Make sure that your passport is up-to-date. It should be valid for at least six months following your return from New Zealand. Since renewing a passport can take a bit of time unless you pay a large fee to expedite the process, you will want to get the renewal started as soon as possible.
Determine how long you want to spend in New Zealand. Be sure to consider the time it takes to travel from your home country to New Zealand. An ideal minimum number of days would be two weeks.
Make a budget for your trip. Items to consider include airfare, both international and any flights within country, transportation (buses, trains, car rental and taxis), lodging, food and activities. Determine how much money (on average) you will have to spend each day during your trip. Be sure to budget more money for days spent in larger cities, such as Auckland or Wellington.
Decide whether you will travel independently or go with a group. There are a number of excellent tours that take tourists to both North and South island locations. Twenty-somethings may want to consider taking a Contiki bus tour. Another option for backpackers is to take advantage of the Kiwi Experience, a flexible hop-on, hop-off bus pass. REI and National Geographic also offer group tours to New Zealand. If you plan to travel on your own, look into car rental prices. If you plan to rent a car be sure to leave room in your budget for gas.
Create an itinerary. Decide where you want to visit during your New Zealand adventure. Remember that most international flights arrive in Auckland in the north island. Many of the more breathtaking sights in New Zealand, such as Foordland National Park, Kaikoura, Te Anau and Fox Glacier, are located on the South Island. You can reach the South Island either by flying from Auckland to Christchurch or Queenstown, or you can take a ferry from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island.
Check travel websites, such as TripAdvisor, Travelocity or Orbitz, for travel deals to New Zealand. Alternately, check South Pacific airlines, such as Air New Zealand and Qantas, for deals as well. Keep in mind that travel to New Zealand is often cheaper during the off-season (typically winter and early spring).
If you can't find the perfect deal online, consult a local travel agent. Often travel agents have inside information on great deals to be had at many destinations, including New Zealand.
Book your trip to New Zealand and pack your bags.
