The small, remote and thinly populated islands of New Zealand, with spectacular scenery, wide choices of outdoor activities, festivals and gourmet cuisine are a great travel destination. The islands cherish the maori people, therefore the indigenous culture is alive and very potent.
There was a 40% increase in tourism since 1996: 2,2 million people visited the islands in 2007, and this ever growing influx of visitors raises sustainability issues. Environmental activists are saying tourism at this level damages New Zealand’s fragile ecosystems. ‘Eco’ tourism in New Zealand means many aeroplanes raiding the Franz Josef Glacier, and locals are increasingly avoiding certain areas packed with tourists.
In a response to the environmental concerns the Department of Conservation implemented a booking system for the nine Great Walks, including Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track, in order to reduce the number of tourists and this way to minimize the damage to environment. New Zealand tourism is famous for its ‘eco’ approach, restaurants and farmers markets sell local produce. Nevertheless, hardcore environmentalists argue that the tourism industry and government are not willing to take drastic measures.
Those who want to visit New Zealand should choose the warmer high-season months (November to April). There are a lot of food and wine festivals, concerts and sports events in the summer (December thorough February). However, if you plan to visit far north in December, you must prepare to see a lot of rain. Skiing season starts in June and ends in August. However, in the winter there is may be nothing to do in the beach towns: these come to life only in the spring.
The islands are pretty windy: west-to-east winds usually range from gently breezes to windstorms. Eastern sides of both islands are drier than in the west, and usually South Island is a few degrees cooler than the North Island. New Zealand has a maritime climate, meaning the weather can change radically in a couple of minutes, so you must be prepared for all weather conditions.
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.
In recent years New Zealand dollar got stronger against international currencies like the U.S. dollar, and because of this, a vacation in New Zealand can cost more than several years ago. But those who visit the islands from the U.S. or Europe will not be overwhelmed by the prices. Extreme sports activities are most expensive, and food is not cheap either. A cooked breakfast can cost around $16, while main courses in restaurants are $30 and beyond. Food in remote places costs even more.
However, sightseeing is not expensive, and those who don’t mind living in cheap motels or B&Bs and eating cooked food only 1-2 times a day will be able to live out of $150 per day per person. However, if you are planning different activities and car hire, you should expect more spending. Museums, cinemas and different tours all have cost money, but one can find several open-air attractions for free.
Isabella is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide. Isabelle lives in Nerja Spain and runs a car hire website. To book your Car Hire New Zealand or learn more about online car hire worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

