So you’ve decided to experience the unique Kiwi Culture found in New Zealand, but have you prepared yourself for the adventure?!

Never fear, nakedsleep.com is here to fill you in on the must know travel tips!

For all your  cheap travel needs around New Zealand check out nakedbus.com! If you’re interested in visiting many places ranging from the North to South Island, check out nakedpassport.com where all you bus pass needs will be answered! Check our the great activities we offer too, that incorporate what makes New Zealand awesome!

Before embarking on your adventure!

Documentation

First and foremost, ensure you have a valid passport (if coming from overseas), visa (if you plan on working) and any important vaccinations.

You will not be able to enter New Zealand if your passport expires within three months of your intended departure date, so check that expiry date to avoid a sticky situation. If you plan on getting amongst the Kiwi workforce ensure you have arranged the appropriate visas. This may take some time so don’t leave it for the last minute!  New Zealand does not require any specific vaccinations, we’re a relatively healthy bunch, but it’s always good to check with your local health care provider and keep up to date with those shots!

Travel Insurance

Highly recommended! As you can see nakedsleep.com highly recommends you organize some form of insurance, should you lose any valuables or injure yourself whilst out and about. Travel Insurance comes in all forms so check out your local provider for more information on what may be most suitable for you!

Time Zone

New Zealand is one of the first places in the world to welcome a new day! This means if you are coming from overseas you may suffer from severe jetlag! New Zealand is about 12 hours ahead of the UK, during summer we implement daylight savings (putting our clocks an hour forward) so we get more sun time…who doesn’t love that?! If you’re finding it hard to assimilate to the time difference, we recommend having a big night out! Push through until the early hours of the morning and you’ll find you’re able to sleep as per normal…plus you will have then experienced New Zealand’s awesome nightlife, two birds with one stone!

What to bring…

Travelling requires the finesse of light packing; some may find this more difficult than others.

If you plan on visiting New Zealand during our winter months (May to September), bring warm clothing! A water resistant jacket is recommended, especially if you plan on being a bit more adventurous and visiting mountain regions. Thermals are always the easiest and lightest choice as it allows you to layer it under your normal clothes.

If you plan on visiting New Zealand during our warmer months (December to March), don’t forget your beach gear! New Zealand has many beaches and lakes to take a dip in and soak in some sun. Our burn time is much shorter than most places so don’t forget to apply that sunscreen!

If you plan on doing a lot of walking or tramping in our beautiful landscape it would be wise to bring sturdy shoes that can keep up. You should also take note that the further South you travel the colder it can become.

Probably the most important item you will want to bring is your camera! Document all your exhilarating moments on film to make your friends and family jealous.

Money

Whenever travelling, money is always something you need to keep on top of, no one wants to run out and find they are strapped for cash!

Electronic payments are accepted pretty much everywhere in New Zealand so if you’re using a credit card or debit card you shouldn’t have problems, should you need to withdraw cash New Zealand is crawling with ATM’s so access to your money should not become a problem.

A few easy ways to save you some money are…

- Cook your own meals! Who would’ve thought? And if you combine your efforts with other people it becomes even cheaper! Try to go to the larger chain supermarkets than your local dairy or smaller shops as food is usually cheaper. Big towns will also have fruit and veggie shops that are often good value.

- Drinking… let’s not kid ourselves; we all like a glass now and then. Keep an eye on bars that have ladies night free entry or two for the price of one deals. You’d be surprised by the amount of drink deals our bars have, grab your drinking buddy and away you go! Many of our hostels have bars with special deals.

- Calling home. Call cards can get a bit pricey and who wants to use a payphone? Try Skype, a free internet calling scheme that allows you call other Skype users… don’t you just love technology!

- Want to purchase some souvenirs? Avoid tourist attraction shops; instead try a town’s local market where you’ll find more original and cheap goodies!

- If you’re a student, try grabbing a student deal … we’re very sympathetic to our young scholars’ income position! These deals are usually available at certain museums, activities and the like.

Now that you’re clued up on the need to know travel tips, embark on your adventure with New Zealand… you won’t regret it!