New Zealand Created by: Irene Tawa
New Zealand
- Hotel/ Accommodations
- Food & Beverage/ Restaurants
- Recreation/ Entertainment
- Itinerary
- Reference
Introduction
Location: New Zealand
New Zealand is known for its picturesque landscapes. Tourists want to explore this country appealed by its beauty and adventurous lifestyle.
New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, about 2,000 kilometers east of Asia. It is made up of two mainlands parts – North Island and South Island and of around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is also a part of the Pacific Polynesia region.
History
About 1,000 years ago, New Zealand was discovered by the explorer Kupe. He named New Zealand “Aotearoa”, A Land of the Long White Cloud. Kupe ventured across the Pacific to New Zealand on his Waka Hourua (voyaging canoe) from Hawaiiki.
The first foreigner, a Dutchman, Abel Tasman in 1642 was the first who discovered New Zealand. But in 1769 Captain James Cook claimed New Zealand a part of the British empire. The Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement between the Maori people and the British Crown was signed in 1840.
Weather
New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere which means that the temperature decreases as you travel south. The peak season and the best time to come is in the Summer (December to February) with temperatures between 20 to 30°C. The off-season is Winter (June-August) with temperatures between 10 and 20°C. New Zealand weather can change unexpectedly, so bring a light jacket just in case!
Tourism
The most popular activities to do in New Zealand are sightseeing, adventure tourism, hiking, and camping. Queenstown is surely the place to visit. It is known as the Adventure Capital of the World, located on the South Island. There are so many things to do, for those who are all about adrenalin, to those who enjoy the scenic beauty of New Zealand.
When coming to New Zealand, a must-see experience is to visit one of the thirteen National Parks. Each of them holds a unique factor, from Glaciers to Greenery. Abel Tasman, Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Fiordland National Park are just some worth visiting.
New Zealand is also known after the movie “Middle-Earth”. This beautiful country featured in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy. It is possible to explore more than 150 locations throughout the country used in the films. The true Hobbit fans can visit the famous Hobbiton, where you can walk through the heart of “The Shire”.
In March 2018 the highest number of tourists to enter New Zealand was 39%, of those who came from Australia, 11% from China, 9% from the United States and 7% from the United Kingdom. Tourists usually stay between 10 and 15 days at the luxury accommodation locations in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, and Queenstown.
The currency of New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Tipping in New Zealand is not necessary, even in bars and restaurants. You can tip for good service or kindness if you wish to.
Hotel / Accommodation
In New Zealand, there are different types of accommodations where travelers usually stay, depending on what type of activities travelers would like to do. For business, most business people tend to stay in cities like Auckland and Wellington, while the adventure travelers stay in the countryside and closer to the attraction that they wish to visit. The most usual place for backpackers to stay is at the hostel.
HOTELS / RESORTS
| Name | Category | Cost | Amenities | Audience | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SKYCITY Grand Hotel | Hotel | $229-$2,000
per
night | Day Spa,
24hr Gym,
Sauna & Spa,
Swimming Pool,
Casino,
Restaurants & Bar | Business, Leisure, Group, Family | 4 |
Bay of Many Coves Resort | Resort | $272 | Private Jetty
All day dining
Hot Tub & Day Spa
Heated outdoor pool | Family, Couple, Group of friends | 5 |
Rainforest Retreat Franz Josef | Lodge, Resort | $56-$253 | Restaurant,
Room Service,
Hot Tub,
Bar | Adventurers
Group of Friends | 4 |
YHA Aoraki Mt Cook | Hostel, Backpackers | $40-$200 | Sauna,
Free WIFI,
Fireplace,
BBQ & Outdoor Area | Backpackers, Groups | 1 |
Tongariro Lodge | Lodge | $93-$559 | Airport Shuttle,
Restaurant,
Business Centre,
Hot Tub,
Golf Course,
Bar | Business, Family, Couples | 4 |
Hotel St Moritz Queenstown | Hotel | $116-$215 | Restaurant,
Fitness Center,
Spa,
Hot Tub,
Bar | Couples, Group of Friends | 4 |
Food & Beverage / Restaurants
There are different wine and dine places you can enjoy in New Zealand. When Europeans first arrived in New Zealand, they brought a lot of their recipes with them. Today, New Zealand’s local cuisine is influenced by European cuisines, like Fish and Chips from the United Kingdom. One of the most popular traditional Maori cuisines you can enjoy is Hangi. Hangi cuisine dishes are pork, lamb, beef, and vegetables cooked in an underground oven. Another cuisine is called a “Boil Up”. They prepare dishes with pork, potatoes, kumara (sweet potato) dumplings and puha (sow thistles) boiled together in a pot. Besides the traditional cuisines, there are plenty of local choices, like Bluff Oysters, Coromandel Green-shell Mussels and Crayfish. There are food choices for everyone.
3 Quick Service Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BurgerFuel | Fast food | Lunch, Dinner | Takeaway, Dine In, Delivery | $ |
KFC | Fast food | Lunch, Dinner | Takeaway, Dine In | $ |
Fish and Chips | Fast food | Lunch, Dinner | Takeaway | $ |
3 Casual Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chinatown | Chinese | Lunch, Dinner | Buffet | $ |
Lone Star | Grill, English | Lunch, Dinner | Licensed Bar | $ |
Valentines | Seafood, Grill, English | Lunch, Dinner | Buffet, Licensed Bar | $ |
3 Fine Dining Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stratosphere Restaurant and Bar | Seafood, Grill, American, British | Lunch, Dinner | Licensed Bar | $$$ |
The Sugar Club | Fusion Cuisine | Lunch, Dinner | Private Dining, Wedding Venue | $$$ |
Hippopotamus | French | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Cocktail Bar, | $$$ |
Recreation / Entertainment
There are so many different activities for everyone to do in New Zealand. From hiking the Tongariro Crossing to enjoying a hot soak in the Polynesian Spa. Most people who come to New Zealand head to the adventure capital, Queenstown. Here is where you can experience Bungy Jumping, Jet boating, white water rafting, and many other adrenaline rush activities. Whether you are in the North or South Island you can experience the beautiful nature of New Zealand, with many different hiking trails and nature walks all around the county. As New Zealand is home to the Maori people, you can experience and immerse yourself in the culture by visiting Te Puia, Rotorua.
Water Activities
- Rafting
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Boat Cruises
- Surfing
- Jet Boating
Natural Wonders
- Tongariro National Park
- Pohutu Geyser, Te Puia
- Fox Glacier
- Milford Sound
- Mount Aspiring
Sports, Recreation & Spas
- Bungy Jumping
- Canyoning
- Zip Lining
- Sky Diving
- Polynesian Spa
Arts, Culture, Entertainment
- Mita Maori Village
- Te Papa Museum
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Te Puia
Itinerary
This 3-day Itinerary will be based on the Adventure Capital, Queens town. Over the three days itinerary, you will experience both the adventure and the beauty that this town and surroundings have to offer.
Day 1 :
Morning
The tour begins with departing from the Adventure Centre in Queenstown and heading to Canyoning. On this half-day adventure, you will be involved in activities such as Canyoning by zip line, rappelling down the waterfalls, jumping into natural pools and floating down the streams and narrow passageways. It is recommended to wear a thermal layer under your wetsuit. All other equipment is provided, you just need to bring swimwear and a towel, packed lunch and an adventurous heart.
Afternoon
After the mornings’ Canyoning, we head to Skyline Queenstown and Experience the Gondola and Luge ride. The Gondola ride will take you 450m above Queenstown, overlooking the views of The Remarkables and other surrounding mountains. When you get to the top you will be able to ride the Luges. The Luges are carts that take you to the ride down the mountain. You can take a ski lift back up to do it again and again.
Day 2 :
Full-Day Hike
On the second day of the tour, we begin with a 1hr 45 minutes drive to the little township of Wanaka. We start the journey from the beautiful lake Wanaka then ascend to the summit of Roys Peak.
This hike will take approximately five to six hours and climbing 1300m. The views from the top are breathtaking. You can see panoramic mountain views and Mount Aspiring. Be sure to bring hiking shoes and a bottle of water for this all-day hike.
Day 3 :
Morning: AJ Hacket Bungy
We start today’s adventure off by swimming in the Kawarau River with AJ Hacket Bungy. You can choose to go in tandem or to go solo on a 43 meters high jump. This activity is not for the faint-hearted so prepare to be brave.
Afternoon: Shotover Jet Boat Ride and White-Water Rafting
In the afternoon, you will experience the thrill of the Shotover Jet Boat Ride. This ride will go down the Shotover river traveling up to 90km per hour. Following the Jet Boat ride, you will experience the white waters of the Shotover River, by rafting through the rapids. You will be equipped with the safety equipment but you will get wet, so bring a towel and swimwear.