New Zealand Travelling Tips

I have spent the better part of the years since September, 1995 on the road around New Zealand and developed a good understanding of the needs of what is helpful when travelling around New Zealand.

Here’s a few pointers travellers from other countries probably aren’t aware of:

1) Regardless of what the tourist infomation centres tell people about tipping, it is appreciated in NZ. Unlike the U.S.A where it seems mandatory, here it is a show by a customer of satisfaction of the service. Usually ranging from change in your pocket to an
amount added to the bill by the customer when paying, never added by the staff.

2) Working in N.Z. is relatively easy due to the usual lack of seasonal workers from the local population, as long as you get a tax number (short for Inland Revenue Department taxation, blah, blah, blah). The complicated (not) process of getting this, involves the applicant going along to the I.R.D in on of the bigger centres (Wellington is good for this) and applying for filling out a form with some I.D (even your passport will do). Your tax number will arrive within 7-10 working days, or you can go along and ask a couple of days later and they will tell you.

I have never heard of a person being turned down, no matter what visa they are travelling on. The attitude of the N.Z. government seems to be that of we would rather have you pay tax than not pay tax if you are hoping to be working.

3) Accommodation in New Zealand, regardless of N.Z’s famous hospitality, is shoddy. This seems to come from the “she’ll be right attitude” (“Hey the roof doesn’t leak, so what’s the problem?” – “If you don’t like it you can always stay somewhere else”. Well usually not this bad but you get the picture).

Under N.Z. law there is protection for the consumer of goods and services. If a service is advertised you can expect to get it, or at least get a discount if not all your money back (i.e: If you book into a place in advance and you arrive to find the type of accommodation you have booked is full, you should be able to get something else at a discounted rate). If a business is reluctant to give you at least a discount ask for a letter on the business’s letterhead to the Consumer’s Institute (a watch dog group) explaining why they won’t give a discount, as you will be writing to them to complain. This usually works as what business
wants bad press, rather than losing a couple of dollars right?!

4)Here’s a few places I’ve stayed:
Rated on a scale of 1 (you will have to pay me to stay here) to 10 (this place is a palace), this rating system works on general condition, how good the showers are, size of room to how many people expected to sleep in it, the comfort of the beds, friendliness/helpfulness of the staff & what other people are staying there are like.

The infamous Rosemere’s Downtown Backpackers of Wellington
(3.5 out 10)
I have stayed here on three different occasions now due to it’s cost and closeness to the nightlife centre of Wellington. The “BBH guide” has ranked it the lowest of all it’s members since I can remember and on this occasion they are right. The owner of the place is a guy called Roger, who won’t spend any money on the place, but rather squeeze as many people into it as he can without them sleeping on top of each other. Mind you saying that, if you do get stuck for accommodation, it pays to turn up and offer $10 to sleep on the floor as they usually won’t turn you down.

They offer a discounted weekly rate (last time I stayed it was $90/week or charge about $17/night for a dorm room). The showers are good except between 9am and 12noon when people who are leaving use up the hot water and the cleaners are trying to work. A lot has to said for the freindliness of the people staying there (a lot of English and Japanese) which help make your stay a little more hospitable.

Noah’s Ark – Graymouth

(7 out of 10)
Nice sized rooms, a bit crazy with the stuffed toys. A nice Oasis to arrive in with a nice warm and cosy feel to it (when I stayed there I had spent 9 hours hitch hiking, 3 of which was spent in the rain). Crappy showers though, but the bed made up for it. Staff were quite cool (the owners I think) with good local knowledge.

Alan’s Place – Nelson

(8.5 out of 10)
Fantastic Place. Good Showers, comfy beds. Even a scone and hot drink when we arrived. The owner made us a sign for hitching the next day and dropped us at a good starting spot. Only real problem was they forgot to pick us up.

For any other simmilar info about New Zealand I can contacted at hamblesfamily@yahoo.com.

I am also looking for info on travelling in Australia from Melbourne to Sydney (in early June 2000), the States from Los Angeles to San Francisco (the rest of June), U.K and Amsterdam (July) and the cheap ways of getting to Prague (in July, August) for two adults and a toddler.