New Zealand Travel Guide
If you’re planning a trip in New Zealand then look no further.
Here you’ll find my best posts to get you started when planning your New Zealand trip
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New Zealand Travel Guide
My Experience Travelling In New Zealand
I have spent more than 3 years traveling around New Zealand. I have explored both islands extensively and been almost everywhere!
I lived in the North Island for 15 months from 2020 – 2021 and I lived in the South Island for 20 months from 2021 – 2023.
I arrived in New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa in March 2020. I was lucky enough to get to New Zealand just before the borders closed during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The borders remained closed for more than 2 years.
It was a surreal time to travel New Zealand as we had the place almost all to ourselves. We would hike a trail and not see a single other soul. We would stay overnight in our campervan and be the only van at the campsite. It was strange and lucky time to be a tourist in New Zealand!
After an incredible 3 years travelling New Zealand, I decided it was time to move on and I left New Zealand in May 2023.
I am really grateful for all the experiences I had in New Zealand. It really is a unique place to travel with a lot to offer. I hope that by sharing my knowledge and experiences you can also have a magical trip and discover the real New Zealand.
Recommended Read: Pandemic Perks: Discovering New Zealand’s Hidden Gems As A Tourist For 3 YEARS!
Got any questions about travelling in New Zealand? Get in touch and I’ll be happy to answer them!
I am still writing new posts about New Zealand and adding to this guide, so sign up to my mailing list to keep updated on the latest!
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First Visit To New Zealand
First visit to New Zealand? How exciting! Read these blog posts to get started. They answer common FAQs for a first visit to New Zealand to help you in your planning phase.
- Recommended Read: North Vs South Island New Zealand: Which Is Better To Visit?
Not sure whether to visit the North or the South Island? This comprehensive guide compares both North vs South Islands – what makes each island unique, pros and cons, climate and weather, and the must do experiences on each island.
North Island Highlights
- Recommended Read: 10 Unmissable Experiences In The North Island, New Zealand
If you’re looking to tick off the most impressive North Island experiences in New Zealand, then this list is your must-do.
Novelty giant sculptures to find across the North Island, that make fun photo stops or roadside attractions.
Discover the 6 best hot pools in New Zealand’s North Island for those on a budget. Pros and cons, locations and prices (all under $34!).
Don’t stop chasing waterfalls! Discover 28 beautiful waterfalls to visit in the North Island of New Zealand. Map, accommodation and experiences included.
Your ultimate guide on how to see glowworms for free in the North Island. Discover 9 best spots to see glowworms and where to find them.
Discover 10 of the best towns, cities and city festivals to see street art, murals and graffiti in the North Island, New Zealand.
Northland Region
The Waipu Caves are one of the best FREE spots to see glowworms in New Zealand. This guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Auckland Region
Everything you need to know about travelling by ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island as a foot passenger or with a bike or a vehicle.
- Popular Post: 16 Fun Things To Do On Waiheke Island Without A Car
Travelling to Waiheke Island without a car or by using public transport? Check out this list of the best things to do & how to get there.
Discover the best things to do in Oneroa on beautiful Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand – wineries, beaches, walks, food & more!
Best beaches on Waiheke Island and the best activities for each beach. Discover the best beach for swimming, snorkelling, surfing and more!
Discover the best things to see and do in Onetangi, Auckland – wineries, walks, stunning Onetangi Beach, award-winning restaurants and more!
Everything you need to know about how to get around Waiheke Island, Auckland. From driving, walking, cycling, using the bus & more.
Bay Of Plenty Region
McLaren Falls Park is a well known spot to see glowworms for free in the Bay Of Plenty. Find out everything you need to know in this guide.
Wellington Region
Discover the best freedom camping spots in Wellington City – New Zealand’s capital! Find out where you can park and sleep in your campervan overnight for FREE.
Discover why you should visit Wellington and the best fun and FREE things to do in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
Food lover on a budget? Look no further than this Wellington Food Guide! In this post, discover the 10 best places for must-try cheap eats.
Your complete guide to the Paekakariki Escarpment Track – a thrilling adventure on the Kapiti Coast. Find out everything you need to know!
Manawatū-Whanganui Region
Discover the best fun & FREE things to do in Whanganui, North Island. Named New Zealand’s most beautiful small city 2020.
Is the Forgotten World Highway worth your time? Discover the truth about this “must do” road trip, plus all the best things to see and do.
South Island Highlights
Discover New Zealand’s most accessible glaciers that can be visited on a hike, from a viewpoint or on a helicopter ride.
A guide to giant novelty sculptures in the South Island, usually to celebrate culture, history and industry of New Zealand towns.
Milford Sound
This post compares Milford Sound cruises to help you know which Milford Sound cruise company to choose for your trip.
West Coast Region
This post will tell you the best free and cheap things to see and do in Fox Glacier on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
A guide to the best accommodation in Fox Glacier to suit different budgets and traveller types.
The Lake Matheson loop walk is one of the best free activities to do in Fox Glacier! This post will tell you everything you need to know.
The Catlins
Explore the beautiful hidden gem of Curio Bay in The Catlins region. Discover the stunning coastline with amazing endemic wildlife including yellow-eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins. Curio Bay is also famous for its 180-million year old Petrified Forest and gorgeous Porpoise Bay which is perfect for surfing and swimming.
This post showcases the best places to stay in Curio Bay, including self-catering apartments, cosy beach cabins and tent/campervan/motorhome camping sites.
Curio Bay is a gorgeous coastal gem on the southern coast of the South Island. Discover the best private and freedom camping sites to enjoy all that Curio Bay has to offer.
New Zealand City Guides & Free/Cheap Things To Do
Discover the best fun & FREE things to do in Whanganui, North Island. Named New Zealand’s most beautiful small city 2020.
Discover why you should visit Wellington and the best fun and FREE things to do in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
Food lover on a budget? Look no further than this Wellington Food Guide! In this post, discover the 10 best places for must-try cheap eats.
This post will tell you the best free and cheap things to see and do in Fox Glacier on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
Explore the beautiful hidden gem of Curio Bay in The Catlins region. Discover the stunning coastline with amazing endemic wildlife including yellow-eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins. Curio Bay is also famous for its 180-million year old Petrified Forest and gorgeous Porpoise Bay which is perfect for surfing and swimming.
Discover the best things to do in Oneroa on beautiful Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand – wineries, beaches, walks, food & more!
Waiheke Island Travel Guides
- Popular Post: 16 Fun Things To Do On Waiheke Island Without A Car
Travelling to Waiheke Island without a car or by using public transport? Check out this list of the best things to do & how to get there.
Everything you need to know about travelling by ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island as a foot passenger or with a bike or a vehicle.
Best beaches on Waiheke Island and the best activities for each beach. Discover the best beach for swimming, snorkelling, surfing and more!
Discover the best things to do in Oneroa on beautiful Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand – wineries, beaches, walks, food & more!
Discover the best things to see and do in Onetangi, Auckland – wineries, walks, stunning Onetangi Beach, award-winning restaurants and more!
Poukaraka Flats Campground is the best spot for camping on Waiheke Island that offers basic facilities for an affordable price.
Travelling to Waiheke on a budget? Thinking of staying at Waiheke Backpackers Hostel? Know everything before you go with this review.
Everything you need to know about how to get around Waiheke Island, Auckland. From driving, walking, cycling, using the bus & more.
New Zealand Road Trips
Is the Forgotten World Highway worth your time? Discover the truth about this “must do” road trip, plus all the best things to see and do.
Hikes & Walks
Your complete guide to the Paekakariki Escarpment Track – a thrilling adventure on the Kapiti Coast. Find out everything you need to know!
The Lake Matheson loop walk is one of the best free activities to do in Fox Glacier! This post will tell you everything you need to know.
Campervans & Van Life In New Zealand
My Van Life Experience In New Zealand
I travelled around New Zealand in a self-converted campervan with my partner, Fiachra, and we lived the #Vanlife dream!
We bought our campervan in Auckland within a couple of weeks of arriving in New Zealand and had it for the entire duration of our time in New Zealand. Over 3 years, we travelled around 40,000km across the entire country, all the way from Cape Reinga in the far north to Bluff in the south, and everywhere in between!
After buying the campervan, we worked hard to improve the inside and essentially converted the whole thing, including insulating the van, installing a floor, making curtains, building and painting shelving and furniture, installing a second battery system, lighting, and more! It was the first time we had ever done anything like this and it was a huge learning experience! We didn’t know what we were doing and just learned as we went along!
We are so glad that we had the chance to experience living full-time in a campervan on the road. It was a very fun and exciting way of life, to wake up in new destinations every day, to spend much of our lives living outside (as our van was pretty small) and learning how to live very minimally (there’s only so much stuff you can fit in a campervan!).
If you’re keen on living the vanlife, then New Zealand is a great destination to do it in. Campervanning and RVing is very popular in New Zealand. There are loads of great free facilities to help you on your van life journey, including free campsites, free public facilities (including toilets), free dump stations and water, and sometimes even free hot showers!
New Zealand is a very safe country to travel in, so we never felt scared to sleep in our campervan. There are also lots of people living this kind of lifestyle in New Zealand, so you will easily blend in and have the opportunity to meet and talk to others about their experiences.
I’ve written blog posts about the process of starting your van journey in New Zealand, including on how to buy a campervan, essential things you need to know and tips and tools for how to have a good experience. Check out all my campervan in New Zealand posts below.
Get advice on which model campervan you should buy for traveling in New Zealand. Most popular types, pros & cons, plus photos inside & out.
Looking to buy a second-hand campervan to travel in New Zealand? Find out where the best places to look are to find your perfect campervan for sale.
- Popular Post: Ultimate Cost Guide To Buying A Campervan In New Zealand
This post will explain the cost of buying a campervan in New Zealand, with tips for how to save money and get the best deals.
Want to buy a campervan in New Zealand? Read this first! Find out all the important things you need to know before you buy a campervan in New Zealand.
This post shares 16 essential apps to help you on your van journey in New Zealand – from finding campsites to getting to cheapest fuel prices.
Quick tips that will help you to buy a campervan in New Zealand, including the best places to look and how to get a good deal.
Glowworms
- Recommended Read: 9 Best Places See Glowworms For Free In The North Island
Your ultimate guide on how to see glowworms for free in the North Island. Discover 9 best spots to see glowworms and where to find them.
McLaren Falls Park is a well known spot to see glowworms for free in the Bay Of Plenty. Find out everything you need to know in this guide.
The Waipu Caves are one of the best FREE spots to see glowworms in New Zealand. This guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Working Holiday
My Working Holiday Experience In New Zealand
During my Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand, I worked in different industries, from kiwifruit picking and packing, to running front of house at a restaurant, to managing campsites and motels.
Having the opportunity to do many different tasks helped me to develop lots of different skills as well as explore much of New Zealand by working in different destinations across the country.
I went from working in a very remote lodge in a wild and ancient forest in the heart of the North Island to working in an accommodation near a ski resort in the South Island at one of the busiest tourist destinations in the country.
Working in the kiwifruit industry gave me insight into how food goes from the farm to the table and all the hardwork in between.
My last role was working on wild West Coast of the South Island in a very small and remote community but full of magic and wonder!
Doing a Working Holiday in New Zealand was a chance to spend a longer period of time in the country than I would have had if I had simply gone on a holiday for a few weeks. I was able to learn the Kiwi way of life, the good, the bad and the ugly of it all! I could gain a deeper understanding of the country, its history and its values. I could travel for longer because I could work along the way and save money for my next adventure.
If you’re keen or thinking about doing a Working Holiday in New Zealand, check out my posts on the topic below.
Find a job on your Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand with this list of the best websites and other methods to look for work.
Discover the best paid backpacker jobs in New Zealand and how to find them so you can earn the most cash during your Working Holiday Visa!
This post explains the best work visas to allow backpackers to work while visiting New Zealand. Learn about the Seasonal Employment visa, Working Holiday visa and Accredited Employer visa.
New Zealand History
Discover the most interesting New Zealand true crime cases in history, plus the best podcasts to listen to learn more.
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Lauren | Wild Lovely World
Lauren is a travel writer from the U.K., specialising in travelling on a budget as a solo female and in a couple. She moved to Australia solo at age 19 and has since lived in 7 different countries around the world, including teaching English in Japan, living in a campervan in New Zealand and hiking all across Scotland. Her style is travelling slow and she is an expert on moving abroad and long-term travel. She spends a lot of time working on her blog, WildLovelyWorld.com, and daydreaming about her next trip.
