On NZ Transport Agency website you can find details of new rules, illustrations and explanations.  Hopefully it will reduce confusion for tourists travelling in NZ and it will be less accidents on roads of New Zealand.

Give way rules are changing in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips

At the moment four airports (Queenstown, Hamilton, Rotorua and Wellington) still have departure taxes you need to pay in airport “to receive a cheerful  little sticker on their boarding pass”(*). Here is table with current departure tax at airports in New Zealand (in yellow color are marked changes from previous year):

As you can see from this table your total payable tax can go up to $NZ37.78 if you are arriving to Dunedin ($NZ12.78 passenger services charge) and departing from Wellington ($NZ25.00 departure fee). But if you are doing opposite your total taxes would be only $NZ12.50, i.e. arriving to Wellington ($NZ0.00 passenger services charge) and departing from Christchurch($NZ12.50 passenger services charge). For one person may be it is not big saving, but for families or frequent fliers it can make difference.

Also you should know that at Hamilton and Rotorua airports there are domestic departure tax too, not only international departure fees.  You need to pay a $5 departure fee on domestic services out of these airports.

* quotation  from Wellington airport website http://www.wellington-airport.co.nz/html/airportinfo/charges.php

New Zealand departure tax [2012 update] is a post from: Travel Tips

A car rests in a sink hole caused by liquefaction in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands after a series of earthquakes. Photo / Simon Baker

Actually it were two powerful earthquakes in Christchurch today. It happened less in a year from last large  earthquake in Christchurch on February 22 this year. In this video possible to see what was happening.

In case you are planning your travel to New Zealand, you should check what situation is in Christchurch area as it can be not safe to enter that area.

Check this map www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/today what is happening there right now.

For latest news and updates check live coverage of NZ earthquake on ABC News 24 www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24

Christchurch struck by earthquake again is a post from: Travel Tips

Lake Marian, Fiordland National Park

On these days a lot of bloggers around the world are writting about New Zealand and if you are interested in finding more information about New Zealand visit Blog4NZ website or facebook page.

Is it safe to go to New Zealand now? is a post from: Travel Tips

A is Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony and B is Bushy Beach where yellow eyed penguins are located. For more information check previous post here.

Penguins in New Zealand (map) is a post from: Travel Tips

Last week after earthquake in Christchurch it was a lot of traffic coming to website with question – is it safe to travel there? You should use your common sense. If you saw latest pictures from Christchurch the city is damaged badly, from many homes people are evacuated because of concerns over cracks in the rockface above homes. As many as 500 downtown buildings may be demolished, but rebuilding will not start till aftershocks stop. It doesn’t sound like safe place for walkabout.  Why should you risk to go there? Check pictures on internet instead if you are interested to see how city looks right now. This website has interesting before and after pictures. Above picture is taken from this website.
If you need up today information about situation ad emergency number, visit this website, there you’ll find a lot of useful links.

UPDATE March 3, 2011

The central city of Christchurch remains cordoned off and between the four Avenues (Bealey, Fitzgerald, Moorhouse and Rolleston).
Only emergency workers and residents authorised to access their homes within the cordon.

Check latest information here:
www.civildefence.govt.nz/
www.police.govt.nz/news/release/27316.html

UPDATE December 23, 2011

Today it was another earthquake in Christchurch, so check for latest information, as info in this page can be outdated.

Is it safe to travel to Christchurch is a post from: Travel Tips

Christchurch Earthquake

It less then 6 months passed after last big earthquake in Christchurch last September and it happened again. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch at 12:50 local time. Only this time everything looks much more devastating and will take long time to rebuild city as damage is very bad. Thought some buildings like Anglican cathedral of ChristChurch can be lost forever. Of course it is nothing comparing with lost of lives during this strike.

In case you are planning your travel to New Zealand, you should avoid traveling to Christchurch area as it is not safe as there still a lot of aftershocks Check this map www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz

For latest news and updates check live coverage of NZ earthquake on ABC News 24 www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24

Christchurch struck by another earthquake is a post from: Travel Tips

A year ago I was writing how is annoying to pay annoying departure fee in New Zealand at last minute at airport.  During this year in Christchurch airport (CHC)  were done some changes. Since 1 July 2010 travellers have no longer been required to pay an international departure fee at Christchurch Airport before boarding their flight.  This departure fee has been replaced by a Passenger Services Charge, consisting of $12.50 for both departing and arriving passengers, which is included in the airfare costs and collected by the airlines.

At the moment in two airports (Auckland and Christchurch) there are  no surprise fees, but in other international airports in New Zealand you still need to pay departure fees “to receive a cheerful  little sticker on their boarding pass”(*). Here is table with current fees at airports in New Zealand:

As you can see from this table your total payable tax can go up to $NZ37.50 if you are arriving to Auckland ($NZ12.50 passenger services charge) and departing from Wellington ($NZ25.00 departure fee). But if you are doing opposite your total taxes would be only $NZ12.50, i.e. arriving to Wellington ($NZ0.00 passenger services charge) and departing from Auckland($NZ12.50 passenger services charge). For one person may be it is not big saving, but for families or frequent fliers it can make difference.

* quotation  from Wellington airport website http://www.wellington-airport.co.nz/html/airportinfo/charges.php

Departure fee in New Zealand [update 2011] is a post from: Travel Tips

Probably best place for penguin watching is Omaru town. There it is possible to see both kind of penguins.  Every night they are coming back from the see to the land and you can watch both kinds at the same night even their colonies are on different sides of peninsula because yellow eyed penguins are coming back 1-2 hours earlier then blue eyed penguins. An hour before sunset go to Bushy Beach (about 5 minutes driving from city center) and wait in the hides for yellow eyed penguins appearing from the sea. Just be careful there are seals on that beach too, so don’t step on them
After sunset go to blue eyed penguin colony. There is entry fee there and you watching penguins there. Didn’t find any places where it would be possible to see blue eyed for free in the wild in New Zealand. Let us know if you know any such place and check this web site for other places there it is possible to see penguins.

Map can be found here.

Where to see penguins in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips

In last 3 years I been on and off New Zealand for may be 10 times. I always have great time there, but one thing really annoys every time I am coming to airport to catch my out bound flight. For all international departures you need to pay departure tax (currently it is 25$NZ).
It looks small charge comparing with amount of money you already spent in the country. That is the thing I can’t understand – they collect so much taxes from all tourist industry, as it is expensive country to travel, and it still not enough and just want to ruin all your final memories about New Zealand. Small thing, but I am sure will be remembered by most of tourists. Especially the waiting in whose long lines to pay that fee.

Gladly at least in Auckland airport you don’t need to pay this fee, but keep 25$NZ in you pocket if you are flying out from any other airport in New Zealand.

Departure fee – most annoying thing in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips