1. Most places don't accept British driving licenses as a form of ID, so you'll need to take your passport out with you if you're drinking. That said, even if you're not drinking a lot of establishments must ID you and ensure you're of age to allow you on the premises, so it's worth carrying it with you.
2. Bookme.co.nz is a deal website similar to groupon that can save you a shed-load of money when you're travelling in New Zealand. From offers on food and drink to hugely discounted Milford sound boat cruises and bungee-jumps, it's worth browsing the site before you book anything.
Sober faces
The ice bar is half price on bookme
3. Spirits (liquor) can't be purchased from supermarkets or newsagents, you need to go to a designated liquor store to buy the stronger stuff. We were pretty partial to the Park Lane premix g&t's; 6 for $12.
4. Emergency healthcare is free to British citizens under a reciprocal agreement between the two countries. So, if like me you find yourself needing an air ambulance in the middle of a national park, you can get the healthcare you require without worrying about how the hell you'll ever pay for it/ getting an earful from your insurer.
5. Sand flies are bloody horrible. Their bites are like mosquito bites, but they're itchier and last twice as long. What's worse is it's hard to recognise the little buggers, so just make sure you've got repellent. Abel Tasman is full of them, and they are known to frequent the South Island far more than the North, with most visitors to Milford Sound leaving with at least a couple of nips.
6. The weather in New Zealand is almost completely unpredictable. Wellington is windy, Franz Josef is wet and everywhere gets crazy cold in winter. We arrived in what was meant to be spring and were freezing for a fortnight. Morino wool is a speciality out here so invest in some thick socks, and take a trip to some of the amazing second-hand shops in Auckland or Wellington.
7. Free wifi is quite hard to come by, especially in North Island. A lot of the hostels we stayed in used a Global Gossip network which required you pay $4 for 24hour access, or $12 for the week. Do the latter, especially if you're moving from hostel to hostel because you can keep signing in on the same account until your credit is out.
8. Bars, pubs and restaurants aren't allowed to serve people that appear to be intoxicated. It sounds slightly mental, and completely contradictory, but it's the law and you'll see signs telling you so in every establishment you visit.
9. You don't need to be insured on a vehicle to drive in New Zealand. Sure, you'll be in big trouble if you cause an accident, but for lots of other reasons other than insurance.
10. New World shop assistants hate it when you mix the pick'n'mix nut codes and don't use seperate bags. Do with this information what you will.
11. Know your coffee preference. Speciality coffee is a thing in New Zealand, so whether you're getting a caffeine fix from a petrol station or an independent local grinder, ordering 'a coffee' won't fly. I'll take a trim flat white with an extra shot thanks.
12. Book your bus in advance and arrive on time, mainly to avoid becoming really unpopular with your fellow bus travellers, but also because the drivers won't wait; they've got a schedule too.
13. Don't under estimate the strength of the sun out here. It might feel cold and look cloudy, but if the sun is breaking through it's worth your while putting some sunscream on. The ozone layer is virtually non-existent over the country so skin damage problems are huge, and people burn badly, fast.
14. A couple of years ago Cadbury changed it's chocolate recipe and started using palm oil instead of the previously used vegetable. This caused an uproar in New Zealand and many people and businesses boycotted Cadbury. The number one chocolate brand in the country now is Whittakers, and it's ridiculously good.
15. Maori people welcome one another by touching foreheads rather than the customary western handshake. Embrace it.
You learn a new thing everyday, right?
L, L & A. Xx
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