What Do I Need to Know? All the prominent stuff
I’ve made a list of things I think you need to know about. Most important, however, is for you to realise that Kiwis are generally a laid back bunch and up for a good laugh and joke around. So don’t worry too much about stuffing up when you get here. Just respect the country and people, drive on the left hand side of the road and you will be sweet.
Survival Kit
Driving
Food
Hazards
Weather
Driving in New Zealand
Perfect way to see the country
So here is a quick guide to what you should know about and what rules are indubitably prominent to be aware of. Also you need to know that if you have either a current driver’s licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit you can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months. After that period, however, you are required to convert to a New Zealand licence.
Speed Limit: the famed speed limits here are 100 km/h in open areas and 50/km/h in urban areas. Other speeds will be posted on a red, white and black circular sign post on your side of the road if different. Stick to these speeds, don’t go too fast and don’t go too slow unless you are ready to allow other road users to ordinarily overtake you. Police here are definite about road safety and there can be major penalties to careless breaking of road rules.
Keep Left: you need to stay on the left-hand side of the road when you are driving and cycling. Don’t forget that or you may need to use your quick reaction skills. If for some suspect you are walking and are not hitch-hiking than it is best to walk on the side of on-coming traffic for best visibility.
Give Way: this is the most confusing thing about driving in New Zealand, and is also the field of much consider here. If you are turning left you are required to give way to motorists coming from the right into the same lane. Easy way to remember this is if you were to be in a collision and the other car would hit the driver’s side door (right hand side), you should give way.
Road Signs: there are three main types of sign. Regulatory Signs must be obeyed by law and have a red border or background. Warning Signs should be obeyed for safety reasons and have black borders and symbols with a yellow (permanent) or orange (temporary) background. Information Signs give Information and ordinarily have white borders and symbols or text with either a blue, green or brown background. Just a quick mention that suggested speeds for most corners are clearly descriptive and they give an indication of safe speeds to take each corner.
All Other Stuff: seatbelts are a must in New Zealand. Never drink alcohol and drive as the police are very definite in New Zealand on this issue. Don’t use your cellphone whilst driving. Don’t cross duplicate yellow lines and if needing to overtake make sure you have abundance of open space before and after the overtake and only on dashed white lines. Watch out for livestock, gravel roads, ice on the road, snow, log trucks and all the time rest when needed when driving.
New Zealand Food
A taste explosion
There indubitably is a lot I could write about New Zealand food, but I don’t think this is the place. All I want to do here is tell you about the various food options that you can expect when you come to New Zealand, and thus help you with your trip planning and expectations.
New Zealanders now eat a load of seafood and you can expect to find seafood options in many restaurants and of procedure there is the old favourite, fish ‘n’ chips, as shown here that features some favorite local seafood. The New Zealand roast still features in a lot of places and for decades has been a favourite meal for us Kiwis.
In the past few decades fast food has advanced a much bigger picture here, so you can expect to see your favourite fast food options in many places you visit. However, if you are wanting to stay away from fast food you can visit a lot of good restaurants that will serve you food influenced by dissimilar European and American ideas. In New Zealand you can facilely find Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian and other favorite food choices.
Some Kiwi inventions and favourites are the excellent Pavlova, marmite and L&P. You should try these when you get here and make sure you sample New Zealand’s freshest meats and seafoods.
New Zealand Hazards and safety Information
What you need to know
So coming to a new country and even preparing a trip abroad can be pretty cool and appealing right? It is all the time good for your peace of mind if you are aware of possible safety issues that may arise, however. Retention that in mind here is my humble exertion to edify you of stuff you might need to know.
We have already talked about driving in New Zealand so I’ll just remind you of some stuff. Remember that when driving in New Zealand you need to be on the look out for livestock, unsealed roads, road signs, logging trucks, black ice on the road (can be scary and hazardous to hit and is ordinarily found after a heavy frost and in sheltered stretches of road), foreign drivers and road works. Also don’t forget to stay on the left side of the road when driving.
Accommodation is generally indubitably good in New Zealand and there isn’t much to watch out for. Just know what the expectations are of you, the customer. In New Zealand the best way to know the quality of your room victualer is to see either they are Qualmark rated, and what their rating is, and just so you have an idea what types of room are ready click here.
Wildlife in New Zealand is spectacular and great to see. The only cautions indubitably are some spiders and sea creatures, but don’t let that stop you from getting in the water. We have no snakes or large predators (you are the largest predator). Just remember to respect the wildlife and realise that a lot of it is heavily protected.
I just reminded myself with the above paragraph that I should mention something about beaches, rivers and swimming. There are some wild West Coast beaches that should not be swum in. You should be able to use base sense in regards to that. There are some extraordinary beaches to access and use, however. When it comes to swimming in rivers just use caution as rivers can be unpredictable.
Going bush, hiking, hunting, trekking and just sightseeing can all come with possible issues and you indubitably need to be ready for the worst. If you are going trekking over night you need to put in order and pack appropriately and don’t just expect that there are going to be population around as New Zealand is a pretty isolated and rugged place. all the time wear thorough clothing (layers are best) and store in your supplies spare dry and warm clothing (thermals are good) and wet weather gear. Make sure you know what the weather and track conditions will be like and all the time let someone know your plans. Have adequate food and pack urgency (just in case) rations as well. Have a first aid kit and a survival kit containing stuff like map and compass, whistle, cord, sharp knife, pencil and paper, survival sheet, fire-lighters and a tent or fly. If you deem it valuable reconsider buying or hiring an urgency locator beacon. For more Information on trip planning in New Zealand go to the department of Conservation website and scope it out.
That’s all I can think of at this stage that you need to aware of. On the whole New Zealand is a pretty safe place to visit, witness and enjoy.
New Zealand Weather
So it’s safe to say that New Zealand is in fact affected by weather….I know, crazy huh.
New Zealand has a huge variety in its weather patterns given its location and geographical features. From sunny beaches to rain drenched forests and parks you can expect to find it all here. We don’t generally have heavy storms, but in saying that we can get some pretty rough weather and flooding in some parts can be extensive.
New Zealand trip data
Friends Link : Galaxy HDTV Freedom beach resort Hall Hobby