New Zealand
Phone Code
+64
Capital
Wellington
Population
5.1 Million
Native Name
New Zealand
Region
Oceania
Australia and New Zealand
Timezones
New Zealand Daylight Time
UTC+13:00
+1 more
On This Page
New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa, 'Land of the Long White Cloud') packs an astonishing range of landscapes into two islands at the bottom of the Pacific. Fiords carved by glaciers (Milford Sound — Kipling's 'eighth wonder of the world'), active volcanoes (Tongariro, White Island), bubbling geothermal fields (Rotorua), ancient rainforests, golden beaches and the Southern Alps topping 3,700 m — all within a country smaller than the UK, with 5.1 million people and 25 million sheep. Wellington, the world's southernmost capital, sits on the North Island; Auckland (1.7 million) is the largest city and the main international gateway. Māori culture — 17% of the population — is woven into daily life: te reo Māori is an official language alongside English, place names are overwhelmingly Māori, and the All Blacks' haka before test matches is the most famous cultural performance in world sport. For visitors, New Zealand means Lord of the Rings filming locations (Hobbiton's 44 hobbit holes in Matamata, Tongariro as Mount Doom, Fiordland as Fangorn Forest), Queenstown as the self-proclaimed 'Adventure Capital of the World' (birthplace of commercial bungee jumping, 1988), Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers you can hike on, Abel Tasman's golden coastal track, whale watching in Kaikoura, and a Working Holiday Visa that draws tens of thousands of young travellers annually. Since October 2019, visa-waiver nationals must obtain the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before boarding — not a visa, but an electronic travel authorisation costing NZ$12-17 plus the NZ$35 conservation levy.
Visa Requirements for New Zealand
New Zealand has visa waiver agreements with 60+ countries BUT as of October 2019 requires NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) for visa-waiver nationals and Australian permanent residents traveling by air. US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian, Japanese citizens (and others) don't need visas but MUST obtain NZeTA online before travel. NZeTA costs NZ$12 via mobile app or NZ$17 via website (plus IVL tourist levy NZ$35). Valid 2 years for multiple entries up to 90 days per visit. Applied online at https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/ - approval usually instant (can take 72 hours). Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond intended stay. Some nationalities (e.g., South Africans, Indians, Chinese) require visitor visa applied through New Zealand embassy. Australian citizens and permanent residents receive automatic visa waiver on arrival (no NZeTA needed). New Zealand has strict biosecurity - declare all food, outdoor equipment, or face heavy fines (NZ$400+). Immigration professional but thorough. Tourism major industry (pre-COVID 3+ million visitors annually to country of 5 million).
Common Visa Types
NZeTA + IVL (Electronic Travel Authority)
Required for visa-waiver nationals (US, UK, EU, Canada, Japan, etc.) traveling to New Zealand by air.
Visa-Free Entry (Australians Only)
Automatic visa waiver for Australian citizens and permanent residents - no advance application needed.
Visitor Visa (Embassy Application)
For nationalities not eligible for NZeTA/visa waiver (e.g., India, China, South Africa), applied through NZ embassy.
Working Holiday Visa
Popular visa for young travelers (18-30 or 18-35) from 46 partner countries allowing work and travel.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
New Zealand compresses an extraordinary range of landscapes into a country you can drive end to end in a day — though you'd miss the point entirely by doing so. The North Island offers Auckland's harbour city lifestyle, the Bay of Islands for dolphins and sailing, Rotorua's geothermal wonderland (boiling mud pools, geysers, and living Māori culture), Hobbiton's permanent film set in Matamata (44 hobbit holes and the Green Dragon Inn), the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (one of the world's best day hikes, doubling as Mount Doom), and Wellington's craft beer and film scene (Weta Workshop tours). The South Island delivers the dramatic scenery: Milford Sound (a fiord so beautiful Kipling called it the eighth wonder of the world — boat cruises from NZ$60), Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers (guided hikes onto living ice), Queenstown (bungee jumping at Kawarau Bridge where commercial bungee was born in 1988, skydiving, jet boating, paragliding), Wanaka's quieter lakeside charm, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track (golden sand beaches and kayaking to seal colonies), Kaikoura for whale watching (sperm whales year-round), and Lake Tekapo under one of the darkest night skies on earth (stargazing reserve). The Great Walks — multi-day hikes including the Milford Track ('finest walk in the world'), Routeburn Track and Abel Tasman — are among the planet's best tramping routes. Māori culture runs throughout: hangi earth-oven feasts, haka performances, marae visits and te reo Māori as a living official language. And then there's the food and wine: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Central Otago Pinot Noir, green-lipped mussels, lamb, and a café culture that rivals Melbourne.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Queenstown is the self-proclaimed 'Adventure Capital of the World': bungee jumping at Kawarau Bridge (the world's first commercial jump site, 1988) and Nevis (134 m), skydiving from 4,500 m over the Remarkables, jet boating through Shotover Canyon, paragliding, canyon swinging and white-water rafting. Beyond Queenstown: black-water rafting through Waitomo Caves on underground rivers lit by glowworms, skydiving over Lake Taupo, zorbing in Rotorua (rolling downhill inside a giant inflatable ball — invented in New Zealand). Safety standards are high. Activities cost NZ$200-400 each but deliver bucket-list experiences.
New Zealand's Great Walks are among the world's finest multi-day treks: the Milford Track ('finest walk in the world', 4 days through Fiordland), Routeburn Track (alpine scenery linking Fiordland and Mount Aspiring), Abel Tasman Coastal Track (golden beaches and kayaking), Tongariro Northern Circuit (volcanic landscape, including the famous Alpine Crossing day hike past Mount Doom). Great Walk huts must be booked months in advance (NZ$55-75/night). Beyond the Great Walks: Franz Josef Glacier hikes, the Southern Ridges, Mueller Hut for sunrise over Aoraki/Mount Cook, and Rob Roy Glacier track near Wanaka.
Peter Jackson filmed both trilogies (2001-2014) entirely in New Zealand, creating a permanent tourism phenomenon. Hobbiton in Matamata is the centrepiece: 44 hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and rolling green hills — tours NZ$89, book ahead. Tongariro Crossing doubles as Mount Doom, Fiordland as Fangorn Forest, Kaitoke Regional Park near Wellington as Rivendell, and Queenstown as the wider landscapes of Arda. Weta Workshop in Wellington offers behind-the-scenes tours of the special effects studio. LOTR-themed tourism is woven into New Zealand's national identity.
Māori culture is not a museum piece — it is a living, central part of New Zealand identity. Rotorua is the cultural hub: traditional hangi earth-oven feasts (meat and vegetables cooked underground with heated stones), haka performances, the Te Puia geothermal park with the Pohutu Geyser, and Tamaki Māori Village immersive experiences. Marae (meeting houses) welcome visitors in many regions. Te reo Māori is an official language — place names, government departments and everyday greetings are in Māori. The haka, made globally famous by the All Blacks rugby team, is a profound cultural expression, not entertainment.
Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula (the iconic arch from Narnia), Hot Water Beach (dig your own thermal pool in the sand at low tide), the Abel Tasman Coastal Track with golden sand and kayaking to seal colonies, Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North, the wild black-sand beaches of the West Coast. Kaikoura offers whale watching (sperm whales year-round, orcas in summer) and swimming with dolphins. The Bay of Islands (North Island) is a sailing paradise with 144 subtropical islands. Over 15,000 km of coastline for every taste — from surf breaks to secluded coves.
New Zealand is one of the world's most popular Working Holiday destinations — over 60,000 visas issued annually. Fruit picking in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough (seasonal work November-April), hospitality in Queenstown, vineyard work in Central Otago, and ski-season jobs in winter. The Working Holiday Visa (available for 18-30 or 18-35 year-olds from 46 countries) allows 12-23 months of travel funded by work. Many backpackers buy a campervan and tour both islands between jobs — a rite of passage for young travellers from the UK, Germany, France and beyond.
Money & Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Currency code: NZD
Practical Money Tips
EFTPOS Is King — Cards Work Everywhere
New Zealand runs on EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) — the country adopted electronic payments earlier and more completely than most. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually every retailer, restaurant, supermarket, petrol station and accommodation. Contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) work at most NFC-enabled terminals, which now cover the majority of merchants. Paywave/payPass contactless limits are NZ$200 per transaction without PIN. The local EFTPOS system is debit-based and integrated into daily life — New Zealanders rarely carry cash. For visitors, international Visa and Mastercard (credit or debit) with contactless capability cover almost every situation. Cash is mainly needed at rural farm stalls, some small-town markets and the occasional cash-only food truck.
ATMs From ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac Are Everywhere
New Zealand's four major banks — ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac — operate ATMs nationwide. Found at bank branches, shopping centres, airports, petrol stations and convenience stores. All accept international Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus cards. Withdrawal limits typically NZ$500-2,000 per transaction. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in NZD to get the best exchange rate. ATMs are plentiful in cities and towns but can be sparse in very rural areas — withdraw before heading into the countryside or starting multi-day hikes. ATM fees vary by your home bank; some New Zealand ATMs may charge a small operator fee.
Contactless Payments Including Apple Pay Work Well
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay all work in New Zealand at NFC-enabled terminals, which cover most retailers, cafés, supermarkets and transport services. Paywave (Visa) and payPass (Mastercard) contactless are standard on virtually all EFTPOS terminals. Transactions up to NZ$200 do not require a PIN. For visitors, linking an international Visa or Mastercard to Apple Pay or Google Pay is the most convenient setup — you can pay for almost everything with your phone. Some farmers' markets and very small businesses may not have NFC terminals, but these are increasingly rare even in regional areas.
Tipping Is Not Expected — Prices Include Everything
New Zealand has no tipping culture. Prices in restaurants, cafés, taxis, hotels and tour operators include service. Do not feel obligated to tip anywhere — it is not customary and staff do not expect it. Some upscale restaurants may have a tip jar or option on the EFTPOS terminal, and you can leave a small amount for exceptional service, but this is entirely optional and uncommon. Tour guides and activity operators also do not expect tips. GST (15%) is always included in displayed prices — what you see is what you pay.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Cities with missions
Where this country maintains embassies or consulates
Explore different regions and their cities.
New Zealand Embassies Worldwide
Popular Destinations
Top destinations with verified missions
All Countries by Continent
Embassies in New Zealand
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
All countries by continent
Need to obtain the NZeTA, apply for a Working Holiday Visa, or check visitor visa requirements? Get step-by-step guidance for your New Zealand travel documents.
Apply for New Zealand Visa