New Zealand

When leaving New Zealand there is a departure fee of between $20 and $25.

Travel Around New Zealand

North Island

Auckland

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, with a population of around 1.3 million, nearly a third of New Zealand's entire population. In and around the city there are three harbours, two mountain ranges and 48 volcanic cones.

Public Transport

It is possible to buy an Auckland Discovery Day Pass which allows one days travel (from 5am to 4.59am) on all major public transport within Auckland for $12 (£4.50). This pass allows travel on busses, trains and inner harbour ferries. If single journey tickets are purchased on the buses change is given. There is also a free inner city bus route called the CityCircuit, these buses run every 10 minutes, 8am-6pm, seven days. They are all red Hybrid Electric Vehicles funded by stagecoach and the Auckland regional council. A typical taxi from the airport into town is approximately $33 however the shuttlebus is $11.

Where to stay

Auckland City Hotel - double bed private £9.66pppn

YHA New Zealand

Auckland City YHA, double $32 (£12)pppn

Auckland International YHA, double $35.50 (£13.40)pppn

Central City Backpackers - double bed private £11.83pppn (VIP)

Auckland Central Backpackers - double bed private £13pppn (VIP discount of $1 possible)

What to do in Auckland

Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World - $26 (£9.80)

Nikau Caves - $25 (£9.40)

New Zealand National Maritime Museum

Museum - $12 (£4.50)

Harbour Cruise - $15 (£5.60)

Combo - $19 (£7.15)

Sky Tower - $18 (£6.80)

Wine Tours

Auckland Wine Trail Tours - half day $90 (£34), full day + lunch $135 (£51)

Fine Wine Tours - half day $119 (£45), full day wine and cheese tasting tour + lunch $139 (£52.50)

Harbour Cruise - Fuller's

Trip on America's Cup Yacht $99 (£38)

Walking

Waitakere Ranges

Great Barrier Island

Coast-to-coast walkway

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is an area in the very north of New Zealand. The bay itself contains around 140 islands as well as many secluded bays. There is an abundance of sea life within the bay including whales, penguins and dolphins.

Where to stay

Pickled Parrot Backpackers, Paihia - Double bed private £12.60

YHA Paihia - Double private ensuite £12

Kerikeri top 10 holiday park $40 (£15.20) off season, $46 peak season (Dec 16th to Feb 28th) per cabin per night (VIP)

Bay Adventurer Backpackers - $50-$70 double room (VIP)

Hone Heke Lodge - $45 per double room ($50 ensuite) (VIP)

What to do

Dolphin cruises - swim with wild dolphins! - $99 (£37.50) for 4 hour tour of bay and possible swim.

Yacht Charter Great Escape - $75 (£28) per day

Snorkelling

Walking trails

Febuary 6 - Waitangi Day Celebrations

Rainbow Falls - Kerikeri

Rotorua

Rotorua is a city on the shores of Rotarua lake. It is surrounded by hot springs and other volcanic activity. Within the city itself there is a constant smell of sulphur and huge clouds of steam appear all around the city.

Where to stay

Hot Rock Backpakers - twin ensuite £12.22pppn (VIP)

Kiwipaka-YHA

Chalet (private bathroom, balcony) - $60 (£22.80) per chalet per night

Lodge (shared bathroom) - twin $24pppn (£9.11), double $54 per room per night (£20.50)

Crash Palace QSB Backpackers - $45 per double room (£17) (VIP)

What to do

Buried Village - $20 per person

Rainbow Springs - $23.50 per person

Whakarewarewa - Thermal Village - $20 pp

Orakei Korako - The Hidden Valley with boat tour, cable car

Kuirau Park - FREE thermal park with mud pools and steam holes

Bike hire - cycle round the lake - 45km

Taupo

Taupo is a city also on the shores of Taupo lake in the North Island it is approximately 4 hours by car from Auckland. For more information on Taupo, there are also free guide maps available in Auckland and Christchurch airports.

Where to stay

Rainbow lodge - $46 (£17.50) per double room per night

Action Downunder YHA - $46 per double room per night

Silver Fern Lodge - £17 pppn

Go Global backpackers - $55 per double room (VIP)

What to do

Wairakei Park

Huka Falls, Wairakei Park - can be visited by Huka Jet $79 (£31)

Tongariro Crossing, Tongariro National Park - Alpine Scenic Tours will take you there from Taupo for $35 (£13.80)

Hot springs around Taupo

Watersports on Lake Taupo, including boat hire and canoeing

Rock carvings at Mine Bay - only accessable by water

Napier

Napier is on the east coast of the North Island in Hawke's Bay, which is the leading producer of red wine in New Zealand. The coastline also contains some stunning beaches.

Where to stay

What to do

Wellington

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand, although it is much smaller than Auckland. It is located to the very south of the North Island and is the main ferry port to access the South Island. The city has a magnificent harbour and is set amongst rolling green hills.

Public Transport

It is possible to buy a day tripper bus pass for $5. The city circular route cost $2 passing most attractions. There is a cable car costing $2.50 for a return trip.

Where to stay

Barnacles Seaside Inn - £8.81 pppn for double bed private

Rowena's Lodge - £11 pppn for double bed private (VIP)

Wellington city YHA - £11.61 pppn double

Downtown Wellington Backpackers - £14 pppn twin private ensuite (VIP)

What to do

Walking - there are several walks in and around Wellington. There is a list of suggested walks here

Parliament Buildings - free

National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa - free - interactive display of tsunami, earthquake and volcano. Time warp $15.

Botanical Gardens - free - at top of cable car - contains observatory open in evenings Tuesday and Saturday, book in advance.

Ontari Native Botanic Gardens - free - catch bus 14 to Wilton Road

Wellington Zoo - $12

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary - $8

South Island

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is known for its resident Sperm whales although there is a great deal of other marine wlidlife to see as well. For more information on the area see the website.

Where to stay

In order to find information on booking any of these hostels go to the website mentioned above.

Dusky Lodge - approx $60 (£23) for double room

Lyell Creek Lodge - $60 for double ensuite ($54 normal double)

Cray Cottage - $50 for twin room

Dolphin Lodge - $44 for double room

Adelphi Lodge - $60 for double ensuite ($46 (£17.70) normal double)

Albatross Backpacker Inn - $55 for double room

The Lazy Shag - $25 per person for double room - Seal swims, snorkelling, free internet

What to do

Maori Leap Cave tours

Seal Swimming - $60

Snorkelling (Tours)

Sea Kayaking - Seal Kayaking half day tour $65, independent hire $45 (£17.30) half-day/$65 (£25) full day

Whale watching - $125 (£50)

Kaikoura Night Sky - $40

Kaikoura Winery - $8.50 (£3.25)

Hanmer Springs

Hanmer Springs is a spectacular region of New Zealand within the Southern Alps. It is known for therapeutic thermal waters. To find out more see the tourism website.

Where to stay

Hanmer Backpackers - $23 pppn double room

Le Gite Backpackers - $21 pppn with BBH card

What to do

Walks around the local area

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa - $10 (£3.85), waterslide $5

Christchurch

Christchurch is the major city on the South Island and where we will be flying out of New Zealand from. It is surrounded by the Canterbury Plains, for more information visit the Christchurch tourism website.

Public Transport

Buses traverse the city and a Big Red Day pass costs $6 although a 12-ride pass cuts down the normal fare. A free downtown electric bus has runs between the Cathedral Square to the railway station. Punts can be hired on the rivers Cherwell and Cam but a boatman must be hired too, cost approximately $12 per person for 20mins. There are also trams that run around some of the city, for more information see the website.

Where to stay

Rolleston House YHA and City Central YHA (twice as many beds, closer to city attractions) - $30 (£11.50) pppn.

Charlie B's Backpackers - $25 (£9.60) pppn (VIP)

New Excelsior Backpackers Hostel - £9.60 pppn twin room

Coker's Garden City Backpackers - $55 per double room (VIP)

What to do

International Antarctic Centre - from $20

Gondola - $18

Mount Cook National Park - Walking in the areas managed by the Dept. of Conservation require you to sign a register before and after walking

The Kiwi Wildlife Experience - $17 (£6.50)

Christchurch Wildlife Cruises - cruise round Lyttelton Harbour - $49 (£19)

Botanical Gardens - possible punting trips

Canterbury Museum - free entry (Discovery centre $2) - Rolleston Avenue

Canterbury Brewery - $12 (£4.60) booking nessesary

Orana Wildlife Park - $16 (£6.20)

Ballooning over Christchurch - $220pp (£84)

Walk around Riccarton Bush and Mona Vale - 10-15 mins from city centre

Seaside - caves to explore

See the sun rise out of the Pacific Ocean from Godley Head or Sumner's Scarbrough Hill

Many walks - brochures available from the tourist infomation centre

Visit Akaroa

Greymouth

Where to stay

Global Village Travellers Lodge - $23 (£8.85) pppn double room with BBH card ($26 pppn without)

Noah's Ark Backpackers - $45 (£17.30) per double room ($43 (£16.55) with VIP)

What to do

Dragons Blackwater Cave Rafting - $125 (£48)

Pancake rocks

Dunedin

Where to stay

Elmlodge - £9.62 pppn double room

Adventurer Backpackers Lodge - £17.44 double room (VIP hostel)

Stafford Gables - $28 (£11) per person, double room

On Top Backpackers - $26 pp double room (VIP hostel)

Chalet Backpackers - $23 (£9.10) pppn double room

Manor House Backpackers - $51 per double room (VIP)

Queens Garden Backpackers - $45 per double room (VIP)

What to do

Wildlife excursions - seals, penguins and sea birds

Sights of Dunedin

Hire Kayaks - $40 per person for 2 hour hire

Walks around Dunedin, maps available from this site.

Fiordland

Fiordland is an area of New Zealand to the very south of South Island. As the name suggests it is made up of many fiords. The main centre of the area is Te Anau. For more information click here.

Where to stay

Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers - $25 pppn double room

Rosie's Backpacker Homestay, Te Anau - $46 (£17.70) for double room ($40 with BBH)

Lakeview Backpackers, Manapouri - $50 (£19.80) double room (VIP hostel)

What to do

From the base of Te Anau many places can be visited. Milford Sound is a spectaular place as is the road to get there, it takes approximately 2 hours and can be visited by bus. The bottom of Milford Sound can be visited for £49 with Milford Deep Underwater Observatory. The trip to Milford Sound can be organised into a tour for more details visit this website. Manapouri, 20mins drive from Te Anau, sits next to the second deepest lake in New Zealand and is the starting place if visiting Doubtful Sound. Doubtful Sound is the deepest fiord and can be visited in many forms from kayaking to cruise ship.

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