Guide · Trans-Tasman travel ·
New Zealand holiday for Australians: entry and planning
New Zealand holiday for Australians planning is simple at the border. Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand, and the same goes for Australian residents who hold a current resident return visa. The harder choice is where to spend your time, because the North and South Islands offer very different trips.
This guide covers the entry rules, the quarantine fines to avoid, the safety notes for Canterbury, and a plain way to pick an island.
Sources for this section: Australian Government, Smartraveller travel advice for New Zealand.
Entry rules for Australians
You do not apply for anything before you fly. Carry your Australian passport, and check that it is valid on the day you arrive in New Zealand. If you hold a resident return visa instead of citizenship, carry that as well.
- Passport: an Australian passport, valid on the day of arrival.
- Dual citizens: if you hold both Australian and New Zealand citizenship, use a current Australian passport to enter or leave Australia.
- Criminal record or deportation: Smartraveller advises anyone with criminal convictions, or anyone who has been deported from any country, to contact the nearest New Zealand High Commission or Consulate well before travel and ask about visa requirements.
- Check again before you go: entry conditions can change, so confirm them with the New Zealand Immigration Service.
Keep a copy of a recent passport photo in your luggage. If your passport is lost, it speeds up a replacement.
Sources for this section: Australian Government, Smartraveller travel advice for New Zealand (entry and exit).
Quarantine and customs
New Zealand has strict quarantine regulations. Officers issue instant fines to travellers who fail to declare quarantinable items on arrival. When in doubt, declare it on your arrival card.
Think about what is in your bag before you pack. Food, plant material and used outdoor gear are the usual trouble spots. Walking boots and tents with soil or seeds on them are an easy thing to miss, so clean them first.
Sources for this section: Australian Government, Smartraveller travel advice for New Zealand.
North Island or South Island
Most short trips work best on one island. Tourism New Zealand describes the two islands this way.
| Island | What it is known for | Places to start |
|---|---|---|
| North Island | Active volcanoes, geothermal areas, Maori culture, beaches and cities | Auckland, Rotorua, the Coromandel, Wellington |
| South Island | Alps, glacial valleys, lakes, ski fields, wildlife and wine | Queenstown, Christchurch and Canterbury, Marlborough |
Choose the North Island if you like culture, food and short drives between sights. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and main transport hub, so it is a natural place to land. Rotorua is the place for Maori culture, hot springs and boiling mud pools. Hawke's Bay is known as wine country, and the Coromandel is one of the best-loved holiday areas for beaches and native forest.
Choose the South Island if mountains and open space matter most. Queenstown is one of the country's top visitor destinations. Marlborough is the largest wine region and home of sauvignon blanc. Tourism New Zealand also says the island has 10 national parks.
Sources for this section: Tourism New Zealand, North Island and South Island destination pages (newzealand.com).
Walks and time outdoors
If walking is part of your plan, the Department of Conservation runs nine Great Walks. It calls them premier tracks through forests, lakes, rivers, mountain peaks and gorges. They are Lake Waikaremoana, the Tongariro Northern Circuit, the Whanganui Journey, the Abel Tasman Coast Track, the Heaphy Track, the Routeburn Track, the Kepler Track, the Milford Track and the Rakiura Track.
These tracks are spread across both islands. Check the Department of Conservation site for the details of each one, including how to book huts, before you fix your dates. A single Great Walk can anchor a whole week of the trip.
Sources for this section: New Zealand Department of Conservation, Great Walks.
Safety notes for Canterbury
New Zealand is subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Smartraveller points travellers to the Earthquake Commission for guidance on what to do in an earthquake or other natural disaster.
The Canterbury region is still recovering from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Smartraveller says aftershocks will continue for several years and that significant earthquakes are still possible. Many damaged buildings in central Christchurch and the eastern and seaside suburbs have been removed or fenced, but damaged buildings remain. Do not enter or approach them, and obey security barriers. Strict access controls apply in the central city, and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority publishes updates on cordon zones.
Arrange comprehensive travel insurance before you leave, and check what activities it covers. This is general information, not medical advice.
Sources for this section: Australian Government, Smartraveller travel advice for New Zealand (safety and security).
A simple planning checklist
- Check your Australian passport is valid on the day you arrive.
- Confirm entry conditions with the New Zealand Immigration Service if you have a record or past deportation.
- Pick one island for a trip of a week or less.
- Choose your one anchor, such as Rotorua, Queenstown or a Great Walk.
- Clean boots, tents and bags, and declare food and plant items.
- Buy travel insurance and read what it covers.
Rules and conditions change, so check the official pages below before you book. More trip ideas are on our guides page.
Sources
- Australian Government, Smartraveller, New Zealand travel advice: smartraveller.gov.au (archived copy: web.archive.org)
- Tourism New Zealand, North Island: newzealand.com (archived copy)
- Tourism New Zealand, South Island: newzealand.com (archived copy)
- New Zealand Department of Conservation, Great Walks: doc.govt.nz (archived copy)