New Zealand Budget Travel Guide helps prepare you for a wonderful vacation exploring New Zealand. I create this guide to introduce the country to you, all its principal cities, and list out its many towns and places of interest. I hope that this budget travel guide, created with budget-conscious travelers in mind - will be of help to you as you plan your trip to New Zealand. Read also Discovering New Zealand Cities for a city-level guide covering more specific details of each city.
Introducing New Zealand
New Zealand is a country in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main islands, simply called North Island and South Island, together with a number of smaller islands, among them Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. Geographically New Zealand is quite an isolated country. Its nearest neighbour, Australia, is 2,000 kilometers (1250 miles) away.
New Zealand has a size of 268,021 square kilometers. Its capital is the town of Wellington while its biggest city is Auckland. Both are located on North Island.
Fast Facts about New Zealand
Official Name: The Dominion of New Zealand
Capital: Wellington (169,000)
Population of New Zealand: 4,076,000
Languages: English (official), Maori (official)
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Religions: Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, others
Size: 268,670 sq km (103,764 sq miles)
Region: Oceania
How to find accommodation: New Zealand Hotels
When booking your hotel room in New Zealand, you can save quite a lot of money if you do a bit of homework. Different Hotel Booking websites actually charge a different rate for the same hotel rooms. To find out which booking site offers you the best price, use the free New Zealand Hotel Search Engine. It provides you a list of hotel booking sites and the price offered for a given room. This helps you to make an informed decision that can potentially save you a lot of money.
The main gateway to New Zealand is the city of Auckland on the North Island, and Christchurch, on the South Island. There are direct flights connecting New Zealand with most major cities in the region including Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong.
How to get around in New Zealand
The most practical way to move about in New Zealand, if you are going from city to city, is to fly. It may well turn out to be less costly than taking the train, especially if you are going from North Island to South, or vice versa. Air New Zealand has the most extensive domestic network of flights, although other airlines also fly the domestic routes including Qantas, Pacific Blue and Jetstar. The main airports in New Zealand are located in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington.
It is relatively cheap to take buses from one place to another. InterCity Coachlines has one of the most extensive network of destinations. Students and holders of youth-hostel membership cards enjoy a discount.
Driving in New Zealand
Driving is a popular way to explore New Zealand. To rent a car and drive in this country, you need to be at least 18 years old, and have a valid driving license in your home country. Distances are stated in kilometers in New Zealand. Although it may appear to be near on the map, places are often quite far apart. So it is advisable to give ample margin of time.
Money matters in New Zealand
At time of writing (Oct 2007), USD1.00 = NZD1.29, €1.00 = NZD1.83. For the latest exchange go to the Oanda Currency Converter.
Abel Tasman National Park Scenic area with excellent beaches ideal for watersports activities.
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park National park surrounding Aoraki Mount Cook, the tallest peak in New Zealand.
Bay of Islands Scenic area on the North Island.
Coromandel Peninsula Scenic coastline with beaches and hiking trails.
Hawke's Bay New Zealand's wine country.
Milford Sound Scenic fiord within the Fiordland National Park.
Taupo Town on the north end of Lake Taupo, base for recreational sports activities.
Regional Towns in New Zealand
Towns and Sights of Northland
Cape Reinga
Dargaville
Doubtless Bay
Kaikohe
Kaitaia
Kerikeri
Opononi
Ninety Mile Beach
Paihia
Poor Knights Islands
Rawene
Russell
Tutukaka
Waimate North
Waipoua Forest
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Whangarei
Whangaroa
Towns and Sights of Central North Island
Cambridge
Cape Kidnappers
Coromandel
Coromandel Forest Park
Gisborne
Hahei
Hamilton
Hastings
Katikati
Kawhia
Mayor Island
Mount Maunganui
Ngaruawahia
Opotiki
Orakei Korako Geyserland
Otorohanga
Pirongia Forest Park
Port Jackson
Raglan
Taupo
Tauranga
Te Puke
Te Urewera National Park
Thames
Tongariro National Park
Turangi
Waihi
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
Wairakei Park
Waitomo Caves
Whakatane
Whangamata
White Island
Whitianga
Places of Interest in New Zealand
Sights in Rotorua
Agrodome and Agroventures
Blue and Green Lakes
Buried Village
Government Gardens
Hell's Gate
Kuirau Park
Lake Rotorua
Polynesian Spa
Rainbow Springs
Skyline Skyrides
St Faith's Anglican Church
Tamaki Maori Village
Tamatekapua
The Blue Baths
Whakarewarewa Forest Park
Whakarewarewa Thermal Area
Cities and Sights in the South of North Island
Cape Egmont
Egmont National Park
Featherston
Hawera
Kapiti Island Nature Reserve
Levin
Martinborough
Masterton
Oakura
Opunake
Otaki
Paekakariki
Paraparaumu
Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre
Stratford
Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park
Waikanae
Sights in Wellington
Carter Observatory
Cathedral Church of St Paul
City Gallery
Civic Square
Courteney Place
Harbourfront
Katherine Mansfield Birthplace
Lambton Quay
Michael Fowler Centre
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of Wellington City and Sea
Old Government Buildings
Parliament Buildings
Town Hall
Victoria University
Wellington Botanic Garden
Wellington Cable Car
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Sights in Palmerston North
Massey University
New Zealand Rugby Museum
Te Manawa Art Gallery
The Square
Sights in Whanganui
Cooks Gardens
Durie Hill
Moutoa Gardens
Sarjeant Gallery
Victoria Avenue
Whanganui National Park
Whanganui Regional Museum
Whanganui River
Whanganui Riverboat Centre
Sights in New Plymouth
Brooklands Park
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
Puke Ariki
Puke Ariki Landing
Pukekura Park
Richmond Cottage
St Mary's Church
Find lowest price for your Hotel Room
Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?
The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!
Our Flight Checker helps travelers compare flights and get the lowest fare for their trips. If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.
Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.
