New Zealand is roughly
the size of Colorado or Great Britain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.Milford Sound FAQ's
and has a population of only 4.3 million, it is
very uncrowded . . .
. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Doubtful Sound FAQ's
and with it's temperate climate makes for an
ideal year-round holiday destination.
Geographical
coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E. New Zealand is 12
hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Located in South Pacific Ocean and southeast of
Australia. Capital city, Wellington.. Time Zones
Airlines: international airports,
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown,
Dunedin. Domestic airports
make every part of the country accessible, from
Kaitaia Airport in the far north to Invercargill
in the far south
and Ryan’s Creek Aerodrome on Stewart Island.
. . NZ Airline . . NZ Customs
Passports: all
overseas visitors require a passport valid for at
least three months beyond the intended date
of departure from New Zealand. . . NZ Embassy
Climate: seasons are opposite to
that of the Northern Hemisphere. The top of the
North Island is sub-tropical
and the bottom of the South Island is temperate.
Overall, however, the climate is very mild.
Summer average max
temps range between 20-30C / 68-86F, winter
10-15C / 50-60F.
The warmest months are Jan, Feb and the
coolest June, July. . Weather
Temperature range is
not extreme, however weather can change
unexpectedly, for this reason you should be
prepared for sudden changes in weather,
especially if you're doing outdoor activities.
With over 2000 hours
of sunshine per year and very little air
pollution, the UV rays are strong during summer.
Sunscreen, hats,
sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts are highly
recommended when you are in the sunlight.
Annual rainfall on average
is between 650mm / 26inches and 1500mm / 60
inches. As well as producing
areas of stunning native forest, this high
rainfall makes an ideal place for farming and
horticulture.
Culture: many different lifestyles,
European, Maori, Pacific Island and Asian
influences.
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZ$).
All major international credit cards are accepted
in New Zealand. ATM
machines / automatic teller machines, located
throughout all areas.
Tax: All goods and services
are subject to a 12.5% GST due to be increased to
15% as of 1st Oct 2010.
Tipping: normally New Zealanders
do not expect tips for service. Tipping for extra
special service is at the
visitor's discretion... .Women Travellers
Internet access: almost
every small town has Internet access at
cybercafes, libraries etc. For Internet
connection service while travelling around in New
Zealand contact Earthlight: . Internet
Laptops: you will need a RJ45 type
plug to be able to connect your laptop into a
computer socket in
New Zealand, and an adaptor with a flat two or
three-point power plug to connect to the power
supply.
USB modems available to rent for laptop users: . Mobile Modem Hire
Electric current: 230/240
volts, 50 hertz. Slanted 3 pin plugs used.
Train service: .Tranz Scenic
Ferry service: if the
weather is bad ferry cancellations can occur.
When crossing from North to South Island
- suggestion: turn your rental car in and rent
another on the South Island. . Ferry
Car hire: all major car rental
companies available at every airport. . Car Rental
Driving
licence: if you have a current driver's
licence from your home country, or an
International Driving
Permit, you can legally drive in New Zealand for
up to 12 months. Legal age to rent a vehicle is
25 years
If your licence is not in English, you should
bring an English translation with you.
Road Safety . Road Code
In New Zealand,
motorists drive on the left-hand side of the
road. The speed limit on the open road is 100km/h
(60m/h). In built up areas the speed limit is
50km/h.
Women Travelling
in New Zealand . . . .. NZ Statistics . .. .. NZ Government . . . .. Gay Travel New Zealand
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