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I first moved to New Zealand two months after my 18th birthday in 2012 and called it home for 8 years until moving back to Europe in 2020. (on a container ship, which is quite a big story).
At the time I had barely traveled solo and had to find the most convenient and budget-friendly way of getting out there and exploring.
Fuelled by the adventures of solo female travel bloggers and people I came across I made the decision to purchase a backpack and go WWOOFing. Don’t know what that is? Basically, you are exchanging a few hours of work for a place to stay and three meals a day.
In the years that followed, I went on more long solo trips around New Zealand with the highlight being a one-month road trip from the top of the North Island in Auckland all the way down south to Queenstown and back up again.
I mostly slept in DOC camping sites or in my car when the weather was bad and in total, drove more than 7 thousand kilometres around the country.
If you are considering setting out on your first solo adventure as well, here are some things I’ve learned about traveling solo around New Zealand!
Okay, what even is safe? Let’s get that out of the way first. Safety is a feeling not a fact and it largely depends on the experience you are going to have. One tiny bad experience can negatively impact everything.
In general, I am going to be real and say the world is full of dangers!!! However, New Zealand really is one of the places I have felt the safest around the world.
Looking at some statistics, New Zealand places 55th on the World Crime Index List. Which is only slightly safer than Russia and apparently more dangerous than Jordan, Thailand, Greece, Albania and Turkey, Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates.
While New Zealand is no stranger to crime, especially within the larger cities, I am very sceptical of how it can rank lower than certain countries on this list. But once again this has to do with statistics available on crime and won’t necessarily reflect how you feel when visiting a country.
Either way, New Zealand for me is one of the friendliest nations and I would highly recommend it as a solo travel destination, especially for women.
There are a lot of female solo travelers
In some countries, the idea of a woman setting out on her own is still frowned upon or just unfamiliar. Not here!
Most Kiwis (boys and girls) go on their OE or overseas experience after finishing high-school. And that is not just within New Zealand. Southeast Asia and Europe are the most popular destinations to spend a year in, working, traveling and getting some new experiences before moving back to Aotearoa and possibly getting a house!
So for female solo travelers, you will have plenty of company around New Zealand and I have come across hundreds of girls going around the country, without anybody thinking it is strange.
Nobody likes Auckland(ers)
The question, “where are you from?” sends shivers down my spine. I never know how to answer it. While I am 100% Greek born and proud of my heritage, I spend most of my childhood living in different countries and became accustomed to and close to the culture, language, sights and traditions of different places.
So when I was travelling to the South Island and people asked where my home is, I naturally would reply, “Auckland”.
I definitely got some interesting looks from people, who struggled to see how a girl with an accent can be from Auckland not to mention that it is not a favourite city amongst Kiwis.
In almost every country I’ve been to, people have a love-hate relationship with the people living in the capital.
And yes, Auckland is not the capital of New Zealand but as the largest city the same rules apply here.
If you are road tripping - fill up!
I can’t count the number of times I almost run out of gas on my first few days road tripping around the North Island.
At some stage I seriously thought I would have to spend the night in the middle of nowhere and call AA (NZ Automobile Association) to help me. Thankfully, by the time I reached the South Island (which is considerably worse) I had learned my lesson and filled up whenever I could.
In some parts of the South Island you could drive for hours without coming across a gas station.
There are multiple apps for backpackers and travellers that provide useful information, including public toilets, gas stations and places where you can camp for the night, so I would suggest making full use of one of them.
My favorite was CamperMate and WikiCamps New Zealand.
Be a tidy Kiwi (always)
The slogan “Be a tidy Kiwi” was born back in the 70s but has remained popular, and most New Zealanders will know exactly what you’re talking about when you say it.
New Zealand tourism has boomed in recent decades due to the success of the Lord of the Rings franchise, among other things, and staying pure and clean is central to the country’s image.
We like to keep our precious country clean, so don’t even think about dropping your rubbish anywhere other than a bin.
Back in January 2019, a British family made headlines and was asked to leave New Zealand after traveling throughout the country and leaving piles of rubbish everywhere they went. They also skipped out on paying at restaurants, stole items, and were verbally abusive—so that didn’t help either.
Just like this family found out the hard way, when you throw your rubbish on our beaches, someone will call you out and make you clean it up. It’s the mature and respectful thing to do.
Watch out for people driving on the wrong side of the road
In New Zealand, you need to drive on the left-hand side of the road, which might be unfamiliar to some visitors.
This usually isn’t an issue in Auckland, but if you’re driving around the South Island, where there are many overseas tourists, you need to stay alert. Some drivers accidentally end up on the wrong side of the road.
It’s happened to me twice. Swerving to avoid a minivan coming at you at 80 km/h is not fun.
Always pack for four seasons in one day
New Zealand is the “land of the long white cloud.” That means beautiful skies, but also fast-changing weather and sudden drops in temperature.
Even in summer, the temperature can drop from the mid-20s°C during the day to single digits at night. If you’re at a higher altitude or in the mountains, you’ll need proper winter gear to stay warm.
When you’re traveling solo, you won’t be able to borrow a jacket from someone—so bring everything you need with you.
You will rarely be alone (unless you want to be)
New Zealanders are friendly, and there are thousands of expats living here, plus millions of tourists visiting each year.
Hostels are very popular among travelers, students, and people temporarily relocating within New Zealand. You’ll almost always meet people and get invited to hikes, BBQs, or drinks at the local pub.
Get out of the cities
Auckland and Wellington are the two largest cities in New Zealand, and while they offer lots of greenery and beautiful spots, the real charm of New Zealand lies in its wild, open nature.
Visit the lakes, rivers, beaches, fjords, and mountains—and do any outdoor activity you enjoy. That’s where you’ll fall in love with the country.
Be extremely well prepared
Yes, New Zealand is a safe country, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared—especially when traveling solo.
The same advice applies no matter where you are: always take precautions.
When I did a 45 km, 4-day hike around Lake Waikaremoana, I signed the intentions book, told people exactly when I was leaving and when I’d return, and rented a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) to carry with me.
Never underestimate the weather. Always check for warnings about floods or snowstorms. Plenty of tourists have gotten stuck in the mountains, and some have lost their lives.
Lastly, split your money between bags, and always carry a local SIM card with enough data to contact someone in an emergency.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Must Know When Visiting New Zealand
- Emergency: Dial 111 for all emergencies.
- Language: Both English and Māori are official languages in New Zealand. Samoan, Northern Chinese and Hindi are also widely spoken. Common phrases to learn are “Kia ora” (Hi – informal greeting), “Aotearoa” (Māori name for New Zealand), “Mōrena”, (Good morning), “Whānau”, (Family).
- Water: Yes, it is perfectly safe to drink tap water in New Zealand.
- Driving: Left-hand side, international driving permit recommended. Book your rental car with Discover Cars for the best rates and comparisons across all major and local companies.
- Accommodation: Booking.com for the most options on hotels, apartments and hostels. Free cancellation in a lot of places and no need to pre-pay. Great for their rewards points system.
- Geography: New Zealand has two main islands (North and South) and a number of smaller islands including Steward Island at the bottom of the South Island.
- Activities: From cultural sights to day trips, food tours and city guides, use Get Your Guide.
- Domestic Airlines: The main airlines for air travel are Air New Zealand (check out their safety videos) and Jetstar.
- Taxi: You will be able to download apps like Uber, Ola and Cabify among others, to order taxi rides.
- Culture: It is not uncommon for people to walk barefoot in certain settings in New Zealand. The summer season is popular for festivals, roadtrips and of course, a good opportunity to see a rugby game.
Having travelled to the countries you mentioned, ” Jordan, Thailand, Greece, Albania and Turkey, Kosovo and the United Arab Emirates.” yes they are safer than NZ. I think people who have not been there would think otherwise but NZ does have its fair share of crime.