Difference between revisions of "New Zealand"

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[[File:Elsa amylin kiwi experience.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elsa and [[amylin]] hitching the Kiwi experience]]
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{{infobox Country
'''New Zealand''' is a reasonably okay country for hitchhiking. There are a lot of friendly people. By hitching you'll be involved a lot in the local life. You'll have invitations to parties, homes. Cars drive on the left side, so be careful if you're not experienced with that.
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|country = of New Zealand
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|map= <map lat="-41.045886836287" lng="174.13183593748" zoom="5" view="0" float="right" />
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|Official Language = English and Te Reo (Maori language)
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|capital = [[Wellington]]
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|pop = 4,403,000
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|currency = New Zealand Dollar
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|hitch = <rating country='nz' />
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|BW = NZ
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}}
  
There are only motorways around the big cities, [[Auckland]], [[Christchurch]], [[Wellington]] and [[Dunedin]]
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[[File:Elsa amylin kiwi experience.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Elsa and [[User:Amylin|Amylin]] hitching the Kiwi experience]]
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'''New Zealand''' is an extremely easy country for hitchhiking. There are a lot of friendly people, and hitching is legal and comparatively safe. By hitching you'll be involved a lot in local life. You'll receive invitations to parties and homes. Cars drive on the left side, so be careful if you're not experienced with that.
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At least in high and shoulder season, hitchhiking is very popular among backpackers travelling around New Zealand, especially in the South Island. Leave early before hostel checkout times (usually 10am) and you'll have better chances of avoiding competition with other hitchhikers.
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There are only motorways around the big cities, [[Auckland]], [[Christchurch]], [[Wellington]] and [[Dunedin]], the rest are highways, secondary/tertiary roads or dirt roads.
  
 
== In General ==
 
== In General ==
Another awesome place to travel, [[WWOOF]] and hitch. Not as many long distance rides as in the Australian outback, but towns were quite close together. Amory Tarr had no troubles coming up and down the west coast (South Island), or in fact anywhere really. The only problem spot was in the concrete jungle that is auckland. It is illegal to even walk on any of the motorways, including the on-ramps ($200 instant fine). It is also a very, very big city to walk across. If you want to head south your best bet is to go to the bus station under the sky tower and get a ticket to Bombay junction (about $15) and when you get there, walk across the road to the on ramp which has plenty of space. Heading north, get a bus to Orewa (which is worth visiting on its own) and hitch from there.
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Another awesome place to travel, [[WWOOF]] and hitch. Not as many long distance rides as in the Australian [[Outback]], because towns are quite close to each other, but on the other hand not as "dangerous" to hitchhike.
  
== South Island ==
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=== North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui ===
On the South Island you will often be picked up by travelers, especially along the West Coast, where there isn't a lot of traffic.  
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A bit smaller than the South Island, although much more populated: 3.5 million out of New Zealand's 4.5 million inhabitants. This island is a bit less touristy, but cities are bigger. Hitching is easy.
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=== South Island or Te Waipounamu ===
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The South Island is bigger but less populated, only 1 million, and is the most touristy so you will often be picked up by travelers, especially along the West Coast where there isn't a lot of local traffic. Hitching is extremely easy.
  
If you are hitching between Greymouth and Wanaka you might have the fortune to score a ride with one of the DHL drivers aka the local posties. They are a couple of awesome guys who meet up in Fox Glacier to swap packages (and hitch hikers too if you are lucky!).
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===From one island to the other===
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The 3-4 hour ferry costs around NZ$50 - Interislander and Bluebridge have almost identical pricing. Since car bookings also incur a fee per person about the same as per foot passenger, cars won't be able to take you on, and grouping together wouldn't help either. You may get lucky and find a special discount on their Facebook page (or subscribe to their newsletters for a promo code), and there's always the usual 10% BBH/YHA/Student/...
 
   
 
   
An easy way to catch your lift is using the website of backpackerscarpooling.com in New Zealand Here you'll find travellers sharing their transport. A great way to meet like-minded travellers going the same way as you.
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Planes are more expensive with booking fees and luggage.  But some very cheap prices come up on grabaseat for as little as $30 from Auckland to Christchurch!  You literally can't hitch there for that.
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[[Hitchhiking a boat]] would not be a simple task, the passage is not an easy one.
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== Maps ==
 
== Maps ==
*[http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/new-zealand-map/interactive_map_home.cfm/ newzealand.com]
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* [http://www.topomap.co.nz/] Topomaps for hiking etc with all tracks, contour lines etc - an online version of official and free LINZ maps
*[http://smaps.co.nz/ smaps.co.nz] - searchable database and fast loading maps
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* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/maps] DOC maps with markup for tracks, huts and activities
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* [http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/new-zealand-map/interactive_map_home.cfm/ newzealand.com commercial tourism info]
  
 
== When? ==
 
== When? ==
 
Summers start in October/November but being a maritime climate the weather can be changeable. The weather in January - March is a little more settled.
 
Summers start in October/November but being a maritime climate the weather can be changeable. The weather in January - March is a little more settled.
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Winter can be harsh and snowy, keep this in mind when planning your trip. The general snowy season is about early June until early October in the South Island/central North Island. Gloves, scarf and hat are definitely a good idea.
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== Other travelling info ==
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Look at the [http://nomadwiki.org/en/New_Zealand Nomadwiki article] for more, but free camping ("freedom camping") has recently become a huge issue and can expose you to a NZ$200 fine.  Enforcement officers are very active in summer and it is best to find legitimate free camping spots provided by local councils or DoC.
  
 
== North Island ==
 
== North Island ==
 
* [[Auckland]], biggest city
 
* [[Auckland]], biggest city
 
* [[Hamilton (New Zealand)]]
 
* [[Hamilton (New Zealand)]]
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* [[Rotorua]]
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* [[New Plymouth]]
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* [[Palmerston North]]
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* [[Taupo]]
 
* [[Tauranga]]
 
* [[Tauranga]]
* [[New Plymouth]]
 
 
* [[Wellington]], the capital city
 
* [[Wellington]], the capital city
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* [[Whangarei]]
  
 
== South Island ==
 
== South Island ==
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* [[Richmond]]
 
* [[Richmond]]
 
* [[Aoraki/Mt Cook]]
 
* [[Aoraki/Mt Cook]]
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== Personal experience ==
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Please add info...
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== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
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{{nomadwiki}}
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{{IsIn|Oceania}}
 
{{IsIn|Oceania}}
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[[digi:world/Oceania/New-Zealand]]
 
[[digi:world/Oceania/New-Zealand]]
 
[[cswiki:New Zealand]]
 
[[cswiki:New Zealand]]
[[wikitravel:New Zealand]]-->
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[[wikivoyage:New Zealand]]-->
 
[[trash:New Zealand]]
 
[[trash:New Zealand]]
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[[nomad:New Zealand]]
 
{{hitchbase_country|141}}
 
{{hitchbase_country|141}}
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[[Category:New Zealand| ]]
 
[[Category:New Zealand| ]]
 
[[Category:Oceania]]
 
[[Category:Oceania]]
  
== Online ==
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[[de:Neuseeland]]
Hitch hiking and ridesharing websites exist in NZ. Try these ones:
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[[es:Nueva Zelanda]]
[http://www.jayride.co.nz Jayride] - probably NZ's busiest ridesharing site
 
[http://www.backpackerscarpooling.com backpackerscarpooling] - a useful site to find lifts
 

Revision as of 12:43, 10 May 2021

Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Information
Language:
Capital: Wellington
Population: 4,403,000
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Hitchability: <rating country='nz' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots or BeWelcome
<map lat="-41.045886836287" lng="174.13183593748" zoom="5" view="0" float="right" />


Elsa and Amylin hitching the Kiwi experience

New Zealand is an extremely easy country for hitchhiking. There are a lot of friendly people, and hitching is legal and comparatively safe. By hitching you'll be involved a lot in local life. You'll receive invitations to parties and homes. Cars drive on the left side, so be careful if you're not experienced with that.

At least in high and shoulder season, hitchhiking is very popular among backpackers travelling around New Zealand, especially in the South Island. Leave early before hostel checkout times (usually 10am) and you'll have better chances of avoiding competition with other hitchhikers.

There are only motorways around the big cities, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin, the rest are highways, secondary/tertiary roads or dirt roads.

In General

Another awesome place to travel, WWOOF and hitch. Not as many long distance rides as in the Australian Outback, because towns are quite close to each other, but on the other hand not as "dangerous" to hitchhike.

North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui

A bit smaller than the South Island, although much more populated: 3.5 million out of New Zealand's 4.5 million inhabitants. This island is a bit less touristy, but cities are bigger. Hitching is easy.

South Island or Te Waipounamu

The South Island is bigger but less populated, only 1 million, and is the most touristy so you will often be picked up by travelers, especially along the West Coast where there isn't a lot of local traffic. Hitching is extremely easy.

From one island to the other

The 3-4 hour ferry costs around NZ$50 - Interislander and Bluebridge have almost identical pricing. Since car bookings also incur a fee per person about the same as per foot passenger, cars won't be able to take you on, and grouping together wouldn't help either. You may get lucky and find a special discount on their Facebook page (or subscribe to their newsletters for a promo code), and there's always the usual 10% BBH/YHA/Student/...

Planes are more expensive with booking fees and luggage. But some very cheap prices come up on grabaseat for as little as $30 from Auckland to Christchurch! You literally can't hitch there for that.

Hitchhiking a boat would not be a simple task, the passage is not an easy one.

Maps

When?

Summers start in October/November but being a maritime climate the weather can be changeable. The weather in January - March is a little more settled.

Winter can be harsh and snowy, keep this in mind when planning your trip. The general snowy season is about early June until early October in the South Island/central North Island. Gloves, scarf and hat are definitely a good idea.

Other travelling info

Look at the Nomadwiki article for more, but free camping ("freedom camping") has recently become a huge issue and can expose you to a NZ$200 fine. Enforcement officers are very active in summer and it is best to find legitimate free camping spots provided by local councils or DoC.

North Island

South Island

Personal experience

Please add info...

Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)



trash:New Zealand nomad:New Zealand