Travel to New Zealand — everything you need to know
When to go to New Zealand?
- December–March — Southern summer — Ideal : Warm, sunny summer, perfect for hiking, beaches and adventure activities.
- September–November — Southern spring : Lush green landscapes, lambs in the fields, fewer crowds, lower prices.
- June–August — Southern winter — Ski : Winter on the South Island: skiing in Queenstown and Wanaka. Milder on the North Island.
Weather in New Zealand
Check the weather city by city, starting with Wellington.
- Auckland: daytime highs from 15 to 24 °C depending on the season, 93 mm of rain per month on average.
- Wellington: daytime highs from 12 to 21 °C depending on the season, 110 mm of rain per month on average.
- Queenstown: daytime highs from 7 to 22 °C depending on the season, 76 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in New Zealand?
New Zealand is one of the most breathtaking natural destinations on the planet, spread across two islands offering a diversity of landscapes ranging from towering fjords to active volcanoes, sunlit vineyards to coastal glaciers. Made world-famous by the Lord of the Rings settings, it also charms with its living Māori culture, extreme adventure sports and top-quality tourist infrastructure. The South Island concentrates the most spectacular scenery, while the North Island blends warmth, geothermal wonders and bicultural history.
Fiordland — Milford Sound
Fiordland is one of the wildest and most spectacular regions in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage national park dominated by towering fjords carved by ice-age glaciers. Milford Sound, called the eighth wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, impresses with cliffs plunging straight into dark waters and permanent 200-metre waterfalls. The Milford Track Great Walk (54 km, 4 days) is one of the most legendary hikes on the planet.
Highlights : Milford Sound — fjord cruise between cliffs and waterfalls, Milford Track — 4-day hike between lakes and mountains, Doubtful Sound — a more remote and even wilder fjord than Milford, Te Anau — gateway to Fiordland, glowworm caves.
Rotorua
Rotorua is the heart of Māori culture in New Zealand and the country's main geothermal site, where the ever-present smell of sulphur is a reminder that the town sits on an active volcanic caldera. The geysers of Wai-O-Tapu park, the bubbling mud pools of Waiotapu and the thermal pools of Polynesian Spa offer a unique geological spectacle. Haka performances, hāngī (earth-cooked feasts) and marae (traditional Māori meeting grounds) make Rotorua the ideal place to discover the culture of New Zealand's first inhabitants.
Highlights : Wai-O-Tapu — geothermal park with spectacular fluorescent colours, Te Puia — geysers, wood carving and Māori performance, Polynesian Spa — natural thermal baths overlooking Lake Rotorua, Tamaki Māori Village — recreated village and hāngī evening.
Queenstown
Queenstown is the world capital of adventure sports, perched on the shore of Lake Wakatipu amid spectacular mountains reminiscent of Lord of the Rings landscapes. Bungy jumping, skydiving, whitewater rafting, jet-boating through gorges — Queenstown invented or popularised most modern extreme adventure activities. In winter, the Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski fields make the town one of the most sought-after ski destinations in the southern hemisphere.
Highlights : Kawarau Bridge bungy jump — the world's first, 43 m, Skyline Gondola — cable car and panoramic luge over the town, Jet-boating through Shotover Gorge — guaranteed adrenaline, The Remarkables — skiing and snowboarding overlooking Lake Wakatipu in winter.
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro is New Zealand's oldest national park and one of the first in the world to be gifted to the state by Māori chiefs, who regard its volcanoes as sacred ancestors. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19 km, 6–8 hours) is renowned as one of the best day hikes in the world, crossing lunar lava landscapes, emerald lakes and steaming craters. The volcanoes Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings) and Tongariro make up a landscape of striking beauty.
Highlights : Tongariro Alpine Crossing — legendary hike between craters and lakes, Emerald Lakes — crater pools with an otherworldly green colour, Mount Ngauruhoe — Mount Doom from the films, climbable outside the main season, Whanganui National Park — kayaking down the sacred river.
Travel budget for New Zealand
New Zealand is a medium-to-high cost destination, comparable to Australia or Western Europe. Travelling by campervan (freedom camping) considerably cuts costs while making the most of the scenery.
- Backpacker : 70–110 €/j — Campervan or camping, home cooking, free activities (hiking), InterCity bus.
- Comfort : 150–250 €/j — Motels and B&Bs, restaurants, organised activities, car rental.
Practical tips for travelling to New Zealand
- Flight from Paris : 22–26h with 1–2 layovers (Singapore, Dubai or Los Angeles). No direct flight from France
- Visa : NZeTA required (Electronic Travel Authority, 23 NZD online, ~€13) + IVL tourism levy 35 NZD (~€19) = ~€32 total. Valid 2 years, multiple entries, max 90-day stay.
- Currency : New Zealand dollar (NZD). Cards very widely accepted everywhere. Little cash needed
- Language : English and Māori are official. The English-speaking population makes communication very easy
- Electricity : Type I (230V) — adapter required. Not compatible with standard European plugs
- Health : Safe country health-wise. No vaccine required. Excellent healthcare. Travel insurance strongly recommended
- Driving : Drives on the left as in the UK. Campervan rental very popular — French driving licence accepted
- Biosecurity : Strict checks on arrival. Do not bring in food, plants, or muddy shoes, on penalty of a fine
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