Travelling with Confidence - Pre Tour

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive Travel Insurance is not included but is strongly recommended for all travellers. It is your responsibility to arrange your own travel insurance.

Health Insurance

New Zealand’s public and private medical / hospital facilities provide a high standard of treatment and service. It is advised that you ensure you have adequate health insurance cover as part of your travel insurance.

Passport and Visa Requirements

All visitors require a passport to enter New Zealand. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date that you intend to leave New Zealand.

For Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport, you do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand.

Visitors from visa-waiver countries must request an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) prior to travelling to New Zealand. For visitors from non-visa waiver countries, it is recommended you contact your Travel Agent or NZ Immigration for full entry requirements.

If you are not an Australian Citizen or permanent resident, you may also have to pay for an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). 

Please check with your Travel Agent for up-to-date immigration requirements.

As a safety precaution, it is recommended that you take a copy of your passport and credit card/s in the event that these items become lost or stolen. This will assist with reporting these items to your financial institution or police. 

Refer to www.immigration.govt.nz for the most up to date information for travellers visiting New Zealand. 

Prescriptions and Medications

Pharmacists in New Zealand are only able to process a prescription that has been issued by a New Zealand doctor.

Prescriptions issued in your home country cannot be processed in New Zealand.

If you need regular medication you should register with a General Practitioner in New Zealand and consult them as soon as possible as some medications may not be available in New Zealand and you may need to be prescribed an alternative.

Some medications which are available over the counter in other countries can only be issued with a prescription in New Zealand.

If you require any medication during your flight or in the airports, remember to pack it in your hand luggage. Each medication must have a printed pharmacy label attached and it should be carried in the original containers.

It is recommended that you carry a doctor’s certificate supporting the need to carry essential liquid medications in containers over 100ml in your hand luggage.

Pills and capsules are not restricted under the liquid, aerosols and gels policy therefore, to assist with the recovery of any minor illness or injury whilst on tour, we recommend you also travel with your own pain relief.

Insect repellent and sunscreen lotion are also advisable to pack (dependant on time of travel).

Holiday Duration

The first and last day of most structured holidays is considered a travelling day and therefore may not necessarily be a touring day. Dinner is not included for travellers arriving after 8pm on Day 1. 

Documentation

If you reside in Australia, GPT documentation including any merchandise will be forwarded to your Travel Agent two weeks prior to departure. PO Box address is not acceptable.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate early requests for documentation.

The Deluxe Documentation Pack contents are one per person for Ultimate Small Group Touring.

The Classic Documentation Pack, the ticket wallet is one per person for Signature Mid-Size Group Touring and one per couple / household for Classic Escorted Group Touring.

Contents of your Documentation Pack:

• Ticket Wallet Includes flight itinerary (if applicable), tour itinerary, tour questionnaire, Optional Tours Directory, touring map, postcard, customs required resealable plastic bag and an Emergency Contact card
• Luggage Tag
• Name Badge
• Travel Bag
• Toiletry Wet Pack
• Laundry Bag
• Merchandise

If you have not received any of the above, please contact your Travel Agent and arrange for delivery or collection. These items will not be available once you have departed Australia.

If you reside outside of Australia, your personalised itinerary will be emailed to your Travel Agent. Your Documentation Pack will be ready for collection at your first tour hotel in New Zealand. You can view the contents of the Documentation Pack prior to your arrival to New Zealand via our website. Contact GPT if you have not received any of the above.

Merchandise must be ordered prior to your departure as it is not available for purchase in New Zealand.

Merchandise

All prices are inclusive of GST and postage. All purchases must be made with your Travel Agent at time of booking. Payment for all merchandise is due with final tour payment prior to departure. Merchandise will not be sold once on tour or after you return home.

Refer to our Merchandise page for delivery and jacket sizes. Exchanges can be made on unused merchandise; a delivery postage and handling fee will be charged.

Luggage Limits

Each traveller is entitled to travel with ONE suitcase on tour measuring (length + width + depth) no more than 150cm (59”). Ultimate Small Group Touring travellers may bring up to TWO suitcases if airline ticket permits.

Weight limits also apply to luggage due to Occupational Health and Safety issues. The maximum suitcase weight allowed is 23kg (50lbs). If you bring more than the allocated limit of luggage, any additional arrangements made to get your luggage to the final destination, will be at your own expense.

Please be aware that oversized or overweight luggage may be refused to be carried by coach companies.

Each traveller is supplied with a GPT Travel Bag for personal and small items which can be carried on the coach when travelling. The travel bag is designed to carry a maximum of 6kg (13lbs).

Due to limited space on board the coach, please ensure carry-on bags are approximately (length + width + depth) 81cm (32”) with a maximum weight restriction of 6kg (13lbs).

All luggage carried is entirely at your own risk, GPT takes no responsibility for accidental damage or loss. 

Luggage Tag

Located in your ticket wallet. For proper identification, please ensure you attach your GPT luggage tag to the top handle of your main suitcase and not your hand luggage. This will assist the Coach Captain to identify your luggage when loading the coach throughout your tour.

Clothing

Whilst on tour, dress is informal and relaxed on most occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants. The seasons are more pronounced, and the weather is more changeable.

In summer, a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler, or you visit higher altitudes. You can expect some rain, so also include a light rainproof jacket or coat.

If visiting during the months of May and September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing. You may have the option to relax and unwind in thermal hot pools so don’t forget to pack your swimwear.

Airline and Airport Taxes

For flights originating in Australia, all of your Australian airline and airport taxes are included in your air ticket.

For all other flights originating outside of Australia, please refer to the information provided by your Travel Agent.

Airline Check-in

Please refer to your airline confirmation for specific information relating to your check-in procedures including airline luggage allowances.

For luggage allowances whilst on tour, please refer to the information outlined in LUGGAGE LIMITS.

Restriction on Liquids

Restrictions exist on the amount of liquids, aerosols and gel items that can be carried in the cabin of international flights. You can only carry liquids, aerosols or gels in your hand luggage if each container is no more than 100ml, and these containers collectively can fit comfortably into one resealable, 20cm x 20cm transparent plastic bag.

It is also recommended that you pack unessential powder-like substances in your main luggage to avoid separate screening of these items.

Bio Security

You are not permitted to carry plants, fruit and some foods into New Zealand. All products, animal and plant materials must be declared or disposed of in one of the airport disposals bins. Failing to do so will result in a fine, payable before leaving the airport.

Refer to www.mpi.govt.nz for the most up to date information for travellers visiting New Zealand.

Customs and Duty-Free

Certain quantities of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol can be purchased duty free. When entering New Zealand, you need to be aware of the allowances otherwise you may find yourself liable for duty and other charges if you are over the permitted limits. 

For information on customs and duty-free restrictions when returning home, please visit the applicable website.

Money Matters

New Zealand’s unit of currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). All major international credit cards are accepted and provided they are encoded with a PIN, may be used to obtain cash from Automatic Teller Machines throughout New Zealand.

Check with your bank whether this facility is available to you (bank charges will apply). It is highly recommended that you obtain a small amount of New Zealand currency prior to your arrival in New Zealand.

We suggest a minimum of NZ $40 - $50 per day per person for incidental cash expenses such as lunch, morning and afternoon tea.