Planning your trip to New Zealand
All trips require some level of planning and a trip to New Zealand is no different. Of course, when you travel with New Zealand Trails, we take the hard work out of it, but you may still have a few questions; we can help you with those.
Our team of New Zealand travel experts have created this section of the blog to help with your New Zealand trip plan and ensure all the fiddly details are taken care of beforehand. No question is too silly (trust us!) and if there’s something we haven’t covered here, feel free to give us a call or flick us an email at any time.
New Zealand travel planning
We’ve been doing this for a long time, since the mid-90s in fact, so we know exactly what goes into planning the perfect trip and we’re here to help. When you start thinking about your vacation, the first question you might have is, what’s the best time to visit New Zealand? As the locals, let us give you an insider’s perspective on that question.
From there, you may wonder what type of trip to take and how to make the most of your time in New Zealand. We passionately believe that a small group tour is the best way to explore, but how do you go about choosing the right trip for you? What about if you’re travelling solo? We have the answers!
Getting to New Zealand
Why travel to New Zealand? The answer to that is obvious, but how to get here is another question you might not have an answer to so readily. We’ve done these flights enough times now that we’re practically starting to sprout wings, so we know all there is to know about getting to New Zealand, your flight options, dealing with jetlag, what visa you’ll need and other key details.
What to pack for your trip?
There are two types of packers, and you’ll probably know which you are by now. There’s the list-makers, the sock rollers, the ones who pack their bags weeks in advance. And there’s the last-minute ones, the throw-it-all-in ones, the ‘relaxed’ ones! While we can’t do your packing for you, we can help in other ways, like answering what to pack for your New Zealand trip, what to wear while you’re hiking, how to choose your hiking boots and how to use trekking poles.
We love walking and hiking and know our New Zealand trails intimately, so we’re extremely well equipped to guide you in making decisions about your hiking gear and ensuring you have everything you need for an enjoyable adventure in our beautiful country.
Ask the experts
We know New Zealand and we’re here to help. With our combined knowledge and experience, there’s no question too big or small. We’ll be adding to this resource over time to assist with your New Zealand travel planning, so let us know if there’s something you’d like to see here.
ORDER A FREE BROCHUREOur Latest Article
Women Travelling Together - New Zealand Group Tours For Women
Most of us have a bucket list of places we want to travel, experiences we want to have and iconic locations we want to see. We’ve all got dream destin...
READ THIS ARTICLEWomen Travelling Together - New Zealand Group Tours For Women
Most of us have a bucket list of places we want to travel, experiences we want to have and iconic locations we want to see. We’ve all got dream destin...
READ THIS ARTICLETravel Solo, Not Alone: Group Tours for Solo Travellers
In recent years, solo travel has become a rapidly growing trend as more individuals seek out unique and personalised adventures. However, navigating a...
READ THIS ARTICLEThe Rise of Solo Travel in New Zealand: Taking the Scenic Route on Your Own
As technology continues to progress and global travel becomes more and more common the world seems to be shrinking, but solo travel is ballooning! Gon...
READ THIS ARTICLENew Zealand - The Perfect Place For Solo Travel
When people think about solo travel it can bring a range of emotions from exhilaration to apprehension and everything in between. It can come with a f...
READ THIS ARTICLEWhy Autumn is the Best Time to Visit New Zealand
Fall, or Autumn as we call it in this part of the world, is a magical time in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the perfect time for your New Zealand hiking ad...
READ THIS ARTICLETravel Tips for Hiking in New Zealand
A trip to Aotearoa/New Zealand is for many a once in a lifetime bucket list experience, a chance to see world-class scenery and experience the amazing...
READ THIS ARTICLENew Zealand's Best Waterfalls
Aotearoa/New Zealand is blessed with natural beauty of all kinds. As a relatively young landscape, you can witness it still being carved by the immens...
READ THIS ARTICLEThe Best Places to Visit on New Zealand's West Coast
The West Coast of New Zealand is a remote and beautiful stretch of our South Island that we love to visit on our New Zealand hiking tours. Its unique ...
READ THIS ARTICLETop 10 New Zealand Adventures
New Zealand is a wilderness playground with opportunities for incredible adventures in every corner of the country. With such a stunning and diverse n...
READ THIS ARTICLEHiking the Kepler Track in November
The Kepler Track, located in Fiordland National Park, is one of New Zealand’s ten Great Walks. Opened in 1988 the Kepler Track was purpose-built to sh...
READ THIS ARTICLEThe Best South Island New Zealand Adventures
If there’s one thing Kiwis do well, it’s figuring out the best ways to chase an adventure! Whether it be on land, sea or sky we Kiwis have figured out...
READ THIS ARTICLETop Tips for your Free Day
Our guests love free day! If you’re on a 13-14 day trip, it’s a day midway through where you can either take it easy or add in an extra adventure.Our ...
READ THIS ARTICLEThe ultimate New Zealand luxury tour - Part 2
Now at the halfway point of our luxury New Zealand travel experience – The Grand Explorer – it’s time to venture into the lush tropical paradise of th...
READ THIS ARTICLEThe ultimate New Zealand luxury tour - Part 1
Imagine cradling your morning coffee, sweeping back your curtains, and revealing views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s most impressive mountain. Just...
READ THIS ARTICLEWhy do a New Zealand guided hiking tour?
Making the decision to book a guided tour can be big for some people, but oftentimes it can lead to one of the best trips you’ve ever taken!Group trav...
READ THIS ARTICLEOur New Zealand Hiking Guides
The key to an unforgettable adventure, is unforgettable people, right?We consider ourselves experts in guided New Zealand hiking tours, and just like ...
READ THIS ARTICLEHiking the Kepler Track in January
January is heralded as a time for new beginnings, new goals and new experiences. Whether you’ve done a Great Walk of New Zealand before, or you’re con...
READ THIS ARTICLEHeaphy Track Weather Guide for Hikers
The Heaphy Track is the longest of the 10 Great Walks of New Zealand, located in the stunning Kahurangi National Park.It’s a glorious 78.4km (48.7 mil...
READ THIS ARTICLE