Top Ten Tips for Travel to Aotearoa

1. Plan Ahead

My best travel advice is to plan! Whether that be for flights, visas, or accommodation, try your best to lay everything out ahead of time or have a rough itinerary/list of items you may need!

2. Be Spontaneous

My friends and I loved to say “YOLOA” while abroad, which stands for “You Only LiveOnce Abroad”. It was a good reminder to get out of the comfort zone and try new things like the University of Auckland Canoe Club.

3. Try New Foods

New Zealand has lots of interesting food combinations, as the cuisine has a lot of British influence, but it was still so much fun getting to try new fruits and flavors.

4. Make Friends in Class

Make friends in class, especially with domestic students. My friends were great resources whenever I had questions about the academic system or just how to submit an assignment.

5. Check the Weather

Auckland’s weather varies a lot between the winter and the summer, so make sure you double-check the forecast as well as what type of attire to wear in those temperatures. Also, 15°C is around 59°F.

6. Ask for Help

If you’re struggling with something, just ask for help or clarification. It can streamline the process a lot.

7. Download Regional Mobile Phone Applications

Download Google Maps for walking directions, or ATMobile which is the app for public transportation in Auckland. I suggest asking around and seeing which apps are the most popular for students.

8. Opposite Side of the Road

In Aotearoa, Kiwis drive on the opposite side of the road, make sure to look both waysand double-check before crossing the street, as traffic comes from the opposite direction.

9. Wh’s and Ng’s

Te reo Māori has two digraphs. ‘Wh’ is traditionally pronounced like the ‘wh’ in‘whisper’ but has evolved to sound more like the English ‘f’ sound. ‘Ng’ is a digraphpronounced the like ‘ng’ in the English word ‘singer’

10. No Amazon, No Target, No Hulu

New Zealand does not have all the same products and services as the US. There is noAmazon or same-day delivery service. New Zealand also doesn’t have Walmart orTarget, or any huge department/grocery stores. You need to go to a grocery store to buyfood and a clothing retailer for clothes. Additionally, the video streaming platforms aredifferent, but New Zealand offers free streaming services like, “Freeview” and “TVNZ”

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