What you need to know before you go!
PRINTABLE ITINERARY
RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
MONEY MATTERS- Date: Day 1
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Hotel lobby of Merivale Manor, 122 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8014
- Date: Day 1
- Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Hotel lobby of the Sudima Hotel – Christchurch, 49 Salisbury Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013
- Date: Day 12
- Time: Depart from here anytime today
- Location: Scenic Hotel Cotswold
We recommend using this link to coordinate your departure transfers.
Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.
Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!
- Passport:
Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
- Visa:
You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the New Zealand Consulate for up-to-date information.
Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.
- Customs and Immigration Card Information:
Once your international flight arrives in New Zealand, you’ll proceed through immigration to have your passport checked and be issued your visitor’s permit. You should then collect your luggage before proceeding through customs.
Rules / Regulations | NZ Airports – Christchurch Airport
- Biosecurity:
New Zealand is very strict about checking high-risk biosecurity items so it’s a good idea to:
- Scrub your hiking boots clean and pack them at the top of your luggage. You’ll be asked to declare them and it’s highly likely that they will be inspected. As biosecurity is such a serious threat to our country, you can be fined up to $300 NZD for dirty boots. Check out New Zealand Biosecurity if you’d like to know more about New Zealand’s customs requirements.
- Declare/dump any food items, especially those that contain produce, meat, fruit or dairy.
- Rooming Arrangements:
Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum of two people per room), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner.
- Private Upgrade:
If you’d prefer not to share a bedroom, you have the option to upgrade to a private room. We’ll then arrange for you to have your own bedroom for all 9 nights. If you have already indicated your preference, we will email you a quote once availability is determined. If you are interested, please email support@wildwomenexpeditions.com to request your upgrade.
- Bathrooms:
Generally speaking, in most places you stay, you’ll have an ensuite or private bathroom attached to your bedroom. In some places, we use two bedroom units, in which case you may be sharing a separate bathroom between two to four people. In certain places, there may be a large bathroom with private cubicles which is shared by everyone at that accommodation.
- Internet / WiFi / Cell Coverage:
Internet cafés are everywhere in cities and most towns so you can rely on having access a couple of times a week during the trip. If you have WiFi, then you’ll be able to use your cell phone about 60% of the time during your trip, and 3G/4G is available too for accessing the internet from a smartphone or tablet. WiFi is available at some of the accommodations that you’ll be staying at, usually for a small cost so check this at each location when you arrive.
- Potable Water:
Tap water throughout New Zealand is drinkable.
If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!
GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection
Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge
- Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay
QUICK FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND
- Electricity
New Zealand’s electricity supply runs at 230/240 volts, and uses the angled two orthree-pin plugs (the same as Australia).
- Timezone
New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is the time zone for New Zealand. It is +12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- Common Animals:
- Climate & Weather:
- Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:
Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres. New Zealand banks are open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday. Some are also during weekends.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are widely available at banks, along main shopping streets and in malls.
International credit cards and ATM cards will work as long as they have a four-digit PIN encoded. Check with your bank before leaving home.
Travellers cheques in any of the major currencies (British pound, Euro, US dollar, Australian dollar) can be exchanged into New Zealand dollars on arrival and are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.
Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter
We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.
- Budgeting:
Here is a general guide of what you can expect to pay in New Zealand for a few common items:
- A hotel breakfast: $15-$40 NZ- Goods and Services Tax:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Take every opportunity you can to be active.
You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!
- Rev up your ticker!
Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.
- Join a local walking or running group.
This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.
- Hill training.
The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.
- Warm up, cool down and stretch.
If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.
- Practice ‘backpacking’.
Grab your backpack (or borrow one) and head for the hills! If you’re bringing your own backpack, practice adjusting the various straps so you know how it feels in different positions. We aren’t multi-day hiking every day, but you’ll be carrying a day pack almost everyday, so it’s well worth a bit of practice. Backpacks sit differently and so change your centre of balance when it’s full of gear so make sure you put a few pounds of weight in it in training.
- Break in your hiking boots.
Blisters and sore feet are no fun at all! So make sure that while you’re getting yourself ready you’re doing the same for your boots. Start by just wearing them around the house, then down the road, and walking the dog. Then ideally do a couple of decent length weekend hikes to prepare them for what is to come.
- Hydration.
When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
- Nutrition.
Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!
- Have fun!
The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.