Travel Documents you need for your New Zealand Tour Vacation.

It is advisable to check the New Zealand Embassy or New Zealand Government representation in your Country.

www.immigration.govt.nz

You can download a visa application form from your nearest New Zealand Embassy or New Zealand immigration services.

Visitors from fifty countries do not need a visitor Visa.

You do require:

• Visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least 3 months.
• Sufficient money, approximately NZ$1000 to support your self.
• Return ticket to any country your allowed to enter.

Find out at the New Zealand immigration web site

Visa Exemptions

• New Zealand citizen or resident permit holder.
• A country that has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand.
• An Australian citizen travelling on a Australian passport.

British citizens and other British passport holders who have evidence of the right to live in New Zealand. Be allowed to stay for six months.

Customs.

You’re allowed to enter in to New Zealand, 4.5 Litre wine or beer, 1.125 Litre spirits, 200 cigarettes or 250gram tobacco or 50 cigars.

Up to NZ$500 worth of articles.

Prohibited Items.

Agriculture restrictions and Bio security policies information see details at Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

No Fruit, meat and many other food products, plants are not allowed in to New Zealand. Heavy penalties will be given.

Further prohibit items are, Firearms, weapons and Ivory in any form, Class A drugs (check for prescription drugs).

Duty Free Goods.
Duty free goods shops are available at most airports.

Air Travel to New Zealand.

Here under some of the many Air Lines flying to and from New Zealand.

• Air New Zealand
• Cathay Pacific.
• Malaysian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Emirates and many others
• Check your National Air Line.

Travel Insurance

This is a must if you would like to travel with 'STROOS TOURS New Zealand'. See our Terms and Conditions.

Departure Tax

NZ$25 Departure Tax to be paid when you leave New Zealand, unless you are flying out of Auckland, in which case it should be included as part of your ticket..

Food

If you would like to save money on food there are many days you will have the opportunity to make your own or buy take-aways if you wish to.
Café Lunch cost you about NZ$5 to NZ$12.
Dinner 3-course $20 upwards
New Zealand food means fresh and Excellent Quality food.

Tipping is not common and not expected.

Optional Admission Fee not included in 'Stroos Tours New Zealand'.

Fees starting at NZ$7.50, most fees are around NZ$20 to NZ$30.

Banking and New Zealand Currency

Exchange Rates
See our Currency Converter at our Home Page.

NZ$ Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50, seldom used $100 and $1000.
Coins: 20ct, 50ct, NZ$1, NZ$2

Goods & Service Tax(GST): all goods and services are subject to a 12.5% Tax

Travellers Cheques can be exchanged at all major New Zealand banks.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm.
International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four digit PIN.

ATM Machines are widely available.

Every person that takes more than NZ$10000 in cash in or out is required to complete a Border Cash Report.

There are no restrictions to the amounts of money to take out or bring in to New Zealand as long as a Border Cash report is completed.

New Zealand main Banks.

• Kiwi Bank – Located in most places at the Post Shop
• Bank of New Zealand. (BNZ)
• Australia New Zealand Bank. (ANZ)
• Westpack
• National Bank
• ASB Bank

New Zealand Culture.

Kia ora, Hello

Two peoples one country. As you probably already know there are two different cultures in New Zealand or should we say three. The third one will be a mix of both, Maori and European immigrants cultures.

The Maori people of New Zealand are the indigenous people. Arrived in New Zealand about a thousand years ago from Hawaiki.

The Maori language almost disappear has a strong comeback, many Maori discover there language and culture again.

The Maori Culture is special, varied and rich. Maori protocol, Stories and Legends, Dancing, singing, the famous ‘Haka’ war dance, Maori Hangi (food), weaving, carvings, tattooing (moko) and you will discover much more. The other Culture is Western culture, mainly English culture.

The mix of these two cultures gives New Zealand its own unique culture, you will find the easy going pacific culture mixed in with the Western culture. Other influences come from immigrants from all over the world.

The New Zealand People

New Zealand isolated location in the South Pacific and the unique mix of peoples and their different cultures, makes New Zealand and the New Zealand people unique in the world.

The rugged landscapes, the clean and green, the sea, the mountains and unique culture, the friendly ‘Kiwi’ nature of this people. All this makes New Zealand an excellent and different vacation destination.

The long isolation and limited resources made New Zealand in depended the famous ‘Kiwi-ingenuity’is still present. The New Zealanders are very resource full and talented.

As far is we know the first New Zealanders where the Maori people. They travelled for thousands of miles across the Ocean in there small canoes. (Whaka). The second wave of New Zealanders came from Europe. These pioneers where also brave, rugged and independent. The majority came from England, Scotland and Ireland and English law was introduced.

Hundred years before the English claimed New Zealand, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand when he tried to find a different and shorter route from Holland to the Dutch Colony.

The new and modern New Zealand population has a many nationalities and therefore New Zealand now is multicultural especially in the Cities.

Country living is still more traditional. Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Fishing Industry are still the main industries. The newcomers are the Wine Industry and Tourism.

New Zealand Weather and Climate

The climate in the North Island of New Zealand is sub tropical and comparable with Northern Italy and Northern Spain. Mild Temperatures and high sun shine hours especially the East of the Island. January and February are the warmest months for both Islands. The North of this Island will have 1 or 2 night frosts.

Not many rainy days but downpours are the norm.

The South Island is much colder and hotter inland, more extreme and wetter in general and specially in the winter. Higher rainfall up to 6.3 meters on the SW Coast. Up to –10C in the mountains.

Clothing needed: New Zealanders in general are very casually dressed - no need for dressing up to go out eating. You will need shorts, T-shirt, swimming gear, a good rain-coat, warm clothing. Good walking shoes. Other possibility is to buy some cheap clothing in one of the Warehouse chain of stores.

Sun protection: the Ozone layer in New Zealand is very thin so you have to protect yourself with 20+ or 30+ sunscreen lotion. In the summer it will take about 10 to 20 min to get sunburned.

Sun cap or Head: you have to cover your head to avoid sun stroke.

Parasol: you can always use a parasol or stay out of the full sun.

Best Vaction/Holiday time: from November up to mid May.

Worst time weather-wise (except for winter sports): June, July, August and September. But you never know - New Zealand is stunning enough to be enjoyed in all weathers.