LANGUAGE

English

CURRENCY

New Zealand Dollar

BEST TIME TO VISIT

September to February

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Wellington Railway Station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Wellington International Airport

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

111

INTERNET ACCESS

Free wi-fi is available throughout most of Wellington’s Central Business District.

VISA

Citizens of 60 countries, including Australia, the UK, the US and most EU countries, don’t need visas for NZ (length-of-stay allowances vary). See www.immigration.govt.nz.

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. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis; 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 − see the website (www.immigration.govt.nz) for locations.

HOTEL

We recommend these centrally located hotels in Wellington near the harbor and popular museums:

InterContinental Wellington: 5-star luxury, excellent location, harbor views, pillow menus, wonderful concierge staff, valet parking.

At Home Wellington: 4-star boutique hotel, contemporary apartments with kitchenettes, friendly hosts, home away from home, comfortable beds.

Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay: mid-range pricing, water views, indoor pool, 24-hour room service.

The Cambridge Hotel: budget hotel, 1883 building, dorm rooms, shared bathrooms, communal kitchen.

COST OF LIVING

Relative to the rest of the world, Wellington has an affordable and very high quality of living. The cost of living in New Zealand is comparable to all OECD countries, and Wellington is rated as more affordable than New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. Come before October for better deals NZ is expensive. New Zealand can be an expensive place to travel about in. However it is also a country where you can also travel about successfully and comfortably on a budget. Competition in the tourism business have provided the traveller with some great deals and/or opportunities.