TRAVELER @ nationalgeographic.com

Deciding When to Go
Go in August to ski and November through March to hike. January and February are good months to go to the beach. If possible, avoid visiting during New Zealand’s school holidays (September 20 through October 7; December 6 through January 28; March 28 through April 15; and June 28 through July 15).

Clearing New Zealand Customs
U.S. citizens need a valid passport. For visits of three months or longer, bring a visa as well. For more information, log on to New Zealand Customs Service.

Determining Time Difference
Depending on the time of year, New Zealand is 16 to 18 hours ahead of ET. For the current time and date, log on to TimeandDate.com.

Making Telephone Calls
International Dialing Codes
City and country codes—plus, instructions on how to dial to and from New Zealand.

Checking Weather Forecasts
Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is June through August; Spring is September through November; Summer is December through February; and Fall is March through May. For current weather conditions, log on to Met Service.