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New Zealand holidays

Overview
Country info
Holiday ideas
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The cries echo across the sheltered bay, reverberating from steep cliff sides. It is not hard to imagine Captain Cook on his sailing vessel, moored silently in this same cove, with the same sounds haunting the ship’s crew: or for that matter the Maori on their quests for pounamu, greenstone, which they value so much. Little has changed since the forests re-colonised the carved out glacial valleys after the ice age ten thousand years ago.

Andrew Stevenson, Kiwi Tracks

New Zealand holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a New Zealand holiday, personal to you.

New Zealand lies 2000 kilometres southeast of Australia in splendid isolation. Its two main islands - North Island and South Island – have seen a rapid rise in holidayers since the release of the Lord of the Rings trilogy made famous its rugged landscape of glaciers, fjords, mountains, dense subtropical forests and volcanic plateaus.

More New Zealand holidays are having an impact though, with aeroplanes continually circling above the Franz Josef Glacier and a booking system now in place for the Greata Walks - which include the Milford and Routeburn Tracks. Even so, New Zealand’s population density remains 15 times less than the UK’s. But while the natural wonders may be the prime reason for a visit, the country also boasts a burgeoning arts scene and superb festivals, emanating out of the mainstream Maori culture.

Contact a New Zealand expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.

New Zealand tailor-made holiday highlights

Queenstown
On the shores of stunning Lake Wakatipu, this buzzing and friendly South Island town is the country's outdoor adventure capital. Get your adrenalin pumping with a jet boat ride on the Shotover River or throw yourself off a bridge in the place where bungee was invented. More gentle pursuits involve horse riding through lord of the rings country or catching a steamer along the lake. Skiing in the aptly named Remarkables Mountains is one of the main winter draws.

Auckland
The city of sails is a busy commercial centre and home to more than a quarter of the population. The Auckland Harbour Bridge and Needle tower dominate the skyline.

Milford Sound
Sheer granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls drop dramatically into the icy blue waters below, inhabited with fur seals and penguins. For divers, it is one of the only places in the world you can see rare black corals (actually ghostly white in appearance), which usually grow below 60 metres, the rare spiny sea dragon is also present. The area is surrounded by verdant cold rainforest, tropical looking ferns, and the world's only flightless parrot, the kakapo.

Rotorua
A geothermic hotspot of the bubbling mud pools and steam baths. Explore Maori heritage by eating a hangi meal (slow cooked underground on hot rocks). All Blacks Seemingly at the very heart of what it is to be a New Zealander, these world-beating sports superstars transcend class and race. Experience the haka.

Kaikoura
A beautiful harbour backed by snow capped mountains. Swim with wild dusky dolphins or watch the migration of the Giant Sperm Whale. Great seafood. Bay of Islands Sub-tropical paradise of sandy beaches, blue sea and laid-back towns. The historical Waitangi treaty was signed here, supposedly giving Maori's the same rights as the British.

People & place

New Zealand facts

Capital: Wellington
Language: English.
People: European (82%), Maori (9%), Pacific Islanders.
Religion: Christian denominations.
Size (sq km): 268,680.
Population: 4,173,460.
Population density/sq km: 15.3.

Etiquette

New Zealand lifestyle tends to be relaxed and dress is usually informal, although business dress remains conservative. If invited to a formal Maori occasion, the hongi (pressing of noses) is common. It would also be respectful to learn something of Maori history and traditions.

Shopping

Jewellery with New Zealand greenstone (jade) and the translucent paua shell, Maori arts and crafts such as the carved greenstone tiki (charm), carvings, woollen goods, rugs.

Food & drink

New Zealand is a leading producer of meat and dairy products, and cuisine is largely based on these. Venison and game birds are also popular. A wide range of seafood is also available, including snapper, grouper, oysters and crayfish. World-class domestic wines and beers.

International Airports

Auckland (AKL) 21 km from the city, Christchurch (CHC) 11 km from the city, Wellington (WLG) 8 km from the city.

Internal travel

Reliable rail service, good road networks. Both the North and South islands have excellent buses.

Red tape

Visas

None.

Vaccinations

Not currently required.

Driving requirements

The national driving licences of EU nationals and various other countries are valid.

Reps in UK/US

UK: New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TQ, tel (020) 7930 8422, fax (020) 7839 4580, email aboutnz@newzealandhc.org.uk. US: 37 Observatory Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 328 4800, fax (202) 667 5227, email nz@nzemb.org.

UK/US reps in New Zealand

Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZ$).

Finance

Credit cards widely accepted, traveller's cheques generally accepted.

Business hours

0900-1700 Mon-Friday.

Safety & life expectancy

Safety information

Safe.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy: M 75.97, F 82.08

Useful websites for travel

www.nzembassy.com, www.newzealand.com, http://wellington.usembassy.gov, www.travelplanner.co.nz.

Local media

New Zealand Herald, The Press, Evening Post, The Dominion, Otago Daily Times all available in English.

Tourist boards

UK: Same as Reps in UK, tel (020) 7930 1662, fax (020) 7839 8929, email enquiries@ tnz.Government.nz. US: 501 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA 90401, tel (310) 395 7480, fax (310) 395 5453, email laxinfo@tnz.Government.nz.

Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to New Zealand. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific New Zealand itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6548.

Motorhomes in New Zealand

Both an economical and fun way to travel around New Zealand, motorhomes offer you the opportunity to explore the open road at your own pace, stopping where ever you like along the way. Enjoy lunch by the lake, set up your own private camp for the night with vi...

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New Zealand - North Island self-drive

Matakana Takatu Lodge and Vineyard is situated at the entrance of the beautiful Takatu Peninsula, one hours drive north of Auckland. The Lodge comprising four suites is contemporary in style using natural wood, stone and marble to compliment its surroundings. ...

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New Zealand luxury lodges self drive

New Zealand is just waiting to be explored and with wonderfully empty road is very easy to self-drive. Famous for its spectacular scenery from snow-capped mountains and ice-age glaciers to craggy coastlines and steaming volcanoes, New Zealand also boasts a num...