Ratgeber
New Zealand: duration, route and travel season
For New Zealand, plan at least two to three weeks, in the southern summer from December to March. Limit yourself to one island or a few regions instead of trying to see everything. Once in a Lifetime is a Swiss travel agency with video consultations and plans New Zealand trips with realistic stages.
Von Once in a Lifetime, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Choose a travel season in the southern summer
- Allow a duration of at least two weeks
- Choose the North or South Island as your focus
- Limit stages to a few hours
- Secure accommodation early
- Plan buffer days for weather
Checkliste
- Travel month chosen
- Duration calculated including the journey there
- Route checked with driving times
- Accommodation booked early
- Entry requirements checked
- Rental car or driver clarified
- Insurance confirmed
- Weather buffer planned
For guests from Switzerland, New Zealand is almost the farthest destination on earth. That is exactly why good planning matters: anyone who flies so far wants time for scenery, encounters and calm, and not to rush from stop to stop.
How long you should stay
The journey from Switzerland takes over a day including a change of flight, and the time difference is large. A stay of under two weeks is hardly worthwhile, and three weeks give the trip the room it needs. Be honest in your sums: outbound and return flights with a change bind several days that are not available for the trip on site. If you bring more time, you can explore individual regions in depth and stay more independent of the weather, because excursions can be moved.
If you have less time, it is best to choose one island. The North Island offers volcanoes, Maori culture and coast, the South Island fjords, lakes and glaciers. Experiencing both in one week would be mostly driving time. A longer stay lowers the share of travel time in the overall duration and makes the experience more relaxed.
Plan the first day after arrival calmly. Jet lag calls for patience, and a short stage to start does you good.
Travel season in the southern summer
The seasons are reversed. From December to March it is warm and light for a long time, ideal for hikes and lakes. This is also the time of strongest demand, so early booking is important. The southern summer is also the time when guests from Switzerland escape winter, which makes the trip even more attractive.
Spring and autumn, that is October to November and April, are quieter and often colourful. Temperatures are cooler and the weather changes quickly. If you bring composure, you will be rewarded with fewer crowds. Bear in mind that the sun is strong in the south, even when the air stays fresh.
A visit in winter is possible if you like snow activities. Then different rules apply for roads and excursions.
Route and driving times
New Zealand looks small on the map, but the roads are winding and the distances longer than expected. Allow for a few hours of driving per day so that enough time remains for viewpoints and breaks. Popular routes such as Fiordland are heavily travelled in high season, and early in the morning it is much quieter. Ask locals for tips about small places, because lovely corners rarely appear in a guidebook.
Choose two to four bases with several nights each. That way you get to know the places and do not have to pack every day. A rental car gives freedom, a driver relieves you on longer stretches. A navigation device with offline maps helps when reception drops out.
Note that traffic drives on the left. If you are unsure, you can book individual sections guided or combine with bus or train.
Accommodation, activities and nature
Good accommodation in popular regions books out early in the southern summer. Allow a lead time of several months and book key stages first.
Activities such as hikes, boat trips in fjords or wildlife watching depend on the weather. Plan reserve days so that you stay flexible.
Nature is protected. Respect paths, biosecurity rules and local notices, so that the country stays as beautiful as you experienced it.
What makes a stage worthwhile
A good stage links a drive with a clear highlight, such as a lake, a hike or a boat trip. That way every day has a goal without you having to chase programme items. The rest is scenery that you enjoy from the window. Also allow for shopping for provisions, as places in remote areas have few shops.
Plan lunch breaks at places you discover spontaneously. Small cafés, viewpoints and beaches along the route are among the lovely memories, and they need time that a tight plan does not leave.
Choose one or two activities per region that really matter to you, and leave the rest open. That gives the trip breadth and prevents it from becoming a list.
Entry, health and advice
Check the current position with the FDFA (EDA) and the FOPH (BAG) on entry and health. Regulations can change, and some documents must be applied for before departure. Popular places require reservations for excursions, especially in the summer holidays.
Travel insurance with cancellation cover and repatriation gives security on such a long trip.
In the [planning call](/m/once-in-a-lifetime/planen) by video call, we clarify duration, travel season and route. We put together a trip that is worth the long journey.
