Book bus, ferry, flight, or train tickets in
New Zealand
- Book online with local operators
- We're here for you 24/7
- Stories by travelers, for travelers
Must visit places in New Zealand
Popular routes
Queenstown to Dunedin
Wellington to Picton
Auckland to Rotoroa Island
Wellington to Auckland
Auckland to Wellington
Auckland to Tauranga
Whangarei to Auckland
Auckland to Whangarei
Russell to Urupukapuka Island
Picton to Wellington
Tauranga to Auckland
New Zealand Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Discover the beauty of New Zealand with our comprehensive travel guide. Learn about the weather patterns and the best seasons to plan your visit. Find practical advice on transportation options to explore this stunning country. Explore top cities, must-see destinations, and savor recommended local dishes that will delight your taste buds. Uncover hidden gems that most tourists miss for a truly unforgettable New Zealand adventure.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
North Island: December to March offers warm temperatures (20-25°C/68-77°F) and minimal rainfall.
Auckland and Wellington are pleasant with long daylight hours for exploring beaches and volcanic landscapes.
South Island: January to March provides ideal conditions (15-22°C/59-71°F) for hiking, with stable weather for experiencing Fiordland, Queenstown, and glaciers.
Central Otago: November to April sees dry, sunny days perfect for vineyard tours and outdoor activities. Summer temperatures reach 25-30°C/77-86°F.
Bay of Islands: November to April delivers warm waters (19-21°C/66-69°F) and sunny days ideal for sailing and marine activities.
West Coast: February to April offers the most stable weather for experiencing rainforests and glaciers, with fewer rainy days than other months.
Note: New Zealand doesn't experience typhoons or cyclones that significantly impact travel plans.
Traveling by Season
The High Season: December-March
New Zealand's summer is the busiest tourist period, especially during December-January school holidays. Temperatures typically range from 20-30°C (68-86°F) with long daylight hours.
Accommodation costs increase 30-50% above normal rates, so book 3-6 months ahead, particularly in Queenstown and beach areas. The weather is generally dry, though the North Island can experience occasional thunderstorms.
Popular attractions and hiking trails become crowded, and transportation delays are common. While there are many coastal activities and summer festivals to enjoy, expect to pay premium prices for most services.
The Low Season: June-August
Winter sees far fewer visitors except in skiing destinations like Queenstown. Temperatures range from 0-15°C (32-59°F), with snow in mountain regions and frequent frost throughout the South Island.
Accommodation prices drop 20-40%, with plenty of availability and room for negotiation.
Rainfall increases, particularly on the North Island, where Auckland averages 15 rainy days per month. Some mountain roads may close temporarily after snowfall, and certain attractions operate on reduced schedules.
Benefits include:
- -Better value
- -Fewer tourists
- -Beautiful winter scenery
The Shoulder Seasons: April-May & September-November
These transitional seasons offer the best combination of decent weather and value. Autumn temperatures range from 15-25°C (59-77°F), while spring temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F).
Accommodation costs are typically 10-20% lower than peak season, with good availability when booked 1-2 months in advance.
Spring can bring unpredictable weather with strong winds, while autumn is usually more stable. Attractions remain open but are less crowded, and autumn foliage in April-May creates spectacular landscapes, especially in Central Otago and Arrowtown.
How to Get to New Zealand
Airports across New Zealand connect visitors to different regions of the country. Auckland Airport is the primary international gateway, handling more than 70% of overseas arrivals and providing direct access to Auckland.
Wellington International Airport serves the capital city, positioned between hills and the harbor, making it convenient for travelers visiting Wellington for its cafes and cultural attractions.
On the South Island, Christchurch International Airport functions as the main entry point, located just a short distance from Christchurch's city center.
Queenstown Airport offers visitors immediate access to the surrounding mountains and outdoor activities, placing travelers minutes away from Queenstown's attractions.
In the southern region, Dunedin Airport connects visitors to the area's wildlife viewing opportunities and Scottish-influenced heritage sites around Dunedin.
Each airport serves as an efficient starting point for exploring different parts of New Zealand.
Cross-Border Travel to New Zealand
Getting to New Zealand's isolation is both its charm and its logistical challenge. Flying is your most practical option, but there are alternatives if you're determined to approach by sea.
- From Australia
- Ferry: There are no passenger ferries crossing the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. The 2,000 km crossing is simply too vast for regular ferry service. Explore other Australia options.
- From Fiji
- Cruise Ships: Several cruise lines operate on the Fiji to Auckland route seasonally. These typically take 4 days and should be booked at least 6 months in advance for better rates. Be prepared for potentially rough seas between November and February.
- From Indonesia
- Cargo Ships: This option requires patience. Freighters from Jakarta or Surabaya occasionally take passengers, but with basic accommodations, no fixed schedule, and weeks at sea. Arrangements typically need to be made through shipping agencies. Explore other Indonesia options.
How to Get Around
When people travel across New Zealand, they find themselves with many ways to move between mountains, coastlines, and cities.
Planes zip between Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, saving hours that could be spent hiking or relaxing. The ferry journey between the North and South Islands cuts through Cook Strait, where passengers often spot dolphins playing in the boat's wake.
Buses wind through country roads, stopping in small towns where drivers greet locals by name. City buses run on schedule in urban areas, while ride-shares connect travelers with local drivers who often share tips about nearby restaurants or viewpoints not found in guidebooks.
Many travelers pick up rental cars or campervans at the airport, then follow roads that curve alongside lakes and through forests. They pull over at lookout points whenever something catches their eye, with no schedule to follow except their own.
In tourist towns, bicycles line bike racks outside cafés, waiting while their riders enjoy coffee before pedaling to the next destination.
For help planning your journey, look into options from InterCity Group and Explore Group on our website.
Food Scene
When people eat in New Zealand, they experience stories that began centuries ago with Māori cooking techniques, now woven together with influences from across the Pacific. In Rotorua, the earth itself becomes an oven as meat and vegetables cook slowly underground in a hangi, releasing steam when uncovered at Mitai Māori Village.
During whitebait season, locals gather along the West Coast rivers at dawn, nets in hand, later transforming their silvery catch into delicate whitebait fritters that taste like the rushing waters they came from.
Weekend mornings in Auckland find shoppers with coffee cups in hand, wandering between cheese wheels and crusty bread at La Cigale French Market.
As evening falls in Wellington, the waterfront lights up with food stalls where cooks call out to passersby and aromas mingle in the cool air.
Each region tells its own food story:
- Central Otago's schist soils nurture pinot noir grapes that become wine with notes of cherries and spice.
- Southland's cold waters produce Bluff oysters so prized that their season is marked on calendars months in advance.
- Canterbury's green hills are filled with sheep that produce some of the most tender lamb found anywhere.
- Along Marlborough's coastline, green-lipped mussels grow plump in the clean currents.
Hidden Gems
1. Wharariki Beach
At the northwestern edge of the South Island, Wharariki Beach waits for those willing to make the journey. Archway Islands stand like sentinels in the water, their shapes carved by centuries of waves. During summer months (December-February), seal pups splash in protected tidal pools, learning to swim before venturing to the open sea.
The end of the day transforms this place. The setting sun paints the archways golden, creating photographs that need no filter.
To find this place, drive to Puponga, follow Wharariki Road until it ends, then walk 20 minutes through farm fields and rolling dunes. The effort makes the arrival sweeter.
2. Lake Moke
Only 10 km (6.2 miles) from Queenstown, Lake Moke feels worlds away from tourist crowds. On windless mornings, the lake becomes nature's mirror, doubling every tree and mountain peak in perfect reflection. Early risers in autumn (March-May) might catch the mist hanging just above the water, making the mountains appear to float.
Follow Moke Lake Road off the Glenorthy highway. The road isn't paved, but most cars manage fine. Travelers can stay overnight at the small Department of Conservation campsite, falling asleep to silence broken only by native birds and waking to that glass-like water before day-trippers arrive from Collingwood.
Scenic Routes
New Zealand unfolds like a picture book as travelers move through its changing landscapes. Roads wind between mountains, alongside coastlines, and through wilderness areas that remain largely as they have been for centuries.
-
Auckland to Wellington: The Northern Explorer train cuts through the North Island's center, passing farms where sheep dot green hills like cotton balls. The train slows near river gorges, giving passengers time to photograph water rushing through rock formations carved over thousands of years. In summer, the sky clears enough to see volcanic peaks standing against blue backgrounds. Large windows frame these scenes like living photographs.
-
Christchurch to Greymouth: On the TranzAlpine railway, passengers watch as flatlands give way to mountains. The train climbs through Arthur's Pass, where beech trees cluster in valleys below snow-topped peaks. During winter, morning sun catches fresh snow, creating a sparkle effect across the landscape. Many travelers stand on the open-air viewing car, where the mountain air feels crisp in their lungs.
-
Queenstown to Milford Sound: The road to Milford Sound passes lakes so clear they double as mirrors, perfectly reflecting surrounding mountains. Buses pause before entering Homer Tunnel, giving travelers moments to take in the scale of the mountains rising around them. Autumn brings orange and gold colors to trees that frame the road's edges, creating natural gateways throughout the journey.
-
Picton to Christchurch: The Coastal Pacific train follows shorelines where waves crash against rocks below while seals sunbathe nearby. Between ocean views, the train passes vineyards where rows of grapes grow in perfect lines up hillsides. Spring brings purple and yellow wildflowers that dot coastal hills. Passengers often lower their cameras just to watch the sea roll by.
-
Rotorua to Taupo: The journey between these towns reveals the earth's inner workings, where steam rises from unexpected places along the roadside. Pools of water in impossible blue and orange colors bubble beside the road. In winter, the rising steam creates a mysterious atmosphere, especially in early morning light. Buses stop at key spots where travelers can walk carefully on boardwalks above the hot springs.
Events, Festivals and Local Markets
Join thousands of locals at the Auckland Lantern Festival, where Auckland's streets come alive with hundreds of handmade lanterns. Families gather as paper tigers, dragons and zodiac animals light up the night, marking Chinese New Year with food stalls serving dumplings and performers sharing centuries-old traditions.
Sip Sauvignon Blanc in the sunshine at the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival in Blenheim. New Zealand's oldest wine celebration brings together over 40 local wineries in one vineyard. People spread picnic blankets between tasting tents, plates filled with fresh seafood and glasses catching the afternoon light.
Feel the drums and hear songs from across the globe at WOMAD in New Plymouth. Children dance alongside grandparents as artists from six continents share their music, stories, and movements. The festival grounds become a small world where Māori songs might follow Brazilian rhythms.
Discover why locals count down the days until Wellington On a Plate, when Wellington restaurants transform their menus for two food-focused weeks. Chefs create one-time dishes, bartenders craft special cocktails, and food trucks gather in unexpected places, all celebrating New Zealand ingredients in creative ways.
Best Places to Visit
1. Picton
At the head of Queen Charlotte Sound sits Picton, the doorway to New Zealand's South Island. From the waterfront, boats bob gently against the backdrop of hills that fold into the sea. Between December and February, the sun warms the beaches and trails, making it perfect for exploring the hidden coves of the Marlborough Sounds.
On Friday mornings, locals gather at the farmers' market, where you can find honey collected from hives nestled in native bush and cheese made from sheep grazing on nearby hills. When cruise ships dock, the foreshore comes alive with musicians playing guitars and selling crafts that tell stories of New Zealand's heritage.
-Ferry from Wellington (3.5 hours across Cook Strait)
-Drive from Christchurch (4.5 hours)
-Fly to Blenheim Airport and take a 30-minute shuttle to Picton
2. Urupukapuka Island
On Urupukapuka, the largest island in the Bay of Islands, footprints in the sand disappear with each gentle tide. Walking trails wind through hills where archaeological sites reveal centuries of Māori history. Between November and April, the waters are warm enough for swimming among fish that dart between rocks and seaweed.
At Ōtehei Bay during busy months, conservationists share stories about bringing native birds back to the island. You might hear the call of a tūī or spot a fantail flitting between trees. Boat captains who shuttle visitors across from the mainland often point out the exact spots where both Māori ancestors and European ships first landed on these shores.
How to get to Urupukapuka Island
- -Passenger ferry from Paihia (30 minutes)
- -Water taxi from Russell (20 minutes)
- -Organized boat tour with an island stopover from the Bay of Islands
3. Wellington
Between steep hills and a deep harbor lies Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Coffee shops tuck into historic buildings where baristas know regulars by name. The compact city invites walking, from parliament buildings to seaside paths in minutes. Visit from March to May, when golden light bathes the city and gentle breezes replace summer winds.
At Te Papa museum, exhibitions tell New Zealand's stories through ordinary objects with extraordinary meanings. Sunday mornings, the waterfront fills with market stalls where artists sell pottery made from local clay and food vendors cook breakfast with eggs laid that morning on farms just outside the city.
- -Direct international flights to Wellington Airport
- -Interislander ferry from Picton (3.5 hours)
- -Scenic train journey from Auckland (12 hours on the Northern Explorer)
Tips for Traveling to New Zealand
VISA & ENTRY
- Most visitors need NZeTA (electronic authorization)
- Apply online at least 72 hours before travel
- US/UK/EU: visa-free for up to 3 months
CULTURAL ETIQUETTE
- Greet with a handshake; some Māori offer "hongi" (touching noses)
- Remove your shoes when entering homes
- Tipping not expected
MONEY MATTERS
- NZ Dollar (NZD)
- Cards are widely accepted; carry some cash for rural areas
- ATMs are widely available in towns/cities
HEALTH & SAFETY
- Emergency: dial 111
- No required vaccines
- Comprehensive travel insurance is essential
- High UV; use sunscreen
TRANSPORTATION
- Drive on the left
- InterCity buses connect major destinations
- Consider a campervan for flexible exploration