New Zealand 2013 Wanaka/Queenstown
What does everyone usually do in terms of exchanging cash?
Just exchange for NZ$ here in Australia at a bank and carry over?
Does anyone just use their credit card over there?
Has anyone used the Australia post Load & Go?
Virgin have also come out with a Global Wallet which I believe is similar to the Australia Post card.
When I go OS I just use a VISA Debit/Credit Card and withdraw from an ATM!!!!!
* Just be aware of any fees that a Credit Card may have when withdrawing cash!!!!!
Different institutions have different charges!!!!!
^^ that’s what I’ve done too. Credit card and also just withdrew money from atms. The fees don’t seem to have been any more than what an exchange place would charge to change money.
Plus with a VISA you actually get a better exchange rate than if you physically exchange, or use a Travel Card that has to be “Loaded”!!!!!
Yep I just use cash/credit card…
But its worth watching the exchange rate in the lead up and if the exchange is in your favour you would be silly not to pre buy!!!
Cash is claimable on travel insurance if you lose it so don’t worry about that.
ty all.
heading over next week, simply cannot wait.
I only got back 2 days ago and I already want to go back! To be fair I never wanted to leave in the first place though!
Hope you have a fantastic time (no doubt you will!)
So just to reiterate. I will be landing in Christchurch, doing a few days in Mt Hutt/Methven, a few in Wanaka, then a week in Queenstown. Main reason is for mobile coverage.
What prepaid telco do you guys recommend? Telecom or 2degrees?
From what I’ve read so far, Telecome has better coverage, but 2degrees has better data plans?
The way I also understand it is that we can go to a Telecom/2degrees store and buy the sim card (standard/micro/nano) and opt for one of the data plans then and there.
If its only for a week why are you bothering with a pre paid sim? just turn off data roaming and use your normal phone. Wont cost too much… just use hotel wifi for facebook etc. If you were going for a month i would say get a pre paid sim but for that short time i wouldnt bother.
Yeah I wouldn’t bother either.
Just use text msg and turn off data.
I travelled for a month like that and i survived!
Sydney to Christchurch for $109 (dates 28 August – 18 September)
I’m heading off to QT and wanaka in 3 days with MINT tours! I think I’m going to be there same not wanting to leave.
With money, I’m with both Westpac and Commonwealth banks so if I withdraw from either banks own ATMs what are the charges? Do you get charged an ATM fee and/or exchange rate?
Also with phones I’m with Telstra and I saw that you can buy international data packs, has anyone got one before? I won’t need to call over there just data to iMessage would be the best.
Ok,
Westpac is part of the Global ATM alliance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_ATM_Alliance
So if you are going overseas, you can use any of these banks with 0 fees at all. It’s freaking awesome (I’m going to open an account for Canada so I can use Scotia bank for free 
) - That means I can take money out at a Scotia bank ATM with no fees and then put it in my account while over there.
International data packs work well. If it’s just imessage, then it shouldn’t use much data at all. I say get a pack and hope it lasts. Just keep your international calling off and make sure to keep an eye on that data limit (or talk to someone in Telstra to make it tell you if you run out of data).
Some places in NZ have free WiFi but I wouldn’t count on it as NZ has one of the worst Internet in first world countries…
Some places in NZ have free WiFi but I wouldn’t count on it as NZ has one of the worst Internet in first world countries…
Actually a girl I know recently went skiing in Queenstown and she was really impressed with Vodaphone in NZ. reception was brilliant all over the mountains (she was using A LOT of data. IG facebook twitter etc…)
She had to buy a sim over there cause telstra datapack was a PITA…
Some places in NZ have free WiFi but I wouldn’t count on it as NZ has one of the worst Internet in first world countries…
Actually a girl I know recently went skiing in Queenstown and she was really impressed with Vodaphone in NZ. reception was brilliant all over the mountains (she was using A LOT of data. IG facebook twitter etc…)
She had to buy a sim over there cause telstra datapack was a PITA…
I’ve just come back from NZ and whilst over there I got a Vodaphone prepaid sim. It was $30 for a simcard with a value pack that gave me unlimited texts (within NZ), 100 minutes calls and 500MB data. If you run out of the data you can spend another $6 for another 100MB that will last a week before it expires.