DRIVING
Driving between places in New Zealand will always take longer than estimated by Google Maps or GPS. For every 2 hours of driving quoted, add 30 minutes for a more accurate forecast.
We rented our car from About New Zealand; the cost was ~$350 for 10 days. Our rental was a tiny Peugot programmed only in Japanese that we dubbed "Little Turtle."
Some travelers prefer to explore New Zealand by camper vans. After paying $75 USD to fill up the of our tiny Peugot, I shudder to think of the cost of filling up one of those tanks after driving a mountain pass.
As you head further south, always stop when you see a gas station for a top-off. There are some rural areas where you can go hundreds of kilometers before seeing the next gas station.
Lastly, always yield to faster traffic. Kiwis are very nice people except when you are driving slowly along a scenic highway. Pull over and let them pass.
ACCOMMODATIONS
New Zealand has a great variety of accommodation options: campgrounds, mountain huts, holiday parts, hotels, and budget-friendly hostels. I recommend staying in as many mountain huts as possible and staying in YHA hostels when in-town.
Unfortunately New Zealand rarely permits primitive camping and car campgrounds are pricey (it was $15 per person - not per tent - to camp at the basic White Horse Hill Campground at Aoraki-Mount Cook).
Book your stay at YHA hostels well in advance of the summer. It may be worth it to get the $20 YHA membership to get discounts on accommodations and excursions like a Milford Sound cruise.
FOOD + WATER
We kept our budget lean by eating most of our meals from grocery stores. We had instant coffee, yogurt, and muesli for breakfasts, and pb&j sandwiches for lunches. We splurged a few times on hotel breakfast buffets and it was always worth it.
When hiking we packed snacks from the bulk section at New World grocery store. We practically existed off BBQ rice crackers and chili-lime snippets. We brought several dehydrated backpackers meals from the U.S. (warning: food products with pork are not allowed into New Zealand).
Tap water is potable across New Zealand. There were often faucets at trailheads to fill our CamelBack water bags.
Hiking
The Department of Conservation is an incredible resource for planning hikes and tramps.
Popular mountain huts can book up months in advance; plan ahead. If you don't reserve a bunk in time, you can normally set up a tent outside the hut.
Questions?
I'm happy to help you plan your trip to New Zealand. Send me an email at yesmomimalive@gmail.com