New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand · NZL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the world's cleanest road-trip countries for travelers who want mountain scenery, national parks, and outdoor-heavy itineraries where the route matters as much as the stops. It works best when you focus on one island or one corridor at a time, unless you have enough days to give both islands proper space.
Popular For
Things To See
- Wellington
- Tongariro National Park
- Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand
- Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
- Fiordland National Park
- Arthur's Pass National Park
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- December through March is the easiest broad window in the current brief, while June through September fits ski and winter mountain trips better.
- Most first visits are stronger when limited to one island or one major corridor rather than trying to cross the whole country too quickly.
- The trip pays off most when you leave room for the driving and park scenery, not just the headline stops.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for New Zealand.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet New Zealand
Lonely Planet
Comprehensive guide covering NZ's stunning landscapes, adventure sports, and Māori culture.
View on Amazon →
Moon New Zealand
Jamie Christian Desplaces
Expert-authored guide featuring Great Walks, road trips, and adventure tips for outdoors travelers.
View on Amazon →
National Geographic Traveler: New Zealand
Peter Turner, Colin Monteath
Photography-rich guide highlighting natural wonders and cultural experiences.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for New Zealand.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Wellington
- Population
- 5,324,700
- Area
- 268,838 km²
- Region
- Australia and New Zealand
Languages
- English
- Māori
- New Zealand Sign Language
Currency
New Zealand dollar ($)
NZD
1 USD = 1.68 NZD
Cost of Living (World Bank)
88.6
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 65.4
- Restaurants
- 59.3
- Rent
- 26.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Wellington (41.30°S, 174.78°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
82/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 90/100
- Lived safety
- 68/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.938
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- 0.000
- 10-year change
- +0.005
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.973
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.082
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.731
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🌿
New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
Inscribed 1998
- 🌿
Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand
Inscribed 1990
- 🌍
Tongariro National Park
Inscribed 1990
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 33.4%
- Forest cover
- 37.8%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 9
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 67
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
45/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
47/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
92/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in New Zealand. New Zealand is generally a safe destination for travelers. Review our country information page for additional information on travel to New Zealand. If you decide to travel to New Zealand: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for New Zealand. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for New Zealand. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data