The short answer is
14 days
as a minimum time frame for visiting both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. That’s roughly one week’s travel time for both islands and is just long enough for any visitor to experience the best of the country.
How long does it take to travel all of New Zealand?
How long does it take to travel New Zealand? New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country’s highlights in
two weeks
. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.
How long does it take to drive from the top to the bottom of New Zealand?
Going the Distance
To keep things in perspective, the North Island is 829km long from top to southern tip, demanding
12 hours
of straight drive time between the township of Kaitaia and the southern city of Wellington.
What is the best time to visit New Zealand South Island?
The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of
December to March
. Expect long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 61°F and 75°F. It’s an ideal time to visit the lovely beaches or enjoy the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking.
Is it better to visit the North or South Island of New Zealand?
Generally speaking,
if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you
. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.
Which is more beautiful North or South Island NZ?
The
South Island
is very different from the North Island. For starters it’s larger than the North Island and generally considered more beautiful. It also has gorgeous coastline, though it’s best known for the many mountains and fjords that define its inland.
Can you drive from North to South Island NZ?
Yes, you can drive from the North Island to the South Island of New Zealand by taking the ferry
. There is no bridge or tunnel so the ferry is the only way to travel between the islands.
How long is 90 Mile Beach NZ?
Ninety-Mile Beach is the fabled strip of sand that stretches from Ahipara to Scott Point, five kilometres south of Cape Maria van Diemen. Truth be told, it is actually
88 kilometres
long.
Can you drive across NZ?
New Zealand, or Aotearoa, is the combination of two main islands – the North and South Island, both with unique characteristics and attractions. Unfortunately because of this,
driving non-stop isn’t a practical option
.
How long is Te Araroa trail?
Te Araroa means “The Long Path” and so it is. At an average of 25 kms a day, the trail takes
120 days to walk – four months
. The North Island route is just over 1,600 km long, and the South Island just under 1,400 km.
Is New Zealand bigger than UK?
New Zealand is around the same size as United Kingdom
.
United Kingdom is approximately 243,610 sq km, while New Zealand is approximately 268,838 sq km, making New Zealand 10% larger than United Kingdom.
How long is the ferry between North and South Island New Zealand?
New Zealand’s most famous and beautiful ferry route is between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. The journey between the two islands is commonly referred to as ‘crossing the Cook Strait’. The sailing time is
around 3.5 hours
(weather dependent).
Is New Zealand expensive?
Is New Zealand Expensive? In general, yes, you can say that
the cost of living in New Zealand is high
. From what we see, a single expat living in Auckland would need to have on hand a minimum of 3,000 NZD (2,100 USD) per month to cover their basics.
Is NZ expensive to visit?
New Zealand is definitely not cheap
. Groceries, transport and accommodation are sometimes even more expensive than in the Netherlands. In addition, our way of travelling through New Zealand, with a campervan is expensive, and we have done some expensive activities.
Can US citizens travel to New Zealand?
Yes.
All air travelers arriving on or after November 1, 2021 and aged 17 and over, who are not New Zealand citizens, must be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand
.
What is the nicest city in New Zealand?
- Queenstown. Queenstown was undoubtedly the highlight of my trip. …
- Auckland. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city, with over 1.5 million people residing there. …
- Wellington. Wellington is New Zealand’s capital, so it is naturally one of the best cities to live in New Zealand. …
- Tauranga. …
- Napier.
Which part of New Zealand is most beautiful?
Most Beautiful Places in New Zealand:
South Island
. The South Island has the most dramatic scenery in New Zealand—snow-capped mountains, majestic fiords, turquoise lakes, and golden beaches. See my guide to the best things to do in the South Island New Zealand for even more ideas.
Is there a ferry from North Island to South Island New Zealand?
There are two ferry companies to choose from: Interislander Ferry and Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry
. It takes around three hours to go from the North Island to the South Island by ferry.
What is the coldest month in New Zealand?
The coldest month is usually
July
and the warmest month is usually January or February. In New Zealand generally there are relatively small variations between summer and winter temperatures, although inland and to the east of the ranges the variation is greater (up to 14°C).
Can you drink the tap water in New Zealand?
Yes you can safely drink the water from taps anywhere in New Zealand
. Bottled water is readily avaiable – inexpensive, a dollar or two. Most hotel/motel rooms have electric water jugs for making tea/coffee. You could use this to boil water if you wished.
What is the warmest place in New Zealand?
Based on the average yearly high of 19.7 °C (67.6 °F),
Whangarei
is the warmest place in New Zealand. In summer, temperatures climb to the mid 20’s °C (mid 70’s °F) and occasionally reach above 30 °C (mid 80’s °F). In winter, temperatures are still very pleasant, with an average low of 7.8 °C (46.0 °F).
Is there a bridge between North and south New Zealand?
Unfortunately,
there is no bridge or tunnel connecting the islands
, the distance is too great. However, there is an Interislander Ferry or Bluebridge Cook Strait car ferry that you can hop aboard.
Is there a ferry from Australia to New Zealand?
There is no ferry-type boat service between NZ and Oz
, primarily because it is further than most people think – 1300 miles between Auckland and Sydney. Boat travel over such distances is not competitive with airplanes.
How far apart are Australia and New Zealand?
Australia is located around
2325 KM
away from New Zealand so if you travel at the consistent speed of 50 KM per hour you can reach New Zealand in 46.51 hours.
Why is it called Ninety Mile Beach?
Ninety Mile Beach History
The story goes that
the early European settlers named it because they knew their horses could travel up to 30 miles in a day
. So if the trip along the beach took them three days, it must be 90 miles long, right? Unfortunately, they didn’t account for the slower pace of travelling on sand.
Can you drive 90 Mile Beach?
Can you drive at 90 Mile Beach?
Yes, you can
! And it’s so much fun and is an absolutely surreal experience, especially on a sunny day, when you can’t tell sky from water, water from sand , up from down (just kidding). But you should have 4WD to drive along the beach!
Can you swim Ninety Mile Beach?
Popular activities include swimming, surfcasting, surfing, boating, fishing, kite flying, hang gliding, shellfishing and of course walking along the Tasman Sea
. Limited mobility toilets are available at 90 Mile Beach Hiliday Park at the corner of West Coast Rd.
