GeoSavvy Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)...

How long does it take to travel between places?
Some tours can cover up to 400-500km/day especially on the West & South Coasts of the South Island where places of interest are scattered over a wide area. On average however, we would do approximately 200-300km/day and spend around 4 hours travelling with the rest of your time spent exploring with your Geosavvy Tour driver/guide.

What are road conditions like?
New Zealand roads are notoriously windy and narrow, with little room for error. That is why we recommend visitors to New Zealand invest in a GeoSavvy Tour so that their driver/guide, whom know the roads like the backs of their hands, can escort them safely between places of interest. You get to sit back, relax and enjoy the view in comfort whilst feeling both safe and secure in our commercial SUV vehicles.

Do I need a Visa to visit New Zealand?
We recommend you visit www.nzembassy.com to find out whether you require a Visa to visit New Zealand. For visitors from the United States, the website states the following criteria:

New Zealand and the USA have a Visa Waiver Agreement, a US passport holder:
- with return air tickets. Or holding a valid onwards ticket to a country the traveler has a right to enter,
- who has a passport valid for three months beyond the date they are leaving NZ,
- who has proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the visit, and
- is only wishing to visit for the time granted on arrival,
may visit New Zealand for tourism purposes for up to three months without a visa. If the intention is to stay longer, the traveller should apply for a visitor's visa.

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
September through May are good times to visit, particularly Southern New Zealand. Peak visitor months are December through February so if you can avoid these months do so as it means the more popular tourist places will be less crowded. The weather is still fine outside these months and should pose no problem.

What is the weather like?
New Zealand's climate is oceanic temperate which means our climate and weather patterns are controlled by the Pacific Ocean. This means one minute the sun can be shining and the next you can be in the middle of a heavy rain shower. We therefore recommend clients bring a range of clothing with them including a waterproof jacket and sturdy walking gear, as well as lighter clothes for warmer days and also perhaps evening attire for nights out 'on the town'.

What kind of wildlife am I likely to see?
Plenty! New Zealand is home to many endangered animal species, particularly birds and marine mammals. GeoSavvy Tours can organize specialist trips that include whale/dolphin watching and birdwatching. On most tours clients will get to see furseals, penguins, sealions, forest and wading birds, and other fauna (New Zealand has no native mammals apart from small bats).

Where can I be picked up from and dropped off too?
We usually pick-up/drop-off clients at Christchurch International Airport (which many international airlines fly directly into) or Dunedin or Queenstown Airports. If a North Island leg is booked with GeoSavvy Tours we can also pick up clients from either Auckland International Airport (New Zealand's main international airport) or Wellington Airport.

How many sheep are there in New Zealand?
Approximately 60 million give or take a few million versus about 4 million people - the sheep win hands down!

Does a GeoSavvy Tour ever get cancelled?
We've never had to cancel one yet. Also, a GeoSavvy Tour doesn't need a minimum number of passengers to run, if there's only one person booked on a tour, then we still go - now how's that for service! In fact we cater to couples and singles (especially women) travelling by themselves, and we find the smaller the number on tour the more fun is had.

Do GeoSavvy Tours cater for disabled clients, the elderly, and small children?
Yes, we try and ensure that clients with any special requirements are catered to with regards to accommodation, meals (eg vegetarian, allergies), access to activities, etc.

SOME USEFUL LINKS...

Looking for an airline to fly you to New Zealand, check out www.airnewzealand.com or www.qantas.com.au

Want even more information about New Zealand, try www.newzealand.com

A good place to check out accommodation and alternative transport providers is found at www.tourism.net.nz

Looking for some up-to-date Kiwi news items, try www.xtra.co.nz or www.nzherald.co.nz

Heard of the world-famous All Blacks? Check out their website at www.allblacks.com and see what all the fuss is about. Go the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup in France - big ups to Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw my two favourite lads! Keep an eye out for NZ's most famous rugby player Jonah Lomu. New Zealand rugby rules!!

Looking for some high quality artworks? Check out www.friesengallery.com, one of our clients and a great friend to boot!