country to another via car, you are mistaken. The mountains stand in the way a lot of the time. There are also no highways like the US. The roads are small and windy even if you are right outside a big city. You have to plan any driving to take longer than you think.
…and They Cost More
Gas is expensive. It’s more on the south island than on the north, but both are more expensive than you are used to. We rented a very small, very economical car, and it cost us about USD$70 every time we had to fill up. In total, our gas cost us $586.06 (the trip took place in April 2019.) We have been a one-car family with a very short commute for years and so this number surprised us a lot.
You can get a card from New World grocery stores that gives you a discount on gas at certain stations. We used those a few times but realized it isn’t always a better deal .
Wine Wins
While a lot of things are more expensive in New Zealand, we found the wine was usually cheaper. See? We are sharing the most important things to know before traveling to New Zealand. On our grocery store runs, we would cruise the wine section and find bottles for USD$8. They were pretty good.
We also had a great experience in the Marlborough Region. The wine tastings there were only a few dollars for quite a few samples.
Clean Your Shoes
If you want your customs experience to be quick and easy, make sure your hiking shoes are cleaned before you even leave. We were lucky enough to have brand new shoes with us, but they definitely inspect. They want to keep New Zealand protected, so any gear that you’ve used for outdoor activities in the past needs to be clean and free of any dirt or mud.
No Foreign Food
Once your shoes are cleaned, make sure you empty your suitcases and backpacks of any snacks you forgot to eat on the plane. They do not allow ANY FOOD to come into New Zealand from other countries. Seriously, you can get a large fine, so just follow the rules.
Leave No Trace
I hope this goes without saying, but don’t leave anything behind. From the moment you touch down to the moment you leave, you will be rewarded with the most beautiful scenery. It deserves to stay that way. Follow the rules, stay on the path, don’t leave trash. Keep New Zealand clean.
Early Bird Gets the Worm
There are tour buses. We went during shoulder season, so there was a lot of quiet places for us to explore. However, if you are visiting some of the hot spots in New Zealand, make sure you arrive early. The best way to accomplish this is staying in some of the smaller towns close to the locations instead of trying to hit a bunch all in one day like a lot of the big tours do. The earlier you are there, the more peaceful and quiet it will be.
All Inclusive Prices
When you look at a menu, the price you see is the price you’ll pay. That seems like a no brainer, but in the US and other places we’ve traveled, tax and service charges get added after the fact. In New Zealand, any charges are included in the price shown. This is extremely helpful if you are traveling on a budget because the math remains simple.
Tipping is not common practice in New Zealand. You can leave a tip if you were extremely pleased with the service, but many places don’t even have a tip line for you to add anything. We noticed the tip line only in Auckland, so it might be more common in the big cities.
Air Drying Takes Time
Many of our AirBnB’s were equipped with washing machines, but no dryers. Now that we’ve spent 6 weeks without being able to quickly dry our clothes, I think I could get onboard with that back home too. But it was a learning curve because we had no idea how long things take to dry. We also left things on the line overnight and then it poured while we were asleep. Just know that going in if you are planning a longer trip where you will need laundry.
Sandflies
I thought we had escaped sandflies when we didn’t have any issues in Milford Sound. I was wrong. They drove us mad the entire time we were on the west coast. There is no way to avoid them, so just be aware and try to keep covered as much as possible.
Enjoy Every Minute
The country is so beautiful. There is every kind of outdoor adventure you could imagine. Take the scenic route (which is pretty much every route).
Let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything to add that someone needs to know before traveling to New Zealand.
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