New Zealand is a wonderful country for a road trip, especially on the mostly rural South Island, where they have more sheep than people.
This country has two main islands, and both are worth visiting. The North Island has great beaches, volcanoes, and green farmlands, while the South Island has glaciers, fjords, rain forests, and arguably the best road tripping conditions and overall scenery.
Last, but not least, New Zealand is where the entire Lord of the Rings movie series was filmed, and they even kept some of the movie sets. That gives it bonus cool points.
Read through this complete New Zealand travel guide for more info on what to expect!
Climate
The climate in New Zealand is temperate and mild, so there’s seasonal variation in temperatures, but nothing very extreme. Spring and Summer in NZ are from September to November, and December to February, respectively. Summer daytime temps hover around 75 F (24 C), and winter 55 F (13 C), with spring and autumn temps being between those ranges. Winter in NZ is from June to August.
Safety
New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world, with a low violent crime rate of 0.7 per 100k inhabitants (90% lower than the global average). Theft from vehicles does happen occasionally and you’ll see signs warning about this in parking lots, so remember to always lock up and keep your valuables with you.
Budget
New Zealand is not a cheap country. You can expect to pay over $2 NZD per liter for gas (that’s a liter, not a gallon!). Eating out isn’t cheap either, with casual restaurants costing upwards of $20 NZD for a meal. The good news is that you’ll pay a fraction of this when cooking your own meals. Camper van rentals are not exactly cheap either, but you can cut costs by looking for free/low cost campgrounds. The handy CamperMate app is great for this.
Quick Tips
- Language: English
- Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Capital: Wellington
- Visa: Visa free access (with ETA) for many nationalities
- Climate: Temperate; summer is Dec – Feb
- Apps: CamperMate
Destinations
Pick a destination in New Zealand and start exploring!
Posts
My latest blog posts about New Zealand
Tasman Glacier Walk & Lake View In Mount Cook, New Zealand
The Tasman Glacier Walk may be a little less popular than the nearby Hooker Valley Track, but they both have amazing views and they’re super easy to add… Read More
Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall: Short Walk In Arthur’s Pass, New Zealand
The Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall is a short walk in Arthur’s Pass, New Zealand that rewards you with a nice waterfall. The falls are impressive and easy to reach.… Read More
Hooker Valley Track: Short Walk & Lake In Mount Cook, New Zealand
The Hooker Valley Track is one of the best short walks in New Zealand. It’s a flat, easy hike with amazing views of some of the best lakes… Read More
Roys Peak Hike – Epic Track In Wanaka, New Zealand
The Roys Peak hike is one of the most well known day hikes in south island New Zealand. This tough trail on the outskirts of Mount Aspiring National… Read More
Tongariro Crossing – Alpine National Park In New Zealand
The Tongariro Crossing is one of the biggest and best day hikes in New Zealand. Mars-like volcanic peaks and smoking craters may not be the first thing you… Read More
Hobbiton New Zealand – Movie Set Tour Of The Shire
One of the most photogenic places in New Zealand is actually a movie set — from the popular ‘Lord of the Rings’ series! Hobbiton village was filmed on… Read More