Passports: A U.S. Passport valid for 6 months beyond your intended return date is
required for travel. Your passport should have at least 2 empty visa pages. Without your
passport, you will be denied boarding of your flight. At this time, a New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) or visa is required. Here are instructions on how to
obtain your ETA. Please do this now so that you have your approval well in advance of
your departure.
With your smart phone, search the Google Play Store (android) or the App Store (iPhone)
to find and install the NZeTA app. Once the app is installed, open it and follow the app’s
instructions. Using your phone, the app will scan and capture an image of your face and
images from your passport, and connect with an electronic chip in your passport using
NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Most smart phones are NFC-equipped but
if yours is not, you should be able to download an NFC reader from Google Play or the
App Store for a nominal fee. Please note that there will be a per person fee of $6 US
($9 NZD) to apply for your New Zealand ETA, as well as an additional per-person fee of
$24 US ($35 NZD) for New Zealand’s International Visitor Conservation and Tourism
Levy.
You may also use website-based forms to apply for a New Zealand ETA, but this is not
recommended as the application procedure is more involved and processing times are
not guaranteed.
Health: You must follow all health travel protocols in place for COVID-19 to enter New
Zealand. At this time (1/01/23) vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers do not need to
have a COVID-19 test to enter New Zealand nor to return to the USA. However, you
should have your White CDC Vaccination Card with you.
Always check with your own physician for any health travel advice. They may want you to
be up to date with your tetanus shot. Bring your own medications and pain reliever of
choice (Tylenol, Aleve, etc.). Many doctors will recommend you bring Pepto-Bismol along
for an upset stomach. Tap water in New Zealand may be safe to drink, however, we
recommend drinking bottled water which may be offered as fizzy (gas) water or still
water.
"KNOW BEFORE YOU GO"
New Zealand Vines and Views
Currency: The monetary currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar. The New
Zealand dollar is divided as follows: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes, and 10c, 20c,
50c, $1 and $2 coins. If you would like to have New Zealand dollars on you before
departing the USA, you can order them through your bank (most likely for a fee). For
initial convenience, we recommend you bring approximately 100 NZD$ with you from
home. Tourists reaching New Zealand without foreign currency can obtain it through any
bank or ATM machine. One of the best ways to get local currency is to use a debit card
in an ATM within New Zealand. Usually, the bank fee rate will be used for currency
exchange rather than the local tourist rate. The ATM will give the option to charge your
account in New Zealand dollars or your home currency; select New Zealand dollars to
obtain the most preferential rate. It is advisable to keep receipts of currency exchanged
in case it is necessary to reconvert back into dollars before leaving the country. Always
check with your bank before your departure to find out their fees and in case they have
special instructions for your usage of an ATM in another country. Let them know the
country you will be in, and the dates you will be there. Don’t forget to include any
connecting airports. There are currency exchanges in the airport and towns of New
Zealand. Fees will vary, but these are usually not the most economical.
It’s handy to have a currency converter app on your mobile device and there are several
to choose from in the App Store. If you wanted a printed copy of current currency
conversions from USD to NZD$ or vice versa, you could find a good chart on the Oanda
website. www.oanda.com/currency/converter/.
Budgeting: To help you budget, food and drink can often cost more than at home. As in
the US, prices are changing frequently, so what is shown here is just a guide. The
approximate cost of soft drinks or coffee is 5-6 NZD$; salad or sandwich with soda or
water, 15 NZD$ and upward; dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and on-
alcoholic beverage, 30 NZD$ and upward. You will need money for meals that are not
included as well as beverages, local guide gratuities, shopping, and incidental
expenses. You might want to budget 75-100 NZD$ per day per person. It’s a good idea
to have plenty of $5 and $10 notes and $1 and $2 coins with you. A good back up can
be USD singles and fives. In a pinch, you can use these for tips although they are not
preferred, and you will not be able to use them in shops and restaurants.
Credit Cards & Travelers Checks: Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are widely
accepted. If bringing an American Express, you may want to bring a second type of
card in case an establishment does not accept American Express. Before you travel, be
sure to let your bank know the country(s) that you may use your card in to avoid a fraud
alert. You will need a PIN number for any ATM cards or to use a credit card for a cash
withdrawal. Do not bring travelers checks, they are increasingly difficult to use.
Electricity: The electrical current in New Zealand is 230 volts and 50 hertz. If you are
carrying electrical appliances with you, you will need to bring a converter (if your
appliance is not dual voltage) and plug adapter with you. New Zealand uses a Type I
plug adapter. These may be purchased at most hardware stores, luggage sections of
retail stores and Amazon, and other online stores. Your hotels do have hair dryers in their
guest rooms.
Plug Adapter, Australia New Zealand Power Adapter, TROND Type I
Calling Home: Check in advance with your cell phone service provider to make sure you
can use it throughout New Zealand. Most service providers will let you convert your
phone to an international plan for short amounts of time or sell you a SIM card.
Weather: April is mid-autumn in New Zealand, and in general, daytime temperatures are
moderately warm, nighttime temperatures cool, and rainfall higher than in the summer.
Daily high temperatures typically range in the mid to high 60’s with lows in the 50’s. We
will be at different elevations so there could be a day a bit cooler. Plan to pack
something you can layer. Take along a portable umbrella in case rain showers develop.
Packing/Baggage: Be sure to label your luggage both inside and outside with your
name and phone number. Your tour allows one check-in piece of luggage per person
due to the capacity on the motorcoach. You are also allowed one soft sided carry on; a
carry on with wheels may not be allowed on board the motorcoach as it will not fit in the
overhead bin or under your seat. We suggest that you pack lightly and save some room
or bring a collapsible carry on that you can put souvenirs in.
To save room in your suitcase, wear a light jacket during your flight in case you find the
plane cool. A pair of comfortable, worn in walking shoes are a must for days out and a
comfortable pair of evening shoes are recommended. To minimize the amount of
clothing needed, consider packing dark colored bottoms that can be worn more than
once. You can pack up to two tops for each day, one for your daytime touring and one
for your evening out. Evening out tops can be worn more than once and often daytime
tops can be as well. Bring clothing that can be layered to help with temperature
variances. Today’s savvy traveler packs light and easy!
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Airline Baggage Information: Most airlines allow you to check one bag free on
international flights with the following restrictions. Calculate the size limits of your
checked bag by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, length + width +
height.
Your checked baggage allowance usually is, Dimension: 62in/158cm; Weight:
50lbs/23kgs
You can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item as follows:
Your carry-on bag usually is: Up to 45 inches (22x14x9 in) or 115 centimeters (23x36x56
cm) including handles and wheels; able to fit comfortably into the sizer box provided at
the airport so it fits in the overhead bin onboard. Your personal item must be smaller
than your carry-on, able to fit under the seat in front of you and can include a purse, a
briefcase, a laptop bag, or similar items such as a tote. Please check on your air carrier’s
website for exact details, rates, and restrictions for checked baggage.
Time Zone: In terms of standard time zones, New Zealand Standard Time is 18 hours
ahead of Central Standard Time.
Safety: The violent crime rate in New Zealand is generally low. Make use of the hotel
safe and leave non-essential valuables and money locked up. It is recommended to
keep your passport, credit cards, travel documents, and money separately from each
other. To protect against pick pocketing, keep your money hidden preferably in an inside
pocket or money belt. Keep a copy of your passport in a separate area or on your phone
as a picture.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not customary and not required, however, for
exceptional service (particularly with concierges or in restaurants and cafes) a tip is
always appreciated. The amount is at the discretion of the tipper and would generally
be in the range of 10% according to the value of the meal/services. Taxi drivers in New
Zealand aren't generally tipped but they do appreciate it if you round the fare up to the
nearest dollar, so they don't have to look for change. You can tip the porter a dollar or
two (up to $5) for bringing your bags or room service.
Gratuities for your Tour Director and drivers are not included in your tour cost. You will
have the same Tour Director throughout the tour. A guideline for the Tour Director would
be $10 - $15 USD per person per day ($130 - $195). You will not have the same coach
driver throughout and can offer a gratuity when you know your driver is leaving the tour.
A guideline for the coach driver is $5 - $10 USD per person per day.
Language: English is the universal spoken language in New Zealand.
