Name: New Zealand - Watch BEFORE You Go! Essential Travel Tips NZ
Uploaded: 2026-03-27T16:03:09.000Z
Duration: 15 min 44 s
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Hello and welcome to the beautiful country of New Zealand, a place that is on so many people's bucket list and is quite honestly home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the whole world.

If you're new to this channel, my name is Charlotte,

and together with my husband Cory, we create fun and informative travel guides to help you travel better, so if that's something you'd like to see more of then hit that subscribe button and never miss out.

In this video, we're going to be sharing everything you need to know before planning a trip to New Zealand, including some great tips and recommendations that we've learned along the way, so let's get into it.

Now, New Zealand may be known as a small country, but it offers so much,

and it's important to have an understanding of the two main islands and what each offer before planning your trip.

In terms of land area, New Zealand is a bit bigger than my home of the UK, and

about the same size as the state of Colorado in the USA.

The North Island is the smaller of the two,

but is home to the majority of the country's population, with 4 million people calling the North Island home in comparison to just 1.2 million in the South Island.

Because of this, the North Island is of course a bit busier than the two and is home to New Zealand's largest airport in Auckland, which is also the country's largest city and it's located at the top of the North Island.

and that can be found in the south of the North Island, which is also where you can board the frequent daily ferry service to the South Island,

and it's also the city where Cory was born.

Many believe the two islands to be much of the same when it comes to the landscape,

but in fact they vary greatly, with the south being much more mountainous and dramatic than the north.

You could describe the south as more rugged and untouched, with snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and glacier-carved fjords.

The North Island is considered softer than the two with its rolling hills and golden sand beaches, though we shouldn't forget its more rugged side, evident by its black sand beaches, volcanic terrain, and

Many people believe the South Island to be the more beautiful of the two,

but in our opinion, they are both worthy of a visit.

The South Island has arguably more beauty, it's more remote and more dramatic, so there is an element of magic and otherworldly beauty to it that is hard to resist,

but you can find places in the north that would take your breath away too.

There's just more roads and towns in between each destination,

but that doesn't deem them not worthy of a visit.

For example, the spectacular stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki on the west coast of the North Island impresses us just as much as the Southern Alps of the South Island.

Over the years, we've heard all sorts of impressions of New Zealand's climate, with some even mistaking it to be similar to Australia, which is frankly far from the truth.

And side note, Australia and New Zealand are not the same place;

they differ vastly in landscape and climate and many other things.

Trust us, we have lived in both countries,

let me know in the comments below if you'd like to hear more on that topic.

So when it comes to New Zealand's climate, the first thing to remember is that New Zealand is situated in the southern hemisphere and has four distinct seasons.

So if you're travelling from the UK or Northern America during your summertime, you'll be visiting New Zealand during their wintertime, which could be a big shock if you're expecting sunny days by the beach because likely you won't be getting that in winter.

A general rule of thumb for the country is the further north you are, the warmer it will be, with the Northland even considered subtropical by some.

Technically, it is not a subtropical region,

but due to the warm climate and diverse weather patterns throughout the year, it could easily be mistaken for being so.

During the summer months, that's December, January, and

February, average temperatures in Auckland are around 22 to 24 degrees;

that's about 71 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for our American friends, though of course you can have days much warmer and much more humid than that.

Now I know I said that the further north you are, the warmer it is, and

that is generally true in the winter months,

but during summer the south can be just as warm and sometimes even hotter, though it is less humid than the north;

it has long, dry, hot summer days up to 30 degrees and more sometimes.

Winter in the South Island drops down to the single digits and at times into the negative numbers, with snowfall a regular occurrence across the island.

On contrast, Auckland during winter sees very rarely any snow and expects to see a high of 14 to 15 degrees Celsius;

that's 57 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

Knowing the climate goes a long way in helping you pack,

but aside from this, New Zealand has a very casual approach to fashion,

During summer by the coast, you'll be fine to go barefoot if that's your style,

but otherwise a pair of jandals—that's Kiwi slang for flip-flops or thongs—shorts and a T-shirt would be fine.

Lightweight jumpers and cardis would be a good addition to your luggage and a waterproof in case of rainfall, or even a windbreaker if you plan to visit Wellington, with it being the windiest capital in the world,

and trust us, it lives up to that reputation.

Layers are also a really good option for travelling the country, as well as good quality hiking gear and quick, dry, active wear, as it's such an outdoorsy country,

and if you're visiting the South Island in winter, then thermal layers would be a great addition too.

Also, do not forget your hat and sunnies, as sun safety should be taken seriously in New Zealand with its higher UV levels and distance to the sun during the summer months.

And make sure you pack insect repellent for any South Island adventure because the sandflies can make or break a trip, and

if you do get bitten, maybe some tiger balm to ease those itchy bites.

New Zealand really does have so much to offer,

and knowing what you want to do and see will help you decide which locations to visit.

Likely you won't be able to do everything in one trip,

but picking out some must-dos will really help with planning your itinerary and how you choose to travel the country, which is a topic we will talk about more soon.

If you're looking for some adrenaline-fueled activities, then you may have already eyed up Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world and the birthplace of the modern-day bungee jump.

Located in the South Island on the shores of Wakatipu and set against the dramatic Southern Alps, Queenstown is great for all ages.

High-adrenaline activities on offer include whitewater rafting and jet boating, while more family-friendly activities include luging, lake cruises, and

Plus, during the winter months, Queenstown transforms itself into the top ski destination in the country.

The South Island is also home to the country's highest summit, Mount Cook, as well as the incredible Franz Josef and Falk glacier, where you can embark on epic-heady rides to the glacier.

On the North Island, places like Rotorua are renowned for their immersive Māori cultural experiences;

you can visit a Māori village and learn about their culture and customs.

There's also other fantastic attractions such as Hell's Gate, owned and run by the Māori, where you learn about the healing properties of geothermal mud and get taken on a tour of the impressive geothermal landscape.

Within Rotorua, we'd also recommend Redwood Tree Walk, which was beautiful and a lot of fun if you opt for the zipline experience.

Plus, there's a brand new luxury spa called Waiariki, which is built on the legacy of Māori culture,

and we had the most beautiful spa experience there.

The North Island is also known for its beaches and surf breaks;

Raglan is a popular summer destination, as well as Mount Maunganooi, which is a personal highlight for us.

The volcanic landscape of the North Island also means you can find plenty of black sand beaches, especially around the coast of Taranaki.

Overall, each island has plenty to offer,

but the North Island is better for beach activities and cultural experiences,

and the South Island is better for outdoor adventures and scenic landscapes.

By far, the best way to explore New Zealand is by road,

and many choose to hire a car or a camper van for this.

If you're wanting to travel via public transport, then this is possible, but it's very limiting,

and you're likely not going to be able to visit some destinations you have on your itinerary.

Within the city centres, you'll be fine exploring using the bus services,

but outside of the main cities, it'll be much harder, as some of the smaller towns have little to no public transport.

There are some hop-on, hop-off style bus passes that can get you around the country;

Intercity is probably the best option for this and is great for budget travellers.

There are also other bus services aimed specifically at the backpacker crowd;

and they also have a hop-on, hop-off service, which again is great for budget travellers and for those looking to connect with other travellers for the social aspect.

However, one issue with travelling with buses is that many attractions are outside city centres, so you can still come across transport problems,

and this is something we've heard of from backpackers who have chosen to travel the country via bus.

When it comes to trains in New Zealand, it's not really worth looking at, if I'm honest.

You can get from Auckland to Wellington by train, which could be useful,

but they really aren't utilised much in the country.

There are some really beautiful scenic train journeys you can do, especially down south, but

none that are particularly used as general public transport.