They almost all charge local accounts a fee of maybe NZ$0.50 (which is often waived for certain account types or levels of business you do with them). Not sure whether or not this fee is passed on to overseas accounts.
We are arriving in Wellington on Christmas Eve evening and flying out morning of 26th. What can we do on Christmas Day and what restaurants will be open? We were thinking of going for a BBQ on teh beach - any recommendations?
IIRC a few beaches have gas barbecues installed, perhaps a local can post with which ones. Bringing your own bbq (rented) is not recommended since wind could easily tip over a portable bbq and start a fire.
If you want to have a bbq I would have a plan B in case the weather isnt nice (wet and/or windy) - there is a moderate chance of that. The best summer weather is usually January or even February.
What's wrong with using ATMs to pull out cash and avoid the usurious 3%currency exchange fee with CCs? It has worked well for me elsewhere, won't it work well in NZ too?
Yes, using ATMs in NZ to get cash avoids the typical 3% hit charged by US-based credit cards and ends up costing around ~1% instead. Few NZ ATMs I've seen charge foreign card holders a per use surcharge, so if your home bank doesn't charge you a fee for out of network or foreign ATM use then there won't be an additional fee.
One thing to note about ATMs in NZ is that many seem to have relatively lower daily max withdrawal limits than what some people are used to in the US. I.e. don't multiply your $US500 or $US1000 daily ATM withdrawl limit by 1.5 and expect the NZ ATM to permit a withdrawal of $NZ1,500 in one swoop. Use two cards [The effect of the limits used to be much more noticable when the exchange rate was over 2 to 1 ]
Yes, using ATMs in NZ to get cash avoids the typical 3% hit charged by US-based credit cards and ends up costing around ~1% instead. Few NZ ATMs I've seen charge foreign card holders a per use surcharge, so if your home bank doesn't charge you a fee for out of network or foreign ATM use then there won't be an additional fee.
One thing to note about ATMs in NZ is that many seem to have relatively lower daily max withdrawal limits than what some people are used to in the US. I.e. don't multiply your $US500 or $US1000 daily ATM withdrawl limit by 1.5 and expect the NZ ATM to permit a withdrawal of $NZ1,500 in one swoop. Use two cards [The effect of the limits used to be much more noticable when the exchange rate was over 2 to 1 ]
Have been pullilng cash out of ATMs for past 12 days here in NZ without problem. Almost exactly $2USD for $3NZD judging by my online bank statement ($150NZD showed up as $99+USD.)
some questions:
1) do I have to tell the counter staff at changi when I check in for my flight, to check my luggage all the way to AKL? or do I have to pick it up in SYD and recheck in wen I transit there ?
2) Is there any arrival or departure taxes in AKL?
some questions:
1) do I have to tell the counter staff at changi when I check in for my flight, to check my luggage all the way to AKL? or do I have to pick it up in SYD and recheck in wen I transit there ?
2) Is there any arrival or departure taxes in AKL?
thks
They should check it in all the way to AKL.. unless you have a long layover at SYD. There is no arrival tax at AKL, but you have to pay $25 NZD
exit/departure tax when you leave AKL.
PS: Thanks Kiwi Flyer for all the helpful info. I had a great time in New Zealand and I'll be returning for sure.
You should be able to check your bags through even if they are on separate tickets, as long as your transit in Sydney is same day. (Note Sydney airport closes overnight.)
International transfers at Sydney are easy. On arrival follow the transfer signs - just before immigration. Show ticket or onward boarding pass, get rescreened (a chance you will have carryon swabbed for explosive as they do continuous screening on this, but only takes a few seconds). Up the escalator to departure level. If you don't already have a boarding pass (eg the flights are on separate tickets) go to transfer desk. No need to pass immigration or customs, or gather your bags.
Otherwise enjoy the shops (and lounge if you have access). For a Qantas to Qantas (QF-QF) transfer, you should be in the right pier for your onward flight. For some other transfers between airlines you may need to change piers, there are signs pointing to the airside passage between low numbered and high numbered gates.
As cpx points out NZ does have a departure tax of NZ$25, payable at the airport. There is an exemption for under 12s (although they are proposing getting rid of this exemption) and if your stay in NZ is under 24 hours.
mine is an qantas e-ticket bought in singapore.
to get to AKL, I transit in syd.
my transit time in SYD is abt 1 hour,
ETA at SYD terminal 1 is 0620 and then the SYD-AKL flight ETD is 0720.
wats a onward boarding pass;
will I get the boarding pass for the SYD-AKL leg in singapore together with the SIN-SYD or do I have to look for a counter in SYD airport?
I hope I will have enough time to make the connection
mine is an qantas e-ticket bought in singapore.
to get to AKL, I transit in syd.
my transit time in SYD is abt 1 hour,
ETA at SYD terminal 1 is 0620 and then the SYD-AKL flight ETD is 0720.
wats a onward boarding pass;
will I get the boarding pass for the SYD-AKL leg in singapore together with the SIN-SYD or do I have to look for a counter in SYD airport?
I hope I will have enough time to make the connection
You should be able to get boarding pass for SIN-SYD and SYD-AKL from
Singapore when you check-in. Since everything is on QF and on one
itinerary, your luggage should be checked in all the way to AKL.
(Onward boarding pass in your case would be SYD-AKL)
Programs: DL GM, UA 1K, AA Plat, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, Hertz 5*
Posts: 825
Auckland Restaurant Recommendations?
Any recommendations for a _very_ nice "final night of the honeymoon" dinner in Auckland? Willing to consider anything, but we're New Yorkers, so I'd prefer something a bit more NZ than "standard, global high end" - that I can get at home. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
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Posts: 17,159
Quote:
Originally Posted by cestmoi123
Any recommendations for a _very_ nice "final night of the honeymoon" dinner in Auckland? Willing to consider anything, but we're New Yorkers, so I'd prefer something a bit more NZ than "standard, global high end" - that I can get at home. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I can't resist recommending Number 5. Yes, there is a restaurant called Number 5 in Auckland, and it is about the best you will find for your stated criteria (the best food in NZ is not in Auckland). One of the better wine cellars in the city, which always helps. Food is moderately good, not stunning but I don't know of any stunning food in AKL. http://www.number5.co.nz/
[The effect of the limits used to be much more noticable when the exchange rate was over 2 to 1 ]
