Entering New Zealand

It’s still a few days before I officially hit the trail, but I’m excited to report that I’ve made it to New Zealand! It was a long, non-stop flight from Chicago to New Zealand – I don’t think I had ever flown 16 hours straight before this flight! As I waited to board my flight, my thoughts were all over the place:

In 18 hours, I’ll be in New Zealand. Eeek! How is this real?!

It’s snowing here today, but it’s currently 75 degrees in Auckland. Get me there!!!

I hope my checked bag makes it; I really want my hat, sunglasses, and snacks out of there.

Entering New Zealand

Well, here I am on the other side of those thoughts, and I can gladly say that my luggage made it! There were some interesting differences simply in entering New Zealand that I’d like to explain to make the entry process easier for you!

Bio-Security

First, I cannot stress enough the importance of biosecurity in New Zealand. Soon after the flight took off, the flight attendants dispersed customs forms throughout the cabins. On the form, I had to fill in my flight info, my NZ address and passport info, and then there were a series of questions regarding what I’m bringing with me into the country.

They specifically asked about food and camping gear – two items for which I was required to check “yes.” I had packed almost $50 worth of granola bars and Pro Meal bars in my bag. However, when I got to the declarations desk, the security officer wasn’t concerned about the bars at all. He asked me specifically if I was bringing in meat, fresh fruit or vegetables, seeds, or any honey products. I had previously read that NZ had pretty strict rules about honey, so when shopping for my granola bars and snacks, I stayed clear from anything with honey listed as an ingredient. I’m grateful for that choice, because I was able to keep all my food!

The other item I had checked “yes” to was camping equipment. New Zealand is very strict about not allowing foreign soil/dirt into the country. I had both my backup trail runners and my tent quarantined and checked for invasive matter. My friend who lives here had told me that I needed to ensure my gear was free from dirt, so I wasn’t concerned about getting these two items back. I was super grateful that I knew ahead of time that they needed to be thoroughly cleaned!

Length of time in the airport

My time at the bio-security checkpoint took around 45 minutes. My time going through customs and the passport/visa check took about 20, and it took about 30 minutes to get my bag from baggage claim. So, from the time the plane touched down to the time I walked out of the airport was around 2 hours.

My friend picked me up from the airport, and, even though it was raining, we went on a scenic drive. He drove us by the harbor, and it was wild to see the tide so low. The water was probably 80 feet from the stone wall barrier, and he said that in high tide, the water comes all the way up to the barrier. That blew my mind! I had read articles about how it was important to know the tides for river crossing, and now I can see why! The tides could make or break a day of hiking!

SIM cards and currency exchange

Since my friend lives here, he also was able to hook me up with a NZ SIM card straight away. Even though I’m bringing my Garmin inReach, I’m glad to have a New Zealand number. They sell SIM cards as soon as you enter the airport – there was a booth set up in the Duty Free section on the left. If you have time to spare before picking up your bag or going through biosecurity, I’d definitely recommend getting a SIM card and setting it up. Also, they have a money exchange as soon as you get into the airport. Two major conveniences!

Tourist visas

One last piece of information to impart regarding the airport and entering the country is about visas and entry documentation. I was slightly concerned about what I needed to bring. With the end of the pandemic I didn’t know what I needed with regards to covid or anything else.

So, first off, visas – visas are required for American citizens as well as UK citizens. I didn’t do any research outside of these two nationalities. For Americans, we have two options for visiting and hiking the Te Araroa. First, there is the NZ ETA, which is an app where you apply for a visa. The decision is quick – I got my results in 15 minutes, but it can take up to 72 hours according to their website. This visa is good if you’re planning to be in the country for 3 months or less. Since thru-hiking the TA takes roughly 5-6 months, the ETA option wouldn’t be the best for US citizens.

For UK citizens, the ETA covers up to 6 months, so you’re golden. For Americans, we must apply for the tourist visa. This visa allows a visit of up to 6 months at a time. I applied first for the NZ ETA knowing that I could use it to re-enter the country a second time if necessary. However, I also applied for the tourist (visitor) visa with multiple entries. I ended up getting my decision ONE day before my flight here, so I was glad to have the ETA to fall back on. It took almost two months for me to get my decision back for the tourist visa, so if this is the route you’re planning to opt for, make sure to apply many months in advance to avoid the stress of not receiving it on time.

Covid paperwork

As far as covid info, I brought my vaccine card with me just in case, but it wasn’t required at customs. I’m glad I have it with me since I’ll be flying quite a bit while I’m here, but it wasn’t required for entry into New Zealand.

I still can’t believe that I’m in New Zealand!!

As I sit here writing this, it’s still pouring down rain. I’m going to an Elton John concert tonight, held at an outdoor arena – I’m glad I brought a raincoat for the trail! Time to put it to use while singing at the top of my lungs to Rocketman!