New Zealand
Big landscapes at every turn
Link geothermal country, alpine trails, creative cities and coastlines on a route built around weather and travel time.
Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Image licence
The honest overview
Get to know New Zealand before fixing the route.
Known as Aotearoa (the Land of the Long White Cloud), New Zealand is famed for its dramatic fiords and glaciers, world-class hiking trails and adrenaline sports, attracting hikers, road-trippers and working holidaymakers alike from every corner of the globe. New Zealand is known for being one of the world's great self-drive backpacking countries, thanks to its dense network of DOC huts and Great Walks, a hop-on-hop-off backpacker bus scene built specifically around independent travel, and roads that make campervan touring realistic on a budget – making it a country people build entire trips around rather than squeeze into a wider itinerary.
Part of the joy of backpacking in New Zealand is deciding what deserves more time. Keep space for weather changes, longer travel days and recommendations from people you meet on the road.
Card is accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes and market stalls, so carrying cash is more a backup than a necessity – the opposite of much of Southeast Asia or South America.
There's no single fixed route, but New Zealand's geography does most of the planning for you – most backpackers fly into Auckland, work their way down the North Island, cross Cook Strait by ferry, then continue south through the South Island before flying home from Christchurch or Queenstown. A popular add-on is looping back up rather than flying out, especially for anyone on a working holiday visa picking up seasonal work along the way. Hop-on-hop-off backpacker bus networks run the length of both islands with flexible, date-changeable tickets, and are the classic way to do this route without a car – though a huge number of backpackers still choose to self-drive or campervan the same loop for more flexibility.
Season by season
What each season means for your trip
New Zealand's weather can change sharply by region and elevation. These are planning patterns, not guarantees.
Warmer-season travel
Summer, and the best weather of the year, with 20–26°C in most regions and long daylight hours. Beaches, Great Walks and glacier hikes are all at their most accessible, though this is peak season and Great Walk huts book out months ahead.
Shoulder-season balance
Autumn brings 15–22°C, settled conditions and thinning crowds, with Central Otago's wine country turning colour by April. Widely rated by locals as the best shoulder-season window, and cheaper than summer for hostels and buses.
Cooler-season travel
Winter, with 5–15°C on the North Island and colder in the South Island interior and Southern Alps, where ski season runs at Queenstown, Wanaka and Ohakune. Great Walks move to a cheaper, unserviced "off-season" status – tracks stay open but huts lose services and conditions get properly demanding for inexperienced hikers.
Warmer-season travel
Spring, with temperatures climbing from 10°C to 20°C and increasingly unpredictable weather, especially in the mountains. Lambing season across the countryside and the Great Walks booking window opening (usually in June for the following summer) make this a planning-heavy period rather than a hiking one.
Check the forecast for the exact region and elevation on your route, then leave room to change outdoor plans when conditions move.
Cost of day to day travel
Build a budget around the route
New Zealand runs noticeably higher than most backpacker destinations – £45–55 a day covers a hostel dorm, groceries or a pub meal, and local transport, without campervan hire or organised adventure activities.
New Zealand runs noticeably higher than most backpacker destinations – £45–55 a day covers a hostel dorm, groceries or a pub meal, and local transport, without campervan hire or organised adventure activities.
Long transfers, specialist tours and headline activities can change the daily total quickly.
Card is accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes and market stalls, so carrying cash is more a backup than a necessity – the opposite of much of Southeast Asia or South America.
Average the full trip rather than forcing every day into the same number. Keep emergency funds separate from daily spending.
Key backpacker routes
Find the route that feels right for you
There is no single route you need to follow. Let your timeframe, interests and season shape the journey through New Zealand.
Start with the natural route Core journey
There's no single fixed route, but New Zealand's geography does most of the planning for you – most backpackers fly into Auckland, work their way down the North Island, cross Cook Strait by ferry, then continue south through the South Island before flying home from Christchurch or Queenstown.
Add the region that earns your time Build depth
A popular add-on is looping back up rather than flying out, especially for anyone on a working holiday visa picking up seasonal work along the way.
Keep the order flexible Adapt as you travel
Hop-on-hop-off backpacker bus networks run the length of both islands with flexible, date-changeable tickets, and are the classic way to do this route without a car – though a huge number of backpackers still choose to self-drive or campervan the same loop for more flexibility.
Main destinations and attractions
Where to spend your days
Pick a connected group and leave room for hostel friendships and changing plans. New Zealand rewards depth more than a checklist of stops.
New Zealand rewards slow travel more than almost anywhere else on this list. Photo: paul bica / flickr, BY 2.0.New Zealand rewards slow travel more than almost anywhere else on this list
here's a regional breakdown of where that time goes:
Auckland. Photo: xeno_sapien / flickr, BY-NC 2.0.Auckland
Most trips start here, and while it's not the country's main draw, Waiheke Island's vineyards and the volcanic cones dotted around the city are worth a day or two before heading north or south.
Bay of Islands. Photo: reurinkjan / flickr, BY 2.0.Bay of Islands
A few hours north of Auckland, this is the spot for sailing trips, dolphin encounters and the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand's founding document was signed. Paihia is the main backpacker base.
Rotorua. Photo: Trey Ratcliff / flickr, BY-NC-SA 2.0.Rotorua
New Zealand's geothermal heartland, known for bubbling mud pools, geysers and a strong Māori cultural presence – a hangi and cultural performance here is one of the more grounded ways to engage with Māori culture rather than a tourist-only version of it.
Wellington. Photo: In Memoriam: PhillipC / flickr, BY 2.0.Wellington
The capital, compact and walkable, with Te Papa (the national museum, free entry) and a craft beer and coffee scene that punches well above its size.
Abel Tasman and Nelson. Photo: Jocey K / flickr, BY-SA 2.0.Abel Tasman and Nelson
Abel Tasman National Park's golden beaches and turquoise water are best explored on a multi-day coastal walk or by kayak, and Nelson makes a relaxed, sunny base with an active arts and crafts scene.
For a feel of any of these towns, a free, tip-based walking tour is worth booking through the local visitor centre before diving into activities. Our Outpacker chatbot is available to help you plan and build out your itinerary to make the most of your trip.
Getting around
Compare time, comfort and cost
New Zealand's transport network is built for independent travel, and self-driving or campervanning is by far the most popular way to see the country rather than a niche choice.
Bus
InterCity is the main long-distance coach operator connecting almost every town on both islands, and hop-on-hop-off backpacker bus networks run flexible, date-changeable routes aimed specifically at longer stays and detours.
Campervan and car hire
Widely available and worth the cost for the flexibility it gives you, especially in the South Island where public transport thins out.
Ferry
The Interislander and Bluebridge ferries cross Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton several times daily, carrying vehicles as well as foot passengers – book ahead in summer as sailings do sell out.
Plane
Domestic flights (Air New Zealand, Jetstar) are worth considering for the Auckland–Queenstown or Auckland–Christchurch legs to save a full day or two of driving, especially on a tighter timeframe.
Download offline maps before heading into rural or mountain areas, as mobile signal drops out completely in large parts of both islands.
Culture and events
Events worth knowing about
Dates can shift, so verify the current programme before building a trip around an event in New Zealand.
A national public holiday marking the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, with the biggest commemorations at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds themselves, including kapa haka performances and waka (canoe) displays.
A food festival on the West Coast built around unusual, foraged and traditional foods – whitebait, huhu grubs and mountain oysters all show up on stalls, alongside more normal festival food for anyone not feeling adventurous.
A cultural festival marking the Māori New Year, tied to the rise of the Matariki star cluster and now a national public holiday.
A craft beer festival showcasing New Zealand's small-batch brewing scene, drawing a strong local crowd alongside visiting backpackers passing through the capital.
Confirm the official programme, accommodation pressure and transport changes before committing non-refundable plans.
New Zealand food
Discover the flavours that make New Zealand memorable
Farmers' markets, held weekly in most towns, are the best way to sample a lot of local produce and baking in one go without restaurant prices.
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New Zealand's food scene leans on excellent raw ingredientslamb, seafood and dairy – more than a single defining national cuisine, and café culture here is taken seriously, with flat whites originating in NZ or Australia depending on who you ask.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Hangimeat and vegetables slow-cooked in an underground earth oven, traditionally prepared for special occasions and offered as part of Māori cultural experiences in Rotorua.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Fish and chipsa proper Kiwi staple, best eaten straight from the paper on a beach or wharf.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Pavlovameringue-based dessert with cream and fruit, claimed by both New Zealand and Australia as a national invention.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Whitebait frittersa West Coast speciality, seasonal and pricier than most other options here.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Meat piesa proper national obsession, sold everywhere from petrol stations to bakeries, with mince and cheese the classic order.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Hokey pokey ice creamvanilla ice cream studded with honeycomb toffee, a Kiwi childhood staple worth trying at least once.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Fergburger, Queenstowna famously popular burger spot that comes up again and again in backpacker conversation, worth the inevitable queue at least once.Photo: William Brawley / flickr, BY 2.0
Visible turnover is a useful guide. Explain allergies carefully and carry a translated note when an ingredient could cause a serious reaction.
Hostels
Choose the atmosphere, not just the bed
New Zealand has one of the most established hostel networks anywhere in the world, largely thanks to two long-running affiliation schemes rather than one dominant chain.
Adventure Queenstown Hostel
Queenstown, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →The Marion
Wellington, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Drifter Christchurch
Christchurch, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →LyLo Auckland
Auckland, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →The Attic Backpackers
Auckland, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Dusky Lodge & Backpackers
Kaikoura, New ZealandProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →What you need to pack
Pack for the route, not every possibility
The gear you need depends on the season and which parts of the country you're covering, so check out our trip planner for anything specific to your dates and route – it'll build you a kit list based on exactly where and when you're going.
Climate and clothing
New Zealand's main packing challenge is real weather range within a single day, especially in the mountains – it's entirely normal to start a hike in sunshine and finish it in sideways rain, sometimes with all four seasons in between.
- A proper waterproof shell jacket – essential for hiking, not optional, given how fast mountain weather turns.
- A universal travel adapter – New Zealand runs on Type I sockets at 230V, the same plug type as Australia.
- Run all of this through the trip planner to build your full kit based on your specific route and dates.
Rain and terrain
Cotton is the one to avoid for hiking layers – it stays wet and cold once damp, which becomes a real safety issue in mountain conditions rather than just a comfort one.
- Sandfly repellent – sandflies are a real nuisance on the West Coast and in Fiordland, worse than mosquitoes in most travellers' experience.
- Sunscreen (high SPF) – UV levels are notably high here due to the thinner ozone layer over the Southern Hemisphere, and sunburn happens faster than people expect.
- One more to keep in mind: if you're planning any of the Great Walks, huts and campsites need booking well in advance through the Department of Conservation (DOC) website – summer slots go fast.
Hostels and travel days
Hostels and holiday parks nationwide offer laundry facilities, usually coin-operated, so packing light and washing regularly works fine here.
- A headtorch – useful for early Great Walk starts and campervan life generally.
- A daypack with rain cover – for day hikes and Great Walk sections where you're carrying your own gear.
Activities and health
Add specialist equipment only for booked activities and current health guidance.
- A reusable water bottle – tap water is drinkable virtually everywhere, including most backcountry streams if you're hiking, cutting down on plastic bottle spend.
- Warm layers even in summer – alpine sections and glacier areas stay cold year-round regardless of the season at sea level.
Language
A few Te Reo Māori phrases go a long way
Given how consistently English is spoken across the country, language is rarely a practical barrier for backpackers, though Te Reo Māori holds official status and shows up throughout place names, signage and daily greetings.
| English | Say it in Te Reo Māori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Kia ora | kee-ah or-ah |
| Goodbye | Haere ra | hi-eh-reh rah |
| Yes / No | Ae (eye) / Kao | kow |
| How much? | E hia te utu? | eh hee-ah teh oo-too |
| How are you? | Kei te pēhea koe? | kay teh peh-heh-ah koh-eh |
| Please | Koa | koh-ah |
| Do you speak English? | Kei te kōrero Pākehā koe? | kay teh kaw-reh-roh pah-keh-hah koh-eh |
| Help, please | Āwhina mai | ah-fee-nah my |
| Where are you from? | Nō hea koe? | naw heh-ah koh-eh |
| What is your name? / My name is... | Ko wai tō ingoa? / Ko ... tōku ingoa | koh why taw ing-oh-ah / koh ... toh-koo ing-oh-ah |
| Thank you | Nga mihi | ngah mee-hee |
| Use the phrases respectfully: "Kia ora" is used far more broadly than a literal greeting in everyday New Zealand English – you'll hear it as a thank you, an acknowledgement and a general sign-off, well beyond backpacker circles. | ||
Visa requirements
Check the rule for your passport
Entry rules depend on nationality, journey and length of stay. Confirm the current rule before booking, then check it again shortly before departure.
Check your exact requirements
Use Sherpa to review entry requirements for your passport and journey. Also confirm passport validity, permitted stay, proof of onward travel and any current arrival-form requirements.
Vaccinations
Make the advice fit your route
Vaccination and health advice depends on your route, duration, medical history and activities.
Review current CDC guidance
Read the current CDC New Zealand traveller guidance, then discuss personal recommendations with a qualified clinician.
Arrange appropriate travel insurance and keep policy details available offline. Consider the practical risks created by climate, altitude, insects, animals, water activities and road travel on your specific route.
Safety and common scams
Standard caution, specific habits
Rental car break-ins – A well-documented issue at trailheads and scenic car parks, where tourist rental cars are targeted specifically.
Underestimating mountain weather
Conditions on the Great Walks and day hikes can shift from clear to dangerous within an hour, and several fatalities happen every year to hikers who set out under-prepared. Check DOC's current track and weather advice before heading out, every time.
Extreme sports injuries and insurance gaps
Bungee jumping, skydiving and canyon swinging are all heavily regulated and generally safe, but standard travel insurance policies often exclude these activities unless you've paid for an adventure sports add-on – check your policy before booking.
Driving on unfamiliar roads
Winding, narrow roads and driving on the left catch out visitors used to different conditions, and tourist-involved crashes are a recurring road safety concern, especially on the South Island's mountain routes.
Sandfly bites
Not dangerous, but persistent and itchy for days on the West Coast and in Fiordland if you're not covered up or repellent-protected.
None of this should put you off the trip – it's more a case of respecting the outdoors here than watching your back in cities, which is a different kind of caution to most of this list.
Sources and feedback
Help us keep this guide useful
Travel information changes. Verify current entry, health, safety and transport guidance before booking or travelling.
If you spot anything that could be improved, corrected or updated, please use our contact page or email hello@outpacker.co.uk.
If any information is outdated or incorrect, Outpacker assumes no liability.