Custom Tours In New Zealand With A Multilingual Tour Guide  

Guided Tours In New Zealand

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ABOUT NEW ZEALAND

Located about 2000 km. to the east of Australia where the sun rises before the rest of the world New Zealand is a nuclear free country where the wind blowing from the ocean is always fresh.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN NEW ZEALAND

1. Westland/Mount Cook National Park and Fiordland National Park cover almost 10% of New Zealand and has been little modified by human influences. The 121km road to Milford Sound is renowned for its beauty and scenic variety. Mitre Peak in Milford Sound is a pyramid-shaped mountain rising 1,692 m straight from the deep fiord.

About Fiordland National Park: Fiordland National Park, largest national park in New Zealand, on the southwestern coast of South Island. Established in 1952, Fiordland consists of 12,116 sq km (4,678 sq mi) of subtropical woodland, beech forests, and alpine landscape. The park includes a number of fiords, headlands, mountains, waterfalls and cascades, including Sutherland Falls, 580 m (1,900 ft) high. Fiordland National Park also has limestone caves containing glowworms, which were discovered near Lake Te Anau in 1948. The park is noted for such native birds as the brown kiwi; the kea, the only alpine species of parrot; and the notornis or takahe, a swamp-dwelling, flightless rail now unique to the area. The notornis was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1948. In the 1700s the British explorer Captain James Cook visited both Dusky Sound, the largest of the fjords, and Doubtful Sound to the north. The first European residence in New Zealand was built on Dusky Sound in 1792. Fiordland National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 1986 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO's World Heritage list recognizes the world's unique natural and cultural places. Four years later, Fiordland and several other protected areas—including Mount Aspiring National Park, which borders Fiordland, Mount Cook National Park, and Westland National Park—were incorporated into a conservation region called Te Wahipounamu (Southwest New Zealand). Te Wahipounamu in turn was declared a World Heritage Site in the same year.

2. Tongariro National Park was given to the New Zealand government in 1887 by Ngati Tuwharetoa (Maori tribe) and forms the nucleus of New Zealand’s first national park. The park is located in the central volcanic plateau of the North Island and contains the three sacred mountains of Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro. The Tongariro Crossing walk has been described as one of the best one-day walks in New Zealand and you will experience active volcanoes, mountain springs, lava flows, emerald lakes and stunning views along this 17km walk.

ENTRY VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION FOR NEW ZEALAND

Visa requirements for New Zealand vary depending upon your nationality. As a guideline, you can visit the New Zealand Government's Official Web Site website to see if you require a visa. However, as regulations change frequently, we recommend that you check with your nearest New Zealand Embassy or Consulate for the latest information on visa and passport requirements for entering New Zealand. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months past the date you are to leave New Zealand.

HEALTH AND INSURANCE

It is important to have adequate health, travel and accident insurance while touring. No vaccinations are currently required for New Zealand. It is best to bring your own medication along in its original prescription bottle.

TIME DIFFERENCE

New Zealand standard time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

WEATHER

In the North is warmer and it is colder in the South. In the South Island the Western Part is mostly rainy while the Eastern part is cold and drier.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into New Zealand, but as you leave New Zealand, it is wise to spend or exchange your New Zealand Dollars for foreign currency. Currency and Exchange: The currency unit in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar. Traveler's checks are accepted but will generally get a less favorable rate of exchange than cash. There are bank machines almost everywhere in New Zealand where you can use a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard etc). Larger shops generally accept US dollars, Euro, traveler's checks and credit cards, some small shops will accept only cash or a debit card.

OPENING HOURS

Banks are open from  9 or 9.30 am until  4.30 (Monday-Friday).

Post Offices in the large cities are open Monday-Saturday 8.00 to midnight and Sunday 9.00 to 19.00. Smaller post offices are open Monday to Saturday from 8.30 to 17.00. Shop hours are generally from 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Saturday, but mostly every day and later in tourist areas.

DRIVING DISTANCES AND TIMES