Banks: 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:30 to 20:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 20:00 Saturdays; 10:00 to 18:00 Sundays
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 22:00, daily
Museums: 09:30 to 17:00, daily
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

New Zealand in general has one of the best reputations for personal safety in the world. Queenstown, being one of the smaller towns in the country, offers virtually no threat of violence or theft. It is, however, a major tourist destination and not all New Zealanders are law abiding. By using basic common sense such as not leaving your hotel room unlocked or your handbag lying unattended, you should have no troubles at all.

Police: 111 

Electricity: 230V AC, 50Hz with oblique flat plugs the standard.

New Zealand is one of the last truly clean destinations left on earth. The tap water in the country is fresh and safe to drink. Tests have shown that the water from the tap is as good if not better than the bottled water you pay for. This is particularly true in small, remote towns like Queenstown. So enjoy the rare opportunity to drink freely from the tap. The standards of hygiene in Queenstown’s restaurants meet the highest international standards.

The main health hazard to consider in this part of New Zealand is nature. The brilliant sun can be very strong here, especially if you are up in the mountains at elevation. It will not take long to get burned by the sun if you don’t use sunscreen. Dehydration can also set in quickly when you are exerting yourself, so drink plenty of fresh tap water while you are out and about.

Keep in mind that the weather is known to change quickly and frequently around Queenstown. The best strategy is to use layers of clothing so that you can warm up or cool down as needed. Always carry a rain jacket when you walk in the mountains and a hat in case the temperature drops.

For minor illnesses, Bradley’s Pharmacy on Rees street should be able to provide you with whatever remedy is needed. For more serious medical problems, Queenstown has an excellent medical centre. With all the extreme sports addicts around, they have plenty of experience patching people up and setting broken bones. If you plan to engage in any extreme sports, it is highly recommended that you buy travel insurance to cover any medical bills that you may incur should things go wrong.

Ambulance: 111 
Queenstown Medical Centre: +64 3 441 0500

The official languages in New Zealand are English and Maori. Only a small percentage of the population speaks Maori, but the language is currently undergoing a renaissance.

New Zealand uses the New Zealand dollar (NZ$) as its official currency. There are 100 cents in a dollar. Notes come in denominations of NZ$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5, while coins come in denominations of NZ$2, 1, and 50, 20, and 10 cents.

Visitors to Queenstown will need to exchange their foreign currency into local New Zealand dollars. This can easily be done at the airport, banks, currency exchange offices and even at some hotels. The best rates will be found at the banks and exchange offices like Travelex, BNZ or Thomas Cook.

All but the smallest businesses in Queenstown accept major credit cards for payment, but if you venture into the more remote towns it may be better to carry cash. ATMs can be found all over Queenstown, and some accept international debit and credit cards. Withdrawing cash from an ATM is a convenient way to keep a steady supply of cash in hand, but be sure and check if there are any service charges added to the transaction.

All visitors to New Zealand over the age of 17 years can import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre of spirits and 4.5 litres of wine or beer. Prohibited items include plants, raw food, animals and firearms. New Zealand has very strict quarantine laws and enforces them diligently. Be very careful what you bring into the country as the customs clerks check thoroughly. Visitors may not export Maori antiques, paua shells or greenstone.

New Zealanders are typically friendly, outgoing and easy to get along with. They often say ‘hello’ to strangers and will offer assistance when needed. New Zealanders are proud of being egalitarian, so don’t expect much formality. They typically treat everyone equally and will strongly defend their sense of being a New Zealander. They don’t feel restricted by wealth or class, which makes it easy as a visitor to fit right in. New Zealanders shake hands when meeting and nearly always add a smile.

Dress in Queenstown is neat but casual. Due to the outdoor nature of the town, you can wear whatever is appropriate for the weather. New Zealanders are also very serious about environmental conservation, so be sensitive to this positive quality and don’t litter or abuse the nature. If you are invited into a New Zealanders home, be sure to bring a small gift for the host such as some flowers or a bottle of wine.

Dining Etiquette
New Zealanders are just as casual about eating as they are about everything else. Table manners are the same as in the West. When you are finished eating, lay your fork and knife across the plate. In restaurants, there are normally waiters, and service is generally good. Interestingly, tipping is not expected and a service charge is never added to a bill. However, if you receive good service and enjoy your waiter then it is perfectly acceptable to leave a tip.

All visitors to New Zealand must have a passport, but citizens from many countries are allowed to enter without a tourist visa. Nearly all European, North American and Asian nationals such as Japanese and Singaporeans may enter New Zealand if they are visiting for holiday purposes. Visitors may stay for up to three months, or six months if they are a British citizen.

In order to qualify for the visa waiver each traveller must have an onward plane ticket to a country where they are allowed entry, proof of sufficient funds for the length of their stay, and a passport valid for at least three months past the date of departure from New Zealand. Anyone who wishes to stay longer should apply for a visitor’s visa in advance.

The main tourism information centre is located in the Clocktower Centre. It is open daily from 07:00 until 19:00.

Queenstown Travel and Visitor Centre
Clocktower Centre
Shotover and Camp streets
Phone: +64 3 442 4100
Website: www.queenstown-vacation.com