Image Source: Holgerheinze0 via Pixabay.
Movies like Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Trilogy as well as televisions programs like The Shannara Chronicles and Legends of the Seeker have brought New Zealand the attention of travelers in the past few decades. The country’s wide variety of scenic spots clearly makes it a good place to film epic movies. Active volcanoes, peaceful beaches, spectacular fjords, bubbling hot springs, and rolling farmland can all be found in this country. However, it’s location at the ends of the earth and the fact it’s not the cheapest of destinations have kept the country from being completely swarmed with travelers.
Image Source: MartyNZ via Pixabay.
While there is a large native Maori population in New Zealand, the inhabitants are mainly former British colonists and English is widely spoken throughout the country. The temperate weather is also another good reason to visit. Most of the New Zealand islands have a moderate climate, but none of them ever get very warm or cold. However, some portions of the South Island can get chilly during the winter months. Even so, temperatures nonetheless are likely to remain above freezing in most places and temperatures above 86º F (30º C) are equally as uncommon.
Image Source: tpsdave via Pixabay.
Travelers from the United States and Canada can stay up to three months in New Zealand without having to acquire a visa. Upon entry, be sure to declare all food items that you might be carrying with you as well as things that might have come into contact with dirt or animals such as camping gear and shoes. If you’re unsure it’s best to declare it anyway. Because New Zealand relies heavily on its agricultural products, the country has very strict rules about what items travelers are allowed to bring in with them and they enforce them. Make sure you read up on these regulations before visiting. Fines are steep are obviously one sure way to put a damper on your vacation.
Image Source: Unsplash via Pixabay.
A basic daily budget should run about $80 USD or $105 CAD per person. However, if you plan on staying in a private room rather than a hostel dorm, you probably will want to allot a bit more for your accommodation. Of course, cooking your own meals will certainly save you a lot of money because it’s an expensive thing to do here. Activities also tend to be a significant part of vacation expenses in New Zealand, particularly if you’re looking at things like skydiving or bungee jumping instead of those that just include walking around to taking in the sites.
Image Source: Reginaspics via Pixabay.
However, there are something that you probably shouldn’t miss out on such as seeing the glowworm caves, checking out the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers, visiting Hobbit Town, and (maybe) hiking around the area that served as Mordor in the Lord of the Rings movies. But you’ll definitely want to be sure and consider the cost of these activities as well as your flight to the ends of the earth when calculating your overall vacation cost.
Image Source: Holgerheinze0 via Pixabay.
And, as always, happy travels!
Sources: WikiTravel.org; Nomadic Matt; Susanshain.com
