New Zealand is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). From March to November New Zealand observes Daylight Saving and is 13 hours ahead of GMT.

Standard voltage in New Zealand is 230 volts and 50 hertz. Primary sockets generally require the angled two or three pin variety also used in Australia. We recommend you pack a universal travel adaptor and you will need a voltage converter to use US appliances.

The official currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZD).
Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally or in advance of departure. While exchange facilities will be available at most airports they can incur substantial fees, therefore it is recommended to change money at a bureau de change or bank. Cash can also be withdrawn from ATMs and debit/credit cards are accepted at most establishments. It’s advisable to request bank notes in a mix of denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to New Zealand from your local health practitioner to ensure you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Tetanus is recommended. If you are travelling from a country other than the UK then you will have to pay for any emergency health care, so it is important to ensure you have invested in good travel insurance.

The water quality in New Zealand is good and tap water is always drinkable.

New Zealand experiences four distinctive seasons, officially these are:

Summer: December, January and February

Autumn: March, April and May

Winter: June, July and August

Spring: September, October and November

However, the weather can be variable and does not always follow traditional seasonal expectations – summer, for instance, can be both very hot and very cold.

Summer: Expect an average high of 25 C (76 F) in the north to around 22 C (72 F) in the south.
Average lows (evening time) are 13 C (55 F) in the north to 12 C (54 F) in the south.

Autumn: Expect an average high of 20 C (68 F) in the north to around 17 C (63 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 11 C (52 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south.

Winter: Expect an average high of 15 C (59 F) in the north to around 10 C (50 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 6 C (43 F) in the north to 2 C (35 F) in the south.

Spring: Expect an average high of 18 C (65 F) in the north to around 16 C (61 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 9 C (48 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south.