Learn what to see on your visit to New Zealand, based on
our experiences and recommendations.
If we were to come up with a list of things we did wrong when on holiday here the first time, I'm sure we could write a book. But we'll try to share our advice with you who are yet to come on holiday, or come for a more permanent stay.
...speed like you are on an Indy 500 racetrack on these crazy kiwi roads that never go straight. The speed limits here are exactly those ... and don't be surprised that you come home to find a speeding ticket waiting for you, because they have cameras in the most remote places you can imagine. We are still disputing which of us got that ticket while on holiday--don't let it happen to you!
...be fooled by a cardboard police car cutout! HILARIOUS the tactics the cops use here. See the photo on the left? That's a real cop car, notice it's three-dimension-ality. See the right photo, with the car appearing to be waiting for you on the left side of the road, presumably with radar detector gunning for you? Look a little closer at the image below.
It's a COP CAR STANDUP, basically a cardboard cop. PSYCH! Don't be fooled, travellers.
...tip any waiter, waitress, bartender, cab driver, hairdresser, etc. and on and on. While tipping is different in Europe where you just leave some change on the table, tipping isn't done here at all. That's why it's so expensive :)
...buy your fish and chips from a restaurant also specialising in Chinese takeaway. You see these in every town, so avoid them and go to the real fish shops and get the tarakihi right from the water without a side order of egg rolls. Or get your genuine Chinese from a real restaurant. Can you say tourist trap?
