Blog post 40
It was way back in April 2011 when we had planned for a combined trip to Australia and New Zealand but could make it only to Australia, due to delay in visa issue, our trip to New Zealand was in the pipe line since then
It finally materialized in 2017 when we chose the Grand Pacific 19 Day Rail & Coach Tour.
Blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, world-famous vineyards and a rich Maori heritage, it’s no wonder that New Zealand is at the top of every traveller’s bucket list
The itinerary was given by our travel agent ,we would be travelling directly from Hyderabad to Auckland and back to Hyderabad which was indeed a blessing and avoided hassles with the luggage
As New Zealand is known for having four seasons in one day and temperature in the North and South Islands can vary greatly, it can get very cold.
So we took casual clothes that we could layer and good shoes as there would be a lot of walking, hiking, and outdoor activity opportunities. .At the end of the tour in fact I could hear to my amusement some of my lady co passengers say that they were getting tired of the daily walking
The rain is frequent especially close to South Island glaciers and Fiordland National Park but we found to our chagrin that our umbrellas were ineffective when it rained heavily ,so it is better that one takes a water proof jacket Dress is informal on most occasions, and smart casual is accepted at most restaurants, lodges, and bars
Sunscreen lotion, dark glasses and a hat are a necessity. New Zealand’s sun is harsh and as there is very less air pollution, it will burn us stingingly even on days that are not sunny.
New Zealand has incredibly strict bio security laws to ensure invasive species are not introduced that could have drastic impacts on the country’s agricultural and natural environments.
One must declare any food, plants or animal products on arrival at customs, as well as any camping gear, muddy boots,
If we are not sure, it’s best to declare it, as heavy fines can be imposed for failing to do so which would be a very bad start to our trip. We have to make sure to clean shoes, boots, and gear before we travel to New Zealand.
It is not customary and not required to tip while visiting New Zealand, however, for exceptional service a tip is always appreciated. The amount is discretionary and 10% is usually the typical amount. On national holidays it is customary for restaurants and cafes to charge an additional service fee of around 10-15%.
If one believes in saving the best for the last, better we begin our journey in North Island and move towards the South Island as we did. While North Island is undoubtedly gorgeous, South Island’s landscapes are definitely more dramatic, with lofty mountains and mystical fjords.
In large centres we can expect all retail businesses, including banks, to be open 7 days a week. Typical opening hours are 9 am–5 pm during weekdays and 10 am–4 pm on weekends but this varies. Supermarkets are typically open from 7 am–10 pm.
New Zealand has a wide network of hiking trails and back country huts, and choices vary from day hikes to multi-day Great Walks. So put on your hiking shoes; this is the best way to see the country though we timidly stuck to our bus
New Zealand can be expensive. After all, everything does need to be shipped to the end of the world so it’s understandable.
There may be no tipping culture but there certainly is a coffee culture. You’ll find coffee at just about every turn, including petrol stations. Part of the true Kiwi experience is ordering a “flat white”.
New Zealand has a no-smoking policy in eateries (though you may find a smoking area outside) and many public areas are also becoming smoke-free. If you’re a smoker, look out for signs telling you where you can and can’t smoke.
It’s customary in New Zealand to either pay at the time of ordering or to go up to the counter after your meal and pay for it. If you wait for your bill to be brought to you, you’ll be waiting a long time.
Your bill will be rounded up or down to the nearest 10c when paying by cash. Debit cards (called Eftpos cards) are accepted just about everywhere and most shops also accept credit cards.
One of the great things about New Zealand is that there aren’t any dangerous snakes (or any snakes at all) or spiders a fact which was re emphasized by our guides many times
In New Zealand one can find a wide range of accommodations, from backpacker lodges to five-star hotels, but we can expect to pay between S$150 and $230 (160–240 NZD) for a double room at a mid-range hotel.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant will usually range from S$18 to $30 (20–32 NZD).
In fact in every place we visited we could find Indian restaurants that too south Indian ones blaring telugu music to our extreme delight and we could get our famous chicken Biryani .
Sandflies were found everywhere and when I was trying to recollect the list of diseases caused by them, my husband hushed me down saying that he didn’t want to go on a medical journey on this trip.
Shopping is so expensive that we just spent our time doing window shopping ,sometimes my husband had to literally drag me away from the tastefully done window displays and I happily captured all my fancies on my camera
According to folklore, early flowing pÅhutukawa are a sign of a long, hot summer and the first signs of red appearing on the trees and presence of even a single flower made our guides exclaim that an early summer was expected
Summer is peak season for more than apples and kiwifruit in New Zealand. It’s also time for Meyer lemons, feijoa, kiwano melons and passion fruit, among other specialty items
NZ tap water is universally safe to drink. Standards exist to ensure that major contaminating organisms such as Protozoa and Cryptosporidium are removed or reduced to safe levels.
The roads are very motorable with stringent rules of the road and the long distances travelled on the bus didn’t even make a dent in our ageing bones
As we had taken adequate supply of required medicines we had no health issues and most important was the immense warmth and hospitality shown by all kiwis which makes us look back on our New Zealand with fond memories
It was way back in April 2011 when we had planned for a combined trip to Australia and New Zealand but could make it only to Australia, due to delay in visa issue, our trip to New Zealand was in the pipe line since then
It finally materialized in 2017 when we chose the Grand Pacific 19 Day Rail & Coach Tour.
Blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, world-famous vineyards and a rich Maori heritage, it’s no wonder that New Zealand is at the top of every traveller’s bucket list
The itinerary was given by our travel agent ,we would be travelling directly from Hyderabad to Auckland and back to Hyderabad which was indeed a blessing and avoided hassles with the luggage
As New Zealand is known for having four seasons in one day and temperature in the North and South Islands can vary greatly, it can get very cold.
So we took casual clothes that we could layer and good shoes as there would be a lot of walking, hiking, and outdoor activity opportunities. .At the end of the tour in fact I could hear to my amusement some of my lady co passengers say that they were getting tired of the daily walking
The rain is frequent especially close to South Island glaciers and Fiordland National Park but we found to our chagrin that our umbrellas were ineffective when it rained heavily ,so it is better that one takes a water proof jacket Dress is informal on most occasions, and smart casual is accepted at most restaurants, lodges, and bars
New Zealand has incredibly strict bio security laws to ensure invasive species are not introduced that could have drastic impacts on the country’s agricultural and natural environments.
One must declare any food, plants or animal products on arrival at customs, as well as any camping gear, muddy boots,
If we are not sure, it’s best to declare it, as heavy fines can be imposed for failing to do so which would be a very bad start to our trip. We have to make sure to clean shoes, boots, and gear before we travel to New Zealand.
It is not customary and not required to tip while visiting New Zealand, however, for exceptional service a tip is always appreciated. The amount is discretionary and 10% is usually the typical amount. On national holidays it is customary for restaurants and cafes to charge an additional service fee of around 10-15%.
If one believes in saving the best for the last, better we begin our journey in North Island and move towards the South Island as we did. While North Island is undoubtedly gorgeous, South Island’s landscapes are definitely more dramatic, with lofty mountains and mystical fjords.
New Zealand has a wide network of hiking trails and back country huts, and choices vary from day hikes to multi-day Great Walks. So put on your hiking shoes; this is the best way to see the country though we timidly stuck to our bus
New Zealand can be expensive. After all, everything does need to be shipped to the end of the world so it’s understandable.
New Zealand has a no-smoking policy in eateries (though you may find a smoking area outside) and many public areas are also becoming smoke-free. If you’re a smoker, look out for signs telling you where you can and can’t smoke.
It’s customary in New Zealand to either pay at the time of ordering or to go up to the counter after your meal and pay for it. If you wait for your bill to be brought to you, you’ll be waiting a long time.
Your bill will be rounded up or down to the nearest 10c when paying by cash. Debit cards (called Eftpos cards) are accepted just about everywhere and most shops also accept credit cards.
One of the great things about New Zealand is that there aren’t any dangerous snakes (or any snakes at all) or spiders a fact which was re emphasized by our guides many times
In New Zealand one can find a wide range of accommodations, from backpacker lodges to five-star hotels, but we can expect to pay between S$150 and $230 (160–240 NZD) for a double room at a mid-range hotel.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant will usually range from S$18 to $30 (20–32 NZD).
In fact in every place we visited we could find Indian restaurants that too south Indian ones blaring telugu music to our extreme delight and we could get our famous chicken Biryani .
Shopping is so expensive that we just spent our time doing window shopping ,sometimes my husband had to literally drag me away from the tastefully done window displays and I happily captured all my fancies on my camera
As we had taken adequate supply of required medicines we had no health issues and most important was the immense warmth and hospitality shown by all kiwis which makes us look back on our New Zealand with fond memories
