- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel or apartment
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- The perfect trip to New Zealand
If the end of the world really exists, then it is located in New Zealand - distant islands in the Pacific Ocean, whose nature, despite global urbanization, remains untouched and virgin, and the inhabitants, it seems, are the very elves and hobbits living in complete harmony with surrounding landscapes. However, New Zealanders themselves do not agree with such geographical statements and the most popular souvenir from a trip to New Zealand is a map of the world, where a couple of green islands are located in its center.
Important points
- A visa to the country is issued on the website of the New Zealand Immigration Service or at the embassy. The time frame for the consideration of the case is from 14 to 30 days, and all submitted documents must be accompanied by a notarized translation into English. The visa fee is $ 165.
- Departure from any airport in New Zealand overseas is subject to a tax of approximately $ 18.
- The harsh attitude towards smoking in public places in New Zealand is far from a myth. The fines for violating this law are quite impressive.
- The permitted speed in cities and in rural areas in the country is 50 and 100 km / h, respectively. Video cameras register the slightest violations.
Choosing wings
The main trouble waiting for a tourist when preparing a trip to New Zealand is not too democratic ticket prices. But if you tackle this issue in advance and spend a little time tracking the special offers of airlines, the cost of the flight may come close to adequate:
- The most convenient way to get to Auckland is Aeroflot with a connection in Guangzhou or China Southern Airlines with a transfer in Shanghai. Travel time will be about 25 hours, and the issue price will be $ 1200 and $ 1400, respectively.
- The same Chinese airline, but with two transfers, will take passengers from Moscow to Auckland in 30 hours and $ 1100. Similar prices are offered by Emirates, Qantas Airwais and Etihad Airways, but the journey will take up to 33 hours.
- Flights across the States will require a US visa, although prices for Aeroflot and American Airlines flights via New York or Los Angeles can be very favorable.
Hotel or apartment
International standards, accepted all over the world in the hotel business, are not alien to New Zealand hotels. In addition to the usual star rating, hotels differ in type: B & Bs, motels, hostels and farm guesthouses. The best way to choose the hotel of your dreams is to carefully study the description and reviews of the guests. Usually they are exactly true.
Prices may vary depending on the competition in the city, the season, and even the day of the week. In general, the country is not too cheap in terms of accommodating guests, and even a bed in a hostel will seem expensive for those who are used to traveling on a budget.
A bed in an Oakland hostel will cost $ 35, a private room in a three-star shared apartment with a kitchenette - $ 45, and for a budget vacation in a bungalow with parking, barbecue facilities and necessary amenities, you will have to pay from $ 50.
A hotel room with 4 stars on the front with its own bathroom will cost about $ 80.
Residents of New Zealand rent apartments and rooms no less willingly than citizens of other countries. A room in the capital or another city will cost a guest about $ 40, and for the possession of the keys to a separate apartment for the duration of the trip, the tourist will have to pay from $ 60 per night, depending on the location of the accommodation, the number of guests and the length of stay.
Transport subtleties
Despite the hefty cost of traveling on New Zealand's long-distance buses, tickets should be booked in advance. In cities, bus routes are divided into zones and the fare depends on the destination. It is more convenient to get from the North to the South Island and vice versa for only $ 30 by ferries departing daily from Picton to Wellington and back. Ordering ferry tickets in advance allows you to save up to 50% of their cost. Passenger catamarans will be able to cross the strait dividing the islands one and a half times faster and at the same cost.
There are few railways in the country, but travel on them will cost less than by bus.
If you have a long journey through New Zealand and intend to see most of its natural attractions, take advantage of our car rental service. The price of the issue is from $ 45 per day, the roads in the country are almost ideal and the only inconvenience is left-hand traffic. However, not too busy New Zealand highways allow you to relax and enjoy driving even with the right hand drive.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
The culinary traditions of New Zealand are hearty and hearty English-style meat and vegetable dishes, excellent cheeses, local wines, fresh fish and seafood. You can have a quick and inexpensive snack with the ubiquitous pizza, which costs from 7 to 12 NZD, or a hamburger with a high-quality meat component - from 4 NZD. The average bill for a dinner in a restaurant with steak and wine will be from 40 NZD for two.
The country produces excellent meat and you can make yourself a decent steak for lunch by settling in bungalows with barbecue facilities. The cost of meat in New Zealand stores ranges from 20 to 30 NZD per kilogram of beef, lamb or pork, depending on the selected part of the carcass. A kilo of chilled salmon or shrimp will cost 25-30 NZD.
You can eat quickly and relatively inexpensively at food courts in city shopping centers. A large portion of Chinese food, meat with rice or sausages and potatoes will cost from 10 to 20 NZD.
The perfect trip to New Zealand
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the New Zealand archipelago has a subtropical and temperate climate. The wettest region is in the west of the South Island, and in the east, rainfall is usually low.
The average annual temperature on the islands ranges from + 10 ° С in the south to + 16 ° С in the north, but the sun in New Zealand is equally active at any time of the year, since the ozone layer in these latitudes is very insignificant.
The ski season on New Zealand pistes starts in May and lasts until November. The resorts guarantee athletes stable snow cover and low prices for equipment rental, ski passes and skill lessons.
Diving on the North Island is possible all year round. The water temperature in summer is up to + 23 ° C, and in the period from May to September + 17 °.
