🇳🇿 Countries Quick facts & interesting facts

• Visa: Germans require an electronic entry permit (NZeTA, approx. 35 NZD), valid for 90 days.

• Best time to visit: December-April for summer, outdoor & road trips. Spring & fall ideal for less crowds.

• Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD); approx. 1 € = 1.80 NZD.

• Time zones: CET+12 hours (October-April: CET+13 due to daylight saving time).

• Safety: Very safe & organized. Important: Drive on the left & watch out for weather changes!

A country from another world:

New Zealand is an adventure book to hike into. Rugged glaciers, glowing volcanoes, fjords, rainforests, lakes and endless hilly landscapes - all on two islands that you can easily travel around. A day here can start with a boat tour through Milford Sound and end with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc on the beach of Abel Tasman. Whether you take to the road in a van, hike over suspension bridges or walk through a hobbit village - New Zealand not only touches the eye, but also the heart. The Kiwis welcome you with calm, serenity and genuine warmth.

New Zealand highlights: My personal favorites

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

One of the most beautiful day hikes in the world - past emerald-green crater lakes and volcanic lunar landscapes.

Milford Sound by kayak or boat

Fjord landscape with waterfalls, dolphins & steep mountains - a place that makes you quiet.

Free-standing with views of snow-capped peaks, showers on the beach & campfires under the stars - New Zealand is made for road trips.

Vanlife in nature

My route suggestions for your New Zealand trip

🚐 10 days South Island compact: Glaciers, lakes & fjords
Start in Christchurch, drive across the turquoise-blue Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook, on to the Franz Josef Glacier and through the rainforest to Queenstown. The crowning glory: Milford Sound. A route straight out of a movie - spectacular scenery & emotionally intense.

🌋2 weeks North Island: volcanoes, Maori & surfers' dreams
From Auckland via the hot springs of Rotorua, through Hobbiton to Taupō and Tongariro National Park. Continue south to Wellington. On the way: thermal wonders, Maori culture, waterfalls & coastal highways - ideal for anyone who wants to combine nature & culture.

🏔️ 3 weeks of pure island hopping: experience north & south
Start in the north with the Bay of Islands, work your way across volcanic landscapes to the capital, take the ferry to Picton, then follow the west coast to Wanaka before ending your trip in the mountains. A route for those who want “the whole thing” - including ferry, wine, water & wilderness.

🧭Extra tip: Abel Tasman kayak adventure
Multi-day kayak tour through turquoise waters, past sea lions & golden bays - including overnight stay in nature. For all those who want to travel actively and switch off.

Costs and budget

Approximately how much does a trip to New Zealand cost?

✈️ Flights & travel
Long-haul flights from Europe cost between €1,200-1,600, usually with 1-2 stops (e.g. in Singapore, Doha or Los Angeles). Open jaw flights & flexibility help to save money.

🚐 Rental car, van & transport
Campervans from €60-130/day, rental car from €40. Ferry between North and South Island (car + person): approx. 150-200 NZD. Refueling is cheaper than in Germany, but distances are long.

🏕️ Accommodation & food
Hostels from €25, motels from €60-80, campsites often free or 5-25 NZD/night. Self-catering saves a lot: supermarkets like Pak'nSave or Countdown are cheap & good. Eating out: Main courses approx. 15-25 €.

🎟️Entrance fees & activities
Many highlights (beaches, hikes, national parks) are free of charge. Tours such as whale watching, skydiving or glacier trekking cost between 100-400 NZD. Tip: Compare combinations & multi-day tours in advance.

💡 My tip: Download the Rankers Camping NZ app - it shows all legal pitches, showers & drinking water stations. And: Use “i-SITE” tourist information - here you can get local tips and often cheap tour offers!

Personal tips

My best learnings for the road - straight from my adventures.

⛺ Freedom camping with respect

Pay attention to the signage, keep your distance from nature & use your own toilets (or places with facilities). This way, free standing is also possible for others.

🌄 Hiking at sunrise - e.g. Roys Peak

The hike is strenuous, but you will be rewarded with a panorama that surpasses all map photos. It's worth setting off early - and you're almost alone.

Slower, more intense, closer. You glide silently through the water and have the chance to see seals or dolphins - an unforgettable nature experience.

🛶 Kayak instead of boat tour in Milford Sound

My favorite moments in pictures

From the first sunlight on Mt. Cook to a hot spring in the middle of the forest to the mist drifting through the fjords - New Zealand was like another reality for me. Here I share with you my most beautiful moments - raw, silent, overwhelming.