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Cheap Flights to New Zealand
After almost 20,000km, the moment when travellers, on their flights to New Zealand, see those two islands appear on the seat-back map, invites a gasp.
New Zealand’s two islands are breathtaking, sometimes appearing unreal. Towering mountains, simmering volcanoes, sweeping sandy beaches, majestic fjords (in aptly named Fiordland), glacial lakes and lush rainforests… it’s no wonder that when the makers of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia wanted to portray fairytale lands, they went on location to New Zealand.
More than a third of New Zealand’s land area is within a park or reserve. There are about 15,000 kilometres of coastline and more than 25 marine reserves.
A country the same size as the UK, it has a population of only four million. Its cities – Auckland and Wellington in the north and Christchurch and Dunedin in the south – are bright and bustling, but not crowded.
New Zealand has a tolerant and multi-cultural society. The indigenous Maori people have a fascinating culture, which has informed many parts of New Zealand life. With their non-Maori neighbours, New Zealanders are a friendly, laidback lot, outdoorsy with a famous Kiwi ruggedness.
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New Zealand climate
The New Zealand climate is variable. On the North Island winters are mild and summers are warm and humid. On the South Island it’s colder, the landscape features snowfields and glaciers. The mountains get snow in the winter and the west coast sees most of the rain. A Southern Hemisphere country, the summer lasts from November to April.
When to fly to New Zealand
Peak Season:
December, January and February. These are New Zealand’s summer months. Average temperatures are between 20 and 30 degrees.
Off Season:
Flights to New Zealand are cheaper during July and August. Average winter temperatures are 10-15 degrees.
Shoulder Season:
March through May. This is autumn. Temperatures are slightly cooler than summer, but the weather can still be excellent and this is the time of year for beautiful autumn foliage in Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay in particular. The spring months (September to November) can be excellent times to visit too.
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Getting around New Zealand
Air New Zealand offers domestic New Zealand flights. On the North Island, Air Chathams provides scheduled air services while Air National and Skylink provide charter flights. On the South Island Stewart Island Flights, Air Canterbury and Air Milford operate.
The country has a good public transport system (bus and coach) connecting cities to popular tourist destinations. Apart from renting a car to get around – remember to drive on the left – some travellers rent motor homes to drive and sleep.
Tranz Scenic runs two railways on the South Island. The TranzCoastal operates between Picton and Christchurch; and the TranzAlpine links Christchurch and Greymouth.
