While I was born and bred here in New Zealand – or Aotearoa, the country’s Māori-language name – I’ve spent enough years away to understand how it’s a destination that can feel both comfortingly familiar and completely strange to visitors all at once.
The butter is bright, beta-carotene yellow. Pies are filled with meat. You usually go up to the counter to pay for your meal. And you never, ever, sit on a table – it’s a taboo that has spread from Māori to the wider population.
But this diverse country of boiling mud pools, soaring mountains, subtropical beaches, rainforests and friendly people will make you feel – well, “sweet-as” (yes, that means good). Here are some things to know before going to New Zealand.
1. New Zealand’s weather may be relatively mild – but it also has the potential to be wild
An archipelago in the Pacific, New Zealand is a long, skinny country moored in tempestuous oceans heavily influenced by Antarctica. Its landmass stretches between 34 and 47 degrees south – the rough equivalent of northern Morocco to southern France – and the climate is often compared to Britain. What does this all mean? The weather can turn bad quickly. It pays to pack for all seasons, with a hat and sunscreen being must-haves. New Zealand’s peak UV levels can be 40% higher than those in similar North American latitudes, thanks in part to its clean air. For some, a blistering burn can happen in minutes and will ruin your holiday for a good week or more. In summer, plan shadier activities (such as visiting galleries and museums) for the peak hours of the day.
2. It’s OK to dress down
Casualness rules in New Zealand, even in urban areas. Depending on what region you’re in, even a wedding might see some Kiwis in jeans, their cleanest “bush shirt” (a tough woolen shirt) and gumboots (rubber boots/ Wellington boots) or jandals (flip-flops). This is unremarkable.
Something particularly disconcerting to travelers is New Zealanders’ penchant for bare feet. When you’re out of the main cities you’ll see tough-soled Kiwis hot-stepping over bubbling tarmac and strolling through the supermarket unshod.
Feel free to pack casual clothes.
3. What do you mean, there’s no bus?
Unbelievably, New Zealand’s public transport was arguably far better in the mid-20th century. But with many tram and railways ripped up…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Stories – Lonely Planet…