LANGUAGE

English

CURRENCY

New Zealand Dollar

BEST TIME TO VISIT

September to February

NEAREST AIRPORT

Queenstown Airport (ZQN)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

111

INTERNET ACCESS

Compared to many other countries, internet in New Zealand is shoddy! There are so many remote areas where there is no network service. Also, decent free Wi-Fi hasn’t really hit off over here. Buying a local sim is the easiest way to get internet. Other places where you’ll find decent network are hostels and cafes which offer free Wi-Fi.

VISA

Citizens of 60 countries, including Australia, the UK, the US and most EU countries, don’t need visas for New Zealand. Visa application forms are available from NZ diplomatic missions overseas, travel agents and Immigration New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand has more than 25 offices overseas, including the US, UK and Australia; consult the website.

Visitor Visa

Citizens of Australia don’t need a visa to visit NZ and can stay indefinitely (provided they have no criminal convictions). UK citizens don’t need a visa either and can stay in the country for up to six months.

Citizens of another 58 countries that have visa-waiver agreements with NZ don’t need a visa for stays of up to three months per visit, for no more than six months within any 12-month period, provided they have an onward ticket and sufficient funds to support their stay: see the website for details. Nations in this group include Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa and the USA.

Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa before entering NZ. Visitor visas allow stays of up to nine months within an 18-month period, and cost $170 to $220, depending on where in the world the application is processed. A visitor’s visa can be extended from nine to 12 months, but if you get this extension you’ll have to leave NZ after your 12-month stay has expired and wait another 12 months before you can come back. You may need to provide proof of adequate funds to sustain you during your visit ($1000 per month) plus an onward ticket establishing your intent to leave. Apply for extensions at any Immigration New Zealand office.

HOTEL

Lakefront accommodation isn’t difficult to come by in Queenstown, but midpriced rooms are few and far between. Queenstown’s hostels are competitive, however, often with an intriguing selection of extras – free GoPro hire, in-house saunas etc. Hostels such as the YHA Queenstown Lakefront, Hippo Lodge and Butterfli Lodge have views the equal of any of the town’s hotels.

Budget

Nomads Queenstown- $68 onwards

Sir Cedrics Tahuna Pod hostel- $45 onwards

Mid- Range

Heritage Queenstown- $140 onwards

St James Apartments $150 onwards

Luxury

Villa Del Lago Hotel: $233 onwards

Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel- $252 onwards

COST OF LIVING

New Zealand’s hostel prices cost between 27-40 NZD per night while private rooms begin at 75 NZD. Free WiFi is common, and a few hostels also include free breakfast. Most hostels in Queenstown have kitchens. For those traveling with a tent, campgrounds like Twelve Mile Delta and Moke Lamp Campsite can be found outside the city. Expect to pay 13-40 NZD for a basic plot. Budget hotel prices begin at 80 NZD per night for a double bed, although if you’re lucky you can find cheaper. For those who require a kitchen, self-catering facilities are available but rare. Airbnb is a great budget option here, with shared accommodation starting around 25 NZD per night (though there are limited options). For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 100 NZD per night.

Average cost of food-  A typical restaurant meal will cost around 23 NZD. You can find sandwiches for around 8 NZD and fast food like McDonald’s or Burger King will cost around 11 NZD. There’s a lot of budget food options in the city so you’ll find plenty of ways to save, especially during lunch. If you choose to buy your groceries and cook your own food, plan to spend about 65-85 NZD per week.

Transportation costs – Queenstown is really small so there’s no need to take the bus around the city center. If you want to rent a bike, expect to pay around 35 NZD per day. For intercity travel, buses are the cheapest option. For example, you can expect to pay around 24 NZD to Wanaka, 10 NZD to Te Anau, and 55 NZD to Christchurch. If you’re planning to fly, you’ll spend a lot more money. A flight to Christchurch, for example, will cost between 95-200 NZD.

You can save more money by walking more and using less transport. Also by cooking your own meal you’ll save some more money and last but not the least drinking in Queenstown is expensive so try drinking less and if you must drink, pick up your booze from the supermarket.