When you travel to
New Zealand from another country, you’ll probably arrive
here at one of four major airports: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch,
or Queenstown. This section will clearly show you the routes
and different modes of transport available for getting out of
the airport and to your destination.
Transport
options
Taxi
About $20 — About 25 Minutes
Taxi stands are located directly out the ground floor entrance
of the terminal. A taxi from the airport to the city will cost
between $15 — $25, and will take around 25 minutes, though
it may take longer during Wellington’’s rush hour
(between 4:30pm and 5:30pm). When travelling to Wellington International
Airport, taxis will drop you at the arrivals entrance at the
upper floor of the terminal.
Shuttle
$8 — About 35 Minutes
A number of companies run door-to-door shuttle services from
the airport to Wellington city. Shuttles are located on the
ground floor level at the southern end of the terminal. The
airport-to-city trip costs around $8, although couples or groups
can qualify for discounts. The trip to the city should take
around 30 minutes but may vary depending on where passengers
are dropped off.
Bus
$4.50 — 45 Minutes
The Stagecoach Flyer is a bus service between the airport, Wellington
city, and the Hutt Valley. The bus stop is on the ground floor
level at the southern end of the terminal. Buses depart approximately
every 30 minutes, but hourly in the early morning and at night
during weekends. The fare from the airport to Wellington city
is $4.50 for adults and $2.00 for children. The Stagecoach Flyer
makes a number of stops including all bus stops through the
city centre. The trip to the city takes about 45 minutes.
In the southern hemisphere
the seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere.
In general, summer with mild temperatures and long days is the
best time to visit New Zealand.
Entry
Formalities
All visitors need a
passport. Whether you can enter visa-free or not depends on
where you come from, how long you're staying and what you want
to do when you get here.
Let's take the easiest case: The need for a visa will be waived
if you just want to come here for a holiday for up to three
months (UK = six months) and you are a citizen of any of the
following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France. Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kiribati, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal*,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Tuvalu, USA**.
*Portuguese passport holders must have the right to live permanently
in Portugal.
** Includes US nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island.
In order to qualify for the visa waiver you must:-hold
a valid ticket to a country to which you have a valid right
of entry, and have sufficient money to support yourself
during your stay, and
Hold a passport valid for three months beyond the date
you are leaving New Zealand, and
Only wish to visit NZ for the time granted on arrival
(if you wish to visit for a longer period you will have
to apply for a Visitor's Visa)
Trading banks are open
from 9.30am until 4.30pm from Monday through to Friday.
New Zealand operates a decimal currency based on dollars and
cents. NZ$1 = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $5, $10,
$20, $50 and $100. Coins are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50
cents $1 and $2.
Foreign exchange facilities are available at Auckland, Wellington
and Christchurch airports, at hotels, trading banks and some
retail shops. There is no limit to the amount of New Zealand
or foreign currency which can be brought into or taken out of
the country.
Payment by major credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, American
Express, Diners Club, JCB and Bankcard (Australia) are widely
accepted throughout New Zealand. International credit cards
may be used to obtain cash from automatic teller machines provided
they are encoded with a PIN number from your bank.
New Zealand's medical
and hospital facilities, both private and public, provide a
high standard of treatment and care. Services are not free for
visitors to New Zealand unless as a result of an accident but
such costs would normally be covered by your own travel and
medical insurance. Hotels and motels can usually arrange medical
services for you.
Chemists (drugstores/pharmacies) are open during normal shopping
hours. Should pharmaceutical supplies be required after hours,
refer to Urgent Pharmacies listings in the local telephone directory.
There are no snakes or dangerous wild animals in New Zealand.
Sandflies are prevalent in some areas, but these can be effectively
countered by use of insect repellent. The only poisonous creature
in New Zealand is the very rare katipo spider.
Business
Hours
Offices and businesses
generally operate Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Government departments
are open 9am to 4.30pm.
Shopping
Hours
Retailers normally
open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm with a late night (to 9pm)
either Thursday or Friday. Most retailers are open on Saturday
mornings with some remaining open until 4pm.
Many shops, including supermarkets, grocery stores, shopping
malls and those in tourist areas open extended hours, including
evenings and Sundays.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied
throughout New Zealand at 230 volts, 50Hz. Most power sockets
in New Zealand accept flat three-pin plugs or similar adaptors.
Equipment designed for different voltage would require a transformer
although many hotels provide 100 volt AC sockets (rated at 20
watts) for electric razors only.
Driving is on the left
hand side of the road. (As in the United Kingdom).
The speed limit for built up areas is 50 km/hr (30mph) and the
open highway 100km/hr (60mph). The wearing of seat belts in
both front and back seats is compulsory, as is the wearing of
helmets when riding a bicycle or motorcycle. Cycling or walking
on designated motorways is prohibited.
Telephone
Services
National and
International calls: can be made by direct dialling
or through operator assistance. For further information, refer
to the local telephone directory.
Payphones: telephone calls from payphones to
a local area cost 20 cents. Public telephones use coins, credit
cards or phonecards, which may be purchased in denominations
of $5 to $50.
Private and Business Telephones: All local
calls from private residential telephones are free. Local calls
from business telephones cost 4 cents a minute between 7am and
10pm.
Tipping
Tipping is not an obligatory
part of any service rendered, but may be offered as a bonus
when service excels. Employed persons do not depend upon tips
or gratuities for their income.
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