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New Zealand travel guide - New Zealand
holidays, flights & hotels.
Top destination guides for New Zealand holidays;
Auckland
| Christchurch
| Queenstown
| Wellington
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Blenheim
| Dunedin
| Gisborne
| Invercargill
| Kerikeri (Bay of Islands)
| Nelson
| New Plymouth
Palmerston North
| Rotorua
| Stewart Island
| Taupo
| Tauranga
| Wanaka
| Wanganui
Whangarei
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New Zealand Holidays, New Zealand Holiday Packages Overview
New Zealand, 'Land of the Long White
Cloud', is a small, sparsely populated country consisting of two
major islands, North and South Island, and a scattering of smaller
ones. Despite its small size it is crammed with magnificent natural
beauty and has an incredible amount to offer; the only complaint
travellers have is that they haven't allowed enough time in the
country. Fresh air, breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities are
the main attractions of New Zealand, with a tremendously friendly,
honest and helpful population, colloquially nicknamed after their
country's distinct symbol, the unusual but amiable flightless kiwi
bird. The two islands have surprisingly
different characters. The North Island has dramatic volcanic
landscapes and highly active thermal areas, long stretches of
beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient indigenous forests
and a strong Maori cultural influence. The South Island has a
slower pace of life dominated by a magnificent spine of mountains,
the snow-covered Southern Alps, and the spectacular scenery of the
southern waterways of the fjordlands, with glaciers, deep lakes and
verdant forests. The signing of the Treaty of
Waitangi in 1840 was New Zealand's founding document, an attempt to
settle disputes between the European settlers and the Maoris,
conceding the country to British rule while guaranteeing the Maori
people possession of their land and cultural identity. Today,
integration has been replaced by a policy of upholding two
different cultures alongside each other. Their shared love of
sport, most notably the revered national sport of rugby union, and
their enthusiasm for adventure and the outdoors is the unifying
factor among the whole population. New Zealand
offers a huge variety of action-packed and laid back activities,
from bungy jumping to skiing, swimming with dolphins, scenic
flights and boat cruises on the fjords, as well as several world
famous walking trails with unrivalled scenery. Alternatively
visitors can immerse themselves in culture at the museums and
galleries of the country's main cities - Auckland and the capital
Wellington in the North, and Christ Church in the south.
New Zealand is an easy and compact place in which to
travel and its spectacularly dramatic landscape alone, famous for
its setting for the 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy, makes the
long trip to these southern islands more than
worthwhile.
Tourist Offices - Tourism New Zealand, Wellington: +64 (0)4
917 5400 or www.newzealand.com/travel
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Entry Requirements
Visitors must be in possession of a return
ticket, documents for onward travel, and proof of sufficient funds.
Visitors must hold per month of stay NZ$400, if holding evidence of
pre-paid accommodation. In other cases, visitors must hold NZ$1,000
per month of stay. Passports must be valid for at least 3 months
beyond period of stay, or for 1 month if country of origin has
consular representation in New Zealand.
- For Australians -
Australian nationals must have a valid passport for
travel to New Zealand. No visa is required.
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- United States citizens must have a valid passport. No
visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- United States citizens must have a valid passport. No
visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
- British citizens holding a passport endorsed British
Citizen do not require a visa for a stay of up to six months.
British citizens with passports endorsed British National
(Overseas) may stay for up to three months without a visa. In all
other cases, a visa is required.
New Zealand Holidays - Currency of New Zealand
Local currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD),
divided into 100 cents. Most businesses accept MasterCard and Visa,
and while Diners Club and American Express are also widely accepted
in the main tourist centres, they might have limited acceptance
elsewhere. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged
at banks, bureaux de change and some hotels. ATMs can be found in
all towns and cities.
New Zealand
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for New
Zealand is +64. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant
country code (e.g. 0061 for Australia). City/area codes are in use,
e.g. (0)9 for Auckland and (0)4 for the Wellington region. Vodafone
offers GSM 900 coverage in and around the main cities and popular
holiday areas. Internet cafes are widely
available.
New Zealand
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to New Zealand over 17 years do not
have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, or
a proportionate mix of these; 1.125 litres or 1 litre spirits or
liqueurs, and 4.5 litres wine, port or sherry, or 4.5 litres beer.
Goods exceeding the allowances must be declared. Personal effects
not dutiable include items such as jewellery, binoculars, portable
radios, prams, camping equipment, cameras and video cameras.
Prohibited items include concealed firearms, foodstuffs, animals,
plants and plant products. It is forbidden to export Greenstone,
Maori antiquities and Paua shells (unless they are products
manufactured from such shells).
New Zealand
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Gratuities are not expected and service charges
are not applied to bills.
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