New Zealand Travel Tips

The time of year that you choose to travel New Zealand, will depend on what you need to bring with you on your travels. Below we provide some advice to assist you with planning your trip:

WHEN TO TRAVEL

You can visit New Zealand all year around. The summer months provide more opportunities to get out and about and enjoy the scenery and outdoor activities however winter is an amazing scenic time in itself, with snow covered mountains providing the perfect ski or snowboarding adventures, not to mention plenty of photo opportunities.

The Christmas period falls during the summer months and with the school holidays also falling during this time it is the most popular time of year for ‘kiwis’ to getaway for a summer holiday. We recommend November, February and April as the best months to travel New Zealand.

If you want to take a ski holiday then July and August should be considered.

For more information on the temperatures in Rotorua in particular take a look at our Rotorua page.

WEATHER

With autumn starting in New Zealand in March and spring starting in September, these are the months when you will likely experience much cooler temperatures and extremes of weather. Typically May through September is the coldest. New Zealand is home to many alpine regions and the weather in these areas can change quite rapidly. The further south you travel the colder the climate too.

WHAT TO BRING / WHAT NOT TO BRING

In summer mosquitoes & sandflies are prevalent so insect repellent is a must to avoid getting bitten, particularly if you plan to spend a lot of time outside.

The hot temperatures and strong sunrays in New Zealand can also cause sunburn very quickly, so another “must have” is definitely sunscreen. Chemists, Supermarkets and other like stores throughout New Zealand sell these items for your purchase.

New Zealand’s agricultural industry is of major importance to our economy and because of this, strong restrictions have been placed on animal products, fruit, plant material and foodstuffs being brought into the country. We simply advise not to bring any of these things to avoid any disruption or penalties to your travels. When it comes to bringing medication into the country, it is advised that you have a doctor’s certificate to avoid any issues when you arrive at Customs.

CURRENCY

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is accepted throughout the country and also easily exchanged into from other currencies.

100 cents is equal to 1 dollar ($). Denominations are as follows: Notes : $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 Coins : 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 There are many foreign currency exchanges located around New Zealand within banks and also in city centres.

ELECTRICITY

In New Zealand electricity is supplied at 230/240 volts (50 hertz), at Sequoia Motel we also have 110 volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only.

TIME DIFFERENCE

Here in New Zealand we are 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) during standard time. During daylight saving, which falls in summer on the first Sunday of October, clocks are put forward one hour. Then on the last Sunday in March, clocks are put back an hour to standard time.

DRIVING

We advise checking with your travel agent, but most foreign driver licences are accepted in New Zealand.

We drive on the left hand side of the road and give way to all traffic that is crossing our path or approaching from the right. If you are going to pick up a rental car most of these companies can provide you with the general New Zealand Road Rules to refer to during your stay.

TIPPING

In New Zealand tipping is not customary nor is it required, however if you receive great service it is always appreciated. As a guide 5 – 10% of a restaurant (not café) bill is an acceptable tip if you feel that the service you have received is exceptional.

At Sequoia Motel we are happy to provide you with more detailed information should you require it for your New Zealand travels, give us a call today : Phone +64 7 348 6775