Oceania
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
Prepare these before applying
I applied for a tourist visa for New Zealand. The visa is valid for 1 year with a maximum stay of 6 months. The fee was 256 NZD. Required documents included a working vacation letter, bank statement, passport, and additional supporting documents. To apply, you need to first create a RealMe account at <a href='https://www.realme.govt.nz' target='_blank'>realme.govt.nz</a>, which is New Zealand's online identity verification system used by government services. Once your RealMe account is set up, you can apply through <a href='https://online.immigration.govt.nz' target='_blank'>Immigration Online</a>.
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| S.No | Details | Date | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 1 |
| 2 | — | — | — | — | 22,572 | flight Sydney to Auckland |
| 3 | — | — | — | — | 2,061 | sim card |
| 4 | — | — | — | — | 20,276 | visa fee |
| 5 | — | — | — | — | 1,401 | airport to city bus fare |
| 6 | — | — | — | — | 371 | water |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | 1,113 | Dinner |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | 2,720 | Room |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 2 |
| 10 | — | — | — | — | 148 | Water |
| 11 | — | — | — | — | 2,637 | Hostel |
| 12 | — | — | — | — | 451 | chicken |
| 13 | — | — | — | — | 4,995 | Ship tkt booked Wellington to picton |
| 14 | — | — | — | — | 6,398 | Bus Auckland to palmerston north |
| 15 | — | — | — | — | 148 | water |
| 16 | — | — | — | — | 1,408 | Dinner kebab |
| 17 | — | — | — | — | 615 | Bakery |
| 18 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 2023 March 3 |
| 19 | — | — | — | — | 815 | Meal(KFC) |
| 20 | — | — | — | — | 2,608 | Sky Tower |
| 21 | — | — | — | — | 147 | Water |
| 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 5 |
| 23 | — | — | — | — | 196 | Water |
| 24 | — | — | — | — | 367 | Muffins |
| 25 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 8 |
| 26 | — | — | — | — | 5,221 | Room |
| 27 | — | — | — | — | 1,607 | lunch KFC |
| 28 | — | — | — | — | 2,008 | dinner briyani |
| 29 | — | — | — | — | 562 | currency conversion fee |
| 30 | — | — | — | — | 6,507 | Petrol |
| 31 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 9 Thursday |
| 32 | — | — | — | — | 1,362 | straberry smoothie |
| 33 | — | — | — | — | 801 | breakfast , water, banana, chicken pinna |
| 34 | — | — | — | — | 4,807 | petrol |
| 35 | — | — | — | — | — | 2023 March 10 |
| 36 | — | — | — | — | 1,602 | converrsion fee |
| 37 | — | — | — | — | 120 | kitkat |
| 38 | — | — | — | — | 96,043 | — |
| Total | 0.00 | 192,086 |
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Tourists from visa-waiver countries need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before arrival. Apply online or via the NZTD mobile app. It costs NZD $17-23, is valid for 2 years with multiple entries, and includes a mandatory International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
New Zealand drives on the left side of the road. You can drive with a foreign license for up to 12 months. Roads outside cities are often narrow and winding. Allow extra travel time, especially in the South Island. A 4WD is recommended for remote areas.
The currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Credit cards are widely accepted, but carry cash for rural areas and local markets. Contactless payment (tap and pay) is extremely common, even at small businesses.
New Zealand uses Type I power plugs with a standard voltage of 230V at 50Hz. Bring a Type I adapter to charge your devices. Most accommodations do not provide adapters.
New Zealand's weather is famously unpredictable. You can experience four seasons in one day. Layer your clothing and always carry a waterproof jacket, especially when hiking. UV rays are very strong due to the thin ozone layer; wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
New Zealand has extremely strict biosecurity laws to protect its unique ecosystem. Declare all food, plant material, and outdoor equipment on arrival. Dirty hiking boots can be confiscated or cleaned. Fines for undeclared items can reach NZD $400.
Popular activities like the Milford Sound cruise, Hobbiton tours, and Tongariro Alpine Crossing fill up fast, especially from December to February (summer). Book at least 2-4 weeks ahead during peak season. Shoulder months (March-April, October-November) offer fewer crowds.
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📍 Auckland
Arrive in Auckland and climb the volcanic cone of Mount Eden for panoramic views of the city and its two harbours. Explore the vibrant waterfront at Viaduct Harbour and take the ferry to Devonport for charming village streets. Visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum to learn about Maori culture and New Zealand's natural history.
📍 Rotorua
Drive south to Matamata and tour the Hobbiton Movie Set where the Lord of the Rings was filmed. Continue to Rotorua and visit the Te Puia geothermal valley with erupting geysers, boiling mud pools, and a traditional Maori arts center. Experience a Maori hangi feast cooked underground in an earth oven.
📍 Rotorua
Start the day with a soak in the natural hot springs at the Polynesian Spa on Lake Rotorua. Visit the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to see the Artist's Palette and the Champagne Pool with its vivid orange and green mineral deposits. Try zorbing or luge riding at the Skyline Rotorua for an adrenaline rush.
📍 Queenstown
Fly to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu beneath the Remarkables mountain range. Take the Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak for stunning views and ride the luge track down. Walk along the lakefront promenade and explore the compact town center with its restaurants and shops.
📍 Milford Sound
Drive the spectacular Milford Road through the Homer Tunnel and into Fiordland National Park. Cruise Milford Sound beneath towering Mitre Peak, past cascading waterfalls like Stirling Falls and Bowen Falls, and watch for dolphins and fur seals. The sheer granite walls rising from the dark water create one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth.
📍 Queenstown
Choose your adventure with bungy jumping at the original Kawarau Bridge site or jet boating through the narrow Shotover River Canyon. Visit the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown with its charming main street and Chinese settlement heritage area. End the trip with a scenic cruise on the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak farm.
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Traditional Māori feast of meat and vegetables slow-cooked underground in an earth oven.
Crisp meringue shell with a marshmallow center, topped with whipped cream and kiwifruit.
Golden-crusted pie filled with minced beef and gravy, a New Zealand lunch staple.
Battered and fried fresh fish with thick-cut chips, often enjoyed at the beach.
Vanilla ice cream studded with crunchy honeycomb toffee pieces, a New Zealand classic.
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New Zealand's most famous fiord, carved by glaciers over thousands of years, with sheer rock walls rising 1,200 meters from dark water while waterfalls cascade down from the rainforest above. Take a cruise to see Mitre Peak, fur seals basking on rocks, and dolphins playing in the wake. The drive from Te Anau through the Homer Tunnel is equally spectacular, passing mirror lakes and ancient beech forests.
📍 Open in Google Maps →The real film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, preserved as a permanent attraction in the rolling green farmland of the Waikato region. Walk through 44 hobbit holes with their round doors and tended gardens, see the Party Tree and the Green Dragon Inn where you can enjoy an exclusive Hobbiton brew. The set looks exactly as it did in the films — a magical experience for fans and non-fans alike.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Widely regarded as New Zealand's best day hike — a 19.4-kilometer trek across volcanic terrain in Tongariro National Park, a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass steaming vents, cross lava flows, and marvel at the otherworldly Emerald Lakes with their vivid green color caused by volcanic minerals. The views from Red Crater summit stretch across the volcanic plateau to Mount Ruapehu. Start early to beat the crowds.
📍 Open in Google Maps →The adventure capital of the world, set on the shores of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range. Bungee jump at the original AJ Hackett site on the Kawarau Bridge, jet boat through narrow canyons, skydive over the lake, or take the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views and luge rides. In winter, four nearby ski fields offer excellent slopes.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A geothermal wonderland where the earth bubbles, steams, and hisses beneath your feet. Visit Wai-O-Tapu for the rainbow-colored Champagne Pool and neon-green Devil's Bath, or Te Puia to see the Pohutu Geyser erupt up to 30 meters high. The town sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and you can smell the sulfur throughout the city. Rotorua is also a hub for Maori culture — attend a traditional hangi feast and cultural performance.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Last updated 2 hours ago
A glimpse into our favourite moments from New Zealand.
Welcome to New Zealand
