Travel guide New Zealand

Fern

New Zealand is known as the land of the fern. There are over 200 subspecies, unique to the country. But the ones that really make their mark on the landscape are thetree ferns. The one you see on the All Blacks jersey is the silver fern, white on the underside of the leaves.

Great Walks

The country's most famous long-distance hiking trails. Varying in length from 2 to 6 days, they take in some of the country's most beautiful scenery.

There are 11 of them, and some are so popular that getting places on them is a miracle. Reservations can be made as early as May on the DOC website.

Kiwi

"Kiwi" can be either the bird or the fruit, as we all know, but it's also the nickname of the country's inhabitants. To avoid confusion, when we talk about the fruit or the bird, we say "kiwi-fruit", and "kiwi-bird". Tip: māori nouns are invariable, so if the word takes an "s", we're talking about the inhabitants, not the bird!

Māori

Descendants of the Polynesians who began populating Aotearoa around the ^13th century, the Māori people carry the soul of the land they have made their own. Their traditions, spirituality and strong bond with nature are, after long years of decline due to European domination, once again increasingly at the heart of the country's culture.

Birds

Aotearoa's bird life goes much further than the famous kiwi: it's teeming with endemic species of which the kiwis (the locals) are very proud. Every year, an online vote to elect the "bird of the year" aims to raise awareness of the state of bird populations. In 2024, it was the yellow-eyed penguin, the hoiho, that was elected.

Outdoors

If you don't like outdoor activities, you've come to the wrong place! Here, everyone's out and about as soon as the sun shines. Skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering in winter, hiking, biking, paragliding, surfing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and all the other variations of water sports in summer - everyone has their own favorite and indulges in them almost religiously!

Rugby

More than a sport, rugby is a religion here! The All Blacks are hailed as gods, and their home matches fill the stadiums in a flash. But if they lose, beware, especially against arch-rivals South Africa! Women's rugby has been winning hearts since the Black Ferns won the 2021 World Cup, even if they don't reach the final in 2025.

Sandflies

No dangerous bugs in New Zealand (they've all stayed in Australia), but a most annoying insect that all backpackers curse: the sandfly ! About the size of a gnat but fiercer than a swarm of mosquitoes, its bites are terribly itchy. Pants and long sleeves are your best weapons!

Kia Ora

Kia Ora is commonly used to say hello and thank you in Te Reo Māori. Literally, it means be well or be healthy! It's a word rich in meaning: both a greeting and a sincere expression of goodwill. It embodies the importance of social ties, mutual respect and positive intent towards others.

Te Reo Māori

"Te reo māori", the Māori language. In full resurgence for several years now, more and more words are being integrated into Kiwi everyday vocabulary. Among the most common: kia ora (hello), koha (donation), kai (food), taonga (treasure), tamariki (children), manuhiri (visitors), Nau mai Haere mai (welcome).

WHV

Working Holiday Visa. Available to those under 30, this is the key to long-term travel. It is valid for one year (compared with 6 months for the classic tourist visa) and gives the right to work in the country. New Zealand, like Australia, welcomes a huge number of PVT applicants.