Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.3 Winter 2018 | Page 35

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C O V E R
S T O R Y
© KEAL
PLANNER
Q TRAVEL
GETTING THERE : Qantas has
regular flights via Sydney to Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch and
offers an excellent, efficient service.
VISAS: South Africans require a visa
to visit New Zealand, which can
be applied for online and is a fairly
straightforward procedure. Visas can
take up to three weeks to process.
CURRENCY: The official currency is
the New Zealand dollar. One dollar
is approximately nine rand. ATMs
are readily available throughout the
country and Visa or Mastercard are
generally accepted. Credit cards can
be used pretty much anywhere.
WHEN TO GO: New Zealand is a
year-round destination, depending
on what you’re after. Skiing and
snowboarding are popular on both
the North and South Islands during
winter when snowfalls are frequent,
but if you’re after milder weather,
summer and autumn are the time to
go. Peak season runs from December
to March. If you’re prepared to gamble
with the weather, some costs, like car
and campervan rental, come down
significantly from April.
© PICHUGIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
in Otorohanga – a small train station
that doubles as a coffee foundry – or
visiting the famous toilets designed by
the eccentric architect Friedensreich
Hundertwasser in the town of Kawakawa.
The world-famous loos feature
Hundertwasser’s trademark style of wavy
lines and ceramic mosaic integrated
with small sculptures, and boast being
“the most photographed toilets in New
Zealand”. They are, however, functional
works of art, so it’s best to knock before
barging in for a closer viewing.
SELF-DRIVE: By far one of the
best ways to see New Zealand is
to hire a self-contained campervan,
with everything from “sleeper vans”
(essentially a kitted-out station wagon)
to massive campervans with all the
mod cons that can sleep a family of
six. The best plan is to shop around
online and see what’s on offer that
suits your needs and budget, or ask
your Sure Travel agent. Reputable
companies like Britz offer excellent
service and mean you don’t deal with
third party suppliers. You’ll need an
official driver’s license in English to
hire a car or campervan. Driving is
on the left-hand side of the road and
New Zealand road rules are strictly
enforced. The maximum speed limit
on most highways is 100km/hour. It
Te Kuiti, sheep-shearing capital of the world.
costs more but it’s advisable to take
the no-liability insurance option.
CAMPING AND ACCOMODATION:
Besides the usual hotels and
guesthouses, New Zealand has
hundreds of motor homes geared
for campervan travellers, with
powered sites, equipped kitchens
and communal areas. The country is
littered with campsites, most of which
offer campervan sites with services
ranging from fully kitted powered
sites, hot showers and kitchen areas
to bare-bone amenities.
INSIDE TIP: The Department of
Conservation (DOC) runs an excellent
network of campsites throughout New
Zealand. Fees range anywhere from $6
per night per person to $30 per night,
depending on the site and amenities.
DOC passes are available for $50 and
are valid for a week – these allow you
free access to many of the sites or
at a discounted price. There are also
informative DOC brochures available
at most tourist information sites, or
visit www.doc.govt.nz.
HEALTH & SAFETY: Besides the
potent sun, there is very little to
worry about when it comes to health
concerns. Unlike Australia, New
Zealand has no poisonous critters and
is an exceptionally safe country
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MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 35