Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about Kirra Coach Tours & New Zealand with our FAQ below. Browse through the questions, or select a category from the category overview menu.
1. Why Kirra?
Find out more about The Kirra Experience.
2. Choosing a tour
3. Before you travel
Summer (October – April) is the most popular time to join a coach tour, with warmer weather around the country.
New Zealand does not have a large temperature range compared to other countries. Most of the country receives moderate rainfall and abundant sunshine.
The following are average temperatures observed in New Zealand:
Auckland, North Island
Spring (Sep – Nov): High 19C / Low 9C
Summer (Dec – Feb): High 25C / Low 14C
Autumn (Mar – May): High 21C / Low 11C
Winter (Jun – Aug): High 16C / Low 7C
Queenstown, South Island
Spring (Sep – Nov): High 16C / Low 5C
Summer (Dec – Feb): High 22C / Low 10C
Autumn (Mar – May): High 16C / Low 6C
Winter (Jun – Aug): High 10C / Low 1C
For the most up to date weather conditions in New Zealand, visit the Metservice website.
All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country. It must not be damaged, defaced or excessively worn.
If you belong to one of the following groups, you do not need to apply for a NZeTA:
– New Zealand citizen
– Australian citizen
– Holder of a current New Zealand residence class visa or work visa
If you do not belong to one of the above, you will need to apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) from Immigration New Zealand before you enter the country.
You will also need:
– Travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements
– Evidence that your can support yourself (approximately NZ$1000 per month per person)
For more information, please visit the Immigration New Zealand website.
The Ministry for Primary Industries use the latest X-ray technology to detect concealed items in your luggage.
You must not bring any of the following items into New Zealand:
– Fruit & vegetables (including dried fruit & vegetables)
– Fish & shellfish (including fresh, cooked, dried & canned fish)
– Meat products (including fresh, cooked, dried & canned meats)
– Dairy & egg products (includes milk based baby foods)
– Plants, plant products & seeds
– Flowers (fresh or dried)
– Heatable wheat bags
– Nuts, herbs & spices
– Unpopped popcorn
– Animal products
– Coral, ivory, snakeskin, whale bone, clam shells & turtle shells
– Noodles & rice
– Honey
– Straw packaging
– Items made from bamboo, cane, coconut, straw or wood
– Used animal equipment (grooming, saddles, birdcages, etc)
– Outdoor camping & sports equipment that may be contaminated with soil
Many people are being fined a minimum of NZ$ 200 for things they don’t suspect would carry a fine. Please declare anything that you are not sure about.
For more information, please check the Ministry Of Primary Industries website.
4. Getting to NZ
Most international flights fly into Auckland, New Zealand’s largest airport. From here, you can connect onto domestic flights to most New Zealand airports including Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo & Wellington.
There are also direct international flights into Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown & Wellington.
If you are planning on visiting both islands of New Zealand, we recommend flying into Auckland and out of Christchurch, or vice versa.
There are plenty of destinations within New Zealand that have domestic airports, most of which are accessible by domestic connections from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.
New Zealand’s domestic airports are located at Blenheim, Gisborne, Hokitika, Invercargill, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Masterton, Mount Cook, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Picton, Rotorua, Stewart Island, Taupo, Tauranga, Timaru, Wanaka, Wanganui, Westport, Whakatane and Whangarei.
New Zealand’s flag carrier airline, Air New Zealand operates domestic flight services to most of these airports.
To find out more or to obtain a flight price, please visit your local travel agent or click on a link below.
* Available as a codeshare service.
– Air Canada*
– Air China*
– Air New Zealand
– Air Tahiti Nui
– Air Vanuatu
– Aircalin
– Alaska Airlines*
– American Airlines*
– ANA All Nippon Airways*
– Asiana Airlines*
– Austrian Airlines*
– British Airways*
– Cathay Pacific
– China Airlines
– China Eastern Airlines*
– China Southern Airlines
– Delta Air Lines*
– Emirates
– Ethiopian Airlines*
– Etihad Airways*
– Fiji Airways
– Hawaiian Airlines*
– Japan Airlines*
– Jetstar
– KLM*
– Korean Air
– LAN Airlines
– Lufthansa
– Malaysia Airlines
– Qantas
– Qatar Airways*
– SAS*
– Singapore Airlines
– South African Airways*
– TAM Linhas Aereas*
– Thai Airways International
– Turkish Airlines*
– United Airlines*
– Virgin Atlantic*
– Virgin Australia
– Virgin Samoa
The following airlines operate domestic flights within New Zealand:
Air New Zealand offers the most flights within New Zealand.
The route network connects 28 destinations within New Zealand.
Jetstar offers a low cost alternative for flying within New Zealand.
Operators of flights between Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown & Wellington.
Salt Air Xpress offers a flight alternative to Northland for those not wanting to drive.
Operators of scheduled flights between Auckland North Shore and Northland.
Sounds Air offers a great alternative for those not wanting to take a ferry between islands.
The airline connects Wellington with Picton, Nelson & Blenheim.
Stewart Island Flights offers a flight option for visitors to Stewart Island.
The airline operates a number of flights daily between Stewart Island & Invercargill.
New Zealand’s Departure Tax is included in the cost of your airfare if you are departing from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown & Wellington.
A NZ$25 fee applies for all international departures out of Rotorua, and a NZ$5 fee applies for all domestic departures out of Hamilton & Rotorua.
Please note that this is calculated based on the final airport you visit before leaving New Zealand.
For example, if you are flying from Rotorua to Sydney via Auckland, you will only need to pay the NZ$5 fee in Rotorua.
5. On your tour
Kirra Tours uses a range of hotels on our coach tours, with the standard varying depending on the style of tour.
Platinum Tours: 4 – 4.5 star
Classics Tours: 3.5 – 4 star
Highlights Tours: 3 – 3.5 star
Triple share rooms are only available on Classics & Highlights tours. These rooms will have either a double & a single bed, or 3 single beds.
Please note: In some locations, the third person may need to use a rollaway bed.
Simply let us know on your booking form.Travelling with a wheelchair
We are able to cater for passengers travelling with a foldable non-motorized wheelchair. However, the passenger must be able to climb a few steps and be able to get on / off the coach unassisted. There may also be a few sightseeing activities on the tour that are unable to be accessed by wheelchair, such as the glow worm caves in Te Anau.
All our coach tours are smoke free and are restricted to smoking during the frequent sightseeing, photographic and comfort stops.
We request non-smoking hotel rooms for the comfort of our entire tour group. Travellers who prefer accommodation without such limitations are asked to make their preference known when making reservations and again at the beginning of their tour.
Please note that due to varying hotel policies on this subject, it is not possible to guarantee either option however we will make all reasonable efforts to satisfy individual needs. The majority of hotels in New Zealand are 100% smoke free.
Yes, transfers from the airport are still included in your tour if you book pre- / post-tour accommodation with us.
If you choose to book your own accommodation for extra nights before the tour, the airport transfers will not be included and you will need to make your way to the hotel on the first night included on your tour.
6. Terms & Conditions
You can find a copy of our full booking terms & conditions here.
By placing a booking, you confirm that you have accessed, read and accepted our booking terms & conditions.
7. Agents & affiliates
Kirra Tours works with a variety of travel agents worldwide.
If you prefer to place a booking through your local travel agent instead of booking via our website, please ask your travel agent to contact us to place your booking.