New Zealand: 18 Days in Aotearoa — Glaciers, Coldplay & The Land We Belonged To

The Beginning of a Dream

They call it Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud — and it truly is pristine, poetic, and powerful. I've dreamt of coming here for so long, though I can't pinpoint when the dream began. Maybe it was during childhood when I watched The Lord of the Rings in one marathon sitting — until Maa scolded me and took the laptop away. Maybe it's my fangirl heart for Kane Williamson. Or maybe, New Zealand simply called to me in that quiet, persistent way that dream destinations do.

And now, having traced its mountains, lakes, silence, and skies — I can say I was right to believe this place would be something extraordinary. I will never recover from its beauty. And the best part is, I don't want to. New Zealand lets you breathe in sync with nature — and in that quiet, it gifts you a rare connection to yourself.

But How Did It All Begin?

Like most of our crazy stories — this one started with Harshit, a Coldplay song, and a spark of spontaneity. One evening in May 2024, while the rest of us were lost in office gossip at Seasons Mall in Pune, Harshit tuned it all out. A Coldplay song was playing in the background, and without warning, he checked the tickets for their tour. Available. In Auckland.

The next morning — before work, before plans, before rationality — he booked them.

Yes. We bought international concert tickets with no visa, no itinerary, no cost calculation — just vibes and a shared leap of faith. That was the beginning.

For anyone who knows me, they know that from May to November, this trip took up real estate in my mind every single day. A trip to New Zealand. A road trip in a foreign country. A Coldplay concert. Three dreams folded into one reality. I'm rooting for Harshit. He rarely obsesses over things — but Coldplay? That's his magic. That smile on his face is everything.

After booking tickets, we dove into research mode — wading through vlogs, forums, and visa websites. Unlike Schengen, New Zealand doesn't require a booked flight for the visa. That helped. We shuffled funds, made backup plans (just in case we had to sell those concert tickets), and finally applied. On 17th June, the visas arrived.

I still remember the relief. Within days, we were flight-hunting across odd routes and impossible timings. Eventually, we settled on an epic one: Pune → Chennai → Kuala Lumpur → Auckland → Christchurch. Four flights. One dream.

Everything had to run on time, and we deliberately kept a 3–4 hour gap between flights — just to stay on the safer side. Based on the blogs we'd read, we were nervous about New Zealand's strict biosecurity checks. But to our surprise, it all went smoothly. In fact, seeing fellow travelers — especially a group of Chinese tourists — carry more food than I did, gave me comfort. Apparently, I wasn't the only Asian who believed in packing snacks like my life depended on them.

After a 16-hour journey, including a non-stop 10-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland, we finally touched down. It was my first time flying with a Malaysian airline, and the seating arrangement was 2-4-2. Sitting in the middle of a four-seat row? Not ideal. If you land in that middle spot, just be ready for a bit of a shuffle each time nature — or tea — calls.

🗺️ The Road We Took

Our 18-day New Zealand adventure was carved across both islands — each with its own pulse, scenery, and soul.

📍 Tip: Both island headings below are clickable. Tap either to dive into the day-by-day route, stops, and stays.

🌿 South Island (12 Days)

Christchurch to Queenstown and beyond: We drove through alpine passes, touched glacial lakes that looked like paintings, kayaked in still waters, danced under starry skies in Tekapo, and huddled together on windy cliffs. We chased clouds, missed a few turns, found better ones, and filled every silence with awe. These 12 days were for raw beauty, reflection, and the kind of quiet that only vast landscapes can offer.

🌊 North Island (5 Days)

Auckland to Rotorua and back: The tempo changed — but the wonder didn't. From the sacred calm of Cape Reinga to the electric high of the Coldplay concert, these five days were pulsing with contrast. Māori traditions welcomed us with powerful haka dances and earthy hangi dinners. We flew above canopies, relaxed in sulphur mud, slipped (literally — looking at you, Harshit), sang with strangers, and laughed more than I thought tired bodies could.

New Zealand, Decoded — A First-Timer's Field Guide for Indians

First trip to New Zealand from India? Below is everything we wish someone had told us — visa quirks, what to install before you fly, how to actually drive on the left without panicking, and how to eat well as a vegetarian on a road trip. Read it end-to-end before you book flights.

Prices in INR/NZD current as of early 2026. Immigration rules change — verify at immigration.govt.nz before applying.

⚠️ Things to Take Care Of

Biosecurity is taken very seriously — declare every food item, seed, fruit, wooden souvenir, and hiking boot on the arrival card. Fines for non-declaration start at NZD $400 and the inspectors do open bags. Driving is on the left — get an International Driving Permit from your RTO before you fly (Indian licence + IDP is accepted). Distances on the map deceive — the South Island is mountains and curves, so a 200 km drive easily takes 4 hours. Weather changes within an hour, especially in the South Island — carry layers and a windproof jacket even in summer. There's no tipping culture and tap water is excellent everywhere.

🛂 Visa Process (Indian Passport)

Indian passport holders need a Visitor Visa — the NZeTA does not apply. Apply directly online at immigration.govt.nz (no VFS step). Online fee is approx NZD $211 (~₹10,800); the International Visitor Levy of NZD $100 is bundled in. Processing usually takes 4–6 weeks but can stretch longer in peak Indian summer — apply at least 6–8 weeks ahead. Documents: passport with 6 months validity, recent photo, bank statements for the last 6 months (rule of thumb ~₹2 lakh per traveler), ITR for the last 2 years, leave letter from your employer, accommodation plan and rough day-by-day itinerary. You do NOT need confirmed flight tickets for the visa — that's the one big advantage over Schengen.

🛫 Before You Land

Buy an Airalo or Skinny eSIM (5GB ~₹1,500) before you fly, or grab a 2degrees/Spark SIM at the airport. Install these apps before takeoff: Google Maps with the New Zealand offline pack downloaded, CamperMate (free DOC campsites, public toilets, fuel), Rankers (reviewed campsites and walks), MetService for hour-by-hour mountain weather, and AA Roadtrip Planner. Carry around ₹15,000 worth of NZD in cash for small-town cafés and farm stays — cards work nearly everywhere but rural ATMs are rare. Book your campervan or car a month ahead for the Dec–Feb peak; same-week walk-up rates double.

🛬 After You Land

From Auckland (AKL): take the SkyDrive bus (NZD $18, ~45 min to the CBD) or the cheaper public AirportLink bus to Puhinui then train. From Christchurch (CHC): the Metro bus 3 or 29 to the city centre is NZD $9 and runs every 30 minutes. From Queenstown (ZQN): the airport is 15 minutes from town — Orbus Route 1 is NZD $4. Withdraw cash from bank-branded ATMs (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac); skip the standalone Travelex machines in arrivals — their rates are awful. Always pay in NZD when prompted, never in INR.

🚗 Transport

A rental car is essential for the South Island and strongly recommended for the North. Mainstream brands (Hertz, Avis) are pricey; locals love Apex, Snap, Jucy, Ezi — compact cars run NZD $50–90/day in shoulder season. Petrol is around NZD $2.80/L. One-way drop-offs (Christchurch → Queenstown for example) usually cost an extra NZD $100–150. If you don't want to drive, InterCity coaches connect the major towns (a 7-day FlexiPass is NZD $399 and good value). For long hops between islands or to the far south, domestic flights on Air New Zealand or Jetstar run NZD $60–150 if booked 3+ weeks ahead. The InterIslander/Bluebridge ferry between Wellington and Picton (3 hours, NZD $60–80 foot passenger, more with a car) is an experience in itself.

🏨 Accommodation

Backpacker hostels (BBH, YHA, Nomads, BASE) run NZD $35–60/night for a dorm, NZD $90–140 for private rooms. Holiday parks (Top10, Kiwi Holiday Parks) offer cabins and powered sites NZD $80–180, perfect for road-trippers. Motels everywhere are NZD $120–200. Splurge one night on a lakeside cottage in Tekapo or Wanaka — the morning views are worth it. Book 2–3 months ahead for Dec–Feb (NZ summer) and the Christmas/New Year window. Trust the Booking.com / Stayz reviews — small-town options vary wildly. Many remote areas have Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites at NZD $8–15 if you have a tent or campervan.

🥧 Food in a Nutshell

Vegetarian options have improved hugely but still skew meat- and seafood-heavy in regional towns — most cafés will have at least one veg sandwich, salad, or pasta. Don't miss: a classic Kiwi meat or veg pie from any bakery, fish and chips wrapped in paper on a beach, a real flat white (NZ invented this espresso style), Hokey Pokey ice cream, and a bottle of L&P (Lemon & Paeroa) for the novelty. For a cultural splurge book a hangi dinner at a Māori cultural evening in Rotorua. Indian restaurants are surprisingly common in mid-sized towns (Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch) if you crave dal after a week of cheese rolls. Tap water everywhere is mountain-fed and safe — carry a refillable bottle.