Kiwis and Fairy Bread

The answer of course, should be “Yes!” We are telling everyone to go to New Zealand. It was a year ago, in the depths of a cold February, that Mike and I started planning the trip that is still often on our minds. So what better escape on this cold and wet winter day than to share our tips with you?

#1: Do your research: Lots of it! Read books, websites and travel blogs (like you are doing now!). Talk to anyone you know or meet who has been to New Zealand. Watch videos on YouTube. We recommend Daneger and Stacey: [Van Life in NZ] and Peter and Yen [About New Zealand]

#2: Do your trip your way: Camper van! But if that’s not your thing, rent a car, rent a home, stay in hotels or holiday parks (which all have rooms and bungalows). Or book a tour or a cruise. And if you are under the age of 30, consider applying for a temporary work visa. We met many people from all over the world who were working their way across the country.

#3: Decide on the length of your trip: the longer the better. The prevailing advice is to take a minimum of one week to explore the North Island, and two weeks for the South Island. We followed that advice. But remember, you must also add the time it takes to actually get to New Zealand. If you are from Asia or Australia, that only means adding an extra day or two, but if you from Europe or the Americas, you need to add a total of four days travel time. We were very envious of those we met whose work culture allowed more vacation time than we are given in the US. But I also spoke to those who were thrilled with their Tauk Tour that lasted just two weeks.

#4: Decide your budget. Again, research is key here. Compare the prices of everything, making sure you calculate the correct currency exchange. Compare rates of hotels vs holiday parks, VRBO vs Airbnb, cruise vs tour, camper van vs car, excursions vs self guided and of course, airfare. There are many options for all of these. A Jucy Brand camper might be affordable, but they are also cramped and breakdowns are not uncommon. Are you OK to risk that or can you splurge for a Maui or Britz? Do you prefer luxury or budget hotels? Fine dining or chip shops? Do you want to pay a guide to take you through the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or are you Ok to go it alone? To get from North to South Island (or visa versa), do want to fly or ferry? Take it all into account. No matter what you spend, your trip will be worth every penny.

#5: Don’t underestimate the appeal of the North Island. While everyone (even Kiwis) will tell you the South Island is WAY more interesting than the North, Mike and I disagree. While nothing can compare with the towering green peaks and waterfalls of Milford Sound or the snow capped Southern Alps the North Island has so much to explore! There are plenty of hikes, beaches, lakes, volcanoes, hot springs and interesting towns that we would have liked to spent much more time in. We didn’t even get to visit a traditional Māori settlement, which is so important to the cultural landscape of Aotearoa. In fact, when we do return, our plan is to campervan through the North Island only,

#6: Plan, Plan, Plan. After researching all winter, our summer was about booking reservations for van, holiday parks and excursions. Everything was kept on a spread sheet that included dates, distances, reference numbers, names and addresses. And with a few exceptions, we pretty much stuck to that plan. For the most part, Mike and I work really well together, but it took a lot of patience and compromise. We are very grateful for every minute we spent planning because it made for less decisions during the trip. But all that planning might not be your thing. Maybe you prefer to pay a tour service to take you along on the scheduled itinerary. Or perhaps you are the opposite and just want to get there and go from place to place on a whim. Again, do it your way.

#7: Go in the summer, but not over Christmas and New Years. The reason for our trip was Mike’s 60th birthday on December 20th. It was great to celebrate him on a bright and warm summer day. Because of the annual nativity play I direct, we could not leave until after the show on Dec. 9th. That meant the core of our trip was during peak tourist season when New Zealanders and foreigners alike travel the country. The Kiwi kids are off of school for 6 weeks, the sun is bright and the days long. Many holiday parks were completely full. We were often greeted at check in with a friendly “good thing you made a reservation”. Queenstown, Akaroa, The Hooker Valley Track and Milford Sound were all packed with people! Our advice? Travel in November or January. That’s what we’ll do next time!

#8: Pack light and for every type of weather: We’ve mentioned this before, but you really can experience all four seasons in a New Zealand hour. Pack versatile pieces that can be layered. Don’t forget your wind breaker, winter coat, gloves, hat, water-proof sneakers, togs (bathing suit), shorts, shirts, both light and warm pants, PJ’s, a sweat shirt and if you are going to Milford Sound, a bug hat! Leave all remotely dressy clothes at home! I never once wore my nice sweater or my flats. A blouse and a cheap pair of jandles (flip flops) served me very well. New Zealand is refreshingly casual.

#9: Fly Air New Zealand (and get a Sky Couch). We cannot say enough good things about Air New Zealand. On time, impeccable service, beautifully styled from seat to restroom to those beautiful purple Māori-print uniforms. The Sky Couch was worth the splurge. Not quite first class, but very comfortable. It made an 18 hour plane flight seem like 4, and helped us to arrive rested and ready for our adventure.

#10: Just do it. New Zealand is enchanting, beautiful and friendly. What have you got to lose?

Next Post: New Zealand Must-Do’s, Skips, and what we wished we’d had time for.