I live in New Zealand at the end of the world. How does a Russian live there?

New Zealand is one of the most remote and mysterious countries for Russian tourists. However, many of us would like to visit at least once there, at the end of the world. This country is filmed for its incredible landscapes, filmed in the films The Lord of the Rings, Hbitob, Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia, Mission Impossible and many others.

Bloggers and photographers, made up of observers from all over the world, provide stunning pictures and videos from this distant land, where flightless kiwi birds live, and snowy mountains side by side with incredible beaches.

I have been living here for many years. Let’s figure out together what domestic tourists need to get to New Zealand, how much the trip costs and what you can see outside the Hobbit houses.

All photos in the material I took in New Zealand myself.

Do I need a visa to New Zealand?

For a trip to New Zealand for Russians need a visa. A tourist visa is issued online or through the visa application center in Moscow (in person or by mail/courier).

You can apply online yourself if he speaks English and is ready to collect documents on his own. Usually this is a photograph, a bank statement with confirmation of funds and a questionnaire. If you need to travel for more than six months, then additional certificates should be indicated, for example, a special form from a doctor.

Tourist visas are considered for about two weeks (but they can take up to two months), the visa fee is 246 New Zealand dollars (about 11,500 rubles). It is not necessary to buy plane tickets or book a hotel before confirming a visa.

How long is the flight to New Zealand?

It’s a long flight to New Zealand. Usually the most unexpected route takes about 24-25 hours and passes with one change. For example, Moscow (Domodedovo) – Dubai (UAE) – Auckland (New Zealand).

The second flight is one of the longest in the world and takes 16 hours. Another option is a transplant somewhere in Asia – Malaysia or Singapore. In such cases, two flights will be approximately in time and will take about 10-11 hours.

During the pandemic, many carriers have reduced the number of flights to New Zealand, and some have stopped flying, which has had a negative impact on ticket prices. This direction was not cheap before, but now it has become a luxury.

But there are still enough options, new ones are added all the time, as the tourist flow gradually returns to its previous size. If you plan ahead, you can find tickets at reasonable prices.

Airline ticket generators are the cheapest flight for about 130,000 rubles in both directions. True, routes in such places are far from optimal. Travel time can take more than two days, including long waiting times for transfers at the airport.

My personal favorite beforehand was Qatar Airways: great service, comfortable planes, time-optimized flights, and connecting in Doha was always a lot quicker than you’d expect, thanks to a cool airport that even has a pool and fitness room.

Now, unfortunately, this option is no longer available for most Russians, since after the pandemic, Qatar began flying with a mandatory stopover in Australia, where we definitely need a visa (even for a transfer at the airport). It all depends on the budget, but the best solution is currently being handled by Emirates and offered by China Airlines.

When to go to New Zealand?

It’s important to know that in New Zealand the seasons are diametrically opposed to Russiathat is, June-August is winter, and December-February is summer.

The most successful time for the trip, in my opinion, is either November or February. The fact is that these months are not as hot as in December-January (the New Zealand sun in Australia is very stable), and there will also be more options for life on the planet and active participants, since this time is not covered by the flow of incoming tourists.

If you want to combine a trip around the country with skiing or snowboarding, then it is better to come in July.

At this time, high slopes on the South Island (for example, Cardrona) work, and you can also see the snowy landscapes of the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and the highest mountains in New Zealand located here.

It is also worth noting that there are exceptional seasonal events that include the allocation of time for the trip. Fans of The Lord of the Rings will celebrate September 22nd, Hobbit Day, with celebrations at Hobbiton, the theme park at the filming location.

At the beginning of spring, cherry trees (sakura) bloom, which attracts a large number of nature lovers in the country. Also at different times in spring and summer, lavender and lupins bloom, insignificant landscapes and insignificant opportunities for perception.

The best trips in New Zealand

of the best travelers in New Zealand motorhome rental. This is quite unusual for Russian tourists, but in this way you can travel all over the country, influenced by the travel schedule on the go. Not to mention that it more profitablethan renting a car and housing separately.

Driving in New Zealand is on the left side of the road, so it’s inevitable to get used to right-hand drive for a while. Russian visa rights, as collection rights are usually not required. Never met anyone who had them chosen.

Traffic outside the big cities, Auckland and Wellington, is very calm, there are few cars. So even not the most experienced driver could comfortably move around the country.

You can rent a motorhome almost anywhere. discovers that most tourists fly to Auckland (North Island), where there are the most offers.

You can return the car to the same point, or you can, for example, drive to part of the South Island and return the car, say, in Queenstown, and from there fly back to Auckland by plane to save time.

There are camping sites all over the country, where for a nominal fee you can pay for a place to park a motorhome, access to electric and water transport. Most also have showers, kitchens, lounges, and other amenities. A stop at such campsites is also suitable for those who decide to go by car and spend the night outdoors in a tent.

Other options include renting a car and staying in hotels, motels or private houses, which are familiar to tourists. There are large Booking, Airbnb aggregators in the country, as well as local Bookabatch and TradeMe services, where you can also find options for short-term or longer rentals.

What else do you need to know about New Zealand?

National currency: New Zealand dollar. In banks, you can exchange US dollars and euros for local currency. Everywhere there are random cards, many where contactless. Tourists are treated positively, always answering questions. The main language is English, with quite an accent. It is difficult to understand at first, but internally they are free to ask for sharpness or explanation in a different way.

Food: familiar, there are networks we know like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Domino’s, Subway. In cafes and pubs you can try fish and chips – a dish of french fries and deep-fried fish, and almost everywhere there are burgers and pies. Also popular and Indian food.

Connection: available at the airport sim card internal operator. The tariffs turned out to be significant, but each time a set of minutes, SMS and Internet traffic was usually included. There are no prepaid plans with unlimited internet, but employees have the opportunity to turn on several hours of unlimited internet per day for free through the application (for example, 2degrees operator offers an hour of internet for free every day through the Data Clock app).

New Zealand estimate strange, many natural landscapes do not close cars and doors of houses. But at the same time, you still need to be vigilant, since tourists are the main targets of ill-wishers. You should not leave your belongings in conspicuous places, for example, a bag in the car in the parking lot.

And NZ also assembles its own rugby team, so their symbols can be found, it is also one of the most popular souvenirs. Any keepsake can include kiwi toys, food-based cosmetics (such as manuka honey), woollens, or wine.

Friends, New Zealand is an incredible country, the beauty of which is more like special effects for a film dedicated to real life. Organizing an event here is a matter of crisis, and far from budgetary. But this is not accidental.

PS If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer as a result.

📸 All photos in the article: