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Combining New Zealand and Australia: Insider’s Guide to the Best Trip

The insider advice on this page is from one of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for New Zealand and Australia: Sarah Farag of Southern Crossings.

A native New Zealander based in Auckland, Sarah works her superb connections—from sheep farmers to helicopter pilots—to open doors for her travelers. She can set you up with a driving itinerary and rental car with stops for scenic hikes, wine tastings, and whatever else you might enjoy, but for those times when you’d prefer not to worry about driving on the left-hand side of the road and to be able to lose your eyes in the country’s countless glorious vistas and navigate to its most charming hidden corners without having to keep your eyes on the road, she has the savviest private drivers at her beck and call. Sarah has pull not just with the country’s top luxury lodges, but also with its guesthouses and even private homes with chefs. And, as a mom of two teenage sons, she is especially tuned in to what families enjoy most. For those wanting to see more of the region, Sarah can add beach stops in Fiji and other South Pacific islands, or coordinate with Sydney-based colleague and fellow WOW Lister Stuart Rigg to include time in Australia.

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Combining countries

The Great Barrier Reef, seen from above. Photo: Tourism Whitsundays

Always book your trans-Pacific flights into one country and out of the other, so you don’t have to backtrack. It usually makes sense to start with New Zealand: Since you make up time flying from there to Australia and arrive just two hours after you departed, you can still fit a lot into your travel day.

If you have two-and-a-half weeks, you can go wine tasting on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, explore Maori culture and geothermal features in Rotorua, scratch your adventure itch in Queenstown, enjoy Sydney’s harborside delights, take in Uluru and learn about Aboriginal culture in Australia’s Red Centre, and end your trip on a pristine Queensland beach near the Great Barrier Reef.

Wine lovers will need three weeks to cover the major regions in each country: Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, and Central Otago in New Zealand, and the Barossa Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Hunter Valley in Australia. Cap it all off with a few nights to detox on an island in the Great Barrier Reef.

Wildlife lovers will need a bit more time to get to the most remote spots. The mountains and rainforests of New Zealand’s South Island hold the last remaining wild populations of most of the country’s bird species, not to mention the marine life hiding along its rocky coastline. Australia’s top nature destinations are spread across the country, from Kangaroo Island in the south to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. Hone in on the creatures you most want to see, or expect to spend a good bit of time getting from place to place.

What to Do and See

The ultra-luxe Mt Isthmus private villa is near New Zealand’s Lake Hawea, an underrated lake most travelers skip. Photo: The Lindis Group

Most underrated places New Zealand’s Lake Hawea isn’t as well known as Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, or even neighboring Lake Wanaka. But it’s just as scenically impressive—if not more so—and you are likely to have the vast majority of it to yourself. It’s well worth stopping for a picnic when driving along the country’s west coast, but nowadays you can stay longer thanks to fabulous new options for an overnight, such as the ultra-luxe Mt Isthmus private villa or a cottage on Lake Hawea Station, a sheep and cattle farm focused on regenerative agriculture.

Australia’s Northern Territory can be tricky to work into a multi-country itinerary due to the time required to get there and get around (given the vast distances), but those who make it are treated to red-earth deserts, lush green watering holes, star-filled skies, uniquely Australian wildlife, and authentic Aboriginal experiences.

Most overrated place While Auckland is a thriving city in a beautiful location, New Zealand is all about getting out of the cities. Auckland is also a mini version of Sydney—so if that’s on your list, you can skip the former, or use it only as a base to explore the beautiful islands and beaches on its doorstep.

Hidden gems Both countries are known for their trekking routes, but they’re also a casual walker’s paradise, with countless shorter trails that you can easily enjoy on your own.

Blue Pools Track in New Zealand’s Mt. Aspiring National Park is an easy, three-kilometer track through beautiful beech forests and via an Instagram-worthy swing bridge suspended over the glacial Blue Pools and the Makarora River.

Sydney’s Bronte to Bondi coastal walk is one of the most scenic places to watch the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and see Sydney locals going about their morning rituals (ocean swims, a before-work surf, beachside yoga, and flat white coffees in a trendy local café).

Don’t bother Hiring a campervan. They have become very overpriced, and now that many parts of both countries have banned “freedom camping”—the ability to park anywhere—they no longer offer the flexibility they once did. Campervans are also not particularly compatible with New Zealand’s winding roads, and many locals are quite opposed to the scenic obstructions when parked en masse in the height of summer.

Book one of the glass pods at The Lindis in the Ahuriri Valley and enjoy the twinkling skies from your outdoor hot tub. Photo: The Lindis Group

Cheap thrill There are countless places to enjoy star-studded Southern-Hemisphere skies —from New Zealand’s Southern Alps (the South Island’s Aoraki Mackenzie region is home to an International Dark Sky Reserve) to Australia’s vast outback. Time your stargazing right and you may even catch the spectacular Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).

If “cheap” isn’t a requirement for your stargazing, book one of the glass pods at The Lindis in the Ahuriri Valley and enjoy the twinkling skies from your outdoor hot tub with a flute of New Zealand sparkling wine in hand.

Bragging rights Sarah listens carefully to each traveler’s interests and employs her wide network of contacts to tailor special experiences that you won’t find online. She’s chartered a helicopter and hired a Department of Conservation ranger to take her travelers to parts of New Zealand where few others have ever set foot—including a natural hot springs with a secret location.

In Australia, she’s arranged a birthday party on Shark Island in Sydney Harbour with an Aboriginal welcome and smoking ceremony, didgeridoo players, dinner prepared by one of the city’s most acclaimed chefs, and a private fireworks display.

Prime Picnic Spot Take the ten-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland across the harbor to historic Devonport . Collect picnic provisions from any of the quaint local cafés before walking up the nearby extinct volcano of Mt. Victoria for panoramic views of the Auckland skyline, the sailboat-filled Waitemata Harbour, and across to volcanic Rangitoto Island.

Across the Tasman, Sydney’s waterfront Botanic Gardens are hard to beat for the picture-perfect picnic spot: a beautiful leafy setting with the harbor, opera house, and bridge as your backdrop.

Where to Stay and Eat

Best bang-for-your-buck hotels Auckland’s Hotel Britomart is the first in the country to earn five green stars from New Zealand’s Green Building Council; it gets another five stars for its service and elegance. All of the rooms are the same extremely compact size—but all exceptionally tasteful and considered—so you’re best off booking one from the least expensive Laneway category.

In Sydney, if your time is short, it’s possible to combine Sydney Harbour views, native Australian wildlife right outside your room, and dinner at one of the city’s hottest new restaurants in a single hotel stay, provided you book a room at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga , located within Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

Qualia’s pavilions look out to the Whitsunday Islands, in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Photo: qalia

Best-value splurge lodges As accommodations go, New Zealand is best known for its small luxury lodges; one of the most charming is Pihopa Retreat in Nelson. Situated on the outskirts of Nelson, this wonderful boutique property offers six spacious and beautifully appointed suites among 5.5 acres of gardens; continental breakfast is included and dinners can be arranged by the delightful New Zealand owners, who live in the main house with their family.

Ten miles off the coast of Queensland, Australia, Qualia’s 60 ultra-luxe pavilions (what they call their standalone private villas) are nestled into the northern tip of Hamilton Island and surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef. You can fill your days here with snorkeling, scuba diving, flightseeing by helicopter or seaplane, spa treatments, or even a jaunt by private yacht to a secluded beach where you’ll be dropped off with Champagne and a gourmet picnic.

Restaurants the locals love Amisfield is a restaurant and winery on the outskirts of Queenstown, near Lake Hayes. Despite receiving a lot of press after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited in 2014, the bistro’s team have kept their heads down and continue to serve delicious dishes with a lovely local flair—nothing too fancy or fussy, but reliably tasty. The place is always full of locals, which tells you something about its consistency of service and culinary excellence. If you have time for a long and lazy lunch, ask for the “Trust the Chef” option: Simply let them know of any dietary requirements, then sit back, relax, and they’ll bring a selection of dishes to your table.

Fratelli Paradiso is a lively neighborhood trattoria in Sydney’s trendy Potts Point, and a favorite with both locals and in-the-know visiting celebrities; Elton John never fails to enjoy a casual meal here when in town. Friendly waiters translate the blackboard menus as the chefs prepare their signature dishes—Calamari Sant’Andrea and delicious lasagnes—best enjoyed with a glass of wine from the extensive list of Italian and Australian labels. As locals would expect, it’s open seven days a week for all-day dining.

Dish to try Spring is whitebait season in New Zealand, when these tiny freshwater fish become one of the country’s most sought-after delicacies. They aren’t bought in the supermarket; locals have a “whitebait guy” they buy from. The fish are most often cooked with eggs to create omelet-style whitebait fritters, which can be found everywhere from New Zealand’s top restaurants to small roadside takeaway stalls. Four of the six whitebait species are endangered, so ask if what’s being served has been sourced sustainably.

Take a private boat into Dusky Sound, where your pilot will dive into the icy-cold waters for fresh crayfish to barbecue. Photo: Southern Crossings

Meals worth the splurge On New Zealand’s South Island, in a region inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sarah can arrange for the ultimate indulgence in both fresh seafood and untouched scenery : A private helicopter takes you on a scenic flight—over rainforests, mountains, glaciers, and fjords—to a custom-built boat in Dusky Sound, one of Fiordland National Park’s most remote inlets. Here you can fish or hike the shoreline where explorer Captain Cook first came ashore in 1773, and where today dolphins, fur seals, and other wildlife abound. For lunch, your pilot will actually dive into the icy-cold waters, harvest a couple of crayfish from the sea floor, and barbecue them to be served with gourmet sides and New Zealand wine and beer.

In Australia’s dining capital of Melbourne, Attica serves innovative degustation menus that showcase local Australian produce such as salted red kangaroo and King George whiting in paperbark, as well as ingredients foraged by head chef Ben Shewry himself.

How to spend a lazy Sunday Farmers markets’ have made a big comeback in recent years and are held in most cities and towns across New Zealand on Sunday mornings. Head down for a delicious brunch freshly harvested by the farmers themselves, and ask the locals which coffee cart is the best. Don’t miss the markets in the waterside precincts of Wynyard Quarter (Auckland), Queens Wharf (Wellington), The Terrace (Christchurch), or Steamer Wharf (Queenstown). In Australia, there is Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market, the very tasty South Melbourne Market, and Hobart’s lively Farm Gate market.

As for your Sunday afternoon, if you’re in Auckland, catch the ferry across the Waitemata Harbour to Waiheke Island. Known affectionately as the Island of Wine and just 40 minutes from downtown, Waiheke is where locals go for a relaxed vibe, long lunches looking back across to the city, strolls past coastal sculpture, and beach walks.

For a lazy Sunday afternoon in Sydney, catch the ferry across the harbor to Manly , where you can enjoy a coastal stroll, a swim in the surf, and a sundowner with the locals by the water’s edge on Manly Wharf.

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Best Times to Go

September through May is the best time to combine New Zealand and Australia in a single trip. March and April bring T-shirt days and duvet nights, they’re less crowded than the peak Southern-Hemisphere summer months, and rates are a bit lower.

In October and November the gardens are lush, the countryside is vibrantly green in New Zealand’s North Island and still snow-capped in the South Island, and you get lovely spring weather in Australia.

Worst Times to Go

June, July, and August can get chilly in the region’s southern reaches, and many of New Zealand’s iconic hiking trails close over this period. That said, early August is ideal for heli-skiing and notching untracked runs on private ski fields after the local schools have returned from winter break; you can even combine a New Zealand alpine adventure with Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or a tropical stopover in Fiji.

Biggest Rookie Mistake

Trying to combine Australia and New Zealand in less than two weeks: Most of your time will be spent traveling rather than experiencing. If you can only get away for two weeks, don’t try to cover multiple regions in each country; instead, look at combining Sydney with New Zealand, for example, or Australia with Queenstown.

Can't-Miss Photo Ops

The views are grand at Craggy Range Winery in Hawke’s Bay (pictured), where you can look out over the vines planted at the foot of Te Mata’s dramatic jagged peak; for beautiful light and vines bursting with grapes, get your shot in the late afternoon during the Southern-Hemisphere spring or summer.

The constantly changing hues of Uluru, or Ayers Rock, make it one of Australia’s most iconic photo-ops. Early morning and late afternoon best showcase the colors of this unique monolith—itself a sacred site of the local indigenous people—and the surrounding landscape.

The Souvenirs

Manuka honey, which New Zealand bees produce from the nectar of the native manuka plant. Maori traditionally used manuka for its healing properties, and some people use the honey today for medicinal purposes. In Australia, you can find honey made from eucalyptus, which is prized for is flavor, color, and high quality.

Pounamu, or greenstone, refers to several types of stone found in southern New Zealand that have long been used in carvings done by Maori artists. It is considered bad luck to buy pounamu for yourself, but it makes a wonderfully meaningful gift.

Must-have App

The MetService weather app for New Zealand is handy, with such a changeable climate and so many activities being weather-dependent (although Sarah monitors weather closely for her travelers).

Airport Intel

Auckland International Airport is not physically attached to Auckland Domestic Airport, which makes connecting flights a bit of a headache. While most airlines allow you to book flights with as little as one hour between them, this is almost impossible to make! Two hours is a realistic minimum connection time. For the smoothest logistics, Sarah can arrange for someone to meet you at the plane and for a private car to take you between terminals.

If your U.S.-Australia flights have you changing planes in Auckland, you’ll need to apply for an NZeTa (an Electronic Travel Authority) before you fly.

Do not bring honey or any fresh produce into New Zealand. The country’s unique ecosystem is fiercely protected by its border controllers, who will readily fine anyone bringing in such products.

Tipping Tip

Tipping is not expected in New Zealand or Australia, and is entirely discretionary as an appreciation of good service. All employees are paid full wages and therefore do not depend on gratuities for their income. However, a tip in the vicinity of 10% in recognition of excellent service has become the custom in cafés and restaurants.

Don’t Forget to Pack

Sunglasses and a hat. The sun is strong and the air particularly clear, so these two items are essential year-round.

Think in layers. The weather can change from sunny and hot to cool in a matter of hours, whether you are traveling in summer or winter.

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New Zealand

Latest update.

Exercise normal safety precautions in New Zealand.

New Zealand (PDF 764.52 KB)

Pacific (PDF 1.22 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 111 or contact the nearest police station.

Call 105 or go online for Police non-emergencies.

Advice levels

• Crime rates are similar to those in Australia. Thieves often target vehicles. Don't leave valuables in your car or campervan.
• Earthquakes are a constant risk. Large, damaging quakes can happen at any time. Know what to do during and after an earthquake.
• All of New Zealand's coastline is at risk of a tsunami. Know the tsunami warning signs and move to high ground immediately. Don't wait for official alerts.
• New Zealand has several active volcanoes. Volcanic alert levels may rise quickly. You may be ordered to evacuate at short notice. Stay informed and follow the advice of local authorities. 
• Weather conditions can change quickly. Severe weather could leave you stranded or injured, especially in an isolated area. If you're climbing, hiking or in a remote area, register your trip with the Department of Conservation. Carry a personal locator beacon.

Full travel advice:  Safety

• Make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel.

Medical facilities and services are of a similar standard to those in Australia.

• New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal healthcare agreement. This lets Australians access public medical facilities and care. However, there are some things it doesn't cover. Ensure you get comprehensive travel insurance.

Full travel advice:  Health

• Don't use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties may include fines and prison sentences, including for small amounts.
• Carry approved identification if you want to purchase alcohol or enter licensed premises. Approved ID includes your passport, a New Zealand driver's licence, an existing Hospitality NZ 18+ Card, or a Kiwi Access Card. An Australian driver's licence is not an approved form of ID under the NZ Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations.

Full travel advice:  Local laws

You must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form (NZTD) before passport control on arrival. You need to answer questions about your trip and what you’re bringing into the country. You can complete it  online  or by using the NZTD app, there's no cost. 

• Most Australian citizens don't need a visa to enter unless you have a criminal record or if you've been deported from any country. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You can contact the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate for the latest details.
• Before you travel, check Immigration New Zealand's website for current entry restrictions and requirements.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
• To stay up to date with local information, follow the High Commission’s social media accounts.

For consular help, contact the  Australian High Commission in Wellington , or the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

Petty crime.

Crime rates in New Zealand are similar to those in Australia.

Thieves often target valuables left in cars and campervans.

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including in destinations that are typically at lower risk. 

The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers.

More information:

Cyber security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards.

• Cyber security when travelling overseas

Civil unrest and political tension

Demonstrations and protests.

Protests are generally peaceful. However, public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

Follow the advice of local authorities.

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

• New Zealand police
• New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

Climate and natural disasters

New Zealand experiences  natural disasters  and  severe weather , including:

• earthquakes
• volcanic activity
• flash flooding

To protect yourself in a natural disaster:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof place
• follow the advice of local authorities
• keep in contact with friends and family

Monitor local media and other sources, including:

• Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
• GetReady website  (New Zealand government)

Earthquakes

Earthquakes  are a constant risk in New Zealand.

Most quakes are too small or deep in the earth to feel. However, about 150 to 200 quakes are big enough to feel each year.

Large, damaging earthquakes have occurred and could happen again at any time. Aftershocks can continue for days or weeks.

When an earthquake happens, you're advised to drop, cover and hold. If an earthquake is long or strong, and you're near the coast or large body of water, you should go to higher ground immediately.

If you're indoors during an earthquake:

• move no more than a few steps to a heavy, solid object you can get underneath, and hold onto it
• don't try to run outside
• stay indoors until the shaking stops
• stay away from windows, chimneys, and shelves with heavy objects

If you're in bed:

• hold onto the bed and stay where you are
• protect your head and body with a pillow and blankets

If you're outdoors:

• move to the nearest clear spot
• keep away from buildings, trees, and power lines
• drop to the ground

If you're in a car:

• drive to a clear place away from buildings, trees, and power lines
• stay in the car with your seatbelt on until the shaking stops

If you're in a lift:

• stop at the nearest floor and get out

After the earthquake finishes:

• be aware of possible tsunami risks (see below)
• prepare for travel delays
• reconfirm your travel arrangements
• check your accommodation with travel agents and tour operators

Because of the region's earthquake risk, tsunamis could happen.

All of New Zealand's coastline is at risk of a tsunami. New Zealand is a member of the Pacific Tsunami Warning System.

The National Emergency Management Agency manages the National Tsunami Advisory and Warning Plan and issues tsunami alerts on its website. These are also broadcast by New Zealand media.

A tsunami could arrive within minutes. There may not be time for an official warning.

Move immediately to high ground, or as far inland as possible, if you're near the coast and you:

• feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up
• feel a weak, rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more
• see a sudden rise or fall in sea level
• hear loud and unusual noises from the sea

Don't wait for official warnings.

Walk or bike if possible because of potential road congestion.

New Zealand's active volcanoes can erupt at any time. Volcanic alert levels may rise quickly. You may be ordered to evacuate at short notice.

If there's volcanic activity:

• follow the instructions and advice of local authorities
• follow evacuation orders
• take official warnings seriously

If you plan to visit active volcanoes or surrounding areas:

• monitor the  GeoNet  website
• get local advice first

Visit  GeoNet  for information about volcanic activity at:

• Mt Tongariro
• White Island
• other active volcanic sites

Severe weather

Weather conditions can change quickly. Severe weather can occur.

Creeks and rivers can experience  flash flooding  after heavy rains.

Rapid weather changes could leave you stranded or injured, particularly if you're in a remote area.

Monitor weather conditions, forecasts and warnings from  Metservice .

Take extra care if you're climbing, hiking or in a remote area.

Parts of New Zealand experience  bushfires  in hot, dry conditions.

If there's a bushfire, follow local advice.

Adventure activities

Most people enjoy adventure activities safely in New Zealand. However, these activities carry risks.

Several serious accidents involving Australians and other travellers have occurred. People have died.

Some operators have been found to be negligent.

Safety standards can differ both between individual operators, and from standards in Australia.

If you plan to do an adventure activity:

• be aware of the risks of individual or group activities
• check the safety standards of operators
• check to see if operators meet industry standards

Safety risks can increase in severe weather and remote areas.

Before you do any adventure activities :

• make sure your  travel insurance  covers your planned activities
• understand what your travel and other insurance doesn't cover
• only book with operators with appropriate safety equipment and practices
• always use the safety equipment, even if others don't

If you're trekking or travelling in a remote area:

• get updates on local weather from the  Department of Conservation
• check conditions with the local DOC visitor centre
• register your trip with a DOC visitor centre
• tell your family and friends your plans
• carry a personal locator beacon
• avoid creeks and rivers after heavy rains

You can hire personal locator beacons throughout New Zealand.

When you return from a hike, check in with:

• the DOC visitor centre
• your family and friends
• anyone else who knew your plans
• AdventureSmart
• Mountain Safety Council

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave. 

Your policy must cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away (including if stopovers on the way to your destination are covered) 

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you need counselling services in New Zealand, contact:

• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or free text HELP (4357)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Healthline – 0800 611 116
• Samaritans – 0800 726 666
• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to take medication, check if it's legal in New Zealand. Take enough legal medication for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use
• New Zealand Customs Service
• Medicare Australia

Health risks

Health risks are broadly similar to those in Australia.

Medical care

Medical facilities, reciprocal health care.

New Zealand and Australia have a  reciprocal health care agreement . This lets Australians access public medical facilities and care.

It doesn't:

• include ongoing treatment of existing health conditions
• cover extra accommodation costs or flights for family members
• cover flights to Australia
• replace the need for travel insurance.

To access services under the agreement:

• show your current Australian passport or evidence of permanent residency
• show your valid Medicare card.
• New Zealand Ministry of Health
• Reciprocal health care agreement (Services Australia)

Accident Compensation Corporation

If you're injured in an accident, the  Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)  covers the costs of hospital treatment.

The cover provided by ACC:

• offers injury cover on a 'no-fault' basis — this means accident victims don’t have a legal right to sue a third party
• ends once you've left New Zealand
• doesn't replace your need for  travel insurance .

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Penalties for possessing and using drugs may include fines and prison sentences.

• Carrying or using drugs

Alcohol laws

You'll need photo ID to buy alcohol or enter licensed premises.

You can't use your Australian driver's licence.

Approved IDs include:

• current passport
• current New Zealand driver's licence
• Kiwi Access Card
• Approved ID

Quarantine regulations

New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules.

If you don't declare items for quarantine, you'll get an instant fine.

If you make a false statement, you'll face heavy fines and prison sentences.

Customs requirements 

When you arrive, customs officers may check electronic devices they suspect are being used in criminal activity. Devices may include:

• mobile phones
• portable tablets
• hard drives
• digital cameras

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

New Zealand recognises dual nationality.

If you're an Australian-New Zealand dual citizen, use your  Australian passport  to enter and leave Australia.

• Dual nationals

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. Contact  NZ Immigration  for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules. If you don't meet the conditions, the Australian Government can't help you.

Visa conditions 

Most Australian citizens don’t need a visa to enter unless you have a criminal record or if you've been deported from any country.

Australian permanent residents need to apply online for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to enter New Zealand. Australian citizens are exempt from this rule.

For more information refer to the NZ Government Immigration website .

If you've been:

• convicted of any crimes, or
• deported from any country

Contact a  New Zealand Visa Application Centre  for advice well before you travel.

New Zealand Visa Application Centre

Level 6 66 Hunter Street Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: +61 2 8278 4529 or 1800 388 718 Website:  www.immigration.govt.nz Email:  [email protected]

Border measures

If you are a New Zealand visa or NZeTA holder you still need to complete an NZTD.

For more information see the  NZTD website . 

Maritime border

New Zealand's maritime border is open to all vessels, including foreign flagged vessels, cruise ships, recreational vessels (such as yachts and small craft) and specialist vessels used in research and exploration. 

For more information see the  New Zealand Customs Service – Travelling to New Zealand webpage . 

• Travelling to New Zealand  (New Zealand Government)
• Information for visa holders  (New Zealand Immigration)

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

New Zealand Immigration requires you to have 3 months of validity on your passport after the date you plan to leave. If you're planning to travel to another destination after leaving New Zealand, you may need more than 3 months validity on your passport after your departure date.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

• NZ Immigration

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier 

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. 

New Zealand Immigration recognises gender 'X' on passports. If in doubt, contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.

More information: 

• LGBTQIA+ travellers

The local currency is the New Zealand Dollar ($NZ).

Declare all amounts over $NZ10,000 or equivalent on arrival and departure. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

ATM availability is similar to Australia.

You can use debit or credit cards in most places as you would in Australia.

Contact your bank to let them know you'll use your cards overseas.

Local travel

Driving permit.

You can drive for up to 12 months with your Australian driver's licence.

After that, you'll need to get a local licence.

• Driver licences

Road travel

Ice, snow, fog, high winds and roaming animals can cause hazardous conditions. Heavy rain can cause landslides across roads.

Outside major cities, there aren't many motorways. Overtaking opportunities are limited.

Prepare for longer travel times than in Australia.

Railway crossings don't always have barriers, particularly in country areas.

If you're driving in mountain areas or to ski fields, be aware that roads:

• are often narrow and unpaved
• may not have safety barriers
• may require you to use snow chains
• may only be accessible by 4WD

It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, but there is an exemption for 111 calls in genuine emergencies. Hands-free devices and 2-way radio are permitted.

If you plan to drive in New Zealand:

• learn the  local road rules  before driving
• be careful if there's ice, snow, fog or high winds
• check for road closures and warnings with the  New Zealand Transport Agency
• equip yourself for current and possible weather conditions
• Driving or riding
• Driving in New Zealand

Motorcycles

Make sure your travel insurance covers using a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis and rideshares are generally reliable. The standards are similar to Australia.

The  New Zealand Transport Authority  regulates taxis and rideshare apps.

Public transport

Buses, trains and ferries operate throughout New Zealand. State-run services are also regulated by the New Zealand Transport Authority.

Take care of your belongings on public transport.

• Transport and getting around safely

Several international cruise lines stopover in New Zealand. 

• Going on a cruise

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  New Zealand's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australian High Commission, Wellington

72-76 Hobson Street Thorndon Wellington, New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 473 6411 Fax: +64 4 498 7103 Website:  newzealand.highcommission.gov.au Facebook:  Australia in New Zealand Twitter:  @AusHCNZ

Australian Consulate-General

Level 7, HSBC Tower  186-194 Quay Street Auckland City, New Zealand

Phone: +64 9 921 8800 Fax: +64 9 921 8820

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

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Australia vs New Zealand: which destination is right for you?

May 9, 2023 • 6 min read

If you’re planning a great Antipodean adventure, Australia and New Zealand tempt in equal measure. © iStock; Getty Images

If you’re planning a great Antipodean adventure, Australia and New Zealand tempt in equal measure.

Yet since that year-long sabbatical that will allow you to travel slowly across both countries may be a long time coming, you’ll likely have to make the tough decision to visit one over the other.

How do you tackle such a choice? Let two of our travel experts help.

Australian travel writer and Lonely Planet contributor Sarah Reid has collected more than 130 passport stamps. But she has yet to visit another country that ticks as many boxes as her homeland.

So our mountains might not be as dramatic, our airline safety not as funny and our rugby team...well, let’s not get into that. But while I have a deep affection for our neighbor across the Tasman Sea, there’s really no beating what Australia has to offer visitors.

Cultural cachet

Let’s start with the world’s oldest living cultures. Every corner of the country forms part of the traditional lands of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group with its own language, customs, traditions and stories. And there have never been more opportunities to experience this rich cultural legacy, from being dazzled by  Wintjiri Wiru , a new state-of-the-art cultural storytelling experience at  Uluru , to climbing the  Sydney Harbour Bridge with an  Indigenous storyteller guide .

Speaking of Sydney : what a showstopper! I lived in the  New South Wales capital for nearly a decade and I still get misty-eyed at the sight of the  Sydney Opera House sticking out into the sparkling Sydney Harbor. With regard to new food frontiers, did you know the flat white was invented in Sydney? We realize that might hard for Kiwis to accept. And while New Zealand might have made the first pavlova, its culinary scene doesn’t hold a candle to Australia’s, particularly in Sydney and  Melbourne , which both lie within easy striking distance of top wine regions. And let’s not forget our other cool capital cities: Canberra and Hobart , to name two, can get literally as cold as Auckland or Wellington, but rarely as windy.

A world of wildlife

The magical island of Tasmania is home to five of Australia’s 12 Great Walks . And while we won’t deny the Lord of the Rings landscapes experienced on New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks are pretty special, they’re generally lacking one thing Australia has no shortage of: wildlife. (Sheep don’t count.) It never gets old spotting a koala dozing in a gum tree, an echidna waddling across your path or a kangaroo bounding through the bush. And how amazing are Australia’s birds? There are few sounds as joyous as a family of kookaburras erupting into laughter.

I will say that New Zealand’s small size makes for easier and less carbon-intensive trips within the country. Yet across its great girth, Australia is blessed with astounding and unrivaled diversity, best experienced on a road trip to destinations like Cairns and Far North Queensland , where the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest meets the world’s largest coral reef (the Great Barrier Reef is still incredible, by the way). Or the wild and rugged Top End of the Northern Territory , where red-dirt trails lead to Aboriginal rock art and serene swimming holes.

You could spend a lifetime exploring the highlights of mainland Australia. But our territory also encompasses more than 8000 islands. From the colonial heritage of Norfolk Island to the otherworldly natural beauty of Lord Howe Island , many of these spots are bucket-list destinations unto themselves.

It helps, of course, that Australia has an ideal climate for exploring outdoors. For what good is a gorgeous beach that’s usually too cold for a dip? At any given time of the year, it’s the perfect time to be somewhere Down Under. Just ask the 15 percent of New Zealand’s population who call Australia home.

The zing of New Zealand

Travel writer and editor Tasmin Waby has explored almost all of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island (where seeing kiwis under the Milky Way was a life highlight). 

While some of the world’s wealthiest preppers may have chosen New Zealand as the place to move in the face of a global apocalypse, New Zealanders are busy making the world a better place so that those billionaire bunkers won’t be needed after all.

New Zealand is the home of my extended family – my whānau – and I honestly can’t believe I haven’t moved there yet. I have vivid childhood memories of the South Island : eating my first ripe peach straight from an Otago orchard, smelling lanolin on my hands after petting a lamb, following a cousin into the frigid ocean at St Clair’s beach in Dunedin in winter.

Small but mighty

One of the best things about going to New Zealand is that you can easily tour its highlights in a week or two. (Honestly, though, if you’re going to go all the way there, take your time and do it properly.) You can’t say the same for Australia – which is really a continent of nations . Despite what your Mercator map might suggest, you need to narrow it down to one region (and deal with your FOMO later). 

While New Zealand is small, it doesn’t feel so when you’ve pitched your tent in a campground by an almost-empty beach that fades into a distant mist of sea spray. Nor when you’re hiking otherworldly volcanic landscapes at Tongariro National Park , or rainforested valleys with only the local wildlife for company. 

And New Zealand’s native animals? Well, at least they’re not trying to kill you…

On the North Island , you can cycle from one coast to the other in just one day. Down on the South Island, you can test your own limits by skiing, bungee-jumping, mountain-biking, jet boating and tackling a via ferrata in Queenstown and Wanaka .

New Zealand is the country for lovers of nature, who also value a proper coffee (whether Australia or NZ invented the “flat white” is a point of hot contention) or a quality drop of wine   – ideally sampled at a cellar door restaurant with views of the ocean.

When sailing the turquoise waters of the Bay of Islands in the tropical “winterless north,” New Zealand is very much a Pacific paradise. Down south, where chiseled mountains plunge into an ocean of marine life, Fiordland could double for Scandinavia.

Sophisticated cities (plus penguins)

New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland is a thriving metropolis with harborside restaurants, open-air festivals, and muggy summer nights, comparable to Sydney – but without the parking problems. Pocket-sized Dunedin and Wellington tick all the “city” boxes, with destination hotels , cocktail bars and fine dining . Then you only need to drive a mere 10 minutes to spot penguins or migrating whales.

Yet you shouldn’t just travel here merely to immerse yourself in incredible landscapes. You’re here to experience the world anew.

Australia may be making strides toward reconciliation with its First Nations, but in New Zealand Māori language , worldview and the traditional values of guardianship of the land, sea and sky are all very much a part of what it means to be a New Zealander. Here, the cultural and spiritual significance of a river is already enshrined in law.

You’ll find New Zealanders are progressive, friendly, and good natured. Even though – incredibly – not all of them were extras in Lord of the Rings , feel free to ask them anyway: Kiwis also have a wry sense of humor. Get over there and find out.

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Entering or leaving Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter the country.

International passenger caps have been removed for all international passenger arrivals into Australia.

All travellers should be aware that: People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status Unvaccinated visa holders do not ​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia Mask wearing on international flights to Australia is no longer mandatory . It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australian Citizens

All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. Citizens are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. Please see the  Department of Home Affairs website  for more information. 

Immigration and Visas

All foreign travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

»    Immigration and visas

If you have a specific question, please contact the Department of Home Affairs .

You will also need to know what you can and cannot bring into Australia, knowing the duty-free concession limits and what to experience when travelling through Australian airports and seaports.

Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Plan your trip with  australia.com , the official Tourism Australia website, offering a wide range of travel information and planning tools including over 2000 images, a currency converter, daily weather updates, interactive maps, suggested holiday itineraries, holiday deals, specialist travel agents and more. Available in nine languages.

Tourist Refund Scheme

The  Tourist Refund Scheme  enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

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Immigration information.

New Zealand citizens automatically receive a non-protected Special Category Visa (SCV) when they arrive in Australia provided they meet certain security, character and health requirements.  We encourage you to check your eligibility for entry to Australia by visiting the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website or by contacting your nearest Australian immigration office to discuss your plan to travel to Australia. 

Getting an arrival stamp in your passport is the only physical evidence that you hold this visa.  If you use SmartGate (an automated border processing system that allows you to self-process through passport control) you are granted an SCV but you do not get an arrival stamp in your passport.  If you wish to obtain a stamp you can do so by asking a Customs and Border Protection Officer.

You can then stay and work in Australia indefinitely as long as you remain of good character, do not present a serious health risk (such as untreated tuberculosis) and retain your New Zealand citizenship.

Non-protected SCV holders do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents.  Australian authorities can also cancel an SCV if a person fails certain character and health requirements, such as committing a crime or untreated TB. 

If your SCV visa is cancelled, you may be placed into an immigration detention centre before being deported from Australia.   If you arrive in Australia and border authorities refuse to grant you a SCV on character grounds, then you may also spend time in detention followed by removal. 

Short-term visits

New Zealanders making short-term visits to Australia should buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover non-emergency health care costs, including repatriation and ambulance costs.

New Zealanders are eligible to receive free emergency hospital treatment under the Reciprocal Health Agreement , but New Zealanders without an Australian Medicare card have to pay the full cost of any non-hospital treatment such as doctors’ visits or pharmaceuticals.

For information about visiting Australia while receiving New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), a benefit or other payment, read the "Going overseas" information on the Work and Income website.  

Living in Australia - entitlements

New Zealand citizens who intend to live in Australia long term should apply for a Medicare card on arrival, which enables access to medical and hospital services.  For more information, see the Services Australia website .

If you receive NZ Super, Veteran’s Pension or Supported Living Payment and intend to live in Australia you may qualify for payment in Australia.  You must advise Work and Income of your plans and apply to the Australian authority (Centrelink) within a set time of arrival.  

For more information about NZ Super and Veteran's Pension, see the Living in Australia page on the Work and Income website.  For information about Supported Living Payment, see the Social security agreement with Australia page. 

Automatic permanent residence for New Zealanders ceased in 2001.  

From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa. These changes apply to New Zealand citizens holding a SCV who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001

For information on the Special Category Visa or applying for Australian citizenship, please see the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs  website.

What the New Zealand Government can do

New Zealanders who get into difficulties overseas, including in Australia, are eligible for consular assistance but there are limitations.  See Our Services for more information.

New Zealand Government offices in Australia have no funds to assist New Zealanders in financial difficulty.  New Zealand agencies such as Work and Income NZ are unable to pay emergency benefits to assist people outside New Zealand.

Further information for New Zealanders in Australia is available on the "Living in Australia" page on the New Zealand High Commission website.

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Combining Australia and New Zealand: questions to ask yourself

By Australia and New Zealand specialist James

You could go from the Red Centre’s desert panoramas to tropical Queensland, and follow it all up with the glaciers, sea cliffs and snowy mountain ranges of South Island. Or, embark on a wildlife-themed trip, going from the underwater wonderlands of the Ningaloo or Great Barrier reefs to New Zealand’s Kaikoura, one of the world’s best whale-watching destinations. Combining Australia and New Zealand in the same trip lets you experience wildly contrasting topographies and ecosystems within the space of a few weeks. And, thanks to constantly improving flight connections, it’s easier than ever to travel between the two.

It’s natural you might want to visit Australia and New Zealand in one go: they’re so close, and you’re already taking a long plane journey to get to either place. There are lots of ways to split your time between the two countries — this Australia and New Zealand Uncovered trip outline is just a starting point.

But, for a really fulfilling trip, there are a few things you’ll need to mull over.

How much time do I have?

Allow a minimum of three weeks. Any less than that, and I encourage you to focus on only one country.

Five weeks would give you time to see three different areas of Australia without feeling rushed — Sydney, Uluru/Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef  is a popular grouping. Then, you could head over to New Zealand for a ten-day road trip through the South Island’s standout scenery.

When do I want to go?

This question determines where exactly you’ll go, so it needs to be considered upfront. It’s really about coordinating the optimum times to go to different areas of Australia  with the best time to travel to New Zealand .

I speak to many people who are set on cramming their visit into the Austral summer (December to March), to make the most of the Southern Hemisphere’s warmer weather. This works well for New Zealand, but there are a few caveats for Australia.

Anywhere in Australia south of Brisbane  enjoys warm weather and blue skies between December and March. But, this same period coincides with cyclone season in Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Visiting over the Christmas period can also rule out Kakadu National Park and the Northern Territory , which gets heavy rainfall at this time of year.

So, if you’re planning to travel between December and March, think about the breadth of what Australia has to offer. The Outback isn’t limited to Australia’s Top End. As long as you’re prepared for the baking sun, you can also experience the Outback in South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park   — a land of clefted sandstone foothills, lonely homesteads, behemoth rock formations and roaming emus.

You can find out more about ‘the Flinders’ (as it’s known) in our guide to South Australia’s landscapes and wildlife . And, as an escape from the Outback’s heat, you could always follow up the Flinders with a few cool glasses of wine in the vineyards of the Clare or Barossa valleys.

If you’re not wedded to a December–March travel period, consider timing your trip for October and November instead. You could catch the tail end of the fine weather in Queensland  in October, before moving on to a springtime Sydney. By the time you reach New Zealand in late October to early November, the days will be getting longer and becoming increasingly warmer.

If you want to see Australia’s Top End at its finest, go between May and September, but bear in mind that you’ll have less daylight in New Zealand at this time of year.

How many flights am I prepared to take?

You have lots of options for flying between and Australia and New Zealand. Flight times are relatively short (it’s three hours from Sydney to Auckland , the same amount of time it takes to fly from Sydney to Uluru).

You’re not restricted to the major gateway cities of Auckland, Sydney, Queenstown and Melbourne , either. You could, say, fly from Christchurch to Perth , combining the South Island’s scenic big hitters with time on the beaches and in the winelands of Western Australia’s Margaret River Region.

When combining Australia and New Zealand, I always try to cut down on empty transit time. This can even make you reconsider how much you want to fit in to your trip: how many days do you really want to spend hanging around airports?

You can also break up your flying. You might fly into Sydney, then swing across to Queenstown to start exploring the South Island, before flying to Melbourne to drive the Great Ocean Road . There’s nothing to say you can’t go to Australia twice.

Nor do you have to use Sydney as your starting point. Fly direct to Cairns from Singapore or Hong Kong. Start with the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, then hop down to Uluru/Ayers Rock, and culminate your Australia leg in Sydney before flying on to New Zealand.

How can I narrow down where I want to go?

This is a tough one — you have to accept you won’t see everything. Start by thinking about each country in isolation and having an honest conversation with yourself about what you really want to see in each.

As I touched on earlier, the beauty of Australia and New Zealand is that despite their proximity, they’re scenically very distinct. In only a matter of weeks, you can go from shaking the dust off your boots in the Outback to strapping on crampons and walking on a glacier.

If you really don’t know where to start with New Zealand, opt for a classic South Island road trip . This is where you’ll find not only alpine panoramas, winelands and fjords, but also year-round whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals and more in Kaikoura .

With Australia, think about its varying ecosystems and which ones particularly appeal to you. The great knuckle-like, rust-red monolith of Uluru exerts a magnetic pull on some; others are less enthralled. The Great Barrier Reef  often sits near the top of many Australia wish lists, but, if you’ve previously visited extensive coral reefs in other parts of the world, you might want to try something new.

When it comes to the cities, I usually argue the case for including Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand’s capital Wellington . But, in my book, you can skip over Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city: it shares many of the same characteristics of Sydney (a glittering marina and shiny high-rises). It’s also possible to fly directly from Sydney to Wellington.

However, if you’re an avid birdwatcher, Auckland might come higher up your list. You might, say, be intrigued by the possibility of visiting one of the predator-free island reserves off Auckland’s coast.

If viewing wildlife is important for you, you might wish to spend longer in Australia — New Zealand doesn’t have the standout species nor the zoological variety of Australia.

However, it’s a rewarding destination if you’re especially drawn to marine life or birdlife, as our guide to observing New Zealand’s wildlife explains. There are several places to see the reclusive kiwi, for example, from a hatchery in Rotorua to the untamed Stewart Island in New Zealand’s far south.

Australia also has much to offer beyond its koalas, kangaroos, and other headline species: the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is brimming with sea turtles, reef sharks, and in some places, the rare dugong. And, Kangaroo Island in South Australia is worth the extra journey time. Nicknamed the Australian Galapagos, its wildlife (including echidnas, wallabies and koalas) thrives in the island’s unspoiled environment and the guides here are second to none.

You might also think about not duplicating experiences. If you plan to drive the Great Ocean Road, stopping off at its coves and beaches, perhaps you can afford to forget the beaches of New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula.

Instead, think about what can’t be replicated by each country. I’m a fan of the Grampians, a waterfall-sluiced mountain range in Victoria, but they pale into comparison to New Zealand’s Southern Alps or the North Island’s volcanoes.

In short, it’s about combining the best of both places, according to your personal interests.

Finally, try not to do too much. It’s tempting to squeeze as much as you can into a combined Australia and New Zealand trip, but you’ll have a better experience if you’re not just careering around both countries, spending a night here and a night there.

If witnessing the geothermal showground of Rotorua is a priority for you, don’t just limit your experience to one geothermal park. Stay for three days and mountain bike among the spurting fumaroles of Whakarewarewa Forest Park, one of the best places to go cycling in New Zealand . Or, explore the Inferno Crater Lake of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which is ringed with a champagne shade of silica terracing.

Similarly, if you’re visiting Uluru, I urge you to escape the crowds thronging Ayers Rock Resort and spend a day visiting Mount Conner, an immense flat-topped monolith set on a private cattle station. It’s the Outback as it was meant to be seen — without another soul in sight. You can find out more about the lure of Mount Conner in our blog about experiences you might not know existed .

Start planning your trip to Australia and New Zealand

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Start thinking about your experience. These itineraries are simply suggestions for how you could enjoy some of the same experiences as our specialists. They’re just for inspiration, because your trip will be created around your particular tastes.

Further reading

• What to do in Australia: our highlights guide
• What to do in New Zealand: our highlights guide
• Driving vacations in Australia: beyond the Great Ocean Road
• Driving vacations in New Zealand: 3 great routes
• A world beyond Sydney: 3 road trips around New South Wales

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Before you travel I mua i tō haerenga

Get organised before you travel to make your arrival into New Zealand as easy as possible.

New Zealand entry requirements

Check that you have the right documentation to enter New Zealand, including a valid passport and visa or NZeTA, if required.

Valid passport

You must have a valid passport to enter New Zealand. Check its expiry date to make sure it meets the rules for acceptable travel documents. If you are a New Zealand citizen and you need to renew your passport, make sure you allow plenty of time before you travel.

Renew or replace your adult passport – Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa New Zealand Government

Before you travel to New Zealand – Immigration New Zealand

Visa or NZeTA, if required

If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) to enter New Zealand.

Check if you need a visitor visa or an NZeTA – Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa New Zealand Government

Information about NZeTA – Immigration New Zealand

Travel insurance

When coming to New Zealand to visit, study or work, you are strongly encouraged to get travel insurance. Some visa categories require you to hold insurance as a condition of your visa.

Before you buy travel insurance, check what cover it provides. New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.

Reciprocal health agreements – Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

What you can't bring into New Zealand

There are strict rules for what you can and cannot bring into New Zealand. If you do not declare prohibited or restricted items, you could be fined or prosecuted. This includes items in your checked in luggage and carry-on bags.

Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ – Mānatu Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries

Prohibited and restricted items – Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa New Zealand Customs Service

Check to see if items or products you are bringing into NZ need a CITES permit (CITES protects many plants and animals globally) – Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation 

Travel restrictions for New Zealand

There are no longer any COVID-19 related travel restrictions for New Zealand. You do not need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter New Zealand.

Unite against COVID-19

New Zealand Traveller Declaration: Before you travel

Kia ora, Travellers arriving into Aotearoa New Zealand by air need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. Children and infants need their own declaration too. It’s free, takes about 10 minutes, and you can do it on your mobile device or computer. You can complete your digital declaration within 24 hours of starting your trip to New Zealand.

Go to TravellerDeclaration.govt.nz or download the NZTD app.

Remember, check if you need a visa or NZeTA to enter New Zealand.

Support and resources in other languages .

Last updated: 10th July 2023

Passports and visas when you go to Australia

Most NZ citizens can visit, live and work in Australia without applying for a tourist or work visa. NZ permanent residents need to apply for visas to Australia.

You need a valid NZ passport to go to Australia.

Most adult New Zealanders can get and renew their passports online. All children under 16, including babies, need their own passport.

If you’ve legally changed your name, and it does not appear in your passport, update your passport with your new name by renewing it online.

Get or renew a passport online

If you’re an NZ citizen

If you’re an eligible NZ citizen you get a Special Category visa on entry into Australia. The Special Category visa allows you to live, study and work in Australia for as long as you like.

Special Category visa

If you’ve got a criminal conviction or untreated TB, you’ll need to apply for permission to enter Australia from the Australian High Commission.

Australian High Commission character requirements

If you’re not an NZ citizen

If you’re not an NZ citizen and want to move to or travel in Australia, you need a visa. This includes NZ permanent residents who are not entitled to a Special Category visa. There are different types of visas and different rules for each. Find the Australian visa that applies to your situation.

Find the right Australian Visa

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Last updated 09 October 2020

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Date printed 01 May 2024

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Australia and New Zealand

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New Zealand

"Australia & New Zealand are two of the world's most beloved destinations. I love showing our guests all the iconic sights from the red desert to the dreamy beaches."

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Admire the Sydney Opera House

We’ll take you on a guided tour around the sails of the Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic sights in Australia. Enjoy an evening performance inside the grand Concert Hall, or board a helicopter for a panoramic view of the Opera House, along with other Sydney stars like the Harbour Bridge and Manly Cove.

Visit the Franz Josef Glacier

See the icy fingers of the Franz Josef Glacier with a guided ice walk or a thrilling scenic flight. When you take to the skies on our New Zealand trips, you’ll get a breathtaking view of the 12 kilometer glacier, along with Mount Cook and the soaring Southern Alps of the World Heritage Site park.

Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef

Board a high-speed catamaran and cruise the Coral Sea to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living structure and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This remarkable coral reef can be seen from outer space, and we’ll sink beneath the waters to snorkel with a dazzling array of marine life.

Get lost in the gorgeous streets of Wellington

When you travel New Zealand with Trafalgar, we’ll take you along the Kapiti Coast to Wellington, New Zealand’s beautiful capital city. You’ll enjoy an exclusive guided tour of Te Papa Museum where you’ll learn about Maori culture, then spend time exploring Welly’s gems, like the Parliament buildings or the city’s coffee culture.

Enjoy a traditional Australian barbecue with a view on Uluru

Experience one of the world’s most unique dining experiences, with Uluru as your striking backdrop. You’ll enjoy a classic barbecue of steaks, lamb sausages and garlic prawns, while gazing at the ancient monolith as it’s dusty red walls change colors during sunset. As the sun disappears, turn your eyes to the skies for spectacular stargazing.

Our top 5 things to do in Australia & New Zealand

Our tours of Australia and New Zealand will reveal the wonders of Down Under, from the sunny Great Barrier Reef in Australia, to the icy Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand.

The International Antarctic Centre

Located in Christchurch, the International Antarctic Centre is one of the best attractions in New Zealand. There are scores of interactive experiences to show you what life is like in Antarctica, including a thrilling all-terrain vehicle tour and a wild Antarctic storm room. Immerse yourself in the 4D theater and meet the cheeky penguins.

Australian National Maritime Museum

Set in Sydney’s vibrant Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum shares the country’s stories of the sea. You can explore three open vessels including a ship and a submarine, and various exhibitions that document the charting of Australia’s coastline and the sacred meaning of the sea to the Aboriginal Australians.

Museum of Sydney

The Museum of Sydney showcases the colonial and contemporary history of Sydney, though pictures, objects and digital media exhibitions. It was built on the ruins of Australia's first Government House dating back to 1788, and today houses a large display of convict artefacts recovered from over 25 archaeological digs.

Best museums in Australia & New Zealand

Our trips to Australia and New Zealand showcase the region’s top museums, from the interactive Antarctic Centre in New Zealand, to the open ships of the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Pavlova is made from chewy meringue shell with a soft marshmallow center, and topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwifruit and passionfruit. There’s a rivalry between Australia and New Zealand over the true national origins of the dish, but both countries agree it’s a truly delicious dessert.

Seafood is a national specialty throughout New Zealand, but the best place to enjoy a meal of crayfish is Kaikoura, a seaside town on the South Island. Here, you’ll enjoy the freshest catch of the day, and the crayfish is boiled and served with a tangy dipping sauce.

Found in restaurants all over Australia, the parmigiana is one of the most beloved dishes in the country. It’s made from a breaded chicken breast slathered in tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, served with french fries and salad. It originated in Italy and was brought to Australia with a wave of Italian migrants.

Best food in Australia & New Zealand

Our tours of New Zealand and Australia will reveal their most beloved dishes, from fresh crayfish and chicken parmigiana, to the sweet meringue of pavlova.

What to pack for Australia & New Zealand

All climate clothing

The climates in the region range from the sweltering desert to the snowy alps, so you’ll need to pack some versatile layers to be prepared for all seasons.

Australia is the world’s largest island, while New Zealand is famed for its scenic roads. Bring some headphones to accompany your long journeys through the panoramic landscapes.

Versatile shoes

You’ll need a range of shoes for your journey, from flip-flops for the beaches, to hiking boots for the mountains, and even a formal pair for a night at the Sydney Opera House.

You’ll see some of the world’s most extraordinary sites in Australia and New Zealand, and you’ll need a camera to capture all the action.

Reef-safe sunscreen

Australia and New Zealand are known for their harsh sun, and you’ll need to bring a strong, reef-safe sunscreen to protect your skin on your Pacific Island holiday.

Other worldwide regions we visit

Africa the Middle East

North and Central America

South America

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• Before you travel to New Zealand

To board your flight or cruise to New Zealand you need a valid passport or travel document, and have the right visa or an NZeTA.

Your journey to New Zealand

Protect yourself from immigration scams, new zealand electronic travel authority (nzeta), check if you need an nzeta or visa, travellers who do not need an nzeta, arriving by cruise ship, transit passengers, visa waiver countries and territories, transit visa waiver countries, paying the international visitor conservation and tourism levy (ivl).

Arriving in New Zealand

• If you are a premium loyalty programme member
• Visiting New Zealand on business

Checking in for your trip

When you check in you must show that you:

• have a valid passport or travel document, and
• hold the right visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Check your passport

You may not be allowed to check in if your passport is not valid for travel to New Zealand. Check that it will not expire until:

• 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand, or
• 1 month after the date you plan to leave New Zealand — if your passport was issued by a country that has a New Zealand embassy or consulate that issues passports of that country.

Embassies - Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

If you live in New Zealand permanently — for example, if you have a resident visa — your passport only needs to be valid for travel to New Zealand.

Make sure that your passport has not been:

• reported as lost or stolen, or
• invalidated by the government that issued it.

If you need an NZeTA

You must hold an NZeTA if you are boarding a flight or cruise that leaves for New Zealand, and you:

• are visiting on a passport from a visa waiver country — that is, a country whose passport holders do not need to get a visa before they travel to New Zealand
• are a cruise ship passenger
• are passing through Auckland International Airport to another country and travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country
• are passing through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger to or from Australia, or
• have a permanent resident visa for Australia that lets you return to Australia from another country. 

If you do not need an NZeTA

You do not need an NZeTA if you:

• hold a visa for New Zealand
• are an Australian or New Zealand citizen travelling on an Australian or New Zealand passport, or
• are a New Zealand citizen travelling on a passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement.

Permanent residents of visa waiver countries

Holding a permanent resident visa for a visa waiver country is not evidence of your citizenship.

If you hold a Permanent Resident Card (green card) for the USA (a visa waiver country) you would still need a visa to travel to New Zealand — unless the passport you hold is from a visa waiver country. Your eligibility to travel to New Zealand without a visa depends on the passport that you are travelling on.

If you intend to travel to New Zealand on a passport issued by a visa waiver country you:

• may travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first
• still must get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you travel.

If you are going to travel to New Zealand on a passport from a country not on the visa waiver list, you need a visa before you travel.

Requesting an NZeTA

You request an NZeTA using our mobile app or online form. You may also need to pay an International Visitor Tourism and Conservation Levy (IVL).

Information about NZeTA

Paying the International Visitor Tourism and Conservation Levy

Correct errors on your NZeTA

After your NZeTA is approved, you can only correct some of the details such as your:

• passport number — for example, if you had to replace your passport
• email address, or
• small spelling mistakes or numerical errors.

Use our online form to request these changes to your NZeTA.

How to request a change to your NZeTA

If you want to make other changes, you must request a new NZeTA.

If you have a visa to come to New Zealand

If you have a visa for New Zealand, before you leave, check that:

• your passport details match the details on your eVisa (if you have an eVisa), and
• you have the right visa for what you plan to do in New Zealand.

Contact us immediately if there is an error in the details listed in your eVisa.

If you travel on a different passport

If you do not plan to use the same passport to travel to New Zealand that you used when you applied for your visa, you must apply to transfer your visa to the new passport before you travel. Your visa details are linked to the passport you used to apply so if they do not match, your travel may be delayed.

Transfer your visa to a new passport

I'm a New Zealand citizen but travel on my foreign passport

Check your visa conditions

Check your visa to find out what the conditions are. You may not be allowed to enter New Zealand if you cannot provide evidence that you meet the conditions of your visa. For example, the money you must have to live on in New Zealand can vary depending on the visa you have.

Check the conditions of your visa

Bring evidence to support your travel

Gather the documents you need. Bring with you:

• a copy of your eVisa letter (unless you have a visa label in the passport you are travelling on), and
• evidence that you can meet the conditions of your visa — for example you can use:
• your travel ticket to show that you are planning to leave New Zealand, and
• bank statements to show that you have enough money to live on while you are here.

Do not buy your ticket before we grant you a visa or your application is approved in principle. You may lose the cost of your ticket or have to rearrange your travel if there is a delay in processing your application or we do not grant you a visa.

Checks we need to do 

As well as checking your passport and visa, there are other things we need to check.

Before you board your plane or cruise ship

When you check in to travel to New Zealand, we receive information from your airline or cruise line that we use to check our records to make sure you are allowed to travel here. 

How we collect and use information about people flying in and out of NZ

We may need to ask you some questions before you board or when you arrive. This applies to everyone, including people who already hold a visa, an NZeTA or are in transit.

Checking your reasons for travelling

As well as checking your passport and visa, we check that you have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand

If you do not answer the questions truthfully, you may not be allowed to come here.

If you are refused entry to New Zealand

Onward travel

We may want to see your ticket showing when you will leave New Zealand. We may ask to see other travel tickets or visas if you leave to go to a country that you:

• need to have a visa or onward travel ticket for, or
• are not a citizen of — you need to show that you have the right to enter that country.

We do not need to see this if:

• your eVisa says 'return/onward travel not required'
• your eVisa says 'the holder of this visa is sponsored', or
• you hold a current resident or permanent resident visa for New Zealand.

Supporting yourself in New Zealand

We may want to see evidence of how you will support yourself financially while you are in New Zealand.

Your character

We may want to check that you are of good character and will comply with the conditions of your visa. This could include questions about any convictions you have or whether you have been deported from another country.

Good character for temporary visas

Good character for residence visas

Your health

We may ask for evidence about your health. Before you can enter New Zealand you must be in good health or be granted a medical waiver.

Who needs an x-ray or medical examination

Medical waivers for visa applications

If you are coming to New Zealand on a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa we may ask to see evidence about your health.

Medical Treatment Visitor Visa

Immigration scams to watch out for, and how to protect yourself from these scams and visa fraud.

Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. This depends on your passport and if you are visiting or only transiting.

Some people can use an NZeTA to travel to New Zealand, and others need to get a visa.

Visa holders and some other travellers do not need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel to New Zealand.

If you plan to arrive in New Zealand by cruise ship and do not have a visa, you must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Information about transit visas and criteria for passing through New Zealand to another country.

Passport holders of some countries and territories do not have to apply for a visa before they travel to NZ but must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

Citizens of some countries do not have to apply for a visa before passing through New Zealand as a transit passenger but must request an NZeTA.

Many tourists, people on working holidays, and some students and workers coming to New Zealand must pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $35.

$2299—Australia & New Zealand cruise incl. $1500 for flights

Visit these faraway destinations during their summer season this year or next.

Why We Love This Deal

Sail past the towering glaciers of Fiordland National Park, visit cliff-lined beaches and more on these two-week Australia and New Zealand cruises . You'll get to witness dramatic landscapes of the South Pacific without having to plan out the logistics of getting there. 

All sailings include:

• Free international airfare from Los Angeles (other departures cities receive a $1500 flight credit)
• 14 nights' accommodations in an inside cabin aboard Crown Princess , Royal Princess or Discovery Princess
• $85 AUD onboard credit per cabin
• Taxes, port charges and fees ($145-$438 value)
• Reduced deposit
• Ports may include: Sydney, Australia; Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, New Zealand and more

Depart for the following per-person prices:

• $2299 ... Dec. 7, 2024; Feb. 22, 2025
• $2349-$2399 ... Jan. 4, 11; Feb. 1, 2025
• $2519-$2599 ... Nov. 16, 2024; Jan. 18, 2025
• $2999 ... Dec. 21, 2024
• $3299 ... Dec. 20, 2025

Options:  This is part of a larger sale that includes Australia and New Zealand itineraries from Holland America and Seabourn. Suites and oceanview and balcony cabins are also on sale.  Add a premium drinks package, Wi-Fi and prepaid tips/gratuities for an additional $60 per person, per night.

Sneak peek: Watch the video on PrestigeCruises.com's website to see what it's like to cruise to Australia and New Zealand.

When You Can Go

December 2024 & February 2025; November & January on sale

Up to $1300 vs similar cruises

More Deals & Tips

• Trending Deals
• Last-Minute Deals

How to Book

Press "1" and mention package code 23131 . The reservation center is open 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. PT Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. PT Saturday-Sunday.

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Home Highlights of New Zealand & Australia

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Highlights of New Zealand & Australia

Experience the best of New Zealand and Australia on an unforgettable tour filled with fascinating wildlife, dramatic scenery, and the region’s favorite cities. From the South Pacific’s must-sees to its hidden gems, this Australia and New Zealand tour is a dream vacation!  

Combining fun, sun, glee, and the sea, this tour of New Zealand and Australia introduces you to the special features and creatures of both fascinating countries. Starting in New Zealand, you’ll witness Waitomo’s Glowworm Caves and Rotorua’s boiling mud pools before cruising through some of the coolest fiord scenery in the world in Queenstown’s Milford Sound. More uplifting sights await in the “Land Down Under” as you take a spin on Melbourne’s Star Observation Wheel, a dip in the kaleidoscope of coral-filled ocean at the Great Barrier Reef, and a ferry across Sydney Harbour to see the Opera House and other harmonious sights. While you’re sure to take plenty of pictures on this tour of the South Pacific, we’ll take one of you with a crocodile or koala for the ultimate souvenir.

Daily Itinerary

Days 1 & 2 - tuesday, february 25 & wednesday, february 26 – your journey begins.

Your journey begins at Chicago O’Hare, where you will board your flight to Auckland, New Zealand .  You’ll pass over the International Dateline and arrive two days later. Or use your own air and meet us in Auckland.

Day 3 - Thursday, February 27 – Arrive in Auckland

Kia Ora, welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival in Auckland you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in order to attend the evening’s welcome meeting and dinner. Enjoy 360-degree views of Auckland below as you dine atop SkyCity at the Orbit Restaurant.  

Hotel: SkyCity Hotel (or similar)  

Meals: Dinner  

Photo Credit: SkyCity Auckland

Day 4 - Friday, February 28 – Auckland Excursion to Waiheke Island

This morning, enjoy an orientation tour of Auckland, the “City of Sails.” See bustling Queen Street, the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, and the historic Parnell Village. Then, take a ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island, where we’ll visit a winery for  a tour, tasting, and lunch. A hidden gem known to local New Zealanders and discriminating travelers. Waiheke Island is known to many as the groves, and world-class vineyards is yours to enjoy!   

Hotel: Sky City Hotel (or similar)  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - Saturday, March 1 - Auckland - Waitomo - Matamata - Rotorua

This morning depart Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves . Experience a guided tour through the limestone chambers and passages of the cavern. Take a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. Next, stop at a picturesque farm near Matamata, which was transformed into the Hobbiton movie set of the Lord of the Rings films. During your visit, see the Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and other structures built for the movies. Continue to Rotorua for a 2-night stay.   

Hotel: Distinction Hotel Rotorua (or similar)   

Meals: Breakfast  

Day 6 - Sunday, March 2 – Rotorua, excursion to Waimungu Volcanic Valley

This morning visit Te Puia, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Next, visit Agrodome to experience New Zealand’s sheep industry. There’s time to watch a sheep shearing demonstration, visit the farmyard nursery, and see the remarkable farm dogs as they demonstrate their ability to respond to commands and keep the sheep in line. This evening, enjoy a traditional Hangi dinner.  

Hotel: Distinction Hotel Rotorua (or similar)  

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner  

Day 7 - Monday, March 3 – Rotorua - Queenstown

Adventure Awaits!  Fly to Queenstown, the “Adventure capital of the World.” In addition to the non-stop action available in Queenstown, you’ll find top-notch restaurants and cafes, art galleries, shopping, spas, and wine tasting rooms. Dinner tonight is served with a view. This evening, take a scenic gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak where you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and breathtaking views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkable Mountains. Make sure to have your camera ready for fantastic photo opportunities.  

Hotel: Heritage Hotel Queenstown (or similar)   

Day 8 - Tuesday, March 4 – Queenstown, Excursions to Milford Sound

Today, travel into Fiordland National Park through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, this region of New Zealand has been honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise on the fiord, with sheer rock walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths.   

Hotel: Heritage Hotel Queenstown (or similar)  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch  

Day 9 - Wednesday, March 5 – Queenstown

A full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Consider an optional visit to a local vineyard and sample some of the prize vintages or maybe take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Dart River. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you plan your day to explore, shop, and enjoy optional activities.   

Day 10 - Thursday, March 6 – Queenstown- Melbourne, Australia

This morning, board your flight across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne.   

Hotel: Stamford Plaza Melbourne (or similar)  

Day 11 - Friday, March 7 – Melbourne

Today’s sightseeing includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Drive past the lush Royal Botanical Gardens and then enjoy a guided tour of beautiful Fitzroy Gardens and a visit to Cook’s Cottage. Afterward, enjoy a delicious high-tea lunch. Enjoy free time the remainder of the day.  

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch  

Day 12 - Saturday, March 8 – Melbourne

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city. You may want to dine at a local restaurant and immerse yourself in Melbourne’s passionate food and wine scene or walk along Chapel and Brunswick Streets, famous for great shopping.   

Enhanced Free Time  

Explore more in Melbourne with a trip out of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.” You may also enjoy an optional visit to Phillip Island to see the famous Penguin Parade.  

Meals : Breakfast  

Day 13 - Sunday, March 9 – Melbourne - Cairns

Today, fly to Cairns, the “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Upon arrival, a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure introduces you to Australia’s native species, including the famous koalas. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.  

Hotel:   Pullman Cairns International (or similar)  

Day 14 - Monday, March 10 – Cairns, Excursion to the Outer Great Barrier Reef

Today, prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance.  

Hotel: Pullman Cairns International (or similar)  

Day 15 - Tuesday, March 11 - Cairns

A full day at leisure. Explore more with a trip into the Daintree Forest, the world’s oldest living rainforest and to beautiful Cape Tribulation. Other activities include a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, relaxing by your resort’s pool, or checking out the shops and galleries along Cairns’ famous Esplanade. Don’t miss the Night Markets for a bite to eat and a special souvenir.  

Day 16 - Wednesday, March 12 - Cairns - Sydney

Today, fly to Sydney, Australia’s largest and oldest city. Known for its beautiful harbor, superb beaches, and iconic Opera House; Sydney is a city that dazzles. From its convict history to modern skyscrapers, you’ll discover a city with hidden gems, a thriving art and culture scene, unique shopping, beautiful gardens, and amazing opportunities for dining with a view.  

Hotel: Swissotel Sydney (or similar)  

Day 17 - Thursday, March 13 - Sydney

Explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Visit the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided tour of its interior and theaters. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s Botanic Garden for a great photo opportunity and sweeping views of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Visit world-famous Manley Beach with time to explore the shops or perhaps go for a stroll on the beach. Afterward, take a ferry back to Sydney Harbour and enjoy some of the city’s best views. Make sure to have your camera ready!  

Day 18 - Friday, March 14 - Sydney

Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps join our optional excursions to the Blue Mountains or to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner at waterside restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour.  

Day 19 - Saturday, March 15 - Sydney - Return Home

Our South Pacific adventure ends today.  Enjoy breakfast before transferring to the Sydney Airport for your flight home to Chicago.    

Tour Highlights

• Orientation tour of Auckland and Waiheke Island and winery visit  
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves  
• Visit the Hobbiton movie set from The Lord of the Rings trilogy  
• V isit Te Puia and Rainbow Springs  
• Enjoy a Māori cultural performance and Hangi dinner  
• Queenstown Gondola ride and visit to Fiordland National Park with Cruise on Milford Sound  
• Melbourne sightseeing tour with visit to Fitzroy Gardens  
• Great Barrier Reef cruise with choice of activities  
• Visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in Cairns  
• Sydney Sightseeing tour; visit to the Sydney Opera House and Botanic Gardens  
• Sydney Harbour cruise  

Fox Tour Manager!

A Tour Manager from Fox World Travel will guide the group, offering peace of mind as you travel!

We’ll also have a p rofessional local Tour Director and p rofessional driver and guide for transfers and included excursions.

Accommodations

• Seven nights’ First-Class hotel accommodations in New Zealand including: 2 nights Auckland, 2 nights Rotorua, and 3 nights Queenstown  
• Nine nights’ First-Class hotel accommodations in Australia including: 3 nights Melbourne, 3 nights Cairns, and 3 nights Sydney.   
• All hotel taxes, resort fees, baggage handling for one bag per person  
• Daily b reakfast
• 5 dinners including a traditional Hangi dinner in Rotorua & farewell dinner in Sydney

Transportation

• Round trip air from Chicago to Auckland, New Zealand and return from Sydney, Australia included when purchasing group air
• Round-trip airport/hotel motorcoach transfers when purchasing included group air   
• Internal New Zealand and Australia air flights    
• Airfare from Chicago O'Hare Included
• Guided Tour & Inclusions
• Transfers in Destination
• Purchase Your Own Air

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Early Booking Discount: Deposit by August 1, 2024 and receive a $250.00 discount per person. 

Discounts are subject to change at any time.

Past Trip Highlights

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Single Supplement: $2,310.00

Initial  Deposit: $400.00 per person at time of booking

Fox Professional Fee: Package price includes a $50.00 non-refundable Professional Fee per reservation. Fee will be charged at the time of deposit and will show as an additional payment from Fox World Travel.  

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New Zealand Levy: Visitors are required to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of approximately NZD $35.

Not Included: Visas as required for entry to New Zealand and Australia, a irline flights on land-only packages, airline luggage fees when applicable, gratuities for airport porters, tour guides, motorcoach drivers, meals (other than those included in the package), optional excursions, travel insurance and any items of a personal nature .  

Terms: Minimum of 30 travelers required for the tour to operate and send a Fox World Travel tour manager to accompany the group. In the event the minimum number is not reached, the tour may still include a pro f essional, local guide in destination .  Hotels, experiences, and daily itinerary are subject to change .  

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• December 21 to January 20, 2025:  75% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees
• January 21, 2025 to day of departure:  No refunds

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You will receive customized, informative travel documents containing trip details and helpful packing and planning information.

Note:   Daily Itinerary is subject to change.  Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to uncontrollable factors.

Other Trips You May Enjoy!

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Turkey, Istanbul and the Outer Circle

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10 Important New Zealand Travel Tips to Know Before You Go

N ew Zealand is epic, it’s beautiful, it’s exciting… and it’s a heck of a trip to plan on your own. You’re probably coming from the other side of the world and heading to a country that most people you know have never visited. That was certainly our experience.

We spent hours and hours researching everything we needed to know for our six week New Zealand trip (part of our family gap year) and mostly things went off without a hitch. But we certainly learned a lot along the way so I’ve put together these important New Zealand travel tips for you to read before you go to the Land of the Long White Cloud ( Aotearoa in Maori).

We’ll cover important topics like how to visit New Zealand on a budget, nuances of renting a car in New Zealand and driving in New Zealand, how to find the best places to stay in New Zealand and more. Ready to start planning?

First: some basic facts about New Zealand

• New Zealand is an island nation surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, which separates it from Australia.
• It’s roughly the size of Colorado but with 15% fewer people.
• The local currency is the New Zealand Dollar, abbreviated NZD – check the current exchange rate .
• New Zealand uses the same three-prong outlet as Australia and China. For typical digital electronics, this dedicated New Zealand power adapter will work or you can buy a universal international power adapter . Leave the hair dryers at home though! They require a voltage step down so you might just want to borrow or buy one locally.
• Driving is on the left side of the road. The traffic in Auckland is horrendous and you’ll be jet lagged when you arrive, so take it slow!
• The Maori people have lived in New Zealand for about 700 years, while Captain James Cook arrived 250 years ago.
• Though the ratio isn’t as out-of-balance as it used to be, there are still roughly 6 sheep for every human resident of New Zealand.

No matter how much time you visit, it won’t be enough

Road to Mount Cook, New Zealand

We spent six weeks traveling around the North and South Islands of New Zealand and still feel like we missed so many amazing places!

One of the best things about visiting New Zealand is that there’s a huge range of activities to pursue – hiking to glaciers, relaxing on beaches, snorkeling with the world’s tiniest dolphins, visiting Hobbiton and so much more. But the reality is that unless you move to New Zealand or visit for many months, there’s no way you’ll be able to see it all… or even close.

How long should you stay in New Zealand? I’d say that two weeks is enough to explore one of the two main islands if you’re planning a New Zealand road trip. For visitors who are short on time, the one place I’d recommend shorting is Auckland – it’s a sprawling metropolis but not nearly as unique as basically everything else in New Zealand. It’s a good place to recover from your jet lag and spend one or two days.

Since the drive time from Auckland to Wellington is around 9 hours (in ideal conditions), you could probably get by with spending 10 days on the North Island if you blazed through… but where’s the fun in that? The South Island takes an absolute minimum of 12-13 hours to drive and has so many nooks and crannies that you won’t want to miss, which add to that drive time.

Check out some of these books to help you prioritize the best things to do in New Zealand:

• Lonely Planet New Zealand – a good general overview guidebook to help you plan your route and most important stops
• NZ Frenzy North Island and NZ Frenzy South Island – these are specialized New Zealand outdoor guides written by a local expert
• New Zealand: Travel for kids – if you’re visiting New Zealand with kids, this book provides a great introduction to the history, geography, culture and wildlife

Everything is farther apart than you think

Ok, so those drive times above? Those are the estimates from Google Maps. They assume that you aren’t traveling in New Zealand winter (northern hemisphere summer break), that you don’t need to stop for a herd of sheep, that no one is car sick going over the hill between Tasman and Nelson and that you don’t want to stop for the seventy third photo break.

Yes, there are even your garden variety slow traffic pockets if you’re visiting during peak season.

More importantly, once you get off the main highways there are plenty of spots where the roads are just slow. In some places they’re not as modern and kept up as you might hope. In other places, they’re narrow and windy and you’re just hoping not to drive off the side of a mountain.

Watch for one lane bridges, especially on the South Island! A sign with a blue outline means you have the right of way, a sign with a red outline means that oncoming cars have the right of way. No matter which sign you see, STOP and observe before you try to cross!

You may want to bring this durable map with you to help with navigation in case you end up in an area with spotty cell service – and there are many.

New Zealand and Australia are not that close to each other

How long is the flight from New Zealand to Australia? It’s about 4 hours from Auckland to Sydney. Compared to the 13 hour haul from the west coast of the US, that’s not too bad.

But when you account for arriving to the airport several hours early since it’s an international flight, dealing with traffic in Auckland or high winds in Queenstown and then the lengthy arrivals process in Sydney… it’s easy to see how you can lose an entire day of your trip.

And even more so than New Zealand, it’s extremely hard to do Australia justice in an abbreviated visit. We were there for almost two months and still had more to explore! If you think you’ll never make it back to the region and want to combine the two countries, start planning your Australia itinerary here .

We hear people say all the time that they’re planning a 10 day visit split between the two countries and all we can say is to please reconsider.

You need proof of onward travel

This was a new one for us. New Zealand requires proof of onward travel. That means you can’t enter the country as a tourist without demonstrating that you plan to leave within 90 days. If you’re a typical traveler on a round-trip ticket, you probably only need to complete an Electronic Travel Authority , which is done online and can be ready in a few minutes or a few days. (This only started in August 2019 so we haven’t done it ourselves.)

If you plan to leave New Zealand by way of another country, make sure you purchase that outbound ticket before you try to board your flight to New Zealand. Yay, we did that right!

Except that we kind of didn’t. If you’re going to Australia next, read this . Australia requires many visitors to apply for their Electronic Travel Authority in the Australian ETA app before they arrive – including Americans. I know, we’re spoiled and don’t usually have to worry about this stuff! Your onward ticket to Australia doesn’t count unless you have already applied for your ETA.

Lucky the ETA is fast – our approvals only took about 5 minutes. They cost $20 AUD per person as of this writing. But wow was it a stressful experience to deal with at the Internet cafe in the Buenos Aires airport when we arrived for our flight to Auckland. We didn’t plan to visit Australia until six weeks later so we hadn’t thought to get our ETA so early, but it is required.

If you’re going elsewhere on a one-way ticket after New Zealand, be sure to check that country’s visa requirements before you go to the airport heading for New Zealand.

They’re really serious about not bringing in certain foods

When you arrive at airports in New Zealand, there are numerous signs on the way to customs alerting you to which foods you can’t bring in with you . Agriculture is such an important part of the local economy that there’s genuine concern about pests or diseases from other countries sneaking in.

You can’t bring any produce, meat, fish or honey. It was the last one that nearly got us in major trouble. We’d had an amazing visit to the bee farm in Boquete, Panama and picked up some lovely (expensive) creamed honey while there. What we didn’t realize was that there was still one more neatly wrapped jar hanging out in the bottom of one of our huge travel backpacks underneath a bunch of other stuff.

Not remembering that we had it, we had not declared the honey on our entry card. As we went through one set of signs after another, we discarded anything we thought might be problematic. But at the last station before exiting the airport, the backpack was scanned and a serious agent asked what was in the jar. What jar???

Sadly, our delicious honey ended up in the bin. Fortunately, she took pity on us and didn’t fine us! But many visitors are fined every year for bringing illicit foods into New Zealand! The fines can be hundreds of dollars and that’s a really crummy way to start your vacation. Consider yourself warned.

It’s really expensive

New Zealand was the first place we ever felt “expensive fatigue”, and that’s saying a lot from people who lived in LA for decades. Food is expensive, gas is expensive, Airbnbs are expensive.

The ways we managed to save money during our time in New Zealand probably deserve an entire article of their own. For now, here are a few helpful ways to visit New Zealand on a budget:

• Buy your groceries at PAKn’SAVE. It’s more basic than some of the other options, but much cheaper. The produce in New Zealand is gorgeous , even at the least expensive grocery stores. The best thing we bought during our time in New Zealand was a hard-sided cooler and a set of ice packs. When you’re packing up and moving every 3-4 days, you don’t want to be throwing away those super expensive groceries you just bought!
• For non-grocery items, you can find reasonable prices at K-Mart and The Warehouse. Neither will be as cheap as buying things in the US, as Kiwis earn a higher minimum wage than Americans.
• Definitely take advantage of the best free things to do in New Zealand: beaches, hikes, scenic drives. Honestly these were many of our favorite experiences and they didn’t cost a penny. We always made sure to pack the cooler with a picnic lunch, snacks and plenty of extra water so that we didn’t have to eat out unexpectedly.
• Book your rental car early, and then check back to see if the price has gone down as your trip gets closer. I think I must have checked nearly every month! I did end up re-booking once when the price dropped. I love booking with RentalCars.com since they make it so easy to compare rental car companies – and to cancel when you find a better rate. Make sure to check if there’s a one-way fee on your car rental. It’s also worth checking Apex if you’re on a really tight budget, but know that the cars may be very old and have high mileage – we didn’t feel comfortable with those conditions for as much driving as we planned to do out in the countryside and over big mountains.
• If you plan to do a New Zealand road trip on both islands and then fly the return leg domestically, consider flipping the order and starting in Queenstown. You may find the rental car to be cheaper and staying flexible might give you better availability for accommodations in the busiest season.

You may have to get a new rental car when you switch islands

This one was a surprise to me! We got a great deal on our rental car with Avis through RentalCars.com and booked it for our full six week journey through both the North and South Islands. We planned to pick it up at the Auckland airport and drop it off at the Queenstown airport, taking the ferry in between.

When we picked up our car, weary and bleary-eyed after an overnight flight from Argentina (which skirted the edge of Antarctica!!!!) we were told that we could only take our car as far as the ferry terminal in Wellington. The good news is that it’s not a big deal as long as you know what to expect.

The ferry terminal is structured sort of like a tiny airport. There are rental car buildings adjacent to return your car. If you have a lot of luggage (or a heavy cooler full of food), you may want to drop if off directly at the ferry building with the rest of your party. It’s not a long walk, but can be annoying if you have lots to carry – like, let’s say, an entire family’s worth of stuff for a year plus a newly purchased cooler.

Once you get inside the ferry terminal you’ll check your luggage just like on a flight! This was a little surprising but worked well. The staff even taped our cooler shut to keep our pricey groceries safe. We each just brought a carry-on backpack with us to keep our valuables safe and handle our on-board needs.

The Interislander ferry ride itself is a fantastic experience and probably deserves its own article! Suffice it to say that the ride is pleasant, pretty and generally uneventful (though seas can be rough, so bring these if you get seasick). You’ll arrive in Picton about 3.5 hours later.

As with Wellington, the Picton ferry terminal resembles a small airport terminal. But it’s small and lots of people like you had to drop off their rental cars in Wellington! And that can mean only one thing: LONG LINES.

Take my advice: send the driver from your group to the rental car desk immediately to get in line for car pick up. Getting the new car wasn’t difficult but it took close to an hour in total. Everyone else can stay inside at baggage claim to collect your luggage and hang out. Why inside? Because Picton has a huge sand fly population! In two minutes flat my feet were absolutely covered in extremely itchy bites. They won’t kill you, but they’ll sure make you miserable.

The long and short is that swapping cars when you move islands is very common and not a terrible inconvenience. It just takes time, so plan accordingly. Be sure to check your car rental company’s policy on moving cars between the islands.

Some of the smaller local car rental companies like Apex do permit you to take your rental car across the Cook Strait. What’s the catch? Depending on the length of your car rental, you may need to food the bill for your car’s ticket on the ferry. That can add more than $200 to your costs in peak season, so be prepared and factor that into your price comparison. If you’re taking a very long car rental, your company may cover the cost of the ferry.

Book your accommodations early if you plan to visit during typical vacation periods

Guys, this is one that I can’t stress enough. New Zealand does not have an adequate supply of places to stay in the most popular areas during busy season. We visited for December and most of January – it’s the best time of year in terms of weather, but also school holidays in New Zealand and Australia.

We booked most of our accommodations in New Zealand in June and July, and we still struggled in some places! We’ve never booked anything that far in advance, but I’m glad I relented and let Ronnie lock things in well in advance. We traveled much of the country with another family we met on our first day in Auckland, but at a certain point they couldn’t visit areas they wanted to see for lack of hotel rooms or apartments at any sort of reasonable price.

What are the best places to book your stays in New Zealand? We stayed in twelve different places in New Zealand and I swear we booked them all on different websites! Here are the best options we found:

• BookABach – This is now part of the HomeAway family, but distinctively Kiwi. You’ll find everything from luxury condos to really simple cottages. Since many owners expect primarily domestic tourists, confirm that they’ll offer sheets and towels… because plenty of them expect you to bring your own.
• Booking – Just like anywhere else, Booking offers a great interface for scouting hotels, apartments, hostels and more. We love booking thanks to the generous cancellation policies, easy filtering and easy access to so many real-world reviews. We absolutely love this lodge but it books up extremely early. The rooms are simple but cozy and the common room is the perfect place to meet other travelers while you cook dinner and then enjoy some stargazing on a clear night!
• VRBO – Overall we had a good experience with vacation rentals in New Zealand. These were some of the best places we booked and there were often wonderful personal touches.

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in New Zealand

You can experience everything from rainforests to alpine zones

Tropical forest near Hahei, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

Is New Zealand a good place to visit? I’d say so, because in many ways it’s an “everything destination”.

Many visitors choose New Zealand specifically for its stunning views. Of course the most iconic scenery is of the mountains on the west side of the South Island – Mount Cook, Fox Glacier, the shear cliffs along Milford Sound. But when you head to the country’s opposite corner you’ll find a lush subtropical rainforest!

It was a little surprising to wear both winter clothes and swimsuits on the same trip, but that’s what you get in New Zealand! Pack appropriately.

But also come prepared mentally that New Zealand is so much more than what you expect! Look beyond the mountain-filled post cards and recognize that each part of the country is special in different ways, even if they aren’t all as dramatic as what you expect.

New Zealand is getting much more diverse

In the 2001 census, 80% of New Zealand’s population was ethnically European ; by 2018, that had dropped to just 70%. That’s a staggering change in less than two decades. Most of that transition has been due to an influx of Asian immigrants.

But you might only notice that diversity in the greater Auckland area and, to a lesser degree, elsewhere on the North Island. The country’s 16% Maori population is almost entirely on the North Island (86%). The country’s Asian population is around 15% now, but almost entirely focused in greater Auckland.

What does the Auckland region look like? These days, it’s less than half European in origin. You’ll find fantastic food in Auckland as a result. Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is less ethnically diverse than Auckland but still about 1/4 of residents identify as non-European.

On the South Island… well, many areas are over 90% European . It’s not just an aesthetic difference, but you may notice resulting cultural differences too.

New Zealand has a lot more than two islands

One of the most interesting things to know about New Zealand, which most people don’t realize, is that it contains more than 600 islands! However, the vast majority of these are unpopulated. The North Island is home to over 75% of the country’s population.

There are numerous islands in the Hauraki Gulf including well-known Waiheke Island (population almost 10,000). Waiheke makes a wonderful day trip from Auckland and is known for its beautiful scenery and delicious wine.

New Zealand’s third largest island is Stewart Island off the southern tip of the South Island. 85% of Stewart Island is protected as a National Park, and exploring the bush is one of the main things to do on Stewart Island – after all, there are only 400 people living there!

Hopefully this guide has left you more excited and more prepared for your journey to New Zealand! Writing this has certainly made me hunger for a return visit to explore more of the amazing experiences New Zealand has to offer.

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Still planning? Pin this article for later!

Planning your trip to New Zealand

Are you getting ready for an epic trip to New Zealand? Don’t miss these articles to help you plan:

• 2 Weeks in New Zealand Itinerary: 14 Days of Adventure, Scenery and Culture
• A Local’s Guide to 2 Days in Queenstown
• Bike the Otago Central Rail Trail
• The best things to do in Tasman, New Zealand for outdoor lovers
• Beautiful pictures of New Zealand’s North Island beaches
• Up close with Maori culture at Tamaki Maori Village
• Glass Bottom Boat Whitianga: Exploring the beauty of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

The post 10 Important New Zealand Travel Tips to Know Before You Go appeared first on The Family Voyage .

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This is the first time Signature Travel Network, a leading US-based luxury travel consortium servicing more than 15,000 travel advisors worldwide, has appointed a team member Down Under.

As the newest addition to the team, Harrison brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Signature Travel Network, with over 30 years of retail leisure and wholesale experience in the Australian travel industry. Most recently, she served as the General Manager of Magellan Travel Group, and prior roles include General Manager Wholesale at The AOT Group, where she led the brands of Sunlover Holidays, Air New Zealand Holidays and Territory Discoveries, as well as many years managing retail travel agencies.

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Alex Sharpe, President and CEO of Signature Travel Network , said: “Lisa has immense industry experience and a deep understanding of our customers’ unique travel needs and preferences in this pivotal market, making her a phenomenal asset to the team.”

“I am confident that under her leadership, we will continue to grow our presence and deliver exceptional service to travellers and our network in Australia and New Zealand.”

“As a leader in luxury travel in the US market for nearly 70 years, Signature is excited to expand its luxury portfolio to Australia and New Zealand markets in the coming months with Harrison serving as an integral part of this expansion, along with our valued partners. These propositions will provide new and valuable opportunities for members, partners and clients,” Sharpe said.

Commenting on her appointment, Lisa Harrison, Managing Director, Australia/New Zealand, Signature Travel Network said: “I’m thrilled to join the Signature Travel Network team and to have the opportunity to grow the network and work closely with and support both existing and new members, as well as our industry partners.”

“There is significant opportunity in the luxury market and I believe when travel advisors understand the Signature Travel Network value proposition and offering, including commercials, product and customer benefits, they will see the value of being a member,” Harrison added.

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Visas and entry requirements

Visas, New Zealand

By Tourism New Zealand

Learn more about the available visa options and entry requirements into Aotearoa New Zealand, including the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

Aotearoa New Zealand enjoys welcoming visitors (manuhiri) to our beautiful country.

Having a valid passport, the right visa and completing the entry requirements are key to a trouble-free entry into New Zealand.

Your passport has to be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date, and if required, have a valid New Zealand visa .

On this page, you'll find helpful information on:

• Arriving in New Zealand
• Visitor visa for a holiday
• Working holiday visa
• Transit visa (through New Zealand or Australia)

New Zealand visa options

Visiting new zealand for a holiday.

You do not need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:

• A New Zealand citizen travelling on a New Zealand passport or on a foreign passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement
• An Australian citizen travelling on an Australian passport
• A foreign passport holder with a valid visa for New Zealand - including a Permanent Resident visa

If you plan to visit New Zealand for a short period, you need to request a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (opens in new window) (NZeTA) before you travel if you are:

• A citizen of a country which has a visa waiver (opens in new window) agreement with New Zealand (you can stay up to three months)

If you don’t meet the above, then you’ll need a visitor visa. The fastest and easiest way to apply for a visitor visa (opens in new window) is online.

Before travelling to New Zealand, you need to make sure your passport is valid for at least three months longer than your expected departure date.

Be sure to request your NZeTA (opens in new window) , or apply for your visitor visa well in advance of travel to avoid delays, and only use the official NZeTA website to request your New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority.

For more information on cost and processing times, visit the official NZeTA website .

If you have a biometric ordinary passport (or electronic passport) and are over 12 years old, you may be able to use New Zealand Customs eGate service. This allows you to complete your Customs and Immigration checks faster so you can get on with enjoying your visit to New Zealand.

Essential travel information

Working holidays.

Working holiday visas (opens in new window) are available to young people, usually aged 18-30 (but 18-35 for a select few nationalities). They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you’re from the UK. To apply you’ll need to meet the visa requirements, and have:

• A return ticket, or enough money to pay for one; and 
• Be coming mainly to holiday, with work being a secondary intention.

Back to the top

Work visas and staying permanently

If you’re thinking of coming to New Zealand to work for a few years, or maybe even to settle, you’ll need a work or resident visa. To get that – you’re likely to need a job.

For information about working in New Zealand, including industry profiles, tips on job hunting, and a list of job sites to check out, visit New Zealand Now. (opens in new window)

Transiting through New Zealand or Australia

If you are travelling to New Zealand via an Australian airport, you may also need an Australian visa – consult your travel agent or airline if you are unsure.

Transit visas (opens in new window) will also be needed for all people travelling via New Zealand, unless they are specifically exempted by immigration policy.

More information about visas

The visa and immigration information on this page is just a summary. For everything you need to know about coming to New Zealand, visit Immigration New Zealand. (opens in new window)

Find out if you need a visa

Arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand

Everyone entering New Zealand needs to complete a  New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) (opens in new window)  including babies and children.

Traveller Declaration requirements (opens in new window)

It’s free and you can complete it on the NZTD website or by downloading the NZTD app ahead of your travel.

You can start your NZTD at a time that suits you. If arriving by plane, the earliest you can submit your declaration is 24 hours before you start your trip to New Zealand. An NZTD needs to be submitted by the time you reach New Zealand passport control.

If arriving by boat (including cruise ships), the earliest you can submit your NZTD is 24 hours before departing the vessel’s last foreign port prior to arriving in New Zealand.

It needs to be submitted by the time the vessel has berthed at its first port in New Zealand. ​

If you apply for a visa or NZeTA, you still need to complete an NZTD (opens in new window) .

Here's how to complete your declaration online. 

The form is available in English and Te Reo Māori, as well as simplified and traditional Chinese Mandarin. 

From April 2024, the form will be in 12 more languages: Hindi, Samoan, Fijian, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Tagalog, Tamil, Tongan, and Portuguese.

Paper NZTD forms will be available for travellers who cannot complete it online.

Fill out your NZ Traveller Declaration

What you can bring into New Zealand

After you’ve cleared passport control, you should collect your baggage and proceed through customs and biosecurity checks. In order to protect New Zealand and its environment, certain items are not allowed to be brought into the country, have restrictions for entry or must be declared if they are deemed to present a biosecurity risk. These include food, plants, animal products and outdoor recreational equipment.

Your baggage may be sniffed by a detector dog and/or x-rayed, and it may be searched to identify any risk goods you might be carrying.

To avoid penalties it is best to familiarise yourself with these guidelines prior to travel. For a detailed list of prohibited, restricted or declarable items, please visit Ministry for Primary Industries (opens in new window) (biosecurity agency).

Allowances and duty free concessions

As a visitor to New Zealand you may be entitled to various concessions and duty free entries on some of your goods. If you are 17 years or older, you are entitled to allowances for alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco. For detailed information on allowances and duty free concessions, please visit New Zealand Customs (opens in new window) .

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Post Courier

Papua New Guinea's 'trupla' leading Daily Newspaper Since 1969.The Post-Courier is proud of its record as the voice of PNG. We were there when the nation took its first bold steps towards independence. Since that time, we have fearlessly recorded the nation's progress.

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Australian and New Zealand Chiefs of Air Force visit PNG

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Over the week of 23-26 April 2024, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Chief of Air Force (CAF) Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) CAF Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb visited Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Chiefs of Air Force met with PNG Ministers, senior government officials, officers from the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and leaders in the civil aviation sector to understand the PNG’s aviation ambitions and identify opportunities to build on the already close defence partnerships shared by Australia, New Zealand and PNG Defence Forces.

“When we talk about finding Pacific solutions to Pacific security challenges, us travelling together to PNG is a way of demonstrating how serious we are about that,” Air Marshal Chipman said.

“The long-standing relationship between the PNGDF and RNZAF is very important to us,” Air Vice Marshal Webb said.

“We don’t do things in the region alone, we do things absolutely together all of the time, in our force preparedness and responsiveness. We come with a common voice, we see the challenges in the region in the same way.”

The Acting Chief of the PNGDF Commodore Philip Polewara welcomed the Chiefs of Air Force to Murray Barracks where they held meetings in the Kumul Leadership Center, built by the NZDF and opened in 2022.

Commodore Polewara also joined the Chiefs to commemorate ANZAC Day, attending a dawn service at Bomana War Cemetery on 25 April 2024.

“You trusted our forefathers and that trust built on mutual respect and honesty continues today,” Commodore Polewara said.

“Our partnership was forged by the Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders who fought together, but we must not live in the past. Their legacy is our inspiration.”

The Defence partnership between the three nations is based on close historical ties, including World War II, intertwined security interests in the Pacific, and mutual interest in strengthening PNG’s sovereignty and defence capability.

The visit also included tours of the PNGDF Air Transport Wing, where the Australian Defence Cooperation Program is funding a major refurbishment to modernize the aircraft hanger and office space for a growing Air Element.

“Investing in defence and our defence capability is an investment in our sovereignty; working together gives us a shared understanding, and an opportunity to share our perspectives” Air Marshal Chipman said.

During the visit, Air Marshal Chipman had the opportunity to reunite with a fellow 2016 graduate of Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC) Chief of Force Preparation Colonel Craig Solomon from the PNGDF.

“We have a great connection already, it’s easier for me to have a personable relationship with Air Marshal Chipman from our time at DSSC together,” Colonel Solomon said.“T

his is really important for our bilateral relationship; for the air element, our level of engagement has increased, especially around developing air culture and safety.”

RAAF Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton and his RNZAF counterpart Kerry Williams also attended this visit engaging with the PNG Force Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer Donald Yalom and non-commissioned officers from the PNGDF.

Pacific partnerships strengthened during joint visit

29 April 2024

Over the week of April 23-26, RAAF Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb visited Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Chiefs of Air Force met with PNG ministers, senior government officials and officers from the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF), and leaders in the civil aviation sector. Their aim was to understand PNG’s aviation ambitions and identify opportunities to build on the already close defence partnerships shared by Australia, New Zealand and PNGDF.

“When we talk about finding Pacific solutions to Pacific security challenges, us travelling together to PNG is a way of demonstrating how serious we are about that,” Air Marshal Chipman said. 

Air Vice Marshal Webb said the long-standing relationship between PNGDF and RNZAF was a very important one.  

“We don’t do things in the region alone, we do things absolutely together all of the time, in our force preparedness and responsiveness. We come with a common voice, we see the challenges in the region in the same way,” he said.

Acting Chief of the PNGDF Commodore Philip Polewara welcomed the Chiefs of Air Force to Murray Barracks where they held meetings in the Kumul Leadership Center, built by the New Zealand Defence Force and opened in 2022. 

Commodore Polewara also joined the Chiefs to commemorate Anzac Day, attending a dawn service at Bomana War Cemetery on April 25.

“You trusted our forefathers and that trust built on mutual respect and honesty continues today,” Commodore Polewara said. 

“Our partnership was forged by the Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders who fought together, but we must not live in the past. Their legacy is our inspiration.”

The Defence partnership between the three nations is based on close historical ties, including World War 2, intertwined security interests in the Pacific, and mutual interest in strengthening PNG’s sovereignty and defence capability.

The visit also included tours of the PNGDF Air Transport Wing, where the Defence Pacific Air Program funded a major refurbishment by the Australian Defence Cooperation Program to modernise the aircraft hangar and office space for a growing Air Element. 

“Investing in defence and our defence capability is an investment in our sovereignty; working together gives us a shared understanding and an opportunity to share our perspectives,” Air Marshal Chipman said. 

During the visit, Air Marshal Chipman had the opportunity to reunite with a fellow 2016 graduate of Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC), Chief of Force Preparation Colonel Craig Solomon from the PNGDF.

“We have a great connection already; it’s easier for me to have a personable relationship with Air Marshal Chipman from our time at DSSC together,” Colonel Solomon said.

“This is really important for our bilateral relationship. For the air element, our level of engagement has increased, especially around developing air culture and safety.”

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