5 essential things to know before visiting New Zealand »

Getting away from the stress of everyday life is important for your mental and physical health. Allowing stress to weigh you down can create lots of problems like issues involving depression and anxiety. If you are ready to get away for a while, then you need to think about planning a trip to New Zealand.

Every year, over 2.9 million tourists visit New Zealand. If you are planning on visiting this island country, you need to start researching all New Zealand has to offer. Here are some things you need to know before visiting New Zealand.

1. New Zealand doesn’t have poisonous or predatory animals

One of the most enjoyable things you can do while in New Zealand is to take a hike. Some people think that the country is a place where poisonous and predatory animals are allowed to roam free. In reality, this island is free of predatory and poisonous animals. The only poisonous animal you will find in this island country is the Katipo Snake.

While you might encounter a bearded dragon or two on your travels in New Zealand, you don’t have to worry about seeing snakes. You will also see a number of farm animals and sheep in this island country.

2. Summer in New Zealand starts in December

When planning a trip to a new country, most people do extensive research about the weather. If you want to visit New Zealand when the weather outside is warm and the sunshine is plentiful, then you need to go during summer. The summer months in the country start in December and end around February.

If you want to participate in a lot of outdoor activities while in New Zealand, then you might want to plan your trip in November. The weather during this time of year is absolutely beautiful. This is also considered the tourism off-season, which means you might be able to get a better deal on your travel accommodations.

3. You have to drive on the left hand side of the road

One of the best ways to get around in the country is by renting a vehicle. By renting a vehicle, you can go and come as you please without having to wait on public transportation. Before jumping behind the wheel in New Zealand, you need to remember that driving on the lefthand side of the road is standard in this country.

Most Americans have a hard time adapting to this new way of driving. By staying with the flow of traffic and being observant of your surroundings, you can stay safe while behind the wheel in New Zealand.

4. Internet access in New Zealand isn’t great

If you like scrolling on social media while on vacation, you might have a hard time doing this during your trip in New Zealand. The Internet access in the country isn’t great. If you are staying at holiday parks in this country, you might have access to the Internet. However, you will usually have to pay a fee to use this Internet access. Instead of spending your entire vacation hunting Internet connections, you should just unplug and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.

5. New Zealand has a number of outdoor activities

If you consider yourself an outdoor enthusiast, then you will love New Zealand. When staying in this country, you will have an endless array of outdoor activities to participate in. Hiking, rock climbing and sailing activities are in abundance in this part of the world.

Now that you know more about all that New Zealand has to offer, it is time to start planning your trip.