
New Zealand Travel Guide - Explore & Plan Your Trip
Posted on June 2, 2023
Tourism in New Zealand has taken a major leap in the last few years. The country is a world filled with magnificent landscapes, thriving Maori culture, and exhilarating activities known as New Zealand. This island nation, well-known for its gorgeous fjords, rolling hills, and beautiful mountains, offers a really exceptional and remarkable travel encounter. Whether you're a nature lover, an adrenaline addict, or a history buff, New Zealand has something for everyone. Get ready to have your dream vacation turn into reality with Pickyourtrail and have a blast!
Facts about New Zealand
| Fact | Detail |
| Official Language | English, Maori |
| Capital | Wellington |
| Currency | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) |
| Area | 268,021 sq km |
| Population | Approximately 5 million |
| Time Zone | New Zealand Standard Time (UTC+12) |
| Climate | Diverse, ranging from subtropical to temperate and alpine |
| National Symbol | Kiwi bird |
| Geography | Consists of two main islands, North Island and South Island, with diverse landscapes including mountains, fjords, lakes, and beaches |
Know More About New Zealand
- Indigenous History: For over a thousand years, the Maori people have lived in New Zealand, adding to the country's unique cultural legacy.
- European Arrival: The arrival of European explorers in the late 18th century, especially Captain James Cook, led to an increase in colonisation.
- The Treaty of Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi established British rule and acknowledged Maori rights. It was signed in 1840.
- Gold Rush: The 1860s gold discovery led to a wave of immigration, which changed the economic landscape of the nation.
- Independence: New Zealand attained self-governance in 1852 and became a Dominion in 1907.
- Social Reforms: In 1893, New Zealand was the first nation to implement progressive changes, such as women's suffrage.
- Present: Today, New Zealand is a diverse, thriving country that welcomes tourists with its breathtaking natural beauty and warm hospitality.
How to Reach New Zealand from India
- By Air: Travelling to New Zealand from India is convenient, thanks to multiple airlines providing direct and connecting flights on the following route. Major carriers including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates provide regular service between Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai in India and Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. The average duration of a flight between India and New Zealand is between 17 and 20 hours.
- Other: There is no other convenient method to travel between both destinations
Best Time to Visit New Zealand
With a subtropical climate on the North Island and a colder temperature on the South Island, New Zealand has a varied range of climates. The ideal time to visit New Zealand depends on your tastes and the activities you want to partake in. The warmer months of December through February provide comfortable temperatures and are great for outdoor activities. For those who enjoy snow activities, the winter months of June to August are perfect, as ski resorts are also available to visit.
(Note: these are approximate average temperatures figures and can vary each year)
| Month | North Island (Average Temperature °C) | South Island (Average Temperature °C) |
| January | 20 – 25 | 18 – 23 |
| February | 20 – 25 | 17 – 22 |
| March | 18 – 23 | 16 – 20 |
| April | 15 – 20 | 12 – 16 |
| May | 12 – 17 | 8 – 12 |
| June | 10 – 14 | 6 – 10 |
| July | 9 – 13 | 5 – 9 |
| August | 10 – 14 | 6 – 10 |
| September | 12 – 17 | 8 – 12 |
| October | 14 – 19 | 10 – 14 |
| November | 16 – 21 | 12 – 16 |
| December | 18 – 23 | 15 – 19 |
New Zealand Visa for Indians
Visa process for Indians to obtain a New Zealand tourist visa is not a huge hassle if you follow the steps carefully. This visa allows you to travel to the country at ease. Below are the types of New Zealand visa for an Indian Passport holder.
- Visitor visa
- Business visa
- Work visa
- Family visa
- Transit visa
Cost of New Zealand Tourist Visa for Indians
Below is a table with cost of two types of visas for tourists. Also, check out the official New Zealand visa website for a better understanding.
| Visitor Visa | Rs 7935 |
| Transit Visa | Rs 6768 |
Travelling Around New Zealand
New Zealand has an excellent transport system, which makes it simple to travel across the nation. Here are a few popular methods of getting around New Zealand:
- Rental Cars: By renting a car, you can travel at your own leisure and find hidden gems all across the nation.
- Camper Vans: Travelling in a camper van, which serves as both a vehicle and a place to stay, offers the ultimate independence. For an enjoyable vacation, New Zealand has several campsites that are well-equipped.
- Buses and Coaches: InterCity and GreatSights are famous bus services that connect major cities and tourist areas. They provide practical timetables and comfortable travel options.
- Trains: New Zealand's picturesque rail routes, such the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific, provide a charming way to experience the country's breathtaking scenery.
- Domestic flights: Domestic flights are available between major cities if you are short on time or want a quick means of transportation.
- Ferries: A gorgeous and enjoyable ride connects the North and South Islands via the Cook Strait boat service.
Places to Visit in New Zealand
- Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Tongariro National Park
- Bay of Islands
- Queenstown
- Rotorua
- Mount Cook National Park
- Franz Josef Glacier
- Waiheke Island
- Lake Tekapo
- Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
- Wellington
- Kaikoura
- Coromandel Peninsula
- Napier and Hawke's Bay
- Nelson
- Stewart Island
- Mount Taranaki
- Dunedin
- The Catlins
Things to Do in New Zealand
- Go for a Bungee jump from Queenstown's iconic Kawarau Bridge
- Visit Waitomo's enchanted glowworm tunnels
- Take a spectacular walk over volcanic terrain on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Fly in a helicopter and enjoy the view of Franz Josef Glacier
- Go kayaking in the beautiful waters of Abel Tasman National Park
- Visit a typical Maori village to discover more about the culture
- Take a cruise in the breathtaking Milford Sound to see its magnificent waterfalls
- Take an exciting jet boat ride in Queenstown
- Travel to Wellington and visit the lively Te Papa Museum
- Bathe in Rotorua's natural hot springs
- Visit Marlborough and take a wine tour, which is well-known for its Sauvignon Blanc
- Watch whales in Kaikoura
- Learn about Nelson's enchanting community and thriving cultural scene
- Discover Wai-O-Tapu's geothermal marvels in Rotorua
- Participate in adventurous activities like zorbing, skydiving, or white-water rafting
- Unwind on the Coromandel Peninsula's gorgeous beaches
- Take in the scenery as you travel the Great Ocean Road
- On the east coast of the South Island, visit the unusual Moeraki Boulders
- Visit seals, dolphins, and penguins by going on a wildlife cruise
- Enjoy a traditional hangi feast while sampling authentic Maori food
Pick Your Trail to New Zealand
New Zealand is a place that perfectly combines adventure, natural beauty, and cultural legacy. New Zealand tourism creates a lasting impression on every traveller with its breathtaking landscapes and rich culture. Pack your bags, book New Zealand tour packages or book New Zealand honeymoon packages to travel with your loved one from Pickyourtrail, customize your New Zealand itinerary and let the wonders of New Zealand unravel before your eyes.

Customer Reviews
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Raghul Pradheesh
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Went on a trip to Phuket and Krabi through PYT. This is the first time Im planning through an online travel partner. Chose PYT as I had logo of customizations in the package which I couldnt get through smaller travel companies. I was traveling with a 9 month old and wanted this trip to be a leisure one and also baby friendly. Their Followups and service were extremely good. They responded in no time whenever I came up with a query. Chat support is available 24*7. They were not at all hesitant to modify the itineraries. Highly recommend PYT if you are looking at a customized package.

Urvangi Thacker
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Thank you so much Pickyourtrail for so nicely arranging our trip as we wanted from flight booking to stay and travel as well as for being available 24*7. Totally hustle free and pleasant..!

Vijaykrisna Subramanian
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Great support staff, reachable 24*7 and gave a complete clarity on all the details right from scratch to till end of trip. Would highly recommend

Arpita Roy Dam
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Was a great experience. Oblu Xperience Resort was good and all inclusive Fushi plan was hassle free and effective. Well supported by the Pickyourtrail team specially Lionel who was always a call or chat away. The 24*7 chat support during trip and timely advisories were useful . Water sports and dive centre was amazing with very friendly and cooperative professional staff at the resort. Just a feedback on the resort - beverages and drinks provided with the all inclusive plan has a definite opportunity for improvement in quality. Also the information that the hotel has some limitations of accepting US dollars currency printed prior to a particular year should be prior informed and shared with your customers beforehand to avoid any last minute hiccups. Thanks for a smooth sail through. Cheers

Akshata Kulkarni
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
It was the best experience, ever right from the beginning vishaka has helped us a lot and explained each and every thing in detail , my queries were resolved very quick and immediately, their app support is 24*7 and everything is curated just so perfectly they made my first international trip just so hassle free. Looking forward to book more trips with them

Priya Rangasamy
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Had great time in Phuket and Bangkok really 24*7 support team helped us immediately when there was need and we would give 5+ star rating to Senthil raja from Madurai office who we met first regarding the trip right from day one he stood with us till we reaching our home thank u so much Senthil . Only one negative we had was with that local personal Mr. Balaji who was unresponsive , even those issues were rectified by senthil. when we decided to plan our next vacation we would surely book it in PYT .

Pitla Manoj
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Well explained the trip details and provided the 24*7 support.

Satya Prakash Gupta
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
It was an amazing experience at Centara Ras Fushi booked by PYT To start with, 1stly thanks to PYT & specially Roshni for very close assistance throughout selection of resort, dates, availability, best offers, special addons, price discounting, documentation, reminders & what not. Additionally, 1. We were offered an upgraded room at the time of check-in as a surprise from the resort. (This only happens with few + the agency bond must be healthy with the resort, in our case we checked both blocks with PYT) 2. The food was awesome, any day we had options for Indian cuisine Just in case we chose to grab some desi flavors. 3. All Inclusive is a smart choice Recommend by Roshni. Even if you are non alcoholic, there's alot of options in sundowners, beverages, snacks, room minibar (which names minibar,but you ll get many things for quick bites). Also, few internal offers are only accessible for All Inc. Go for it without 2nd thought. 4. Supportive staff & very friendly cultural built up by homies, in chat assurance by PYT 24*7 at the time if trip. Also, Roshni made sure that we are having smooth experience by cross checking in between our trip. 5. Many running offers for Spa, photoshoot. We availed a few offers with additional negotiations & guess what, they were very much open to negotiate, one just had to ask for it. 6. Heavenly location, 17mins transfer from SB. We got our transfers within 5 mins post landing, & 3 hrs prior to our flight at the time of boarding back. A big special thank you to PYT, Roshni, Roja & CentaraRas from us for such a superlative experience Love & Peace to PYT Shretya

Husein Zaki
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
Wonderful hassle free experience. Regular pre-travel reminders coupled with a live 24*7 app assistance. Highly recommended!

Ankita Singh
Reviewed on: 18 Jun 2026
I had a wonderful experience while booking my vacation through this app..They give us a hassle free experience and are available 24*7 for any queries..will be looking forward for more trips with them
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