New Zealand Travel Guide 2025 (Everything You Need To Know)

New Zealand Travel Guide 2025

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and one of our all time favourite destinations (though, you may call us biased, seeing as it’s Cory’s home country!) Its name evokes images of wild, untouched landscapes, friendly locals and unique wildlife. We’ve compiled everything we know into this essential 2025 New Zealand travel guide.

This New Zealand travel guide will help you plan your trip, including the best itinerary and road trip destinations, as well as tips on saving money and ultimately how to have the best possible time in this incredible country.

New Zealand Travel Guide

GEOGRAPHY

New Zealand is made up of two major islands, easily named North Island and South Island. Collectively, the islands are about the same size of the UK, with the North Island being the smaller of the two. Population wise, the majority of New Zealanders live in the North Island, with 4 million people calling it home in comparison to the South Island, where just 1.2 million people reside.

With the North Island being the most populated island, it is home to the counties largest city, Auckland. This is also where you’ll find the countries largest airport, Auckland Airport. The capital of New Zealand is also found within the North Island, Wellington city.

Many people mistake the two islands to be similar in landscape, when in fact they differ quite a lot. The South Island is much more rugged and wild, with glacial lakes, snow capped mountains and fjords dominating the landscape.

Whereas the South Island could be described as having a softer landscape with rolling hills and golden sand beaches. Though it is also home to a volcanic landscape, evident in the black sand beaches, dormant volcanoes and geothermal pools.

Personally, we love both islands. The South Island tends to get more recognition and this leads to many people to skipping the North Island. Don’t do this! The North Island has SO much to offer, which we’ll be detailing later in this guide.

CLIMATE

Due to its location, some assume that New Zealand’s climate is similar to that of Australia, which in fact is far from true! The only similarity is that they are both situated in the Southern Hemisphere. So, if you’re visiting from the Northern Hemisphere, remember the seasons are opposite to yours. For example, Christmas is during the summertime and the winter solstice is in June (something I will never get used to as a Brit)

SUMMER	AUTUMN	WINTER	SPRING
Dec-Jan-Feb	March-April-May	June-July-Aug	Sept-Oct-Nov

A general rule of thumb is that the further north you are in New Zealand, the warmer the temperatures will be. Though, that of course isn’t set in stone, with some regions in the Sound Island being warmer than the North during summer. However, during winter, the North Island rarely sees snow in contrast to the South Island, which has snowy winters.

	WINTER	SUMMER
Auckland	1.5–15.5°C (35–60°F)	16–24°C (60–75°F)
Queenstown	0-8°C (32-46°F)	20-30°C (60-86°F)

WHAT TO PACK

Now that you know the climate of New Zealand, you will be able to start to visualise what you’ll need to pack. The recommendation we tend to give to people when asked what to pack is, ‘comfortable and practical.’

New Zealand is an outdoor country, you go there to hike, explore, road trip, swim etc so you need to pack with that in mind. Good quality hiking/active wear is your best bet and it’s practically what we lived in during our 6 month road trip.

Layers are really useful, especially when travelling in-between the islands and differing temperatures. As well as a decent pair of hiking boots and gloves and beanies for the cooler months. There are many incredible beaches and lakes to swim in so don’t forget your bathers, as well as pair of sandals for in-between hikes and activities.

Do not forget sun protection! The sun is intense in New Zealand and you can burn remarkably fast, so be sure to pack suncream, glasses, hat and protective clothing. In addition to this, if you plan to travel south, it would be worth picking up some bug spray. Sandflies can be a menace in the South Island, especially in the more remote areas.

ACTIVITES

New Zealand isn’t lacking for things to do, it’s an adventurers dream. From bungee jumping to mud bathing, there really is something for everyone. Below, we are going to outline some of the best things to do in New Zealand during your trip.

ADRENALINE

Consider yourself an adrenaline junkie? If so, get yourself to Queenstown. Considered one of the best cities in the world for thrill seekers, Queenstown offers an array of activities that will get your heart racing.

We’ll start with the famous AJ Hackett Bungy (also located in Auckland and Taupō) considered the HOME of Bungy jumping! Found in 2 different locations in Queenstown, this is a New Zealand must do. Additionally there’s the insane ShotoverJet which takes you down stunning canyons at speeds up to 90 km/hour and includes mind-boggling 360° spins. Then there is white water rafting, a thrilling experience that will see you take on rapids from both inside and sometimes outside the boat.

For those looking for something a little more chill, visit Queenstown Skyline where you’ll find the scenic Gondola and famous Luge! Fun for all the family. They also offer an evening Stargazing Tour which we can highly recommend – we loved it.

CULTURE

If you want to immerse yourself in the local Māori culture, book in a visit to Rotorua. Located in the North Island, Rotoura is jam-packed with things to do. Highlights include Hell’s Gate an incredible destination where you can learn about the Māori connection to the geothermal landscape and take a soak in mud baths. There is also the incredible Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa where luxury wellness and culture meet to create a unique spa experience.

Also located in Rotorua is the Rotorua Skyline similar to Queenstown, offering fun luge tracks and scenic gondola rides. Plus, did you know Rotorua was home to a spectacular Redwoods forest? You can walk amongst the trees on an elevated track as well as take on a zip line adventure with Redwoods Altitude!

HIKES

Dust off your hiking boots because there’s plenty of trails to be explored within New Zealand. There are numerous multi-day hikes, known as the Great Walks but there are also plenty of day hikes that are a little less daunting.

Roys Peak is one of the most popular day walks in the South Island. Located close to Wānaka, the 16km return trail is steep but rewarding, offering a spectacular view of the ridgeline. This hike is particularly popular for sunrise so be prepared for crowds.

Within the South Island, other popular trails include Ben Lomond in Queenstown, the Hooker Valley track in Mount Cook National Park and Queenstown Hill.

If you’re looking for something challenging, consider the Mount Taranaki Summit Trail. Considered the hardest day hike in New Zealand, expect unpredictable weather, difficult terrain and steep ascents. However, if you plan to hike during the summer season and you have a good window of weather, it can be a very rewarding and beautiful hike. The trail gets particularly busy between January and April when there is less chance of snow.

Also located in the North Island is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, heralded as one of the best day hikes in the world. The 20km trail passes through an impressive volcanic landscape and emerald-coloured lakes.

LORD OF THE RINGS

We couldn’t write a New Zealand travel guide without mentioning Lord of the Rings, it would be unjust! Now, there’s plenty of film locations around the country you can visit if you so wish. There’s some that are remote and some that are easily accessible, like the ones located in Mount Victoria in the middle of Wellington city. However, if there’s one thing we’d recommend to any LOTR fan, it’s a trip to Hobbiton.

A trip to Hobbiton Movie Set is truly magical, I’m not lying when I say it was one of my favourite days in New Zealand. We met people who weren’t particularity big fans of LOTR of The Hobbit but they too, loved the tour.

Located just outside of Matamata in the North Island, a Hobbiton tour transports you to The Shire, where your tour guide tells you behind-the-scenes tales and facts about the making of the trilogies. You are also able to walk inside a Hobbit house, which is absolutely charming and even enjoy a ginger beer at the Green Dragon Inn – what more could you want!?

TRAVEL

Getting Around

By far the best way to explore New Zealand is by road, many choose to hire a car or camper van for this. If you wish to travel by public transport, it is possible but limiting. Cities will of course be much easier to navigate using the bus and tram services but outside of the major cities you will find difficulty finding reliable services. Most smaller towns do not have public transport services and a lot of the highlights of New Zealand are outside of the city centres.

BUS

There are some hop on/off style buses around the country, targeted to the backpacker community and budget travellers. It’s a great way to meet fellow travellers and get from A to B on a budget. Intercity offer both flexi and travel passes as well as day tours around the country.

Another option is KiwiExperience who run bus tours around the country. This is particularly popular with the backpacker community as you get to travel with a group and explore the country on a budget. They also offer hop on/off passes if you wish to create your own itinerary.

PLANE

New Zealand is quite well connected in regards to their domestic flight services. The main airlines are Jetstar and Air New Zealand. On the plus side, the best reason for flying is that it is the quickest way to get from one destination to another and if you book early on when there’s a sale, you can find cheap prices! However, unless you want to only visit the cities, you’ll be stuck with the same dilemma of not being able to explore further afield.

TRAIN

Unfortunately New Zealand isn’t well connected by trains, which is a shame because we love train travel! There is a regular service between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island but the majority of train routes across New Zealand are scenic travel routes rather than public transport. The South Island in particular has some beautiful routes such as the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific.

CAR/CAMPERVAN

Personally, this is the option we would recommend. New Zealand is a road trip country and how most choose to travel the country. Your option, depending on your length of stay, would be to either buy or hire a car/van. I wouldn’t recommend buying a car unless you are staying in New Zealand long term (6 months+) but if you do choose to, the best places to look are Facebook Marketplace, car dealerships and online backpacker communities.

There are many options when it comes to hiring a car in New Zealand. The major car rental companies such as Hertz, Budget and Avis are all found across the country, as well as smaller independent companies. When it comes to camper vans and motorhomes the main providers are Jucy, Britz, Apollo and Maui.

A motor home/camper van setup is definitely the preferred mode of transport for travellers in New Zealand. There are more than 500 site options for freedom camping across the country and makes for a very comfortable travel experience. The downside is that rental prices are high and during the peak season they can become extortionate. You can avoid the higher fees by booking in advance or travelling during the shoulder seasons.

However, if you have the flexibility you can hire a car for FREE with the services TransferCar and Imoova. They provide a car relocation service, where they void the rental fee if you pick up and drop off a vehicle to their desired locations during certain dates. We have used TransferCar and it was great. We think this is a great tip that not many New Zealand travel guides share!

P.S if you are going to drive in New Zealand, remember that they drive on the left side of the road.

Tip: Download the apps Campermate and Wikicamps for finding campsites

FERRY

Unless you choose to fly, you will certainly need to board the ferry between the North and South Island. The terminal for the North Island is in Wellington and for the South Island it is in Picton. The crossing takes approximately 3.5 hours depending on the weather and there are two main companies to choose from, Interislander and Bluebridge. In our experience, we’ve found Bluebridge to be cheaper but they both run frequently throughout the day and the evening for overnight crossings.

BUDGET

It’s time to talk about money and I’ll be honest and say that New Zealand is expensive. Overall, we found New Zealand more expensive than Australia and the UK at times. However, we do have some money saving tips in this New Zealand travel guide!

NZD $100

CURRENCY	EXCHANGE
GBP	£46
USD	$58
AUD	$88
EURO	€55
CAD	£83

*Dec 2024

Accommodation

A basic room in a hotel will cost between $150-200, so making use of platforms like Booking.com with their Genuis Discount (if you’re eligible) is helpful. AirBnB is popular around the country and there are a lot of unique stays but the prices aren’t any cheaper than hotel rooms so it comes down to personal preference.

For backpackers, there are plenty of hostels around the country. A shared dorm usually costs between $25-$45 per night and a private room starts at $100. We stayed in a few hostels on our last road trip around the country and were pleasantly surprised. There was a nice mix of age groups and most were there as a base to adventure from, rather than party.

Food

When it comes to food, New Zealand has some of the most expensive grocery prices in the world. If you have an address and are basing yourself in New Zealand for a few months, it’s worth signing up to the rewards cards for the main supermarkets like New World and Woolworths. Honestly, I think New Zealand is one of the few places where eating out sometimes was cheaper than eating in! The average price for a meal out was between $20-$30 and a coffee costs $5-$6.

Also, don’t be tricked by the surcharge fees in cafes and other establishments using a card machine. They tend to charge a percentage for you to tap your card, you can get around this by resorting back to chip and pin or using cash – though cash is becoming frequently less accepted.

Fuel

Petrol will be another cost if you are planning to drive, though it has not quite reached the extortionate prices that we found when we were last in the UK, it will still add up. Our small car cost on average $100 to fill up. We recommend downloading the apps Gaspy and Waitomo to find the best fuel prices. Waitomo also has a preload option on the app and has a ‘more you spend, more your save’ benefit.

Data

Phone data plans in New Zealand are, you guessed it, expensive. If you’re visiting for just a few weeks on a regular holiday then an eSIM would be much better. We personally use Airalo for international travelling and have had great coverage throughout.

For long term travellers, we found Spark to have the best phone data plan. The option we went for was a 3 month plan costing $79 and it included 50gb with some international calls.

Overall, we would advise a budget of at least $100 per day for those on a backpacker budget and $200 for those on a midrange budget.

VISA

To travel to New Zealand as a visitor you must have either an approved visitor visa or a NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) The NZeTA requested via the NZeTA mobile app will cost $17 and the NZeTA requested via the website form will cost $23. There is also an additional $100 for the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.

The NZeTA allows up to 3 months of travel, or 6 months for UK passport holders.

If you’re aged between 18 and 30 (or 35 for certain countries), you may be eligible to work and explore New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV.) The cost of the WHV varies depending on your citizenship but for UK citizens it costs from NZD $840. You can learn more about the NZ WHV here.

Thank You

Hi adventurers, thanks for reading our New Zealand travel guide.

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