One week isn't really enough time to properly enjoy New Zealand, particularly if you're coming all the way from North America. Nine days allows just enough time to cover the essentials, for which we recommend the following itinerary.
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The short answer is 14 days as a minimum time frame for visiting both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. That's roughly one week's travel time for both islands and is just long enough for any visitor to experience the best of the country.
How long does it take to travel New Zealand? New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to New Zealand. High season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is August. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest New Zealand flight deals.
Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.
Five days may seem short, but allows for an eventful adventure through New Zealand. Since there is not much time, it is ideal to travel within the South Island or the North Island—which budgets for a successful road trip with a few scenic stops.
On average, I would say that a 2-week vacation in New Zealand from the US would probably cost around $3,000 to $5,000 per person, including flights, accommodations, and activities. But again, it really depends on your specific preferences and budget.
Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a transit passenger.
Major airlines, such as Air New Zealand, American Airlines and United Airlines offer direct flights to New Zealand from the USA. Most international flights arrive into Auckland Airport, which can be found in the northern part of the North Island.
So if you're planning on traveling New Zealand without a car, don't worry! I know most people recommend renting/buying a car, but it is definitely not necessary. I enjoyed traveling New Zealand by bus and I don't feel like it made it any more difficult to see the country the way I wanted to.
Expenses and InfrastructureIn terms of accommodations, Australia is generally more expensive than New Zealand. You'll find the highest costs in the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne, while smaller cities like Perth and Adelaide will be more affordable.
Clothing and footwear prices in New Zealand might be more expensive than what you're used to. You can find global clothing brands like Zara, H&M, and Nike in our big cities. Check out the popular clothing stores below to see the prices of clothes and shoes.