🇳🇿 New Zealand travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to New Zealand — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in New Zealand
Local style + dress code
Auckland weather: 'four seasons in one day.' Layers + waterproof shell always.
Dress code: casual
Public holidays in New Zealand
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The New Zealand Dollar (NZD, symbol NZ$) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — Auckland
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $45 | $160 | $425 |
| Food | $28 | $70 | $175 |
| Transit | $9 | $14 | $55 |
| Activities | $18 | $40 | $95 |
| Daily total | $100 | $284 | $750 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for New Zealand — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | NZeTA online + IVL fee (NZ$100 total). |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | eTA (online) | up to 180 days | — |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | Visa-free | unlimited (freedom of movement) | Trans-Tasman freedom of movement. |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to New Zealand
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and New Zealand's dress code.