New Zealand Communications

Area codes are preceded by 0 when dialling within the country.

The majority of public phones accept phone cards, which can be purchased from newsagents and bookstalls. The minimum value phone card is NZD2. Some public phones accept credit cards but very few are coin operated.

Poste Restante is available at most major post offices. You can check at any post office for the nearest branch that offers the service. Mail is kept for up to three months.

A postage stamp to anywhere overseas costs NZD1.50. It takes approximately five to seven days for mail to reach the UK and Europe and three to four days to reach the USA.

Internet access is available at Internet cafés in major towns and cities.

The New Zealand Herald is the most popular newspaper and is the only one with a national circulation. Other newspapers are local publications although they may contain some international news.

New Zealand Food & Drink

The Kiwi diet is unremarkable, being comparable to that of the Americans and Brits. Dinners are generally of the meat and two veg variety, and, like the Aussies, the Enzedders love their barbecues when the weather's good.

What New Zealand has in abundance, though, is consistently high-quality foodstuffs, served as fresh as humanly possible. This applies, of course, to the world-famous New Zealand lamb, but even more so to the less famous but equally awesome seafood.

Try the magnificent shellfish: ask for paua (abalone), bluff oysters, greenlip mussels, toheroa, or pipi. The wide range of sea fish, including John Dory, hoki, snappers, gurnard, are also renowned. There's also freshwater fish of course, although if you like trout you'll have to catch it yourself, but isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

If you've the opportunity, one eating experience in NZ is not to be missed: the Maori hangi, which basically involves the preparation of a large meal using underground "ovens" in which wrapped food is buried and cooked slowly. Hangis are prepared for visitors in most of the traditionally Maori areas such as Rotorua, East Cape and the Far North / Waitangi.

Dairy products are renowned throughout the world, and local butter and cheeses are widely exported. The ice-cream particularly is widely regarded.

For dessert, try some pavlova (fruit and cream filled meringue) which was invented in New Zealand and named in honour of the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova.

No overview of eating and drinking in New Zealand could fail to mention the rise of the Kiwi wine trade. Originally limited to the Hawkes Bay and Marlborough areas of the country, it's become obvious in recent years that much of NZ is perfect for viticulture, and the wine flows freely almost everywhere.

Socially, like their Southern Hemisphere neighbours, the New Zealanders favourite tipple is lager, served ice cold either bottled or on draught. Popular brands include Steinlager and the Australian Castlemaine brew, XXXX.

New Zealand Geography

New Zealand is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, 2,000km south-east of the Australian landmass.

The country proper is divided into two large islands (North and South) and many smaller and more scattered islands. The larger island is South Island, often referred to by its inhabitants as the "Mainland". North Islanders, though, tend to condescend to the Mainlanders as a bit behind the times and very rural. The existence of the country's "Cultural City", Christchurch, shows how wrong this generalisation is.

However the fact remains that North Island is home to almost all of the country's 3.8 million population. The Lower North Island is where you'll find the national capital, Wellington, a cultured and beautiful harbour city that has all that's best of NZ. The Central Plateau region has most of the visitor attractions - from the skiing and thermal lakes at Taupo, the stunning coastline and coastal villages of the Bay of Plenty and the Coramandel, to the Art Deco city of Napier in the Hawkes Bay area.

In the north is the country's largest city, Auckland, considered by the rest of the country to be fast-paced and hedonistic, although international visitors will wonder what all the fuss is about. Northland lies, not surprisingly, to the north of Auckland, and is marked both by a tropical climate and its rich Maori heritage.

South Island is not without its charms too. The capital, Christchurch is a charming town, retaining many of its colonial characteristics. Many visitors will head for the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, excellent skiing territory. Still others will forge their way south to Queenstown, the most popular destination for international visitors and one of the most breathtaking natural locations for a city in the world.

New Zealand Health & Safety

No vaccinations are required for entry into New Zealand.

New Zealand is medically a very safe country; no jabs are needed for visitors, and the hygiene standards are high. Tap water is clean and safe to drink throughout the country and there are excellent medical facilities.

Except in the case of emergency or accident, however, treatment must be paid for and all visitors to New Zealand are advised to obtain comprehensive insurance cover before travelling. Make sure you are covered specifically for any activities you plan on taking part in while in the country as many standard insurance policies will not cover diving, bungee jumping, surfing, rap running, climbing and zorbing, amongst other adrenalin-sports activities.

The local Accident Compensation Scheme in New Zealand covers visitors for personal injury in the case of an accident and means that some medical expenses will be paid for. For information about where to go if you have an accident or need medical assistance while in New Zealand you can call Accident Info Services for advice. Tel: +64 (0)9-529-0488.

One note of caution must be sounded: the sun in NZ is fierce, and you must remember to wear a hat and use suncream - "burn times" can be as low as 12 minutes, and a bad case of sunburn can seriously ruin the rest of your holiday.

A welcome surprise for many visitors is the fact that NZ is blessedly free of poisonous snakes and insects.

New Zealand is regarded as a very safe country to travel in, although the normal precautions against crime that apply anywhere in the world should, of course, be observed. The larger cities are obviously where crime is most widespread but, with such a small population, crime levels are relatively low by international standards. The most prevalent crime is theft from cars, which should be guarded against by locking your vehicle and removing any valuables from sight.

Also be aware that New Zealand operates very strict border controls on what you can bring into the nation. This is to prevent foreign bodies and diseases upsetting the agriculture and eco-system of the islands. Items such as food, seeds and soil are banned although it is common sense to avoid carrying such items to any country. However, you should also declare any items you are carrying that are made of wood or fur, including clothing. These are not necessarily banned but must be available for customs officers to check if required. Camping equipment is targeted by customs officers as often insects or plant matter can be unwittingly carried within folded tents or groundsheets.

Take care when swimming in the sea and take notice of flagged areas and any instructions issued by lifeguards. Treacherous tides and undertows are not uncommon even very close to the shore and can drag swimmers into deep water very quickly. Large sharks also inhabit the South Pacific, and although attacks are rare several occur every year and you should heed warnings. Unlike neighbouring Australia there are no poisonous snakes, spiders or dangerous wild animals in New Zealand.

New Zealand History & Culture

The Maori name for NZ is Aotearoa - the Land of the Long White Cloud and it was the Maori who came to New Zealand first, probably around 1350. Legend has it that they landed in seven ocean-going canoes and established their tribal culture undisturbed for the next few centuries.

The first Europeans to sight the island were a Dutch expedition in the 17th century, and it was mapped as Zeelandia Nova, the name that the country still bears. Captain James Cook mapped the coast in 1769, and, from then until the mid-19th century, Europeans slowly immigrated here with the country being governed by Great Britain. After about 1840, though, immigration from the UK started in earnest, and the European influence became totally dominant over the country.

New Zealand's richness has always stemmed from its natural resources, be they mineral or agricultural. They were essential to the first settlers' survival, and responsible for the largest population influx as prospectors from all over the world came to find gold. However, worth far more than its gold the real treasure is New Zealand's soil and it was this that the settlers really came to plunder arriving in their droves to claim vast swathes of the most fertile parts of the country.

The settlers were often war veterans who were given land as a pension and entrepreneurs eager to make their way in the new, New World. With them the settlers brought agricultural techniques and even today half of the landmass is given over to pasture. However, the settlers also brought arms with them and subjugated the native population by main force. Bouts of violence from both sides were not infrequent and the natives were slowly marginalised towards the less fertile grounds of the territory.

Small scale Maori reservations were established throughout the islands of the archipelago, ostentatiously to preserve native culture, pragmatically to remove a troublesome obstacle to the settlers. The native population declined and although vestiges of the maori culture are preserved (rather more successfully and honestly) the Maori make up only a very small portion of New Zealand's diverse culture nowadays.

Although the two World Wars never threatened the territory of New Zealand the country's population bore heavy casualties in World War One. Vast numbers of young men from New Zealand and Australia (the ANZACS) went halfway round the world to fight on the side of the UK and its allies. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the ANZACS, most famously at Gallipoli against superior Turkish forces. The New Zealand casualty rate of 63,000 (dead or wounded) from 110,000 fighting men sent to the war was the highest of any of the Allied nations.

Depression followed the war. The young male population of the country had been sorely depleted and through the 1930s New Zealand endured unprecedented economic hardship. But even in these hard times when New Zealand's ties to the old mother country were tested by the outbreak of World War Two, New Zealand was not found wanting. Thousands of its young men once more set off to war. However this time there was a difference, as America joined the war New Zealand became an important training and jumping off point for US soldiers fighting in the Pacific.

Coming out of the war New Zealand saw an upturn in its fortunes as it began to reap the benefits of its position on the Pacific Rim. The economic boom meant full employment and the country enjoyed a full quarter century of prosperity. The UK's full integration into Europe and its casting off of the vestiges of its colonial interests diminished one of New Zealand's core markets. However, through a programme of economic regeneration New Zealand, although not the boom nation it was before, is able to support its still small but cosmopolitan population.

If you haven't been, the likelihood is that you'll have experienced New Zealand vicariously through its two most famous exports - lamb and rugby. As many guidebooks delight in telling you, sheep still outnumber humans in the country by approximately 20 to one and most sheep are eventually shipped off to foreign markets as mutton or lamb.

But if sheep are the country's biggest export there's little doubt that the national Rugby Union team, "The All Blacks", is the most successful. Famous for the native Maori dance - the Haka - performed before kick-off the team is among the world's finest exponents of the game. All New Zealanders are fiercely proud of the All Blacks and follow them with a passion. Cricket is also popular throughout the nation.

Similar to the Australians New Zealanders have grown a reputation for being a friendly but hardy breed of people; Edmund Hillary, conqueror of Everest, was born in Auckland. The New Zealanders though have less of a reputation for frivolity and talkativeness then their antipodean neighbours, which can be a blessing.

The Maori themselves are now a popular symbol of New Zealand but, after centuries of immigration from Europe, only account for about ten per cent of the total population. Nowadays New Zealand is one of the world's most tolerant societies in terms of race, culture and religion - with large populations of Polynesian and Asian origin besides the European and Maori peoples.

An egalitarian ideology is central to the New Zealand outlook on life as well as its system of government.

New Zealand Money

Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD). NZD1=100 cents
Notes: NZD5, 10, 20, 50, 100
Coins: NZD1, 2 and 5, 10, 20, 50 cents
Credit cards: All major credit cards are accepted throughout New Zealand. Credit cards can be used to withdraw cash at ATM machines found at banks and in shopping centres.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some hotels. Traveller's cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some larger stores. You are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars or US dollars.

Banks are generally open from 09h30-16h30 Mon-Fri.

Below are approximate costs for the following items:

A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 12.5% is added on to the price of all consumer goods and services. Those visiting New Zealand can not claim back this tax. The only exception is when a major purchase is immediately shipped from point of purchase to the visitor's home address. In such cases, the supplier will not charge the GST.

Tipping is not common in NZ and is very rarely expected of you, and there is no conventional situation when it is positively demanded that you tip. However, not tipping at a restaurant can feel very odd for many travellers, and it's a rare waiter who will turn a tip down if it's offered. Cab drivers and porters in the more upmarket hotels are likewise not averse to accepting discretionary tips.

New Zealand Phrasebook

Although the main language of New Zealand is English, you'll be excused for not recognising much of what is said to you during your stay, as New Zealanders often have difficulty in being understood when in conversation with a foreigner. You may hear Maori (New Zealand's first settlers) spoken, which is also an official language of the islands although you may need extra schooling in this to understand.

Simpler to learn are these few New Zealand slang words to brush up on before your trip:

New Zealand See & Do

Picking out highlights has been a difficult task: there's so much more to the country than listed below. However, here are some typical visitors' attractions and other ideas on how to use your time in NZ.

"Te Papa" means "Our Place", and is the name of the new National Museum on Wellington harbour. A trip to Te Papa is prescribed for any length visit to Wellington, even one of just a few hours. The museum is divided into sections dealing with Maori culture, nature and the environment, science and technology. Excellent for families and for getting orientated on first arriving in the country.

Cable Street. Open: daily 10h00-18h00 (until 21h00 Thu). Admission: free. Tel: +64 (0)4-381-7000.

In the far north of NZ lies the Bay of Islands, a Pacific paradise of perfect beaches, Maori culture, big game fishing, sailing, swimming, sea-kayaking, and, of course, lazing on the sand.

The waters are warm and clear making them some of the best diving locations in the world with numerous reefs and wrecks to explore. The Rainbow Warrior, sunk by the French Secret Service in Auckland is now laid to rest on the sea bottom off Matauri Bay in the islands and has become a home for sea creatures and plants. Unless you are expert, diving should always be properly supervised. Riptides and undertows are quite common.

The most popular holiday destination in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands draws national as well as international holidaymakers, and the vistas and atmosphere are simply unforgettable.

In the centre of North Island lies Lake Taupo, one of the most regularly visited holiday spots in New Zealand, and significantly where the New Zealanders themselves choose to take their breaks.

The reason? The incredible range of activities. All the watersports you care to mention, the best trout fishing in North Island (and there's some heavy competition), geothermal pools, hiking (or "tramping"), golf, adventure sports... all within an unbelievable volcanic landscape.

Everywhere you look you'll see a volcano, and the lake itself was created by a massive eruption thousands of years ago. In the town of Taupo and the tiny village of Tokaanu visitors can ease their activity induced aches and pains in the geothermal pools of mineral enriched waters. Mount Ruapeho nearby offers some of New Zealand's best skiing as well (see below).

In 1931, the Hawkes Bay towns of Napier and Hastings were almost levelled by one of the worst earthquakes to have been recorded in New Zealand.

In response, the typically optimistic Kiwis took the opportunity to redesign, predominantly in the contemporary Art Deco style. The result is spectacular. Join one of the walking tours that cover either of these towns, or explore yourself. There's plenty to see even if you don't know where you're going.

While you're here it would be a shame not to take in a few of New Zealand's wineries, some of the best of which are in this region.

Not content with the traditional day or two's hiking, the Kiwis have "tramping" - hiking taken, of course, to extremes. A tramp can be anything from a few days stroll through a national park to a full week's expedition involving mountain climbing, crossing the glaciers of fjordland, and so on.

Most of the best tracks are on South Island, including the magnificent 54km Milford Track. It is possible to pre-book guided "tramps" or you can follow the route independently, as long as you have the appropriate skill and equipment to do so safely. Huts along the routes vary from the luxury of mattresses and stoves to the bare essentials of floorboards, four walls and a roof. Remember to take all necessary precautions if you choose to tramp, and do not undertake expeditions beyond your ability or expertise.

In some areas permits are needed. Contact the Great Walks Booking Desk on Tel: +64 (0)3-249-8514 for details of how you can obtain one.

New Zealand is not just a summer destination. For lovers of snow, the skiing is fantastic for experts and beginners alike. The resorts are not quite as developed or busy as North America or Europe; whether you think this is a good thing or not is a personal preference.

Being New Zealand, of course, the options aren't limited to anything as mundane as mere resort skiing and snowboarding. Alternatives include vast cross-country adventures, heliskiing and glacier skiing.

There are resorts on both North and South Islands, but perhaps the most famous is Mount Ruapehu on North. This is the largest active volcano in New Zealand and when it last erupted in 1996 skiers were pictured fleeing down the mountain as ash and smoke billowed from the crater. It is semi-dormant nowadays and you can visit the crater before skiing down the slopes.

         

New Zealand is where most extreme sports started, and Queenstown is the capital of the extreme sports world. This is the town that saw the first bungee jumps, the first jetboats, and is still at the leading edge for adrenaline-inducing insanity.

In winter it is one of the best ski resorts in NZ, and in summer the loonies head here to leap off tall buildings and so on. If you don't fancy risking your neck BASE jumping there are still plenty of reasons to come here. Queenstown is a thoroughly beautiful settlement, very tourist-friendly and a great place to base yourself for an exploration of the bottom of South Island.

About halfway down South Island on the East Coast is the island's capital, Christchurch, settled in the early part of the 19th century and still the most English of the nation's cities.

It's a lively place, with plenty of nightlife, cultural events, and easy access to beaches, ski fields, white-water rafting, and, oddly, Antarctica. Chch (as it's abbreviated) is the main departure point for scientists and explorers to the Great White South, and a visit to the Antarctic centre is a novel way to spend a day.

One of the most fascinating aspects of New Zealand is, of course, the unique wildlife. If you travel from north to south across the country you'll be passing through a bewildering range of environments, all of which were isolated for hundreds of thousands of years before man landed here.

The kiwi is the most famous of the flightless birds that evolved here in the complete absence of native predatory mammals, and there are many more strange creatures that inhabit the countryside of New Zealand. Legend has it that there are even one or two moa left, the 16ft birds hunted to extinction by the early Maori settlers and their dogs.

For an insight into Maori culture, a day spent at a "marae", or tribal meeting house, is a great experience. One way of doing this is to visit Christchurch's National Marae, the Marae of the Four Winds, the largest urban meeting house in the country.

It is open to visitors on weekdays and for traditional Maori evening entertainment. A less organised (and possibly more authentic) alternative is to visit one of the hundred or so marae in the East Cape area of North Island. Permission to enter is needed, but will probably be granted at any of them. You'll be expected to give the traditional "hongi" greeting - this involves pressing your nose to the other person's.

New Zealand Transport

Basically, if you're spending any time outside of Auckland or Wellington, you'll need a car.

Good as the public transport is, there are some places in the country that are just far easier to access by motor vehicle. Be warned though that even apparently modest distances can take a long time to cover due to narrow roads and variable weather conditions.

Note that public transport may be affected by public holidays.

Cross-country rail travel in New Zealand is not the quickest means of getting from one place to the next - which is half the charm. You'll notice that most other passengers are visitors to the country as well, enjoying the scenery and kicking back as the pace slows down.

Tranz Scenic (the only inter-city rail network) runs three routes covering South Island and four covering North Island, all of which will get you pretty much anywhere you want to be. Contact Tranz Scenic on +64 (0)4-495-0775 for details of booking and schedules. The company also owns the Cook Strait Interislander ferry service allowing travellers to inter-rail between the two islands seamlessly.

Getting around New Zealand by coach is a good option for visits to the major cities and towns, especially since you end up being able to have a decent look at the countryside.

The major coach company is Inter City (Tel: +64 (0)9-913-6100), which has an extensive network across both islands. Don't misjudge distances, though: a trip between Auckland and Wellington will take about 11 hours. Smaller "shuttle" and minibus companies abound, too, and can be more fun as you'll get to speak with the driver and meet local passengers - check with tourist information offices for services and availability.

Your national driving licence is valid for use in New Zealand. If the licence is not in English, however, you should obtain a translation or an International Driver's Licence. You must carry your driving licence with you at all times when driving.

The road system in New Zealand is generally good, with major cities connected by highways. The speed limit is 100km per hour (62mph) on the open road and 50km per hour (31mph) in built up areas. Limited Speed Zones (marked by a red circle around the letters LSZ) apply on some stretches of highway where in adverse weather conditions you must reduce your speed to 50km per hour. At other times the 100km per hour limit applies.

Driving is on the left and you must overtake on the right. The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts where fitted.

Roads tend to be uncongested and you shouldn't experience many problems navigating, even in cities. Driving is generally safe in the country with a low level of traffic accidents.

Drink driving is illegal with a blood/alcohol limit of 80mg per 100ml of blood. For drivers under 20 the level is 30mg per 100ml. Random roadside tests are carried out frequently.

It is unlikely you'll be shipping your own vehicle to New Zealand, so to obtain a vehicle the usual option is hiring. All the big international car hire companies have offices in NZ. This means there's no problem getting rental cars at any of the main airports or towns.

Although unlikely to be an option for a short holiday, for protracted stays in New Zealand (several months usually) some people take the option of buying a car and selling it at the end of their stay. For this reason some car sellers operate Buy and Sell-back schemes whereby they guarantee to buy back the vehicle at a reduced price after a certain length of time.

The following table provides approximate driving distances between New Zealand cities. Kilometres in the lower left of each table, miles in the upper right:

New Zealand is about 1,000km long - with a wide strait in the middle, which precludes driving from end to end in under two exhausting days.

Not surprisingly, many people choose to fly instead: a flight from Auckland to Christchurch will take about two-and-a-half hours, and from Wellington about one hour. These three cities are also New Zealand's main international airports.

Domestic airports are located at Hamilton, Palmerston North, Queenstown and Dunedin. These four also receive flights from Australia as well as internally within New Zealand. The main domestic carriers are Air New Zealand (Tel: 0800-737-000 within NZ or contact your local office) and Qantas New Zealand (Tel: 0800-800-146 from within NZ). There are also a host of smaller airlines and charter companies in the less densely populated regions.

There is a NZD25 international departure tax levied on all out-going passengers. This may be included in your air fare but is more likely to be payable at the airport. Even tickets bought in New Zealand do generally not include departure tax.

The Cook Strait is 26km wide at its narrowest and 400km at its widest point - far too wide to bridge. The ferry link is naturally essential for traffic between the islands.

The three-hour "InterIslander" ferry trip across the Cook Strait from Wellington (NI) to Picton (SI) is an attraction in its own right. The last hour or so through Queen Charlotte sound is utterly beautiful on a good day, and you start to slow down to the tempo of South Island before you've even arrived. There's also the Lynx - a "wave-piercing" catamaran that does the trip in just over two hours, but with less of a view. For both trips, Tel: +64 (0)4-498-3302.

New Zealand Visas & Embassies

The following information regarding visa requirements is intended as a guide only. Since visa regulations can change frequently we are unable to guarantee that information will be updated immediately and recommend that you contact the relevant embassy or consulate before travel.

* Australians with a valid passport can enter New Zealand without a visa and have the right to work there.
** British passport holders with the right of residency in the UK do not need a visa provided they have a passport that is valid for six months and return or onward tickets.
† Portuguese passport holders must have the right of permanent residency in Portugal

New Zealand Weather

New Zealand is a great destination to visit all year round. It has four distinct seasons, which are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring falls between September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May and winter from June to August.

During the summer there is plenty of sunshine with temperatures reaching 20-30�c, so be aware of the risks of sunburn and remember to wear a hat and use suncream. "Burn times" can be as low as 12 minutes, and a bad case of sunburn can ruin the rest of your holiday.

Don't be put off from visiting during the winter (colder) months as they still tend to be fairly mild with temperatures continuing to reach 10-15�c in some parts and for skiers naturally these are the best months to visit. Considering that the two islands stretch almost 2,000km (1,240 miles) from north to south, it is not surprising that you can experience a very different climate in different parts of the country. The Northern tip of the country is subtropical, while the south is temperate and can be quite cold in winter.

New Zealand is a breezy country, especially Wellington, which is known for spells of quite windy weather.

Choose a domestic or international city for a full weather forecast updated throughout the day: