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Answers to commonly asked questions

We know planning an adventure vacation is no small decision, but we try to make the process as easy as possible for you. We’ve been doing this for quite a while, and we’ve heard it all! Either scroll down and have a browse through the questions and answers below, or click on the specific question you’d like to have answered.

Of course, every adventure vacation is different, so feel free to call us at 0808-234-7780 from the UK, or 1-800-661-9073 from the United States or Canada, or +64-3-450-0414 from elsewhere, if you’d like to talk to someone about your trip or have any concerns that aren’t answered here. We’d love to hear from you!

Getting to New Zealand | Basic questions about ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure vacation | Packing for this adventure vacation | What should I do with extra time in New Zealand | General questions about New Zealand

 

 

Can you help me find flights to New Zealand?

There are two airlines with regular, direct service to New Zealand from the United States. These are Air New Zealand and Qantas. Most flights from the United States to New Zealand leave Los Angeles in the evening, and arrive in Auckland the next morning. Air New Zealand has also recently added direct flights between San Francisco and Auckland, and Qantas will soon be offering direct flights between New York and Sydney, which have lots of connections across the Tasman. Because the flights cross the international dateline, the arrival dates can be confusing. For instance, a flight leaving Los Angeles on Saturday evening will not arrive in New Zealand until Monday morning/afternoon. Conversely, flights back to the US from New Zealand often arrive on the same date as they left - so it's possible to fly out of Auckland at 9pm on a Friday, for instance, and arrive in Los Angeles at 2pm on that same Friday. This phenomenon allows you to do a full 14-day trip in New Zealand, leaving North America on Saturday afternoon, spending the 14 days from Saturday to Sunday on one of our trips, and be back at work on Monday morning.

If you are coming from Europe or elsewhere, you can connect through Los Angeles, but also check out services run by Emirates, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and KLM.

For flights from the US, we strongly recommend contacting Down Under Answers, in Seattle. DUA is very good at finding decent airfares, on account of the large volume of US-New Zealand and US-Australia flights they book. They know all about matching up flights with ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND trips and can often offer our clients really good rates so make sure you tell them that you are looking at taking an ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND trip and they will probably find you the cheapest airfare in North America! Unfortunately, flights to NZ are never really cheap, as it's a small place on the bottom of the world. You can expect your flights to range from about US$800 to US$1600, depending on the season. You should never have to pay much more than the last figure, and for most of our summer season you should be able to find flights for about US$1400 or so. You can call Down Under Answers from the US or Canada on 800 788 6685. For a recommendation in countries outside North America, contact us directly.

What about domestic flights within New Zealand?

Most international flights arrive and depart from Auckland, on the North Island. Our Kauri trip starts and ends in Auckland, but for our South Island trips, you'll also need flights between Auckland and Christchurch or Queenstown. This is usually easy to arrange when you reserve your international flights, but it's worth checking for internet specials online. Go to Air New Zealand's website at www.airnz.co.nz or Qantas at www.qantas.co.nz. (HINT: They don't advertise this fact, but Air New Zealand offers their lowest ESaver rates for people who "reside in New Zealand") .

Can you tell me where and when the trips start and end so I can reserve my flights?

Here's a table of start and end times & places on all our trips. Please note that we have provided two times - the recommended times and the acceptable or "OK" times. The recommended times allow you to arrive and depart with a little more grace - but the start times marked OK are the LATEST acceptable start times - and the OK departure times are the FIRST acceptable end times. You can book flights leaving 45 minutes after our first acceptable end times. We're afraid we can't wait any longer, or arrive any earlier, than these times. We know it's sometimes difficult to find the perfect flights, due to limited airline capacity to and within New Zealand , so we'll do our best to ensure you are picked up, shuttled, dropped off, etc., if you can't find the perfect flights for them and have to arrive late or leave early - just let us know and we'll sort it out!

For the exact locations of where the trips start and finish, see the answer to the Where do I meet up with my group? question below.

Can you help me redeem frequent flier miles for tickets or an upgrade?

Many of our clients have managed to get the international portion of their airfare or an upgrade to business or first class by trading in miles. There are two rules for doing this:

1. Get in early! Like really early - the fares open up a year or more before travel, so if you feel an exciting adventure coming on, call your airline frequent flier programme NOW!!

2. Things change! If you've called your airline, and they've said there's no availability for your frequent flier miles, don't worry too much. Call them back the next day. And the next. And the next… Calvin Coolidge said that persistence is the most effective human quality, and that is never more true than with frequent flier programmes!

If you DO manage to redeem your frequent flier miles, you'll probably only get a free flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, in the North Island. If you're joining one of our South Island trips, keep in mind you'll need a further round-trip ticket to Christchurch or Queenstown to meet up with us.

Do I need a visa? What about shots?

You will need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months, regardless of your citizenship. US citizens should automatically get a 3-month visitors permit upon arrival. If you are a citizen of another country, you can check if you need one on the "Guide for visiting New Zealand" found here. You may also be asked for proof that you have funds to cover your stay (eg. a bank statement).

As for immunization, New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world. No shots are required to come to New Zealand and none are currently recommended by the World Heath Organization.

Do you recommend buying travel insurance?

We strongly recommend that all travellers obtain suitable insurance at the time of booking to provide cover in the event of illness or injury, medical evacuation, theft, trip interruption, loss of luggage and personal effects, cancellation or other travel mishap.  Trip cancellation insurance and other insurance types can be obtained through local travel agents, or online brokers such as www.travelguard.com or www.worldnomad.com.

Where do I meet up with my group?

RIMU: Your trip starts in Christchurch in the morning and ends in Christchurch in the afternoon. Our pick-up schedule is as follows:

We can have you at Christchurch airport by 2pm on the last day of the Rimu, if necessary, but it is more comfortable to plan your flights from 3pm onwards.

If your Rimu leaves from Queenstown, we'll pick up from the airport at 12.00 on the first day - and if you're already in Queenstown, we'll pick you up from outside the Station building, on the corner of Camp and Shotover streets, at 11.30 am on the first day. You'll be spending the last night in Queenstown, so you can choose to fly out anytime the next day, if you choose to.

KAURI: Your trip starts in Auckland in the morning and ends in Auckland in the afternoon. Our pick-up schedule is as follows:

You'll arrive back in Auckland on the last day of the Kauri at about 5 pm.

MANUKA: This trip starts in Christchurch in the morning and ends in Christchurch in the afternoon. Our pick-up schedule is as follows:

We can have you at Christchurch airport by 2pm on the last day of the Manuka, if necessary, but it is more comfortable to plan your flights from 3pm onwards.

TUI: This trip starts in Christchurch and ends in Queenstown. Our pick-up schedule is as follows:

How many people are there on each trip?

We generally take up to 14 people per trip, although this can vary, and all our trips have at least 2 of our guides to look after you. We have found that our trips tend to attract a particular kind of person and many people have commented that the social scene was one of the highlights of their trip!

Why do you run trips in two directions?

Because some of our trips are so popular, we often run two trips simultaneously, with generally no more than 14 guests on any one trip. We stay at some pretty small out-of-the-way places, so we operate one trip starting southbound around the South Island and the other one starting northbound. This also gives us the flexibility to arrange each trip for the best social mix. The itineraries we publish generally happen to be northbound, but it doesn't matter which way around you go, since both trips start and end in the same place at the same time. If for any reason you'd like to be on a particular departure (northbound or southbound) just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you if we can, although this isn't always possible, depending on the trip configuration.

What if I have a preference for a particular direction?

As you know, we often run two trips on the same departure, one in each direction. We do it this way so as not to run with large groups, and to keep down our impact on the cool places we visit! This works well for a number of reasons, one of which is that we can also make an attempt to put people on particular trips, on demographic lines. It's an inexact science, but we try to - for instance - maybe put older people on one trip, younger on the other. Or single travellers on one trips, couples on the other. And so on. We find this helps us get the best social mix on our trips, and although of course it's hard to predict what will be the EXACT best mix, we find we get pretty good results, and you'll find the social scene to be a real highlight of your trip! We generally encourage people to leave the choice up to us, as we try to allocate people on demographic grounds. Generally it shouldn't make any difference to your trip which order we run it in, as we still go to all the same places, but if you have a preference, we will do our best to honour it, if possible.

What are the accommodations like?

We use a wide variety of accommodations depending on the trip you have chosen. In the 11 years we've been running trips, we think we've found most of the coolest places to stay! Each of our trips has a slightly different focus in terms of accommodations. The Rimu is an uncompromising adventure-oriented trip and if you want to get off the beaten path, this is the trip for you! The Tui is similar although we stay in a luxurious country lodge rather than visiting the spectacular but rustic Okarito. We operate the Manuka for people who prefer a somewhat higher level of personal comfort but who nonetheless would like to experience the best active adventure New Zealand has to offer. The accommodation on the Manuka is of a uniformly high standard, whereas if you are on a Rimu, you may spend 2 nights in the wilderness in mountain huts that don't have electricity let alone hot showers.

In general, our accommodations are selected for their stunning setting and adventuresome feel. You'll love the places you'll stay in on our trips, but it's not designed as a tour of the fanciest hotels in New Zealand. You'll stay in some nice B&Bs and lodges -- but you won't find a phone by your bed in the mountain huts or a TV at the shearer's quarters! Because there's such a variety of accommodations on this trip, some places will have ensuite bathrooms, and some will have shared bathrooms. We also occasionally make changes to the night stops (i.e. accommodation), because the nature of the places we use is such that they are not 100% available.

Will I be getting an ensuite or will I have to share bathrooms?

Because there's such a variety of accommodations on our trips, some places will have ensuite bathrooms, and some will have shared bathrooms. On the Manuka, the accommodation is generally a little more comfortable and there will be more ensuites. However, on all trips, we will be asking you to share a bathroom with others on occasion.

What are the different room types?

Our trips are based on a twin-share rate, which means that if you don't have a travel partner we'll match you up with another person of the same gender to share a room. If we can't find a roommate for you, we don't charge you a single supplement.

Here in New Zealand things are definitely "less grand", compared to the USA (we tend to like smaller cars too)!

What is the private room supplement?

If you request a private room, you'll have your own bedroom everywhere on the trip where available (and with the exception of during the Milford Track Guided Walk). For example, on the Rimu trip, single rooms are not available in the mountain huts, Gunn's Camp and occasionally at Braemar Station. Our accommodations are chosen for their unique character and location, so as a result there's a great deal of variety in the accommodations. In some of the places we stay you'll have ensuite bathrooms, and in other places we'll be asking you to share a bathroom. But I'm sure you're aware that our trips are not a tour of the great hotels of the world, and we find that our people usually love the places we stay!

Please note that on trips including the Milford Track Guided Walk, an additional supplement will be required to secure a private room on part of the trip - see below.

What is a Milford Track Private room?

What if I need a special diet?

We are accustomed to catering to the following special diets:

You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in our pre-trip questionnaire. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or the online questionnaire.

What kind of things are there to do on my free day in Queenstown?

Queenstown rightly has the reputation of being the Adventure Capital of New Zealand. All manner of adventurous activities can be tried here, ranging from the infamous Bungy-jumping, through river-surfing, jetboat-riding, white-water rafting, parascending, parapenting, hang-gliding, sky-diving, and a whole lot more. It is also a great area for hiking or mountain-biking. For a more leisurely time you can take a Wine Tour or cruise across to Walter Peak Station on the steamship Earnslaw, or sample some of the extremely pleasant cafes and restaurants dotted around the very picturesque town.

For more information, visit our Queenstown information page.

How do I book the Heli-Hiking and other optional activities?

As far as heli-hiking goes your guides will be more than happy to arrange a booking for you while you're on the road - that's plenty of advance warning. I should also let you know that this is obviously a very weather dependent activity, which is another reason why we don't book it until closer to the time...

For any optional activities you might want to do on your free day in Queenstown, we will swing by a booking office on our way into town, so that you can book on any kind of activity that takes your fancy, be it bungy jumping, jet boating, sky diving, or something more gentle like horse riding or a wine tour.

How much spending money should I bring

Our trips include all transportation, guiding, meals (except where indicated on the itinerary - such as in Queenstown where people like to try the local restaurants), and activities (unless it says it's "optional"). For most trips, you could literally bring US$100 and go home with change, but realistically you'll be looking at at least a couple of hundred dollars, as most people like to bring a little extra to cover a round of drinks at the pub, take home some souvenirs, book a tour and eat out on their free day in Queenstown, and tip our guides if they've had a great time (see the FAQ on tipping below).

As far as spending money goes here are a few ideas:

Where can I get New Zealand dollars?

You can change some money at the airport, when you arrive. The exchange rate isn't always very good, but for small amounts of cash it doesn't make much difference. Credit cards generally have the best rate of exchange. Travelers' cheques are nearly as good, and US cash is the worst.

Is tipping expected in New Zealand?

Tipping is neither required nor routinely expected in New Zealand, but it is appropriate for very good service. So in New Zealand you don't usually tip in restaurants, or if you take a taxi, or get a haircut. Many of our clients do choose to tip our guides, at the end of an awesome trip.

Will I be able to call home?

Although telecommunications in New Zealand are pretty good, you'll find we don't spend much time near phones! We certainly don't spend much time near faxes or computers with email! The easiest way to make calls within New Zealand is to buy a phone card (available everywhere in $5, $10, $20 and $50 amounts) and use Cardphones, which are the most common public phones. To make calls home, it's usually cheaper to use a US based phone card, but check the rates with your company before you leave home! Some US based companies charge more than US$5 a minute. Be careful!

Will I have access to the internet?

There are a several internet cafes in Christchurch and Queenstown, and you may be able to send an email home from a few other of the places we pass through on the trip. We encourage you to leave the world behind for a couple of weeks, though!

Is there a number to call in an emergency? How can my family, friends or colleagues contact me?

If you have any difficulties in making the rendezvous for your trip, please call our Operations Manager on the following numbers:

Office: 03 450 0410 (+64 3 450 0410 outside NZ)

Cellphone: 0274 546 137 (+64 274 546 137 outside NZ)

These are also the emergency contact numbers for your friends and family if necessary and are attended 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

IMPORTANT NOTE Cell phone numbers are for GENUINE emergencies only. Please be considerate of time differences - New Zealand is ten hours behind USA Eastern Standard Time.

What is your cancellation policy?

We require a US$500 deposit per person to secure your place on your chosen trip/s. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable to another departure date or trip. In the event that it becomes necessary for you to cancel the trip, the balance of the trip cost will be refunded according to the following schedule:

 

Do you have a gear list of the stuff I need to bring?

You'll find gear lists for each trip (in PDF format) on this page. As you will see, we provide just about everything you'll need except warm clothes and good boots. On some trips, you'll need to bring a backpack and a sleeping bag as well, but we can rent you one or both of these items.

Do I really need everything on the gearlist?

Yes, you really do need all of the required items on the gearlist. We want you to be warm and happy, especially if it's cold and rainy. And it can be cold and rainy at any time of year, although you are most likely to have good weather for most of your trip. We will do a gear check before heading into the mountains, and if you don't have any of the required clothing items, we'll try to lend you it. But if we can't find any for you to borrow, you'll have to buy it.

Do I need a sleeping bag?

RIMU - You will need a sleeping bag regardless of which option you're doing. If you are doing the backpacking option on the Rimu trip, you will be using a sleeping bag for 5 nights of the Rimu trip. If you are doing the kayaking or cycling options you will need a sleeping bag for 3 nights of the trip - two nights at Braemar Station, Mt Cook, and one night at Gunn's Camp. If you would prefer not to bring one, we have sleeping bags available for rent for US$35 plus tax per person per trip.

TUI - You will need a sleeping bag for the overnight trip into Siberia Hut. If you would prefer not to bring one, we have sleeping bags available for rent for US$35 plus tax per person per trip.

MANUKA - Sleeping bag not required

Do I need a backpack, and if so, how big?

Rimu - You'll need a large pack for the 3 day backpacking option of the Rimu trip (if you're doing the kayak or cycle options you won't need one!). We recommend packs that are around 60-70L (3500-4500 cubic inches) in size for the backpacking section. You will need to carry your sleeping bag, rain gear, clothing for 3 days/2 nights, some water, your toiletries and a small portion of the group food. The rest of your gear is left behind and we store it for you. A day pack is not big enough but your don't need a full trekking pack either. Many people find a weekend pack works well for them. If you have your own pack which you know fits you well, then I would recommend bringing it, otherwise we can rent you one for US$35 plus tax, per person.

Manuka - You'll need a medium sized pack for 5 days of the Manuka trip on the Hollyford or Milford Track. We recommend packs that are around 40L (2500 cubic inches) in size. You will be carrying your clothes for 3 days, your toiletries, a packed lunch, some water, your camera, a raincoat, and any personal items. One pack would be fine for both the Track and the day hikes. The rest of your gear is left behind and we store it for you. A day pack is not big enough but your don't need a full size trekking pack either. If you have your own pack which you know fits you well then I would recommend bringing it, otherwise both Milford & Hollyford Tracks can loan you one free of charge.

Tui - You'll need a medium sized pack the 2 days of the Tui trip where we overnight hike to Siberia Hut. We recommend packs that are around 40L (2500 cubic inches) in size. You will need a pack big enough so fit your sleeping bag, overnight clothing & other personal items in. The rest of your gear is left behind and we store it for you. One pack would be fine for both the overnight trip and the day hikes. If you have your own pack which you know fits you well, then I would recommend bringing it, otherwise we can rent you one for US$35 plus tax, per person, but please let us know in advance.

Do I need hiking boots or are hiking sneakers okay?

You will need proper hiking boots - Trail shoes are not good enough. We'll be taking you to some awesome places where you'll be hiking over a variety of terrain, including uneven surfaces, slippery rocks, and tree roots. Your boots should have boots with full ankle support and a stiff sole with high profile tread. Waterproof boots are a good idea if you have them as there's a good chance you'll be crossing streams and rivers too. As far as your gear goes it's a great idea to get those boots broken in - as far as the boot type goes, as long as they have with full ankle support and a stiff sole with high profile tread they should be fine. I wouldn't be too worried about goretex liners but if that's the ones you want then go for it!

What kind of clothing should I be packing?

In general the best way to pack for New Zealand is to have a layered clothing system - this way you're prepared no matter what the weather as it can change quite considerably throughout the day. Also bear in mind that you can wash your clothes approximately every 4 days, if that helps with your packing.

What should I wear for hiking?

We recommend wearing clothes made from the quick drying, "breathable" fabrics. There are a wide variety of these types of clothes available at outdoor stores such as REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated). Brands such as Marmot, Patagonia and North Face are quite popular, although some "no-name" brands can be just as good and more economical. We recommend you don't wear jeans for any activities as they get very heavy & uncomfortable if they get wet, which you will at some stage during your trip. The same clothing can be worn for hiking, cycling and kayaking. We recommend wearing hiking pants or shorts, and shirts or t-shirts made from these quick drying, "breathable" fabrics. In cooler weather we recommend using thermal underwear - these are worn under your pants & t-shirts for an extra layer of warmth. On top we recommend sweaters made from fleece or wool - again because they keep you warm even when you are wet. As an outer layer we recommend a medium weight waterproof jacket - a poncho is not suitable as it is too lightweight and a sailing jacket is generally too heavy for hiking in. Jackets made from Goretex or Marmot's PreCip are highly recommended.

What should I wear for biking, and what is provided?

During the trips we'll provide you with modern 21 speed mountain bikes. We'll also provide you with helmets which are required by law here in New Zealand, as well as bright safety vests so you're obvious to other road users. Our bikes mostly have pedals with cages/toe baskets. If you'd like to bring your own pedals and shoes for cycling that's fine - I would also recommend bringing the tool for switching your pedals too, as we don't always carry them on our trips. For this activity we recommend bringing cycling shorts & cycle gloves if you have them, and running shoes, otherwise regular hiking gear (NO COTTON!) will do fine.

What should I wear for kayaking, and what is provided?

During the Rimu trip we'll provide you with modern two person sea kayaks, and all the necessary safety equipment, including 'Dry Bags' to keep the essentials dry. You will basically need to wear similar clothing to if you were hiking. We suggest the following: quick drying shorts & t-shirts, thermal underwear, fleece or wool sweater (stays warm if wet), sandals such as Tevas, or some old running shoes that you can get wet & NO COTTON!

Do I need dress clothing for going out to dinner or to a club?

Not really. New Zealand is a very casual country and you would be comfortable and appropriately dressed for almost any dining establishment or club in jeans or khakis.

Will I be able to do laundry during my trip?

You will have access to laundry facilities approximately every 4 days. You won't need to bring laundry soap as it's provided.

How much luggage can I bring?

We recommend bringing one medium sized piece of luggage and one daypack per person. If you are doing the backpacking option on the Rimu trip, you could just use your hiking backpack. If you are doing the kayaking or cycling options on the Rimu, then a duffle bag or suitcase would be fine. While you're doing your 3 day option we'll store the rest of your extra gear for you - you don't have to lug it with you! You may wish to bring a soft overnight bag to store this extra gear.

I need to bring extra luggage with me to New Zealand. Where can I store my extra gear?

As far as extra luggage goes, if there's not too much (such as one small extra bag per person) then it shouldn't be a problem to fit it in our luggage trailer during the trip. If you've got more than that, then all major aiports in have luggage facilities available on a weekly basis. If you are staying at a hotel pre-trip then they may be able to store it for you until you return too.

Do I have to carry everything I bring during the backpacking trip in Nelson Lakes National Park?

No, you don't have to carry everything you bring to New Zealand with you while you are backpacking in Nelson Lakes National Park. You will need to carry your sleeping bag, rain gear, clothing for 2 days/3 nights, some water, your toiletries and a portion of the food. The rest of your gear is left behind and we store it for you.

What types of plugs and voltage do you use in New Zealand?

New Zealand voltage is 240 AC. On the right is an illustration of the socket type used in New Zealand.

Can I use my laptop PC for the internet in New Zealand?

If you're bringing your laptop pc and want to collect your e-mail, you will need to make sure you bring the correct adapter plug for your modem ( see pics ). Also in New Zealand apparently our telephone cables are wired in reverse to the US's and you will need an adapter lead. Contact your modem supplier for info on this. You'll also need to contact your ISP before you come down here and make sure you have all the necessary dialup and server settings to access your mail from New Zealand. The illustration on the right shows a US Modem --> Wall as opposed to a New Zealand Modem --> Wall connector.

Will my cell phone work in New Zealand?

Your cell phone may or may not work in NZ full stop - a lot of cell phone companies say they will but they're wrong - but there's certainly very little coverage on our trip routes. And if I were you, I'd put the thing in a suitcase and not look at it for two weeks! You may like to bear in mind that a lot of our clients have come to NZ on one of our trips to ESCAPE call phones, emails, faxes, etc!

Do I need to bring anything to purify water for drinking?

No, it's always okay to drink the tap water and just about always OK to drink from streams and rivers when you're hiking. There will be signs posted if the water is not safe to drink.

Can you book a hotel for us before or after our trip?

We offer accommodations at the Holiday Inn City Centre and the Heritage Hotel (depending on availability) in Christchurch, Aline Apartments in Queenstown and Quest Auckland Apartments in Auckland for US$130 + tax/room/night regardless of the time of year. You are welcome to contact any of these hotel directly as well (see below) as you may be able to take advantage of seasonal specials or weekend rates.

If you'd like to book a hotel for yourself or would like a less expensive option, take a look at some of the accommodation suggestions on our specific pages for Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown.

You can also visit http://www.purenz.com/ for other accommodations.

Can I rent a car to travel around on my own before or after my trip?

Avis or Hertz are international companies with locations in New Zealand and you can arrange a booking yourself from the US. Due to competition, their rates are very competitive with the smaller local operators. Also they have offices located throughout New Zealand both at airports & in the cities.

I have a few days in Auckland before or after my trip. Can you give me some ideas of things to do while I'm there?

For a bit more detail on some things you might want to do in and around Auckland, check out our Auckland information page.

I have a few days in Christchurch before or after my trip. Can you give me some ideas of things to do while I'm there?

For ideas of things to do in and around Christchurch, whether it be for a few free hours or days, check out our Christchurch information page.

What's the best way to travel between Queenstown and Christchurch at the start or end of my trip?

To get between Queenstown & Christchurch at the start/end of your trip, you can either catch a plane or catch a shuttle bus. If you're short on time, flying is probably the best option, but if you have time to spare then I'd recommend catching a shuttle as it's economical and there are beautiful views along the way. If you feel like braving New Zealand's windy roads then renting a car may even be an option! Here's a few more details for you:

1) FLIGHT (45 min flight, several a day): Airfares within New Zealand are easy to purchase online with a credit card. We recommend booking as far in advance as possible, as while prices can be as low as about US$100 one-way, the cheapest seats always sell out quickly! The domestic airlines in New Zealand are:
Air New Zealand: www.airnz.co.nz
Qantas Airways: www.qantas.co.nz
Hint! They don't advertise this fact, but Air New Zealand offers their lowest ESaver rates for people who "reside in New Zealand" via the ".co.nz" websites rather than via the ".com" websites. This may limit you to non-refundable, non-transferable tickets but the savings can often make this drawback worthwhile…

2) SHUTTLE BUS (7 hours, morning and afternoon): Atomic Shuttles, Intercity Coaches and Wanaka Connexions all operate services between these two towns. ACTIVE NZ can make you a shuttle reservation for you for around US$40 + tax (pre-payment is required) if you let us know via email at least one month before your ACTIVE NZ trip starts, otherwise you can make a booking direct via one the following companies:
Atomic Shuttles: www.atomictravel.co.nz
Intercity Coaches: www.intercity.co.nz
Wanaka Connexions: www.time2.co.nz/transport/wanaka_connexions

Where is New Zealand?

New Zealand lies southeast of Australia. Approximate flight times are:

How big is New Zealand?

New Zealand is 1000 miles (1600 km) north to south with an area of 166,527 sq miles (268,000 sq kms). It comprises two major islands: the North Island and the South Island, and a number of small islands.

What will the weather be like?

The weather in New Zealand is less predictable than in the States or Europe. The South Island is only 150 miles wide, divided by a chain of large mountains, so there are all sorts of local weather patterns. Generally though, you can expect the daytime temperatures to be in the mid 60s and up in the off season and mid 70s and up in the middle of summer. It can get very hot at times and it can rain at any time of year. So long as you bring the gear we recommend, we'll have lots of fun - whatever the weather!

Can you recommend any books to read?

There is a real surfeit of guide books out there for New Zealand. The two we highly recommend are "The Lonely Planet Guide to Hiking in New Zealand" (N.B. Different from the Lonely Planet for New Zealand itself) and also the Sierra Club has a great book called "Adventuring in New Zealand". I think you can get them both from Amazon.com.

Can you recommend any movies/videos to watch?

New Zealand has featured in several big budget movie productions. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Lord of the Rings trilogy which was filmed entirely in New Zealand. Many of our tours travel through areas that doubled as Middle Earth during the production of the three films. Here is a list of some other movies you might have seen that feature New Zealand's famous scenery. New Zealand also featured as the location of the 2001 Eco Challenge, you can read more about this here.

What time is it right now in New Zealand?

To find out the time click here.