New Zealand Information
- About New Zealand
- Driving Times
- Self Drive Holidays in New Zealand
- Sports
- Climate
- Goods and Services Tax (GST)
About New Zealand
Kia-ora, Welcome to New Zealand, the ultimate 'land of contrasts' - Pristine Mountains to extensive braided river plains; Sub-alpine Native & Exotic Forests to desert (and almost deserted) high country; exciting nightlife to tranquil solitude in our natural wilderness; sub tropical northern summers to spectacular alpine southern winters; unsurpassed flora & fauna (a photographer's dream)
Here's what 'Lonely Planet' has to say,
"New Zealand is a country of rare seismic beauty: glacial mountains, fast-flowing rivers, deep, clear lakes, hissing geysers and boiling mud. There are also abundant native forests, long, deserted beaches and a variety of fauna, such as the kiwi, endemic to its shores. Any number of vigorous outdoor activities - tramping (hiking), skiing, rafting and, of course, that perennial favourite, bungy jumping - await the adventurous. You can swim with dolphins, gambol with newborn lambs, whale-watch or fish for fattened trout in pristine streams and rivers.....
....The weather is never so miserable that there's no point in going to New Zealand : there are things to see and do all year round."
And we at Maugers Rentals say there's no better way to see our fabulous country than via a self drive holiday where you can pick and choose your own time-lines & destinations in a very comfortable, reliable and economical Mercedes Minibus from our depot less than 5 minutes from Christchurch International Airport, the hub of South Island Tourism. We also encourage you to visit and bookmark New Zealand Tourism Online, at www.tourism.net.nz for a comprehensive view of attractions in New Zealand.
Driving Times
By international measures, the South Island (New Zealand, for that matter) is relatively small in terms of traveling times & distances and there's something new around every corner of what is generally accepted as an excellent roading network (Use our Distance calculator to view driving times and distances - the times are conservative but if you've come all the way here, why not see as much as you can e.g., the 240km return trip on the internationally acclaimed Te Anau - Milford road could possibly be done in 3 - 4 hours but you'll miss most of the 17 stops between those two towns).
Self Drive Holidays in New Zealand
View our Self Drive in New Zealand information page, but most importantly, remember that:
- In New Zealand we drive on the left hand side of the road.
- When traffic lights are red YOU MUST STOP!
Sports
New Zealand has a proud sporting heritage, with past or present firsts such as best rugby team in the world, best netball team in the world, first to conquer Mt Everest (Sir Edmond Hillary), best (on its day!) cricket team in the world, producer of world champion golfers (Bob Charles - British Open; Michael Campbell, U.S. Open), first in the world to 100 sub-4 minute miles (John Walker). We'll host (defend?) the World Rugby Cup in 2011 (have you booked yet?). They'll never catch Susan Devoy's world champion squash winning sequence, Bungy jumping was invented here; the list is endless. There's about 4 million of us willing to help offshore guests with additions to this list and with the benefit of a jug of famous Speights ale we'll be really helpful!
"Countering the sheer drama of the landscape, Kiwis are resolutely laid-back. A friendly and helpful bunch, travelling around their country is an absolute joy."
somuchworld.com
Climate
New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, therefore seasons are the opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. The coldest months are June/July and the warmest months January/February. Annual rainfall varies hugely, from less than 500 mm (20 inches) in a Summer-dry Central Otago to a potential 7 to 10 metres in parts of Fiordland (South West of the South Island, only 50-60 miles 'by-the-crow' from those Central Otago hot spots. Those same Central Otago hot spots can also provide a winter wonderland, with some of the best skiing available anywhere in the world. Visit the weather gurus at www.niwascience.co.nz.
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
All goods and services purchased in New Zealand are subject to a 12.5% Goods and Services Tax.
GST is included in all Maugers Rentals pricing.