New Zealand, two small, thinly populated islands in the middle of nowhere are one of the best destinations available today. Untouched nature, great scenery, a wide selection of outdoor activities, great festivals and good cuisine are the trademarks of New Zealand. The maori culture is also alive, because the government not only recognizes, but also supports the indigenous people.
In 2007, 2,2 million tourists visited New Zealand This is 40% more than the 1,6 million registered in 1996, and this means more pressure to the New Zealand environment. Environmental NGO’s warn that the island’s clean, green environment can be harmed by so many travelers. The eco-tour fashion led to continuous air traffic above the Franz Josef glacier, and by this time, locals are not going to certain areas because the overwhelming number of tourists.
As a measure of protection, the Department of Conservation ruled out that the nine Great walks, including Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track, have to be booked in advance. The government hopes that this way the number of visitors can be controlled more easily, and there will be less damage to the environment. However, the ‘eco’ approach is in the mainstream of New Zealand tourism industry, restaurants cook using local food, and farmers markets also sell local products. Nevertheless, there are environmentalist voices that say this is not enough, and more drastic measures have to be taken for preserving the sustainability of the area.
Visiting New Zealand is best during the warmer high season months (November to April). During the summer (December thorough February) a lot of food and wine festivals are organized, along with concerts and sports events. However, in the north there will be a lot of rain even in December. Skiing season starts in June and ends in August, but this time there is not much to do besides skiing: beach towns don’t have a lot of activity during the winter months.
If you are planning to visit New Zealand, you should expect to see a lot of winds, ranging from gentle breezes to severe windstorms. Weather in the east tends to be dryer than the west, and North Island is usually warmer a few degrees than South Island. New Zealand has a maritime climate, so you must prepare for an ever-changing weather.
School holidays (mid-December to mid-February) and public holidays can make your trip a little bit complicated, as most places are full with campers, tourists, parents and children. If you want to have complete peace, the October-November and April-May periods are the best.
You should expect your vacation in New Zealand will not be cheap, as during the last few years New Zealand dollar got stronger against international currencies, lime the U.S. dollar. However, New Zealand prices will not differ very much from prices in the U.S. or Europe. As you can expect, extreme sports activities are the most expensive, and surprisingly food is rather costly either. A breakfast in a restaurant will ease your pocket with at least , while a main course gets around . Remote places have even higher food prices.
Sightseeing can be done relatively cheap: if you are content with living in cheap motels or B&Bs and eating cooked food only 1-2 times a day, a realistic budget will be around 0 per day per person. However, this does not include different activities or car hire. Museums, cinemas and tours all cost money, but usually there are plenty of open-air attractions for free.
Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including many European countries by car. To book a car hire Canary Islands, or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com
Tags: ecotourism | hiking | holiday tips | maori | New Zealand | trekking | vacation
