7 things to know before visiting New Zealand

1. New Zealand has some of the best landscapes in the world

For a comparatively small country, New Zealand’s scenery packs a punch well beyond its size. You’ll find some of the most dramatic landscapes on the South Island, especially the majestic Milford Sound and beautiful Fiordland National Park, along with the Franz Josef glacier surrounded by rainforest.

The country’s miles of coast means you’ll also be spoiled for choice when it comes to white sand beaches and crystal clear coves, including Abel Tasman National Park in the South Island, plus the spectacular Bay of Islands and the Coromandel Peninsula in the north, as well as Lake Taupo, a lake that’s the size of Singapore.

How big is New Zealand compared to the UK?

New Zealand is slightly bigger than the UK, at 103,740 square miles (268,021km²) compared to 94,060 square miles (243,610km²) for the UK. New Zealand is longer and narrower than the UK though, stretching for over 990 miles (1,600km) and only 250 miles at its widest. By contrast, from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern tip of England is around 600 miles (1,000km). It also takes at least double the time to travel from point to point in New Zealand, at least 30 hours, than it does to traverse the UK.

Penguins on the Otago Peninsula

2. New Zealand is a great destination for wildlife lovers

If you love wildlife, there are some fantastic creatures to spot, both on land and off the coast of New Zealand. Bird lovers will be in heaven, whether you’re hoping to spot the kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, the similarly flightless kakapo, the kea or several rare species of penguin, including little blue and yellow-eyed penguins.

The country’s marine life is also spectacular, with around half the planet’s whale and dolphin species living in the waters around the North and South Island, along with seals. Unlike neighbouring Australia, New Zealand’s wildlife is notably less dangerous – there are no crocodiles, no venomous snakes, for example, and only two species of venomous spiders.

Are there spiders and snakes in New Zealand?

New Zealand is home to spiders, with around 2,000 species found in the country, although only two are venomous and both are very rarely encountered by visitors. If you’re not a fan of snakes, you’ll be delighted to hear that the country has no native land snakes thanks to its isolated geographic position, with strict measures preventing them being introduced to New Zealand. Occasionally sea snakes can be found off the coast, although that’s also rare – and even rarer for humans to encounter them.

3. The people are very friendly

New Zealand is known for its friendly and laid-back approach, as well as a welcoming attitude to visitors. The lifestyle tends to be active and outdoorsy, not least because the coast is never far away. Even the biggest cities have comparatively small populations compared western Europe and neighbouring Australia, and while the landscape is on a grand scale, exploring New Zealand is relaxed rather than overwhelming.

Māori culture is woven through New Zealand’s history but also very present in modern life, and plays a key role at the heart of the country’s identity. To this day, manaakitanga, which is often translated as showing respect or hospitality, is all about welcoming guests and something which New Zealanders pride themselves on. A similar respectful interest from visitors is always appreciated too, perhaps even learning a few words of the te reo Māori language.

Why are New Zealanders called ‘kiwis’?

New Zealanders are called ‘kiwis’ after the flightless bird that’s endemic to the country, and which has become a national symbol. The nickname became more popular towards the end of the First World War, when many New Zealand regiments had a symbol of the kiwi on military badges, and it quickly began to be used for all natives of the country. It’s since been adopted by the majority of the population, who’ve embraced this term as part of their national identity.

Maori carving

4. New Zealand is a multilingual and multicultural country

New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture has Polynesian roots, but developed in isolation for centuries, resulting in separate customs and language. After British colonisation in the 19th century, Western traditions and English language replaced this across the country, along with influences from other European settlers, resulting in a unique Pākehā or New Zealand European culture.

In recent decades, there has been a stronger emphasis on honouring the te reo Māori language and Māori traditions, and since the mid-20th century there have also been new influences from other Pacific Islands, East Asia and South Asia, with communities in different areas of the country. you’ll find Chinese New Year celebrated enthusiastically in Auckland and Dunedin, for example.

Today, around 70% of New Zealanders are of European descent, 16.5% are indigenous Māori, 15.1% Asian and 8.1% non-Māori Pacific Islanders.

No trip to New Zealand is complete without a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand’s founding document was signed in 1840 and a key location during its history. The museums provide background to how events shaped the country, as well as a chance to discover more about Māori culture.

What are the official languages of New Zealand?

New Zealand has three official languages, English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. The number of te reo Māori speakers has risen in recent years, although only around 4% of the population say they can hold a conversation in the language, while around 30% say they know more than a few words or phrases. By contrast over 97% of the country’s population speaks English.

Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook

5. New Zealand has a strong car culture

While there are often good public transport networks in the bigger cities, most people in New Zealand tend to get around by car. The country’s long, narrow shape and its geography, featuring mountains, wide expanses of countryside and some areas of dense forest mean that long-distance buses tend to be the only alternatives, while some of the remote sections of national park are only accessible by car.

The exceptions to this are some fantastic train routes, including one of the world’s great rail journeys on the TranzAlpine Express, crossing the Staircase Viaduct, a 73-metre-high bridge over one of the most dramatic gorges on the route. The Coastal Pacific route on the South Island, and the Northern Explorer on the North Island are two other scenic train routes which are more about the experience than simply a way to get from A to B.

If you don’t fancy driving the long distances and tackling the often narrow, hilly roads involved in getting around the North and South Islands, an escorted tour of New Zealand is the perfect way to see some of the country’s highlights without having to rely on public transport.

What side of the road does New Zealand drive on?

Cars drive on the left in New Zealand, a practice introduced when the country was part of the British Empire.

Mount Maunganui and Moturiki Island

6. New Zealand is an excellent winter holiday destination

If you’re looking for a midwinter escape, New Zealand makes a great holiday destination as its position in the southern hemisphere means its seasons are reversed compared to those in Europe – so as the temperatures plummet in the UK in January and February, it’s midsummer in New Zealand. The country has a relatively mild climate as so much of the land lies close to the coast, with summer temperatures peaking at around 23-24C on average and not dropping below around 16C

Do be prepared for the weather being somewhat unpredictable; like the UK, you could easily experience four seasons in one day, so packing rainwear and layers is always a good idea. The climate also varies across the country with temperatures dropping as you head south - Auckland and Christchurch tend to be slightly warmer than Wellington and Queenstown.

The west coast of the South Island is known for being wetter than the east coast too, while it’s unsurprisingly colder in the mountains of the Southern Alps where temperatures can drop to -10C in winter. Meanwhile, in the far north, you’ll find subtropical weather during the summer and milder winters.

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months, which run from December to March. You can expect some of the best weather during this period, with long, sunny days, as temperatures rise to around 24C. If you’re planning an active holiday or hoping to visit the country’s beaches, this is one of the best times to get outdoors. It is also one of the busiest times of year, so visiting outside school holidays and at the start or end of the summer months can be quieter.

From June to September, the weather is much colder and it can be harder to get around or reach more remote areas. If you’re a keen skier, you can expect snow in the South Island and some mountainous areas of the North Island, so it’s a great time to hit the slopes though. If you’re happy to risk some rain and prefer milder temperatures to explore, spring and autumn are quieter than summer but the climate is still pleasant – just come prepared for some wet weather.

7. New Zealand is known for its relaxed, cosmopolitan cities

Unlike the sprawling urban centres of other countries around the world, New Zealand’s cities tend to be smaller, walkable and friendly, so it’s easy to find your feet when you start exploring. Even Auckland, the country’s largest city, has a population of under 500,000 in its centre, while the second-largest, Christchurch is known as the ‘garden city’ with several pedestrian areas at its heart. The capital, Wellington, has a population of just 200,000 people – similar to Brighton or Aberdeen – and you can explore most of the city’s highlights in two to three days.

What is the population on New Zealand?

The country has a population of around 5.3 million, with approximately 1.7 million living in the Auckland Metro Area and another 600,000 living in Christchurch and the capital Wellington combined, New Zealand’s next two largest cities. In total, over three-quarters of the population live in the North Island.

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