Visiting Wellington
Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is an attractive and vibrant harbour city well known for its culture and quality of restaurants.
Discover Wellington
Wellington was recently named “the coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet for its cosmopolitan charm, cultural offerings, and fabulous foodie and café culture.
Take a look at the things to do, where to stay, places to dine, and the visitor essentials for Wellington.
For more information visit: www.newzealand.com/int/wellington
Discover New Zealand
Travelling to New Zealand is easy. For practical information and travel advice before you leave visit: www.newzealand.com/int/travel-guide
Before travelling to a country, you need to know the basic facts. New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan. With a population of nearly 5 million people, it is gloriously uncrowded.
Passports and visas
When you arrive, you’ll need to ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date, and if required, have a valid New Zealand visa.
You do not need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:
◾ A New Zealand or Australian citizen or resident, or
◾A UK citizen and/or passport holder (you can stay up 6 months), or
◾ A citizen of country that has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand (you can stay up to three months).
If you don’t meet the criteria above, then you will need to apply for a Visitor Visa.
Biosecurity
In order to protect New Zealand and its environment, certain items are not allowed to be brought into the country, have restrictions for entry, or must be declared if they are deemed to present a biosecurity risk. These include food, plants, animal products and outdoor recreational equipment. You may risk a fine if you fail to comply.
Climate
The weather varies throughout New Zealand by region and by season.
Currency and costs
The currency used is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).
Internet and phone coverage
Staying connected in New Zealand is easy with a little forward planning.
Electricity
New Zealand’s electricity supply runs at 230/240 volts and uses angled two or three-pin plugs (the same as Australia and parts of Asia).
Time zone
New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to see the new day, 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
Qualmark
Whether you are looking for places to stay, things to do or ways to get around, Qualmark – New Zealand tourism’s official quality assurance organisation – provides a trusted guide to quality travel experiences. When you see the Qualmark, it means that those businesses have been independently assessed against a set of national quality standards.
Find out more about Qualmark here www.qualmark.co.nz
i-SITE New Zealand
i-SITE is New Zealand’s official visitor information network. There are currently 80 i-SITE locations found throughout New Zealand where you can speak to a travel expert for local knowledge and bookings throughout New Zealand