BAREESSENTIALS
Wellington
BANKS
Air New Zealand 0800 737 000,
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Nationwide banks like Westpac, ANZ and Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) have the most branches and, if you are planning on spending a long period of time here, issue cards for use at ATMs (cashpoints).
Soundsair Wellington 0800 505 005 03 520 3080
Changing money
INSURANCE
You can change money at any bank. American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Thomas Cook travellers’ cheques are all widely recognised. Banks will give cash advances on Visa and Mastercard credit cards but for American Express you must go to a designated Amex office. Foreign exchange is available for all international flights at airports.
Downunder Worldwide Travel Insurance 09 376 8292, dunder@internet.co.nz
VISA ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL Auckland. Mon, 27 Jan. Tickets from $139.50+bf. It’s the hipsters’ choice of festival, albeit with a slightly less impressive lineup than its Aussie brothers. See the likes of Churches (pictured).
HEALTH Auckland Metro Doctors Travelcare
For accident and medical care and all international travel vaccines. Pharmacy, X-ray and laboratory. Open six days. BNZ Tower, cnr 125 Queen & Swanson Sts, Auckland, 09 373 4621, Email: doctor@ travelcareMD.com TMVC For all your medical needs. Christchurch, 03 379 4000
POST Post Offices are open 9am-5pm on weekdays. Mail can be sent to ‘Poste Restante, CPO’ in the relevant city. CPO stands for Chief Post Office. Mail will be held for 30 days. Delivery time is two days between major centres, a bit longer for rural areas.
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Silo Park, Auckland
lanewayfestival.com
PHONES Pay phones in NZ are usually of the card variety and phone cards are available in values of $5, $10, $20 and $50. The country dial code for New Zealand is 64. Directory assistance 018 International operator: 0170 (reversed charges) Emergency (Fire, ambulance, police): 111 Compass communications Kia Ora cards. Prepaid calling card kiaoracard.co.nz
Country & area codes New Zealand 64; Auckland 09; Northland 09; Rotorua/Taupo 07; Wellington 04; South Island 03 Directory service International: 0172
DOM AIRLINES Auckland Air New Zealand 0800 737 000, 09 357 3000 Great Barrier 09 275 9120
The type of visa you will need to enter NZ is determined by how long you want to stay and what you want to do while you’re there. If you are only entering New Zealand as a tourist you may need a visa depending on what country you are from. If you intend to work while you are in New Zealand you can apply for one online, once you’re here. Citizens of many countries can get a 23-month Working Holiday visa. immigration.govt.nz Visitor’s Visas Citizens of a number of countries do not require visas if they are visiting NZ for three months or less. On arrival, all visitors must be in possession of a valid ticket or enough funds to purchase a ticket out of NZ to a country they have the right of entry to, ie: you must already hold a visa for that country if one is required – you cannot expect to get the visa once you are in New Zealand. Your passport must be valid for three months beyond when you expect to leave NZ, and
@tnt_downunder you must also have sufficient money (NZ$1000 for each month of your visit) to support yourself during your stay. If you wish to stay longer than three months, you should apply for a Visitor’s Visa (which will allow you to stay in NZ for up to nine months) before you arrive in New Zealand, although British passport holders on arrival in NZ may be issued a permit valid for a stay of up to six months. Extensions If you like New Zealand and decide you’d like to stay here longer you may extend your stay to a maximum of nine months in an 18 month period. To do this you need to apply for a further visitor permit. You can apply for these permits online immigration. govt.nz. If you do need to apply in person, New Zealand Immigration Service offices are located in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The Auckland office is very busy and you may experience long delays when applying there. When applying, you need to show your outward ticket or prove your ability to purchase such a ticket; your current passport, a recent passport-sized photo and evidence that you still have sufficient funds to support yourself. If you do not have the required funds, you will need a guarantee of accommodation and maintenance from a NZ friend or relative who is willing to be your sponsor.
Photo: TNT Images
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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TONGARIRO CROSSING Made world famous ever since Peter Jackson decided to transform the Tongariro’s Mt Ngauruhoe into Mt Doom in those films, the Crossing is widely touted as being New Zealand’s best day walk. After a steep (and early) start up the aptly-named Devil’s Staircase, you find youself emerging over a peak to see the simply breathtaking Emerald Lakes. It’s a long day, allow 6-8 hours for the walk, meaning it’s well worth staying in nearby village National Park, rather than doing a daytrip from Taupo. Beware that if you’re hoping to also tackle the Mt Doom peak along the way, you’ll want to be picking up the pace from the word go.
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