A backpacker's guide to New Zealand, 2010 to 2011. An archive kept for posterity.https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/en-nzhttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/site-overhaul-coming/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/site-overhaul-coming/This site has been neglected whilst I've travelled around New Zealand. The good news is I've settled in the South Island, and have residency so will be…Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/week-2-3-golden-bay/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/week-2-3-golden-bay/Aaah Golden Bay. If you read the Week 1 post, you’d know we were escaping the rain around Malborough Sounds. We decided to head West to escape it. But we…Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/week-1-of-road-trip-picton-and-marlborough/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/week-1-of-road-trip-picton-and-marlborough/This post like probably many to come on the subject is a bit later than planned as I’ve been offline when on the road. Our crossing on the ferry was a joy…Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/red-rocks-seal-colony-wellington-day-walk/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/red-rocks-seal-colony-wellington-day-walk/There’s loads to do around Wellington’s coastline but who’d have thought there would be a fur seal colony within an hour’s walk of the capital’s beaches?…Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/haka-tours-review-adventure-tours-of-new-zealand-in-small-groups/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/haka-tours-review-adventure-tours-of-new-zealand-in-small-groups/Haka Tours offers something a little bit different from the mainstream budget adventure tours of New Zealand. With groups sizes averaging 7-12, and small…Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/south-island-road-trip-14th-december/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/south-island-road-trip-14th-december/After taking some time out from this site to write the New Zealand Backpacking Unwrapped guide book I’m happy to say that as of next week I’ll be hitting…Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/rugby-world-cup-tickets-on-general-sale/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/rugby-world-cup-tickets-on-general-sale/Today marks the day that the Rugby World Cup Tickets go on sale on general release. Phase 1 and 2 of the ticket sales are now closed, and this is your big…Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/new-zealand-backpacking-guide-book/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/new-zealand-backpacking-guide-book/I’m proud to announce the arrival of my new New Zealand Backpacing Guidebook : New Zealand Backpacking Unwrapped. As of December 2012 this book is…Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/shotover-jet-crash-queenstown-5-injured/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/shotover-jet-crash-queenstown-5-injured/Five out of 14 passengers have been taken to hospital with minor injuries after the Shotover Jet crashed yesterday at 3.10pm (22nd November 2010). It is…Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/gps-tracks-of-biking-and-running-trails-in-nz/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/gps-tracks-of-biking-and-running-trails-in-nz/There is a great open website detailing tracks for running and cycling around New Zealand. Originally started as a site to detail trails around the…Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/wellington-best-little-capital-lonely-planet-best-in-travel-2011/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/wellington-best-little-capital-lonely-planet-best-in-travel-2011/Lonely Planet has named Wellington 4th in the top ten cities of the world to visit in 2011. According to Lonely Planet : With its quaint wooden houses…Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/driving-rules-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/driving-rules-in-new-zealand/Can you turn left at a red light? Do you really have to give way to the right? What about parking? Driving in New Zealand is quite similar to other…Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/sun-and-uv-protection/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/sun-and-uv-protection/Australia went through a big sun protection promotion a few years ago, and New Zealand is no different. With the second highest rate of skin cancer in the…Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/ski-season-jobs-working-on-a-ski-field-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/ski-season-jobs-working-on-a-ski-field-in-new-zealand/Free lift passes, working in the great outdoors, unlimited time to ski the fresh powder? Get real. Rumours had it that a position for shop staff in…Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/wwoofing-in-new-zealand-working-on-an-organic-farm/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/wwoofing-in-new-zealand-working-on-an-organic-farm/WWOOfing is a worldwide scheme to allow people to volunteer on an organic farm in return for accommodation and often food. WWOOfing in Zealand is an ideal…Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/seasonal-work-in-new-zealand-fruit-picking/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/seasonal-work-in-new-zealand-fruit-picking/Seasonal working is what many backpackers will end up doing during their gap year, or working holiday visa duration in New Zealand. For most people,…Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/learn-your-kiwi-lingo-speak-like-the-locals-or-at-least-try/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/learn-your-kiwi-lingo-speak-like-the-locals-or-at-least-try/If you come to visit New Zealand you’re bound to get tripped up by at least a few of the place names and local language. Many place names reflect their…Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/ultimate-guide-to-hiring-a-campervan-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/ultimate-guide-to-hiring-a-campervan-in-new-zealand/You're considering hiring a camper van in New Zealand but you don't know what you want. Are they difficult to drive? Expensive to run? Are they slow? This…Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/cheap-domestic-flights-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/cheap-domestic-flights-in-new-zealand/Domestic flights in New Zealand are cheap and plentiful, assuming you don’t fly at the same times as commuters. At peak times there can be up to three…Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/buying-backpacking-car-campervan-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/buying-backpacking-car-campervan-new-zealand/Although it may seem crazy for a lot of countries, many long term budget travellers and backpackers in New Zealand buy used cars or campervans (motorhomes…Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/jucy-hotel-auckland/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/jucy-hotel-auckland/The company behind Jucy car and campervan rentals has recently opened a new budget hotel in downtown Auckland, not surprisingly called the Jucy Hotel. The…Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/applying-for-an-ird-tax-number-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/applying-for-an-ird-tax-number-in-new-zealand/Before you start working and getting paid in New Zealand you’ll need to get yourself a tax reference number which is called an IRD number. Your tax number…Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/free-wifi-in-wellington/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/free-wifi-in-wellington/Free WiFi and New Zealand seems to feel like it’s something that’s a long way off yet. Cafes, bars and hostels appear to be restricted by the lack of…Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/opening-a-bank-account-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/opening-a-bank-account-in-new-zealand/You’ve arrived off the plane as a backpacker with your working holiday visa, ready for your gap year, or you’ve moved over here as a resident and you need…Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/free-new-zealand-topographic-maps-online/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/free-new-zealand-topographic-maps-online/Free top maps are now available online covering the whole of New Zealand. This is a great resource for any outdoors enthusiast whether your passion is…Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/backpacker-bus-tours-of-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/backpacker-bus-tours-of-new-zealand/Bus tours are one of the most popular methods of travelling around New Zealand for backpackers, longer term and budget travellers. The most popular…Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/book-shopping-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/book-shopping-in-new-zealand/In New Zealand, you just don’t get the same choice of books as in some countries throughout the world so many locals order online from international…Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/typical-costs-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/typical-costs-in-new-zealand/Universal Currency Converter Typical costs for New Zealand are not too different from other ‘western’ countries – the largest differentiator to your home…Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/emigrating-to-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/emigrating-to-new-zealand/It’s going to take a while to get round to writing much information about emigrating to New Zealand as it’s such a large topic. In the meantime I’d…Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/flights-north-south-island-wellington-picton-nelson-blenheim/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/flights-north-south-island-wellington-picton-nelson-blenheim/The majority of people travelling through New Zealand takes either the Interislander or Bluebridge ferries across the Cook Strait from Wellington to…Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/hostelling-guide-for-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/hostelling-guide-for-new-zealand/There are some excellent hostels in New Zealand whether you’re a backpacker, want to socialise, or just want to save on hotel costs. Pick the wrong one…Sun, 03 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/everyday-shopping-where-to-shop-in-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/everyday-shopping-where-to-shop-in-new-zealand/I always find shopping in a new country is interesting. In New Zealand there’s a whole load of interesting foods from feijoa fruits to kumara, and there…Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/entertainment-book-dining-and-entertainment-offers-throughout-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/entertainment-book-dining-and-entertainment-offers-throughout-new-zealand/The Entertainment book is a bit of a institution in New Zealand and can be used to get 2 for 1 budget deals, discounts and other offers for dining,…Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/mobile-phone-prepaid-sim-cards-new-zealand/https://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/mobile-phone-prepaid-sim-cards-new-zealand/If you want to buy a contact or prepaid SIM card for your mobile in New Zealand you have a limited selection of only three operators : Telecom, Vodafone,…Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT