5 Mistakes When Backpacking in New Zealand

1. Paying Too Much Money for Campgrounds 
If you're from the United States like I am, then you'll know it's typical to pay $20-$50 for a night at a campground. However, in New Zealand, there are many free campgrounds. These are more common in the South Island than the North, but you can still find some good deals. I highly recommend downloading an app to find campgrounds, such as Campermate. With these apps, you can also download the offline version, which is a must when you're in the "wop wops" of New Zealand.

2. Not Packing for the Right Weather
Even though it might be summer when you're visiting, it is still going to get cold at night or in the mountains. I recommend packing wool socks and a warm jacket no matter what month you're visiting. I froze my feet off camping in the middle of summer near Milford sound, even though I was wearing 2 pairs of wool socks. The North Island will be warmer than the south, but better to be safe than sorry.

3. Thinking Google Maps Arrival Time is Accurate 
The scenery in New Zealand is amazing and because of this, you're not going to be rushing to get to your destination. Even if you're the type of person to not stop on a road trip, you'll end up pulling to the side of the road to take pictures, so allow for extra time. A lot of the roads in New Zealand are curvy too, so it's hard to speed even though there aren't many cops around. Another tip I recommend is following the recommended speed limit when going around curves. Typically, in America, you can get away with going a little bit above, but I believe the speed limits for curves in New Zealand are pretty accurate and maybe too high in some places.

4. Bringing Used Camping Gear into the County
New Zealand has very strict customs, so be sure to read the restrictions before traveling. Outside fruit is not allowed and neither is carrying in dirt because it can affect their eco-system. Therefore, be sure to clean your shoes/boots and camping gear before entering the country. If you do happen to bring gear that is unclean in, customs will take it and clean it, then ship it to you, which could take weeks. A card to declare items will be given to you to fill out towards the end of your flight. Be sure to be honest when filling this out and be aware that they will question you on things that you checked yes for. You can find the items you must declare here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/arriving-in-new-zealand/items-to-declare/

 5. Having the Wrong Visa
Be sure to go to this website before planning your trip: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/visit
From here, you can determine whether or not you'll need a visa. If you are a US citizen and traveling for less than 90 days, you will not need one.

Please feel free to leave questions in the comments below, I'd be happy to answer them!

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