New Zealand: Adventure in Middle-earth

For this itinerary, traveling with a backpack is mandatory for logistical reasons and the convenience of the entire group - including yourself! Trolleys, bulky suitcases, or hard luggage are not allowed. The Travel Coordinator will provide guidance on the ideal baggage before departure via the WhatsApp group.

If you are a UK citizen, to find out the entry requirements for New Zealand, you can check this informational page from our partner Sherpa. If you need a visa, you can apply for it through Sherpa. If you are not a UK citizen, you can still use Sherpa by changing the nationality in the 'Passport' section.

Before traveling, always remember to check the government website of your country of origin for updates on the entry requirements for New Zealand – you wouldn’t want to stay home due to a bureaucratic detail!

• UK residents: review the FCDO Travel Advice.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
• Other residents: refer to your government or local consulate's travel advice.

New Zealand operates on New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), which is UTC+12. When it's 12pm in the UK, it will be 11pm in New Zealand. For the USA, if it's 12pm Eastern Time, it will be 4am the next day in New Zealand.

Note that New Zealand observes daylight saving time, shifting to New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT), which is UTC+13, typically from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April.

New Zealand uses the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as its currency. The daily exchange rate is approximately:

• 0.50 GBP
• 0.60 USD
• 0.55 EUR

to 1 NZD, but this can fluctuate, so it's a good idea to check before you travel. You can exchange currency at airports, banks, or currency exchange offices throughout the country.

In New Zealand, you can pay with credit and debit cards, which are widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly used. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also popular. Cash is accepted, but not as common for everyday transactions. It's a good idea to check with your bank about any transaction fees for foreign cards. ATMs are available if you need to withdraw cash.

Tipping in New Zealand is not a common practice like it is in the USA, but it's appreciated for exceptional service. In restaurants, bars, and cafes, leaving a small tip if you feel the service was outstanding is always a nice gesture. In hotels, you can tip porters a few dollars for helping with your luggage. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected, but rounding up the fare is appreciated. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and is not obligatory.

In New Zealand, you can find good internet coverage in most urban areas, but rural spots might have limited access. Wi-Fi is widely available in cafes, hotels, and airports, but speeds can vary. Since New Zealand is not in Europe or the Schengen area, it's a good idea to buy a local SIM card or an e-SIM data plan for better connectivity. Providers like Spark, Vodafone, and 2degrees offer various plans to suit your needs. You'll easily find their SIM cards at the airport or in convenience stores.

In New Zealand, they primarily speak English, but you might also hear Māori and New Zealand Sign Language being used. Here are some useful colloquial expressions you might come across:

• Cheers: Thank you
• Kia ora: Hello (in Māori)
• Sweet as: Great or no problem
• Chur: Thanks or awesome

These expressions can add a local touch to your conversations!

In New Zealand, they use Type I plugs, which have two flat pins in a V-shape and a grounding pin. The electrical voltage is 230 volts, and the frequency is 50 Hz. Since these plugs are different from those used in many European countries, the UK, or the USA, we suggest you bring a universal adapter to use your devices.

In New Zealand, Christianity is the main religion, but the country is quite diverse with many other religions practiced, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. A significant portion of the population also identifies as non-religious. There are no specific dressing requirements related to religion, but it's always a good idea to dress modestly when visiting religious sites. Important Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are widely celebrated.

Packing for New Zealand can depend on the season and activities you plan to do, but here's a general guide to help you pack your backpack:

1. Clothing:

• Lightweight shirts and t-shirts
• A warm sweater or fleece
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable pants and shorts
• Swimwear

2. Shoes:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hiking boots
• Flip-flops or sandals

3. Accessories and Technology:

• Sunglasses
• Hat for sun protection
• Portable charger
• Travel adapter (Type I plug)
• Camera

4. Toiletries and Medication:

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Basic first aid kit
• Common travel medication like painkillers, antihistamines, motion sickness tablets

New Zealand's weather can be unpredictable, so layering is key. Consider the season when packing, as summer can be warm while winters are cooler.

New Zealand's weather can vary quite a bit depending on where you are, so it's a good idea to plan accordingly. Here's a general breakdown:

• North Island: Generally warmer, especially in the summer (December to February). Winters (June to August) are mild with occasional rain.
• South Island: Known for cooler temperatures, especially in the inland and southern areas. Summers are warm but can be unpredictable, while winters can be cold with snow in mountainous regions.

The best time to visit is from November to April when the weather is warmer and more stable. Remember, New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Return international flights are not included on our trips because we want to give you full autonomy and flexibility. You can choose your preferred airline, fly from the airport that works best for you, and decide how many stopovers you want to make along the way.

As flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: you could arrive at your destination a few days early or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

An "Available" departure means that the trip isn’t confirmed yet and we’re waiting for a few more travellers to sign up… which could be you!

If you book the trip please wait for it to be confirmed before booking your international flights.

The question of all questions! Here’s some more information: 

• The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all travellers on the trip and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 
• It is used to streamline payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do. This guarantees flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 
• It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
• You’ll find the Money Pot amount on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the Money Pot’. To find this look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money Pot? Click here’ and you’ll find the details.
• The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
• It is usually used for group expenses that all travellers decide to take part in, but sometimes if you opt out of an activity it might make more sense for it to come out of the Money Pot. In these cases the Coordinator will return the amount for this activity back to you at the end of the trip. 
• It is estimated based on the experience of other groups but can vary depending on what activities your group is keen for. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
• If not all of the Money Pot is spent, the difference will be returned to all travellers at the end of the trip. 
• The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the Money Pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
• If you pay in advance for part of the Money Pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded if the trip is cancelled. 

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Klarna (you’ll pay for the trip in three equal amounts);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation up to 31 days before departure, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. 

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

For our trips we usually use locally owned accommodation instead of big hotel chains. It’s our favourite way to really experience the local culture and, whenever we can, support the local economy. Typically, you’ll stay in hotels, apartments, guesthouses and hostels with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

The list of accommodation for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

Yes! We might not know the flights for everyone else in the group, but there are ways to find out which flights your fellow WeRoaders will be taking. 

1. All travellers can share their flight details after booking on their My WeRoad account so that other travellers on the same trip can see these details anonymously. 

2. Alternatively you can join our Facebook group: Solo Travellers | WeRoad Community – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963298767843213 ) Look for a post about the trip you’re interested in or ask the group admin for help in getting in touch with your future travel companions!

3. If the Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you’re keen for, you can easily find their Facebook post on the website. Click 'Ask the Coordinator' and follow the link here. 

Our groups usually consist of 8–12 travellers, with a minimum of 3–4 and a maximum of 15. 
Everyone on our trips speaks English, and travellers join us from across the UK, Europe and beyond. Our trips are open to people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, with an average age of 34 across all trips.

Each group will be joined and led by one of our experienced Travel Coordinators, who’s there to ensure everything runs smoothly and the group feels well-supported. 

If you’d like to know more about our typical WeRoad groups do reach out to us on WhatsApp on +44 7716573700. 

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking. 
You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. 

Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

For some trips, in the itinerary section, you’ll find the number of nights and the location (not the hotel) where you’ll be spending the night(s). The location shown is the one we usually go for on most trips, but in some cases, you might stay in a nearby town. This will depend on logistics or availability of accommodation. 

The list of accommodation for your trip (and therefore also the exact locations) will be shared by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful information for your adventure!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller who will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary like transport, timings, accommodation, restaurant bookings and meeting points, so that you can enjoy the trip without this hassle. They’re there to support the group, ensure everything runs smoothly and will no doubt make the trip a lot of fun along the way too! 

The Coordinator will set up a WhatsApp group approximately 2 weeks before departure. This will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking. Their details will be on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your My WeRoad account, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, on all our trips you will share a room with other WeRoaders in your group. By default this will be people of the same gender, unless you tick ‘I'm OK with a mixed gender room’ when you book. The bathroom will either be private or shared only with other travellers on the trip. The rooms might be twins, triples, quadruples or multi-share (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

You will never share with people from outside of the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodation like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

On some of our trips we can offer a private room for an additional cost. Just tick the ‘Private Room’ option at checkout to get this added. For some of our trips if you book as two travellers together you can add this private room free of charge. Look out for this option at checkout. 

Please note that if you do book a private room with a friend/partner this could be either a double or a twin room so please email [email protected] if you have a preference on this. 

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. You can also come along to one of our many events that we run in different cities worldwide. Check out and sign up to our events by downloading the WeMeet app here.