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.
Yes, it's all worth it once you get here!
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.
Arriving with your boots ready to hit the track is straightfoward; have a squiz at our handy packing articles.
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 BROCHURE
Our 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 ARTICLE
Milford Track Weather Guide for Hikers
Milford Track, dubbed the ‘finest walk in the world’ by poet Blanche Baughan, is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, located in Fiordland National Park....
READ THIS ARTICLE
Kepler Track Weather Guide For Hikers
The Kepler Track, located in Fiordland National Park, is open year round, and is particularly popular in Great Walks season from late October to April...
READ THIS ARTICLE
10 Best Places to Kayak in New Zealand
Kayaking in New ZealandNew Zealand is the home of adventure and a land of plentiful water, with hundreds of beautiful lakes, rivers, and coastlines do...
READ THIS ARTICLE
Riding the Queenstown Trail
The Queenstown TrailQueenstown’s premier biking and walking trail network, The Queenstown Trail, covers 130km of stunning off-road tracks. Part of the...
READ THIS ARTICLE
Sounds of New Zealand - New Zealand Music
Now it’s time to tune into the musical sounds of New Zealand, but where to start! New Zealand music has been influenced by so many genres – blues, jaz...
READ THIS ARTICLE
9 Must-See New Zealand Movies
Now it’s time to load up the popcorn bowl and take your pick from a variety of movies that will introduce you to the sights, sounds, people and storie...
READ THIS ARTICLE
10 of the Best New Zealand Books
These New Zealand authors have managed to capture historic events, moments and works of fiction that demonstrate New Zealand’s personality to its full...
READ THIS ARTICLE
13 Things You May Not Know About New Zealand
What makes New Zealand such a unique place? Well, it’s full of awesome people of course! But that’s not all! Discover some amazing facts about New Zea...
READ THIS ARTICLE
How to book your New Zealand trip
One thing we're always getting asked is how, when and which trip should I book? Well, here I am to explain it all! It always feels like there’s a lot ...
READ THIS ARTICLE
10 South Island Secrets
What is it about New Zealand? It’s been described as a scenic fairytale, a challenge on the senses and a place of magic. Indeed, it seems to evoke fee...
READ THIS ARTICLE
Why Do I Need New Zealand Travel Insurance?
A recent study by USjetcost.com polled almost 5,000 Americans who had all travelled outside the United States in the last 12 months. Of those, 41% adm...
READ THIS ARTICLE
New Zealand Solo Travel and Hiking
People who choose to travel solo do so for a variety of different reasons – their partner or friends don’t enjoy the same type of travel as they do, t...
READ THIS ARTICLE
What Is the Best Way to Travel New Zealand?
Camper or campervan travel in New Zealand has always been a popular choice for visitors. The call of the open road, the freedom to explore with no age...
READ THIS ARTICLE
Australia vs New Zealand | Which is Best?
Australia and New Zealand have long enjoyed a good-natured rivalry, with little brother New Zealand often playing second fiddle to the big and bold Au...
READ THIS ARTICLE
What to Pack for New Zealand
Packing for a New Zealand adventure doesn't need to be daunting. To make life a little easier for you, we have compiled an Ultimate Packing Guide. Dep...
READ THIS ARTICLE
World Heritage Walking Tour - Is It For Me?
Have you seen heaps of stunning pictures of New Zealand?! Does the beauty of our country have you mentally packing your bags for an epic hiking holida...
READ THIS ARTICLE
Flights to New Zealand: How to Get Here
Have you been thinking about or made the decision to travel to New Zealand? Great choice! Now, how are you going to get here? With apps for everything...
READ THIS ARTICLE
When is the Best Time to Visit New Zealand?
When is the best time to visit New Zealand? We examine each of New Zealand's four seasons and talk about what you can expect in each one.
READ THIS ARTICLE