Memo for those arriving in New Zealand

Welcome to New Zealand!

What to think about in advance and what to take with you?

After you have organized your tour, bought out air tickets and issued a New Zealand tourist visa, you just have to get ready for the trip. What is worth considering?

First of all, check out the list of things prohibited for transportation. Next, you will need the following information about the country:

Time. New Zealand is among the first countries to celebrate a new day on the planet. From early October to early April, the time difference with Moscow is 10 hours. From early April to early October - 9 hours. That is, in December in Auckland will be 22:00, when it will be noon in Moscow.

Electricity. Sockets in the country are different from Russian and European. It requires a three-pin adapter. It can be purchased at the airport or any New Zealand store.

Money. The local currency is the New Zealand dollar. The approximate ratio with the American namesake USD 0.6 = NZD 1.00 (of course, the course is constantly dancing). Only the national currency is in circulation in the country, you can pay for goods and services USD or EUR only in duty-free shops, so cash will have to be changed or withdrawn at an ATM. But it is best to pay for purchases with a bank card. This can be done everywhere, only the smallest shops do not accept international payment systems Visa or Mastercard.

Weather. New Zealanders say, “If you don’t like our weather, wait 15 minutes.” And it really works! Whatever the weather, it will change in 15 minutes. In general, in the summer (November to February) on both islands we have hot - it reaches +30-35, but almost always with a pleasant breeze. Be sure to wear headgear and smear with sunscreen. Winter weather in the North and South Islands is very different. When the grass turns green in the north and the sun warms the air to +15 during the day, snow may lie on the South Island and the temperature drops below zero. With that in mind, pack your suitcases.

Clothing you need to bring to New Zealand:

For a day in good weather:

Everything you would take for a summer day in the Northern hemisphere of the middle lane, that is, T-shirts, shorts, necessarily headgear.

- sneakers, two pairs per shift

bathing suits (in any season for thermal springs)

- shoes for "wet" excursions, what you can wear for kayaking, for example

For a day in bad weather:

- windbreaker, preferably waterproof

- lightweight sweater

- Changing jeans in case of rain, and better sporty dry pants

- long-sleeve shirts or turtlenecks

Tonight:

- pants, jeans.

- sweater

- T-shirts

To the fjords and to the sea (spring, winter and autumn):

It is advisable to bring a warm jacket from the wind.

From the strong wind you can bring a hat. You may only need it once, but it weighs little, so it won’t hurt.

For winter travel:

Warm jacket (not worth carrying)

- warm shoes.

- cap and gloves

We do not recommend to take evening dresses or jackets, this form of clothing is accepted only in 5 * restaurants, which in New Zealand are very few. They are mostly concentrated in Auckland or Queenstown. We don’t recommend shoes with heels either – there is nowhere to wear them. The most important thing is to bring comfortable and lightweight shoes and another pair in case of rain. In New Zealand, clothing is completely informal. The farther south you go, the more relaxed people are. We go in Vietnamese or barefoot on the street and in shops. The uniform along the route is sporty, comfortable. Umbrellas are not recommended to take, unless they are folding and small, but usually there is a strong wind everywhere, so it is best to take raincoats.

Shops. The choice of products in New Zealand is very small. Good shoes and clothes can be found only in expensive boutiques, cheap things are not as refined and high-quality as in Europe or Moscow. It will take a lot of time to choose, and the expectations of good shopping will not be justified. Fashion in New Zealand is specific, different from other parts of the world, especially Europe, so it will take a lot of time to find a good thing. Normal stores can only be found in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and occasionally Queenstown. It will be pleasant to have a large number of souvenirs and products for tourists.

What to bring from New Zealand? The most “New Zealand souvenirs” are wool products, including sheep hides, jewelry made of jade (Greenstone or Jade) or pearl shell Paua, healing honey of the Manuka tree, as well as honey tinctures, white wines, Maori wood products, chocolate with pieces of kiwi fruit, toys in the form of a kiwi bird.

Shop and bank opening hours. The shops are usually open from 9am to 5pm. Some supermarkets extend opening hours until 10pm and, in rare cases, until 12am. Many bars and restaurants close at 12am, some continue until 2am and very rare (mostly in Queenstown) at 4am. Their working hours are regulated by the laws of the country. Banks are open from 08:30 - 09:00 to 16:00 - 17:00, but ATMs work around the clock.

Pharmacies. Without a prescription, only very few medicines can be bought at the pharmacy. If you need any special medications, take your own from home. Or you should first visit a New Zealand doctor who is out of work on the weekend, and he will write the necessary prescription. Pharmacies operate in the same mode as shops, but in large cities there are round-the-clock ones.

Tips. It is not necessary to give them, but restaurants will be welcomed with gratitude, although waiters do not expect them.

Transport. If you have not ordered the services of a Russian driver guide, then we recommend using taxi services to move around the city (the most correct thing is to install an Uber app). The bus system works well in Auckland and Wellington. In Christchurch, buses run at long intervals and are often late. Intercity bus service is provided by InterCity.

If you rent a car in New Zealand and drive yourself, be sure to bring your international license or make an English translation of a Russian driver's license. The translation must be sealed by a licensed translator.

Mobile and Internet. We recommend you to use the Airalo service and install e-sim in advance at home, buy a New Zealand fare, selecting the required number of gigabytes, and activate it after arrival in NZ. To do this, your phone must support electronic SIM cards.

As for the free wi-fi zone, you will find them in hotels, cafes and restaurants, offices of travel providers.

To call New Zealand, you need to dial +10 + 64 + city code + phone number.

Emergency number 111. If you forget it, dial 911 – this phone also works, especially for foreigners.

Security. New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world. We have low rates of crime and traffic accidents. However, do not neglect the basic safety rules:

1. Be sure to get health insurance before traveling.

2. Buckle up in the car. This will not only save you money when meeting with the police, but most importantly save your life in case of an emergency.

3. Calculate your strength in the campaigns. Plan them carefully in advance with a guide or yourself, choosing the optimal level of load for you.

4. If you’re planning extreme activities, make sure you don’t have medical contraindications: cardiovascular disease or musculoskeletal disease.

Address of the Russian Embassy in New Zealand:

57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington

 

We wish you a pleasant stay in the Land of the Long White Cloud!