New Zealand travel guide

New Zealand AT A GLANCE

Let our New Zealand travel guide help you plan your trip. As well as the two main islands - the North Island or 'Te Ika a Maui And' meaning 'the fish of Maui' and the South Island, with the original Maori name 'Te Wai Pounamu', or 'the waters of greenstone' - there are also countless smaller islands: Stewart Island, Waiheke Island, Great Barrier Island, Tokelau, Auckland, Antipodes Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Islands, Chatham Islands and Kermadec Islands. Some are quite far away, so it's worth factoring this in when planning a trip. With so many things to see and do, the key essentials are: the kiwi, the country's symbol, and a lot easier to find on the one dollar coin than in the forests where it lives, the 'weta' or 'god of ugly things' in Maori, is the world's largest insect, which can grow to the size of a mouse, Wanak's crystal clear blue pools, the fish off Goat Island, the landscapes of the Lord of the Rings, the geysers of Rotorua, Maori sculptures, the traces of the gold rush, the smoke from active volcanoes, the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers...

Best season to visit New Zealand

January
February
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May
June
July
August
September
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November
December

Practical Information

Read our detailed guides to help you prepare for your holiday, with information on visa requirements, packing tips and plenty more.

Passport & Visa Requirements

Passport & Visa Requirements
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Travel Advice & Information

Travel Advice & Information
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Things To Do In New Zealand

Things To Do In New Zealand
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New Zealand in depth

Get under the skin of your destination with our comprehensive guides

Culture

Culture

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Things to know before travelling to

Things to know before travelling to

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New Zealand Travel Blog

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