From the riches of Europe to the remote island nations of Polynesia, the list aims to shift the world’s focus on North American cinema back to the many other equally rich, yet underappreciated film industries around the world. This world cinema list is a true and authentic celebration of foreign cinema. Sparkling with diversity, we offer you 102 of the best foreign films ever made, one film per country.
To write this article, we spent years watching and re-watching every film mentioned in this article; exceptions being those films considered “lost”. Still, our article features merely the top of the iceberg of all the foreign cinema output we watched to compose this list. To make sure each country on this list is represented by an authentic, locally produced film of the highest quality, we’ve watched over 3,000 non-U.S. films in the past two decades.
While in the past there have been some attempts to create lists with the best foreign films of all time, each one of those lists made our film scholar souls cringe. They either listed a film like Dracula (1992) as an entry for Romania or featured the Outback-drama A Town Like Alice (1956) as an Australian film, failing to recognize that these films were produced and directed by foreigners, starred foreigners, and said very little about the country they attempted to display. You’ll find no such entries on our list!
Travel the World Through Cinema
Over the course of this list, we will travel across the continents to explore the world’s splendorous cinematic landscape. We will highlight hidden gems produced within each geographical region, one film per country. From the famed film industries of France and Italy to the virtually non-existent industries of Myanmar and Saudi Arabia and the now-defunct countries of West-Germany and Yugoslavia; you’ll find them all in the list.
During our cinematic journey across the globe, we will offer you a historical outline of each country’s local film industry. Additionally, we reflect on the socio-political factors that shaped the countries’ cinematic landscape, which resulted in the production of the films we recommend.
Explore the very best movies from Oceania and the Pacific, based on a selection of over 9,100 films.
Join us in shifting the world’s focus on American cinema back to the many other equally rich, yet underappreciated film industries around the world. In this article series, we highlight several hidden gems produced within a certain geographical region, one film per country, from the riches of Europe to the remote island nations of Polynesia.
As a bonus, we will make a donation to the welfare of wild cats, and the preservation of their habitats, for every film purchased through this site.
Over the course of the 19th century, the many islands in Oceania were under constant threats from British, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, and American ships. With most of Oceania being under colonial control to some extent in the early 20th century, cinema on the Pacific Islands, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, was heavily influenced by Europe. In spite of most nations being granted independence by the mid-20th century, many film productions taking place in Oceania were still produced by foreign industries.
Up until the 1950s, for example, many films shot in Australia were produced by either the United Kingdom or the United States, even when they were adaptations of Australian novels, set in the Australian Outback. Still, Australia was the only country in the region that managed to compete with the flood of imported films coming from Western Europe and North America and establish a film industry of its own.
(Credit: Mad Max, Australia)
The Lord of the Rings-films, released in the early 2000s, presented the lush and beautiful landscapes of New Zealand to the world in a way no-one had ever done before. The films sparked interest in the country as a location for shooting films, and several New Zealand directors have gathered attention at the worldwide box office since.
While production still remained virtually non-existent in the Pacific’s many island nations, recent local incentives have stimulated the interest of locals in film. Samoa and the Cook Islands now boast a handful of aspiring filmmakers, who aim to share the traditions and cultures of their people through short films…
The Best Films from Oceania and the Pacific
Get lost in the vast Outback of Australia, and scale the snow-capped mountains of NewZealand, before sailing a mōkihi to the remote island nations of Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Australia: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Directed by: Stephan Elliott, 1994.
(Credit: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert)
The production of The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) marked the beginnings of the Australian film industry. Throughout the history of Australian cinema, the story of Ned Kelly has been a popular subject of film: there are over 10 films based on the life of the infamous bushranger and outlaw. Australia soon became one of the most prolific film-producing countries in the world.
During and after World War II, Australia produced several successful historical war dramas, such as 40,000 Horsemen (1940) and The Overlanders (1946). In the decade that followed, many popular Australian books and plays were adapted to film through co-productions with the United Kingdom and the United States, such as A Town Like Alice (1956) and Robbery Under Arms (1957). Producing films for the English-language market, Australia had a relatively secure market to operate in.
Over the years, many Australian actors were welcomed to Hollywood: George Lazenby replaced Sean Connery to play James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Nicole Kidman made her Hollywood debut with Days of Thunder (1990), and when Mad Max (1979) became an international hit, it turned Irish-Australian actor Mel Gibson into an international star. Additionally, British actor Hugo Weaving who resided in Australia hit all the right spots as drag-queen ‘Tick’ in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). The film mixed the cinematographic landscape of the Outback with contemporary urban sub-culture and set Weaving on his path to star in The Matrix (1999), The Lord of the Rings (2001), and V for Vendetta (2005).
Nowadays, the 1970s and ‘80s are regarded as the “Golden Age of Australian cinema”. This period saw the release of the Outback dramas Walkabout (1971), Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and A Cry in the Dark (1988), as well as the dark science fiction film Mad Max and the more light-hearted Babe (1995), war epics ‘Breaker’ Morant (1980) and Gallipoli (1981), and the popular romantic comedies Crocodile Dundee (1986) and Muriel’s Wedding (1994).
Though the 2000s were less successful for Australia, films such as Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Happy Feet (2006) still proved to be international hits. Another notable example of Australian cinema was Daniel Nettheim’s eco-thriller The Hunter (2011), set on the remote island of Tasmania. The Hunter combines its unique, atmospheric setting, with a terrific layered performance by Willem Dafoe as the titular hunter.
Riding Priscilla, a lavender-colored bus, two drag-queen performers, and a transgender woman travel across the Australian desert to perform their show at a resort in Alice Springs.
Find The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Amazon.com.
After debuting its first feature film in 1914 following a period of exploration with film as a medium for documentary, a small-scale film industry developed in New Zealand. Unlike in its neighboring country, Australia, very few films were produced. It wasn’t until the establishment of the New Zealand Film Commission in 1978 that local cinema really found its footing in New Zealand. The island nation became an international player with the musical drama The Piano (1993) and the biographical film Heavenly Creatures (1994).
Though local Kiwi directors Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi undoubtedly put New Zealand on the map as a country of splendor with modern blockbuster films such as The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and indie gems like Boy (2010) and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), the country also has a rich history of art films. Though American and British movies often take preference at award ceremonies based on English-language films, it would be a shame to overlook the gems sprung from New Zealand’s artistic wells.
Over the past few decades, the New Zealand government has taken a stand for the country’s Māori minorities, by allowing tribes to claim compensation for the historic injustices done to them and by supporting the preservation of their cultural heritage. Though laudable, these offers are a far stretch from improving the individual lives of those still living in poverty. In 1994, director Lee Tamahori kick-started his career with Once Were Warriors (1994), a film assessing the struggles of a lower class Māori family.
Though, sadly, the director’s career plunged downhill at a disturbing pace with lackluster commercial projects such as Next (2007) and franchise-killers Die Another Day (2002) and XXX: State of the Union (2005), his Māori drama still stands tall. The layered drama manages to display the reality of alcohol abuse and domestic violence in a brutally honest way and is superbly acted out by Māori actors Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison.
Based on author Alan Duff’s bestselling 1990 novel of the same name, Once Were Warriors tells the story of an urban Māori family struggling with poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence.
Around 3,500 years ago, the Samoan Islands were first settled during the Austronesian expansion. Contact with Europeans was established in the 18th century when Dutch, English, and American ships began to arrive. Serving as a colony of Germany, and later New Zealand, Western Samoa was separated from the United States’ territory of American Samoa. Still, relations between the islands were good, and American director Robert J. Flaherty filmed the anthropology documentary Moana (1926) on Samoa, as a spiritual follow-up to his earlier film, Nanook of the North (1922).
Though the United States used American Samoa as a filming location for Return to Paradise (1953) and Pacific Destiny (1956), film production on Samoa remained virtually non-existent. Samoa gained its independence in 1962, and it would take several decades more before the country started to produce its own films. Foreign influences remained small, as the screening of films in Samoa’s only cinema was strictly censored, and many foreign films were banned.
In the early 2010s, the short films Sacred Spaces (2010) by Tusi Tamasese, and Malaga (2010) by Daniel Poleki and Robert Poleki made a splash at international short film festivals in New Zealand, Canada, and Hawaii. A year later, Tamasese directed the island nation’s first-ever feature film, The Orator (original title: O Le Tulafale, 2011). The film was shot entirely in Samoa and features a Samoan cast. Samoan chief Manu Asafo served as Tamases’s cultural advisor. The chief described the film as an attempt “to portray Samoan culture”, displaying the life and traditions of the people of Samoa.
Small in stature, the humble taro farmer Saili is forced to defend his land and family, following the ancient customs and traditions of his village to do so.
Throughout over 100 years of cinema, only two notable films were (partly) shot on the Cook Islands: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), and The Other Side of Heaven (2001). Like Samoa, the Cook Islands were colonized in the late 19th century and later became a dependent territory of New Zealand. Though the island nation is still part of the Realm of New Zealand, the islands gained independence in 1965.
Even though there are two cinemas in Rarotonga, it took a long time before a local film was ever shown there. In the early 2010s, Stan Wolfgramm, one of the founders of the cultural Te Ara Museum on Rarotonga, sparked the first developments in the local film industry with the launch of the project Film Raro. The project was meant to put the Cook Islands on the map as a mecca for tropical island filming, and filmmakers from all over the world were invited to hand in scripts for potential short films.
Receiving just under 2,000 scripts, Wolfgramm selected six teams of enthusiastic film-makers, who were then flown to Rarotonga. The film crews turned the island into a film studio for two weeks, mentoring locals in the art of cinema, and shooting their films. In spite of the tropical torrential rain plaguing the island on the day of the premier, close to five thousand Cook Islanders attended the event – almost 50% of the island nation’s population. Film Raro was a great success, and in the years that followed several other Samoan shorts were produced.
The six short films shown at the 2013 festival were The Seed,Dog Save the Queen, Mou Piri, Little Girl WarCry, Islands, and The Offshore Pirate (all: 2013). For our list, we’ve picked Australian director Marcus Hamill’s Dog Save the Queen. With a cast that had never been in front of a camera before, a 10-year-old Samoan boy as the main star, and an untrained island dog as his companion, the film was a wild and wonderful experiment. In the film, a young boy’s world is upside down when the British Queen traces the Royal Corgi bloodline back to his dog Cyclone, who was the product of an encounter with one of the Queen’s corgis during her visit to the Cook Islands in 1972.
Life is about to change for islander Nuka and his loyal dog: with the Royal Corgi bloodline facing extinction, the British Queen’s search for a descendant of her dogs leads her to the island of Samoa, which she once visited with her corgis in 1972.
New Zealand is one of my favorite countries in the world! The splendor of the country’s national parks is astonishing, and the New Zealand wildlife is absolutely amazing! In this blog, I’ll tell you about some of the “bite-sized” adventures I’ve had on both North Island and South Island.
South Island
From the cold of the Netherlands into breezy New Zealand! Snow-capped mountains, autumn leaves… Queenstown is a sight to behold! It’s also a great location for winter sports!
From Queenstown onwards, I hitchhiked both South Island and North Island until I reached Auckland! Today I hitched a ride with Brit Paul and his local steel engineering colleague, Dan, to the stunning region of Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park.
In Te Anau, I fell in love with a native Kiwi bird! Unfortunately, kiwi birds are vulnerable to non-native predators like weasels, ferrets, rats, cats and dogs; animals that came ashore in New Zealand with human immigrants. New Zealand used to be a safe haven for flightless birds, but this is no longer true. Still, the government aims to capture all predators, sending out “trappers” to catch them all! In the mountains of Te Anau, I hitched a ride with two rugged gentlemen who had just spent six months camping in the wilderness to catch non-native predators! I hope their work will continue to be successful, otherwise, my new friend might end up as a weasel’s dinner…
At the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary I met another native New Zealand flightless bird: the takah? bird! Much like the kiwi, the takah? often becomes the victim of non-native predators. Only 300 are left, most of them living on offshore islands and in Takah? Valley. The Takah? Recovery Programme tries to maintain the species… and this cute plushie will make sure the world knows!
From Queenstown, I hitchhiked along the South Island West Coast’s Haast Highway with wine farmer Lukas from Germany. On the way to the Franz Josef glacier, we pulled over to take in the views at Knight’s Point.
At the gorgeous Franz Josef Glacier , there’s always the chance of an avalanche! Can you believe that while I was being crushed by icy rocks at the glacier, my humans were taking pictures?!
In Christchurch I caught up with avid traveler Jochem, one of my human’s high school mates, who’s been living and working in New Zealand for quite some time after his travels through Southeast Asia.
Reading Tame Smilere’s The Whale Rider (1987) with my new best friend in the quiet and peaceful city of Christchurch.
Kaikōura is by far one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand! In Kaikōura, I spent the day babysitting the Ohau Stream seal pups. At the Ohau Stream, seal parents leave their children in a safe environment while they go out to catch fish. The kids stay behind and play tirelessly in Ohau’s natural nursery! It was easy to fall in love with these pups… but I can’t recommend visiting them. The Ohau Stream has become too popular with backpackers for the seals to feel comfortable, so it is now recommended to just enjoy the thousands of other seals living along Kaikōura’s shoreline.
Yay! I managed to hitchhike all the way up to Picton to catch the Bluebridge ferry to Wellington on North Island!
North Island
Welcome to the North Island! Though there are fewer animals and national parks than on South Island, the north has a big plus in regards to cultural travel: meet Pouwhenua, the Māori land post situated on top of Mount Victoria, overlooking the city!
In Wellington, I visited Weta Digital, the creators of “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit”, “Tin Tin”, “District 9”, “Ghost in the Shell” and more! Doesn’t this guy look like fun? Mr. Bilbo Baggins told me Stone Trolls are not very playful, but I don’t mind a bit of chasing around! Check out our entry for New Zealand in our guide for the world’s best movies!
Here in Taupo, with Lake Taupo and Mount Ngauruhoe on the horizon, I played a game of high stakes golf with my human at Taupo’s “Hole in One challenge”. The goal: hit the ball into the hole on the floating platform!
Hopping the geothermal mud pools of the Rotorua (a.k.a. the “Sulphur City”) at the boiling Sulphur Flats. The Sulphur Flats is a zone of thermal activity where you can see the ground boil underneath your feet, as steam rises from the ground!
The green grass, the blue sky, the red roof, the palm trees… The Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa – excuse my Māori – looks absolutely gorgeous! I could spend as much time looking at this museum as I could walking around in it!
Visiting the neighbors of Bag End, the former home of Bilbo Baggins and now the residence of Frodo Baggins. This little smial (also known as a “Hobbit-hole”) is situated at the end of Bagshot Row in Hobbiton. It’s so cool to be able to visit this little village!
“In a hole in the ground there lived a plushie. Frodo frowned upon the arrival of his new neighbor.” It was awesome to visit the Hobbiton Movieset. Peter Jackson and his crew did a fantastic job recreating the small village from J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastic books on the Alexander farm in Matamata.
Inspecting Samwise Gamgee’s plum trees! Do you like plums as much as Hobbits do, or do you prefer a different type of fruit?
Meet Tiki, the first man who created in Māori mythology. His totem protects the geothermal M?ori village Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao – ‘Wakarewarewa’ for short. Translated to English, the village is named “The gathering place for the war parties of Wahiao”. That’s an impressively long name for a village!
This was so nice! In the geothermal Māori village Whakarewarewa, I was greeted in traditional Māori-style! The “hongi”-greeting is performed by two people pressing their noses together.
In Auckland, I was reunited with Thai student Mai and his new colleague Fay. I met Mai in Thailand, when my humans were teaching him English during our stay in the Land of Smiles. Mai is such a funny guy! Like many other international students, he’ll be studying in New Zealand for the next few months. We explored Auckland together, including its beautiful harbor. I hope we get to meet again soon!
During my stay in Auckland, I was CouchSurfing with Jon, a Kiwi CouchSurfer whose life was about to change: Jon decided to quit his job, cancel his apartment, and hit the open road! I know exactly how that feels… Would you dare to leave everything behind?
New Zealand is a true paradise for those travelers hoping to spot some unique forms of wildlife. From the flightless kiwis to the New Zealand fur seal, the country hosts a suburb selection of native species.
Before colonization, New Zealand was home to a large host of flightless birds who lived a relatively safe and peaceful existence. When humans brought in rats, possums, and other invasive predators, things changed: the flightless birds formed an easy prey, and many of them were eaten. Up until today, the Kiwi government still tries to prevent these foreign pests from threatening their native species. At a very young age, children are taught possums ‘don’t belong’ by funny children’s books such as Donna Blaber’s Bruce Goes Home, in which a homesick Australian possum is happy to be catapulted back to Aussie by his bird friends.
In this New Zealand Wildlife Spotters Guide, we’ll tell you about New Zealand’s fabulous animals, and where to spot them.
New Zealand fur seals resting on a rock (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Kiwis
The kiwi is by far New Zealand’s most famous flightless bird. Kiwis are endemic to New Zealand, and they are recognized as a symbol of the country. The term ‘Kiwi’ is even used as the colloquial demonym for New Zealanders. The kiwi is a descendant of the large, flightless birds that lived in the past. Nowadays it is the smallest living ratite, looking up at its distant family members the ostriches, emus, and cassowaries.
Spotting a kiwi in the wild can be difficult, as the little bird only comes out at night. Still, when following the advice of the locals, and with a bit of luck, you might just spot one visiting the forested areas in the North Island, such as Fiordland and Stewart Island. If every attempt to spot a wild kiwi fails, you can always see them in Rainbow Springs, the wildlife park in Rotorua.
There’s definitely no shortage of kiwi plushies in New Zealand (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Kea
The New Zealand kea is the world’s only alpine parrot. The parrots are used to living in a harsh mountain environment, and can easily be spotted on your way to and inside the Fiordland National Park. Kea’s are intelligent and curious, but can also be aggressive. Be careful with carrying eatables when you are around them, as the birds might attack you in order to get to the food.
Takahē
The South Island takahē is another one of New Zealand’s endemic flightless birds. Its round body, blue feathers, and short beak make it instantly recognizable, though seeing one in the wild is rare. The New Zealand Department of Conservation set up programs to maintain the species in several locations on the South Island. The Murchison Mountains at Lake Te Anau serve as a sanctuary for the birds, and in the nearby Te Anau Bird Sanctuary you can still see a few birds as well. Takah? look similar to the equally blue pukeko’s, but are larger and more brightly colored.
Meet the flightless South Island takahē (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Tui
Moving away from the flightless birds, we get to the tui. The tui is also one of New Zealand’s endemic birds. Tui boast a complex variety of songs and calls. They are easily recognized by their song and can be found throughout New Zealand. Though tui looks black from a distance, they actually feature a multicolored iridescent sheen and have distinctive white throat tufts. In M?ori culture, the tui act as spiritual messengers to the gods.
Tomtits
This little bird is endemic to New Zealand and can be found on both North Island and South Island. There’s much to love about tomtits: with their large heads and small beaks they look irresistibly cute. The male tomtits on South Island boast a beautiful yellow chest. You’ll have a good chance of spotting one of these cuties while hiking the Routeburn Track in the Fiordland National Park.
A tomtit on Routeburn Track (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Sheep and Alpacas
Home to 3 million people and 60 million sheep, New Zealand features a large amount of livestock. Aside from sheep, alpacas have also made the island nation their home. The New Zealand climate is similar to that of the alpacas’ home in the Andes. Clothing, rugs and even alpaca plushies using authentic, soft alpaca wool can be found in every souvenir shop on South Island.
There are many livestock farms featuring sheep and alpacas in New Zealand, but you’ll find more sheep up in North Island, and more alpacas down south. This is because the popular Romney sheep are better suited for farming on the North Island, while the climate of South Island is more catered to the needs of alpacas.
Alpacas grazing in Queenstown (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Glow worms
For a starry night sky in the middle of the day, head for one of New Zealand’s stunning glow worm caves. The New Zealand glowworm is native to New Zealand and can be found on both North Island and South Island. Glow worms are insect larvae that glow through bioluminescence, lighting up the dark, water-filled caves they live in. Their light is meant to attract other insects, who get caught in the glowworms’ sticky web-like lines. To get to know these wonderful luminescent creatures, head to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves in South Island, or visit the caves around Lake McLaren or the Waitomo on North Island.
New Zealand fur seals
The most famous resident of the South Island coastal town Kaikōura is the New Zealand fur seal. Hiking the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway will be the highlight of any trip to New Zealand. The walkway threads one of the most mesmerizing coastlines in the world. The peninsula’s shore itself is inhabited by thousands upon thousands of fur seals. It is a spectacle to observe how they interact, play in the water, and enjoy the comfort of their own private swimming pools that have formed on the shore’s rocks – water slides and rapids included!
A playful New Zealand fur seals hiding under a rock (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Dolphins
New Zealand counts several species of dolphins. Along the west coast of North Island, you can find Māui dolphins. Māuidolphins are quite rare and endemic to New Zealand. Unfortunately, the Māuidolphins are on the brink of extinction: there are less than seventy adults left in the island’s waters. Other dolphin species found around New Zealand are grey bottlenose dolphins, round-finned Hector’s Dolphins, and bluish-black-finned dusky dolphins.
Orcas
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest members of the dolphin family. Their beautiful smooth black and white pattern makes them instantly recognizable. Orcas generally eat small fish, shrimp, and cuttlefish, but they also prey on larger species, such as seals and dolphins. Orcas can often be spotted along the Kaikōura coastline on South Island between November and March.
Sperm whales
The Kaikōura coastline is abundant with sea life. The South Island’s east coast is one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be seen all year round. The whales gather near the Kaikōura Canyon, which runs up against the east coast and offers a rich food supply. Kaikōura only features male sperm whales, gathered in so-called ‘bachelor pods’. Female whales can only be found in warmer tropical waters.
Sperm whales surface approximately every 1-2 hours to fill their lungs with fresh air, and sometimes provide some spectacular breaches. If you are lucky you can spot them from the shore, but you can also get up close with these gentle giants through a whale watching tour.
A sperm whale diving near Kaikōura (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Humpback whales
The migrating humpback whales of Kaikōura are known to majestically breach the surface when coming up for air. They can dive for up to 30 minutes, but usually come up for air every 15 minutes or so. When they dive again, they show off their beautiful white tails. Humpback whales pass by the east coast during Kiwi winter, which is between June and August. The whales are often playful and each individual is easily recognized, as their dorsal fins are all similarly unique to the fingerprints on humans.
Penguins
Finally, New Zealand also has its own species of penguins: the little blue penguin and the yellow-eyed penguin. New Zealand’s penguins can be found all over the country, but on South Island, you’ll have the best chance to spot the little blue penguin. The little penguins live around the Otago Penisula and the Akaroa Peninsula. In the Catlins, a remote and untouched area near Invercargill, it is possible to spot the rare yellow-eyed penguin.
So, you’ve decided to visit New Zealand. Awesome! You’ve booked your ticket and you’re ready to go. Still, a few questions remain: what places will you visit while traveling New Zealand? And what sights would you like to see? For many travelers, visiting New Zealand is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it is important to prepare yourself and decide on some of the things you would like to see and do beforehand.
First of all, you’ll have to decide where to start. While most travelers land in Auckland and work their way south, this often means they miss out on New Zealand’s most important highlights when rushing through the South Island at the tail end of their trip. Sure, North Island is where you’ll find big cities such as Auckland and Wellington, but the heart and soul of this island nation lie in the wilderness down south. By starting your trip in Queenstown and working your way up, you’ll not only make sure you get the best of New Zealand, but you’ll also get to experience one of the most amazing alpine aircraft touchdowns ever!
Queenstown is a small town situated on the z-shaped Lake Wakatipu. The scenic town is surrounded by forests and snow-capped mountains, such as The Remarkables and Cecil Peak. The mountains offer plenty of snow sports opportunities for tourists during winter, and in summer the town offers a host of adrenaline-inspiring activities: Queenstown is home to the world’s first bungee jumping site, the Kawarau Bridge Bungy. Still, Queenstown is at its most beautiful in autumn when the leaves change color around the lake and the mountains slowly turn white.
Queenstown is one of the most beautiful towns in New Zealand (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Kawarau Bridge Bungy
The Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge features the world’s first permanent commercial bungee site. The site was set up by New Zealander A. J. Hackett, who made his own first jump in Auckland in 1983. The Kawarau Bridge Bungy offers a unique experience for thrill-seekers. The bridge itself runs over the Kawarau River and is part of the beautiful Queenstown Trail, which runs through the Otago region.
Te Anau
The town of Te Anau is the perfect base for exploring the national parks of the Southland region. The town is situated on Lake Te Anau, which provides plenty of water sports activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, and jet boat riding. Additionally, Te Anau’s direct surroundings offer plenty of hiking opportunities. While going for a stroll along the lake, make sure to visit the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. One of the park’s highlights is the prehistoric-looking takahē, who’s blue feathers you’ll instantly recognize. The sanctuary is open to the public and there’s no admittance fee.
Another popular local attraction lies across Lake Te Anau: the Te Ana-au Caves. The cave system includes a glowworm grotto, which can be explored during daily guided tours.
Fiordland National Park
The Fiordland National Park is home to New Zealand’s most picturesque fjords, including the mesmerizing Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. The national park features an extensive amount of hiking trails, including the scenic Milford Track and the popular Routeburn Track.
Routeburn Track, classified as a “New Zealand Great Walk”, leads trampers through Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife, as many native species find their home in the park’s lush green environment. The park is also home to a handful of wildlife control trappers who spent their days living in the mountains hunting invasive predators.
The Fiordland National Park is full of natural wonders, great and small (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Mount Cook
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Named Aoraki by the Māori, the mountain reaches 3,724 meters. The mountain’s Māori name roughly translates to “cloud piercer”. Though climbing Mount Cook requires expert mountaineering skills, you can view it up close from Hooker Lake in Hooker Valley just south of the mountain. The Hooker Valley Track leads past several glaciers in the Mount Cook National Park before bringing you face to face with Mount Cook.
Passing the Mount Cook National Park (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Franz Josef Glacier
Traveling from Queenstown past Wanaka along the Haast Highway and its many waterfalls, you eventually reach the town of Franz Josef. The town lies on the north side of the Southern Alps and can also be reached by turning west on the Kumara Junction coming from Nelson or Christchurch.
The famous Franz Josef Glacier lies a two-hour walk away from town, but you can easily hitchhike there. The Franz Josef Glacier is one of the only glaciers in the world situated in a rainforest. While visiting, you can take a guided tour up the glacier, trek through the region’s ice tunnels or – if you plan to do some overspending – take a helicopter tour above the magnificent mountain range.
International Dark Sky Reserve
Unless you’re circling the South Island and plan to travel both sides of the Southern Alps, you’ll have a difficult choice to make: visit the Franz Josef Glacier up north, or the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve down south.
Light pollution creeps up in almost every corner of the earth, but the Aoraki Mackenzie IDSR in the Mackenzie District was the first reserve to be awarded a ‘gold’ status, meaning there is no light pollution at all. The reserve is by far one of the best places in the Southern Hemisphere to go stargazing. A visit to the reserve promises to be a stunning and unforgettable experience.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city on South Island. The Kiwi city suffered a series of earthquakes between September 2010 and January 2012, with the most destructive of them occurring in February 2011. Everyone remembers the earthquakes in a different way. When talking to the city’s residents, you’ll find responses that vary from “devastating” to “awesome”. While some residents lost their loved ones during the earthquake, others profited from a handsome insurance policy that allowed them to build entirely new homes for themselves. Compared to towns such as Queenstown and Kaikōura, Christchurch feels very much alive, especially when the pop-up food trucks arrive in Cathedral Square.
Kaikōura
The town of Kaikōura rests on the east coast of South Island and watches out over the Pacific Ocean. The Kaikōura Peninsula just south of the town center is arguably one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand. The scenic Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway offers you the opportunity to spot the best of New Zealand’s extensive wildlife: from the thousands of New Zealand fur seals inhabiting the peninsula to dolphins, whales, sheep, and more. Hiking the walkway will leave a lasting impression on you.
Thousands of New Zealand fur seals resting on the Kaikōura Peninsula (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Marlborough Sounds
The fjords of Marlborough Sounds are a collection of ancient river valleys near Picton on the Pacific Ocean. Marlborough Sounds is made up of four different fjords: Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru, Pelorus, and Mahau. One of the most stunning hikes leading through the region is the Queen Charlotte Track. This 70-kilometer-long track gives trampers the opportunity to really take in the scope of the breathtaking landscape. As a bonus, the track allows you to spot many native bird species, as well as dolphins, seals, and even the occasional migrating orca and whales.
Abel Tasman National Park
If you’ve had enough of New Zealand’s spectacular mountains and lush rain forests, the Abel Tasman National Park’s golden beaches will show you a completely different side of the country. The coastal area is situated near Nelson and is the perfect getaway for travelers hoping to do some kayaking or boating. On top of that, there are plenty of hiking opportunities as well. Walk the beautiful Abel Tasman Coast Track and explore the park’s sandy beaches for some well-earned relaxation.
The Pancake Rocks
The Punakaiki ‘Pancake’ Rocks are the most visited natural attraction on the South Island’s West Coast. Punakaiki Rocks is one of the many popular stops along the South Island’s State Highway 6. The road, known as the ‘west coast highway’ starts in Invercargill and hits the coast around Haast. From there it zigzags past the Franz Josef Glacier and stretches out all the way past the Kumara Junction to the Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson, ending in Blenheim. The Punakaiki ‘Pancake’ Rocks rest between Greymouth and Westport. The rocks feature several vertical blowholes, and really do resemble pancakes.
North Island
Wellington
After watching Whale Rider (2002) in the small cinema onboard the Cook Strait ferry from Picton to Wellington, you’ll arrive in New Zealand’s bustling capital city. That is, of course, if you’ve chosen to travel south to north. Either way, Wellington’s urban vibe stands in sharp contrast to the quiet life down on South Island. There’s always something to see or do in Wellington’s harbor on the Cook Strait. The city’s true highlight, however, is the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. The museum is a must-visit for anyone willing to learn more about the Māori, as well as the history of New Zealand.
Exploring Wellington’s harbor (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand
The Te Papa Tongarewa is a wonderful museum that features several exhibitions highlighting different aspects of New Zealand’s history. From the nation’s origin as part of the Gondwanaland supercontinent to its extensive mountain ranges which continue to grow up until this very day, the museum sheds light on all that is New Zealand. Admire the gigantic moa bird, walk the length of a real blue whale skeleton, and admire the pride of the museum, a colossal squid from the depths of the ocean.
Te Papa is also the best place to learn more about the Polynesians who first settled New Zealand, and later became known as the Māori.
The Weta Cave
Aside from the wonderful Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington also features the Weta Cave. The Weta Cave is a shop and mini-museum featuring many artefacts from the world of film. The special effects and prop company Weta Workshop worked on many films, from The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) and Black Sheep (2006) to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and classics such as Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001). A guided tour through the workshop itself will bring you face to face with both the artists and their work.
Tongariro National Park
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the Tongariro National Park is one of New Zealand’s most popular tramping tracks. The sheer magnificence of the crossing convinces many hikers – both experienced and inexperienced – to take on the challenge of finishing the 20-kilometer track. It generally takes between 6 to 8 hours to finish the hike. One of the route’s most popular sights is Mount Ngauruhoe, the epic mountain which dubbed as Mount Doom in the LORD OF THE RINGS-trilogy.
Keep in mind that the Tongariro Crossing is often closed during winter due to dangerous weather conditions. If you don’t manage to fit the hike into your itinerary, there’s always the option to admire ‘Mount Doom’ from the Desert Road, or from the shores of Lake Taupo.
Rotorua
The area of Rotorua is known for its geothermal activity. Ask any New Zealander how they feel about Rotorua, and they’ll most likely jokingly answer “it stinks!”. Visit the city yourself and you’ll realize it’s not a joke – it’s the truth. A common nickname for Rotorua is the “Sulphur City”, due to geothermal hydrogen sulfide emissions which can be smelled throughout the city. Though it takes a while to get used to walking around in a city that permanently smells like rotten eggs, Rotorua features many wonderful sights, including the Sulphur Flats, luxury hot spas, mud pools, the Rainbow Springs wildlife park, and the authentic Māori village Whakarewarewa.
The Rotorua Museum (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
The Sulphur Flats
The Sulphur Flats lie just beyond the Polynesian Spa and the Rotorua Museum on Rotorua’s tiny peninsula. Here you can walk right in between the bubbling and boiling mud pools and observe the steam rushing out of the many thermal vents. The peninsula is home to thousands of birds and offers unique ocean views. Alternatively, you can visit Kuirau Park, where fenced of natural geothermal pools give you a clear indication of what’s happening beneath the earth.
Whakarewarewa
Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao – Whakarewarewa for short – is a rural geothermal area in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The volcanic zone includes an authentic Māori village where you can experience the culture and traditions of New Zealand’s aboriginals. Eat from the village’s natural make-shift geothermal ovens, the ‘hangi’, enjoy a live haka performance, visit a local tribal tattoos artist, or await the frequent eruption of the town’s Pohutu Geyser.
Gas bubbling up from the thermal pools of Whakarewarewa (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Rainbow Springs
Rainbow Springs, Rotorua’s wildlife and nature park, offers you the easiest opportunity to spot a real-life kiwi bird. The park is the world’s leading kiwi conservation center and offers viewers a look into the natural history of New Zealand’s rare wildlife. Aside from the famous kiwi, the park is home to many different types of birds, lizards, and fish, including the kea, New Zealand’s famous alpine parrot.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
As an alternative to the glowworm caves in Te Anau, you can visit the popular Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The North Island hosts several glowworm caves, all featuring the New Zealand glowworm – a species native to New Zealand. The tiny worms light up the caves as stars in the sky, invoking a sense of magic. The glowworms are insect larvae that glow through bioluminescence, using their lights to lure their prey into their webs. While doing so, they create a truly amazing spectacle.
Hobbiton Movie Set
Though not one of New Zealand’s natural wonders, the village of Hobbiton is still one of the most beautiful and picturesque places on the North Island. It’s not necessary to be a fan of The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) to enjoy the amazing details of the tiny fictional village created by Peter Jackson and his amazing creative team. After the filming of The Lord of the Rings, the village, which was built on privately owned land, was partially torn down and fell into decay. On the landowners’ request, it was rebuilt in a more permanent fashion for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). The Hobbiton Movie Set is now open to visitors, and it is even possible to rest and have a drink at the village’s famous Green Dragon Inn.
Explore the mythology of The Lord of the Rings at the Hobbiton Movie Set (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Hot Water Beach
Between the high and low water tidal reaches, hot water bubbles up through the sands of the aptly named Hot Water Beach. Underground hot springs filter up through the sand, offering visitors the chance to create their own private spa by digging pools in the sand. Make sure to arrive early enough to dig your own pool and wait till it fills up with warm water from the river flowing below the beach. It’s the ultimate relaxing experience!
Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, serving as the nation’s main gateway for foreign visitors. The city’s role as a port of call is reflected in Auckland’s status as a multicultural melting pot. Workers and students from all over the world find their (often temporary) home in Auckland. The city’s metropolitan vibe can be felt in every corner of the city. Auckland highlights are the harbor walkway, the iconic Sky Tower, and Mount Eden, a lush green dormant volcanic cone rising high above the suburban districts.
Roam the harbor of bustling Auckland (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Cape Reinga
Finally reaching the northern tip of New Zealand, you can get off the beaten path and travel in the direction few other backpackers choose to go. From Auckland, head north past Matakana towards Cape Reinga on the Aupouri Peninsula. Cape Reinga is situated in the northernmost tip of New Zealand and features a beautiful little lighthouse. The relatively unexplored north of North Island is well worth a visit, as it features ancient forests, high waterfalls, gorgeous lakes and fjords, endless coastlines, and best of all: very few tourists.
Find out everything you need to know about backpacking in New Zealand. What travel essentials should you add to your backpack? How can you stay on a budget in one of the world’s most prosperous nations? And where can you go if you want to get off the beaten track? Learn all about New Zealand and its unique culture in our complete first-hand experience New Zealand Travel Guide for backpacking ‘Aotearoa’.
There’s no place in the world quite like New Zealand. Situated south of Australia in the Southern Hemisphere, the country is also known as Aotearoa in Māori. Aotearoa means ‘the land of the long white cloud’. Watching the clouds linger around the mountains in North Island’s Tongariro National Park, it becomes obvious why. New Zealand’s landscape is littered with epic mountain ranges reaching for the clouds, and spectacular glaciers pierce out of the country’s lush temperate rainforests. The country is home to a variety of unique wild animals, and with over 15,000 kilometers of shoreline, the nation’s marine wildlife is equally impressive.
Aotearoa, ‘the land of the long white cloud’ (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
New Zealand consists of two islands bordering the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean: the bustling North Island, and the otherworldly South Island. Up on North Island you can explore urban Wellington and experience the international vibe of Auckland, or hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing featured in The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003). Down on South Island, you’ll find winter sports haven Queenstown, as well as Kaikōura, a small coastal town dominated by a multitude of mesmerizing forms of wildlife.
The remote geographic position of New Zealand helped preserve the country’s unique and peaceful existence. Aotearoa’s untouched landscapes have been explored by a handful of local movie directors, such as Peter Jackson, who shot both King Kong (2005) and The Lord of the Rings-series on the islands. His fellow countryman Taika Waititi in turn filmed Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) in west Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges. Though the films painted a beautiful portrait of the country’s stunning scenery, New Zealand’s isolated nature luckily prevents it from ever getting too busy.
Quick Facts
Capital: The capital of New Zealand is Wellington.
Language: The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori, and NZ Sign Language.
Currency: The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZD), informally known as the “Kiwi dollar”.
Power Plugs: Plug Type I, with the electricity supply running at 230/240 volts.
Drinking water: In New Zealand, the tap water is fine to drink. The country’s mountains provide an excellent source of clear water.
Safety: While locals in Australia humorously claim “everything can kill you” Down Under, New Zealanders reinvented the statement by jokingly stating that “in New Zealand, nothing can kill you”. New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world, offering backpackers an easy and comfortable traveling experience.
7 things to look forward to: hitchhiking, kiwis, Fergburgers, glaciers, fur seals, mountain ranges, Hobbits.
Video: On the Road: New Zealand
See what it’s like to travel New Zealand! (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Money saving tips: backpacking New Zealand on a budget
How much money do you need to travel around New Zealand? Backpacking the country will set you back quite a bit more than visiting other popular backpacker destinations such as Thailand or Argentina. New Zealand boasts a strong economy dependent on agriculture and international trade. Dairy, milk, wool, and wine are some of the nation’s most popular products. In comparison to most countries in the world, New Zealand is a rather expensive country to go backpacking. Unlike the ‘nearby’ Southeast Asian countries, it’s not just the flight ticket that will set you back financially. Transportation, accommodation, and activities all come at a relatively high price.
Despite the country’s strong financial positions, New Zealand offers plenty of opportunities to cut back on your spending while backpacking. Rather than traveling by public transportation, it is possible to rent a car or campervan, or even hitchhike. Additionally, every city you’ll visit on your trip is likely to have at least one or two relatively cheap hostels. The best way to save money while backpacking New Zealand, however, is by doing your own cooking. New Zealand is a very popular work-and-travel destination, and you’ll often run into backpackers who are semi-permanently living in the hostels you stay at. Because of this, most hostels feature a fully equipped kitchen, making it possible for visitors and temporary residents to cook their own meals.
Hitchhiking South Island (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Aside from travel and accommodation, your travel budget will largely be determined by the activities you intend to do. New Zealand, for example, is the birthplace of bungy jumping. A single jump will cost you a steep amount of money. If you intend to travel onwards after New Zealand to places where bungy jumping comes at a quarter of the price in a similarly beautiful location, what will you do? It’s these choices that will affect your budget in a big way.
While most blogs might pinpoint you on a budget of NZ$3,750,- per month per person (€2,100,- or US$2,500,-), you can easily make it on a monthly budget of less than NZ$1,500,- (€850,- or US$1,000,-) if you make all the right choices. More than in any other place, your expenditure here will depend on your need for comfort, your sense of adventure, and the choices you make along the road.
Quick Tips
A few quick tips for saving money while backpacking New Zealand:
Hitchhike.
Don’t fly; travel the roads.
Go CouchSurfing, or stay in hostels.
Cook your own meals.
Seek your own adventures: hike, raft, and enjoy the country’s mesmerizing landscapes, but avoid spending hundreds of dollars on activities you can do for peanuts on your next trip to Southeast Asia.
Accommodation
Sleeping in New Zealand
In terms of accommodation, New Zealand has something for everyone. As a backpacker though, you’ll most likely want to look into the nation’s many hostels. When choosing your accommodation in New Zealand there are two important things to look out for:
is there a kitchen available for cooking your own meals, and
how did previous visitors experience the WiFi connection – if there is one at all?
Kiwi WiFi is notoriously bad, and you’ll need to make sure you can at least use the hostel’s connection for travel essentials, such as making bookings and checking reservations. Of course, there’s a certain charm in not being able to spend your days on your smartphone. You’ll find that in an enchanting town like Kaikōura, it’s easy to forget about your daily browsing habits.
Here are some of our favorite hostels in New Zealand:
Lose yourself in the wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Work and travel
Throughout New Zealand you’ll see that backpackers aren’t the only foreigners staying in the country’s many hostels. Many young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 come to New Zealand on a work and travel visa. The idea is simple, yet effective: they fly to New Zealand, where a few month’s work can earn them a rather sizeable amount of money. Living in hostels comes cheap, especially when making a deal with the hostel owner regarding a long term stay. In this way, it is possible to save enough money within half a year or so to travel the whole country, Australia, and perhaps a bit of Southeast Asia or Polynesia as well.
If you’d like to try out New Zealand’s work-and-travel program, and you opt for a long-term stay in a hostel, do keep in mind that the people you share your room with are on a vacation. They’ll arrive tired and will often have to get up early in the morning to catch their next ride. Don’t act like you own the room just because you’ve stayed there so long. Long term residents are considered the greatest nuisance in any of New Zealand’s hostels, so it’ll be up to you to improve their reputation!
Getting around in New Zealand
Renting a Campervan or Car
For backpackers, the most popular way to explore New Zealand is by hiring – or buying – a vehicle. During your time in ‘the land of the long white cloud’, you’ll come across many campervans driven by vacationing flashpackers. Hiring a campervan (or car) means opting for the freedom to explore the country at your own pace: you can go anywhere you like, and sleep anywhere you like.
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to purchase a second-hand car in New Zealand. Backpackers often travel North to South, or vice versa, which means that in “final” destinations such as Queenstown, Wellington, or Auckland, you won’t have much trouble purchasing a car from travelers who just finished their trip. Again, this is where it pays off to stay in hostels, as hostels are the perfect place to find backpackers willing to sell their car. Additionally, you can find a car through the Facebook groups Backpacker Cars New Zealand and Backpackers Cars Buy&Sell New Zealand.
New Zealand roads are spacious and allow for safe driving, though locals might not always agree with that statement. Though some Kiwis feel their roads are not up to standard, you’ll only find yourself chuckling at their complaints when comparing their roads to any other road you ever drove on. It is safe to say Kiwi roads are most often in pitch-perfect condition, despite being called “dodgy” by the locals every once in a while.
Rent a car or campervan to navigate New Zealand (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Hitchhiking
The true budget-friendly option for getting around New Zealand is hitchhiking. Down in South Island, your thumb will get you anywhere you like within no time. Unless you are truly unfortunate, you’ll be picked up within 30 minutes or less from most spots. You’ll find Kiwis to be quite friendly and considered. Especially on South Island, where there’s not much traffic, people will be generally inclined to give you a ride.
You’ll have a bit more trouble hitchhiking the North Island – especially around Wellington, where the “big city vibe” leads to many chauffeurs shrugging off your presence – but even there you’re likely to be picked up within the hour.
Keep in mind that legally, campervans and trucks aren’t allowed to pick you up, as there is a set limit to the number of people allowed inside their vehicles, and no one is allowed to sit in the back while driving.
Busses and Trains
When choosing comfort over freedom, New Zealand also offers the option to travel by bus. Services are good, and many of the busses are tailored especially for backpackers and other travelers. Kiwi busses will get you in and out of major towns and tourist hotspots, but it might prove difficult to visit the country’s off-track destinations.
There are many options for traveling around New Zealand. To get the best out of your holiday, we would definitely recommend against flying, though. The country isn’t all that big, and only ground travel will allow you to truly experience the nation’s breathtaking landscapes. Plus, you’ll keep your trip eco-friendly, and save some money at the same time!
When to visit New Zealand
New Zealand’s landscapes define its climate. Temperatures vary heavily around the country due to the many environmental differences. On average, the temperatures on the South Island are a bit below those on the North Island. So pack wisely, and be prepared for anything!
Summer is often the most popular time to visit New Zealand. In December, January, and February, the temperature rises, as does the number of tourists. This means hotels, touristic destinations and even roads can get a little busy.
The best time to travel to New Zealand, however, is during the spring, or during autumn. In September, October, and November, little lambs and tiny alpacas take a hold of the country’s boundless green countryside, flowers start blooming, and the snowy mountain caps slowly melt away. A few months later in March, April, and May, the leaves turn color and the crowds move out as the country prepares for the winter season.
Queenstown in the autumn (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Of course, if you are into winter sports, winter will be your season. The Kiwi winter starts in June and lasts throughout July and August. New Zealand’s impressive mountains offer great opportunities to engage in snow sports, such as skiing and snowboarding.
What to pack for New Zealand
The Essentials
I’m going to New Zealand, and I’m bringing…
A light-weight scarf.
One sweater or coat; or be prepared to layer-up when cold weather hits.
(Fingerless) gloves.
New Zealand features all the comforts of home, and you’ll lack nothing. Still, if you’ve just flown in from Indonesia, you might regret not buying some warm clothes before leaving the equator. Buying clothes is quite expensive in New Zealand. The day you arrive you’ll notice it to be a common mistake for backpackers from Southeast Asia not to bring warm clothes. In Queenstown, it’s especially easy to spot Asian travelers who failed to recognize the changeable Kiwi weather in advance: they all walk around wearing scarves, sweaters, and gloves bought at the local tourist shop. Consider it a warning: unless you want to spend your first days’ budget on buying warm clothes, come prepared.
Unlike traveling in ‘nearby’ Australia, you best pack your coat, your umbrella, and a lightweight scarf, even when you’re visiting New Zealand during summer. Prepare for any kind of weather, but don’t over-pack: make sure you have enough clothes to combine them into layers. Only bring your thick coat when you’re traveling in winter; during other seasons, combine a lighter coat with shirts or a sweater. Since most hostels accept long term residents, it’s often possible to do your laundry along the way.
New Zealand’s snow-capped mountain ranges (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Visa Information
To enter New Zealand you must have a valid passport and approved New Zealand visa. Most visitors can obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorisation-visa (NZeTA), which is valid for 90 days or less. Though this is known as a ‘visa on arrival’, you must apply for it before take-off. Make sure to have valid onward travel arrangements when entering the country, as you are required to prove you don’t intend to stay permanently.
Aside from a regular visa, working holiday visas are also relatively easily obtained – but only after you’ve secured a job. You can obtain one of these temporary working visas if you are aged between 18-30 years (18-35 for some countries), and have enough money in your bank account to afford an outbound ticket from New Zealand.
Enjoy the local culture
The Old and the New
Compared to most nations, New Zealand is a relatively young country. The islands of New Zealand were first settled by seafaring Polynesians approximately 700 years ago and were later discovered by the Dutch in 1642. The Polynesians’ descendants became known as the M?ori, who formed their own distinct culture. Colonization and large-scale European settlement led to many changes, eventually giving rise to the country we know today.
New Zealand’s culture is defined by a mix of the old and the new. The country’s architecture is predominantly European, but local Polynesian influences can be detected in most areas. A visit to the country wouldn’t be complete without immersing yourself in the rich culture of the indigenous M?ori tribes.
The Māori
Two of the best places to explore Māori culture are the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, and the old Māori village of Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao, situated just south of Rotorua in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is possible to visit the Māori village – Whakarewarewa for short – using a local guide who will introduce you to the spiritual stories and traditions of the Māori. Traditionally, the Māori prepared their meals over the volcanic zone’s thermal vents. These natural make-shift ovens named ‘hangi’ can be found everywhere in Whakarewarewa. Your guide will also teach you the traditional Māori greeting, the hongi, which is performed by two people pressing their noses together and sometimes includes the touching of foreheads.
Performing the traditional Māori greeting, the hongi (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
A Healthy Nation
Perhaps due to their isolated nature, New Zealanders are often welcoming to foreign travelers. They have a strong sense of social responsibility and healthy living, as is evident in several cities where smoking inside the city center is forbidden. If you manage to catch a local TV broadcast, you’ll notice there are many commercials targeting mental health problems such as depression and isolation, rather than ads trying to sell cars and other trinkets. Kiwi TV is a clear indicator that New Zealand has evolved into a considered and caring nation.
Things to eat and drink
New Zealand cuisine constitutes of a mix of Australian, European, and local specialties. Being an agricultural country featuring many sheep farms, you can expect mutton to be a large part of your diet during your stay. Additionally, the country’s extensive coastline bordering the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean serves as an important source of food as well. Aside from mutton and seafood, New Zealand features a few other distinct food options you must try while visiting.
The Fergburger
The Queenstown Fergburger is one of the country’s most famous specialties. Prepared locally in the Fernburger hamburger restaurant in Queenstown, the burgers are prepared with lamb, cod, falafel, a swine-and-chicken mix, or venison.
The Fergburger, a Queenstown specialty (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
New Zealand Wine
New Zealand’s unique soil and climatic conditions express themselves perfectly in the wine produced in the South Island. Otago is one of the country’s richest wine regions, which is mirrored by Hawke’s Bay on the North Island.
Hokey Pokey
Around 1980, the Kiwis invented a new combination of ice cream flavors: vanilla ice cream with small, solid lumps of honeycomb toffee. You can find this typical Kiwi ice cream in many dairy shops, or in local supermarkets.
Hangi
The Māori traditionally prepare their food using natural resources, such as thermal vents. It is a truly amazing experience to dine on a tender and delicious piece of chicken or mutton – or going vegetarian, potatoes – prepared over many hours in the Māori’s traditional thermal ovens. The volcanic gasses add an earthy, smoky flavor to the food.
A ‘hangi’, a tradtional Māori thermal oven (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Seafood
One of New Zealand’s local specialties on South Island is crayfish or rock lobster. Though seafood can be quite expensive, it’s definitely worth the money. Given the nation’s island status, the seafood is invariably fresh. From British-style fish and chips to green-lipped mussels, other shellfish, and scallops, New Zealand offers the best from the deep seas.
Kiwi Fruit
When in New Zealand, don’t ever call a kiwifruit a “kiwi”! Doing so is considered insulting, as the word “Kiwi” is used as the official nickname for New Zealanders. Though the distinction is only made in Australia and New Zealand, it’s an important one to remember. Also note that the kiwifruit is of Chinese origin, which wasn’t grown in New Zealand until the early 20th century. The name “kiwifruit” was conceived for export marketing in the early ’60s.
Whittakers
The New Zealand Whittaker family has been producing chocolate since 1896. Whittaker is the largest chocolate brand in New Zealand, and in recent years its popularity overseas has grown as well. Though Whittaker’s chocolate was sold using horse and van in the past, it can now be found everywhere in the country. A classic Whittaker’s slab is the Roasted Almond milk chocolate bar.
Meat Pies
Popular in both Australia and New Zealand, hand-sized meat pies are a treat in-between treats. The pies contain diced or minced meat and gravy, sometimes combined with onion, mushrooms, or cheese. The meat pies are often consumed as a takeaway food snack. Though the nutritional value of meat pies is a hot topic in New Zealand, it remains a popular treat.
Milford Sound, one of South Island’s most magnificent fjords (Credit: The Bite-Sized Backpacker)
Get off the Beaten Track
Most backpackers heading for New Zealand start off at Auckland on North Island, and travel downwards until they reach Queenstown or Te Anau on South Island. For what is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime-experience, this might not be the best solution for you.
The urban feel of North Island might be attractive to some, but the Kiwi cities situated on North Island aren’t exactly unique. They are modern, urban hubs similar to big Australian and American cities. In the Kiwi cities, you’ll find all the same brands, foods, and stores you’re already familiar with, combined with a few local ones.
The real splendor and uniqueness of New Zealand lies in the South Island. Quiet and untouched, the South Island’s landscapes and wildlife will stay with you forever. There, you can hike through national parks such as Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, visit the International Dark Sky Reserve on the south side of the Southern Alps, or travel northwards of the Alps along the Franz Josef glacier.
If you are looking for a unique adventure – one you can only have in New Zealand, and nowhere else – but you don’t have the time to visit both islands, then the South Island will be your destination of choice. Not exploring New Zealand’s national parks is similar to visiting Australia without seeing a single kangaroo.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople Directed by: Taika Waititi, 2016. A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.
Once Were Warriors Directed by: Lee Tamahori, 1994. A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.
Whale Rider Directed by: Niki Caro, 2002. A contemporary story of love, rejection, and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
Black Sheep Directed by: Jonathan King, 2006. An experiment in genetic engineering turns harmless sheep into bloodthirsty killers that terrorize a sprawling New Zealand farm.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Directed by: Peter Jackson, 2001. A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
What We Do in the Shadows Directed by: Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi, 2014. Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life in Wellington has them struggling with the mundane – like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
The Piano Directed by: Jane Campion, 1993. In the mid-19th century, a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, but is soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation.
Boy Directed by: Taika Waititi, 2010. Set on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
Pre-read: the best books from New Zealand
To get you even more excited about your trip, we’ve selected some of the best books about New Zealand as well. Pick up one of these gems to get into the spirit of the Land of the Long White Cloud!
A Land of Two Halves Author: Joe Bennett, 2004. After 10 years in New Zealand, Joe Bennett asked himself what on earth he was doing there. Hitching around both the intriguingly named North and South Islands, with an eye for oddity and a taste for conversation, Bennett began to remind himself of the reasons New Zealand is quietly seducing the rest of the world.
The Luminaries Author: Eleanor Catton, 2013. In 1866, young Walter Moody comes to South Island to make his fortune upon the New Zealand goldfields. Instead, he stumbles into a tense meeting between twelve local men and is drawn into a complex mystery involving a series of unsolved crimes.
Plumb Author: Maurice Gee, 1978. Long regarded as one of the finest novels ever written by a New Zealander, Maurice Gee’s Plumb introduces the intolerant, irascible clergyman George Plumb: half saint, half monster, superhuman in his spiritual strength and destructive in his utter self-absorption.
Once Were Warriors Author: Alan Duff, 1990. Alan Duff’s harrowing vision of his country’s indigenous people tells the story of Beth Heke, a Maori woman struggling to keep her family from falling apart, despite the squalor and violence of the housing projects in which they live. Conveying both the rich textures of Maori tradition and the wounds left by its absence, Once Were Warriors is a masterpiece of unblinking realism, irresistible energy, and great sorrow.
Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story Author: Christina Thompson, 2008. Thompson’s book details the story of the cultural collision between Westerners and the Maoris of New Zealand. The story is told partly as a history of the complex and bloody period of contact between Europeans and the Maoris in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and partly as the story of Thompson’s marriage to a Maori man.
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