Sort entry forms, regional transport and offline plans before leaving the cities
Complete the free New Zealand Traveller Declaration for every traveler before passport control, and check separately whether your passport requires a visa or NZeTA.
Use only the official government app or website. Your passport normally must remain valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave. New Zealand applies strict biosecurity rules: declare food, plants, animal products and used outdoor equipment whenever unsure. An accidental undeclared risk item can still bring an instant NZD 400 fine.
Cards are widely accepted, but small businesses may prefer cash and card surcharges remain possible. Public transport, ticketing and contactless-payment rules differ by region, so there is no single national transit app. New Zealand drives on the left, rural journeys take longer than their distance suggests, and weather or road closures can isolate routes. Download maps and confirmations, check NZTA conditions before long drives and use official alerts for severe weather or earthquakes.
For hiking, tell someone your plan and do not treat a phone map as a substitute for local track advice. Call 111 for police, fire or ambulance. If an earthquake is long or strong near the coast, move immediately to high ground without waiting for an alert.
The broadest app-based ride option across New Zealand's main cities and a number of regional centers.
A rideshare price and availability alternative in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
An additional ride-booking option currently available in Auckland rather than across New Zealand.
A nationwide taxi-booking network with advance bookings and coverage in many regional centers.
The broadest general food-delivery option across many New Zealand cities, towns and regional centers.
A useful delivery alternative for comparing restaurant choice, fees and arrival times in supported areas.
A local delivery platform with useful coverage in numerous New Zealand cities and smaller towns.
Useful for international groups and operators that explicitly publish a WhatsApp contact number.
A useful contact channel when a New Zealand business actively manages its verified Facebook page.
The best general map for city navigation, driving routes, saved places and offline areas in New Zealand.
An official New Zealand trip-planning and safety tool for tracks, alerts, weather and shared hiking plans.
A camping and road-trip map for campsites, facilities and practical stops across New Zealand.
A New Zealand camping directory with offline campsite, facility and traveler information.
The official web source for state-highway journeys, closures, incidents and current road conditions.
Auckland's official journey planner with live departures, disruption notices and AT HOP information.
Wellington's official planner for buses, trains and ferries, with live departures and service alerts.
A multi-region public-transport planner that complements local operator apps and websites.
The current loyalty app for New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square, introduced in July 2026.
The loyalty app for Woolworths New Zealand and participating partners, useful mainly for repeat shoppers.
A New Zealand marketplace for discounted activities, attractions and selected dining offers.
The official web booking system for Department of Conservation huts, campsites and other reservable facilities.
An optional aid for simple written Māori words and phrases when English is not enough.
An optional multicurrency account and card for eligible travelers seeking clearer conversion costs.
Air New Zealand's official app for bookings, check-in, boarding passes and live flight information.
Jetstar's official app for its selected New Zealand domestic flights and international bookings.
The official booking and service-alert website for Interislander Cook Strait ferries.
The other principal official booking option for passenger and vehicle sailings across Cook Strait.
A New Zealand-founded booking app for selected off-peak tables with a discount on eligible food.
The free official app for completing the mandatory New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
The official government app for travelers whose passport or journey requires a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority.
New Zealand's official national weather app for forecasts, severe-weather information and warnings.
The official GeoNet app for recent earthquakes, reported shaking and New Zealand geological information.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Choose the network for your route, not only by price; rural and island coverage can differ sharply.
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Good-value option when price matters most.
Good-value option when price matters most.
Good-value option when price matters most.
The essential apps for New Zealand are Uber, Uber Eats, Google Maps, Plan My Walk, AT Mobile.
We've curated 33 apps across 13 categories for traveling in New Zealand, including 7 essential apps.
Uber is the top-rated ride hailing app in New Zealand. The broadest app-based ride option across New Zealand's main cities and a number of regional centers.
