South Island
PRE TRIP ESSENTIALS
Get these things sorted now…
So, you’ve spoken with Phil and his team, and you’re now booked to join us and fellow Conquerors on the trip of a lifetime in New Zealand’s South Island!
Below are a few things you’ll need to start thinking about and preparing for before embarking on your trip with us.
Travel Insurance - Get it Now
Travel insurance is compulsary on a Conqueror Adventures trip. We recommend World Nomads for our trips, as their cover includes medical cover, repatriations in emergencies and tour cancellation.
Get in touch with them directly!
You may also have a travel insurer who you have worked with in the past but please remember to make sure they will cover you for our destinations.
Book your flights
The sooner you get on to your flights, the better. You may have a travel agent you regularly work with for your travel requirements, so get on to them asap.
You might also like to check out the following flight websites to shop around for the best deals. And remember – you’ll need to arrive in Christchurch by 8.30AM on Day 1 of the trip, but you can depart at any time FROM QUEENSTOWN on the last day of the trip.
Trip Advisor Flights – https://www.tripadvisor.com/CheapFlightsHome
Getting Physically Prepared
The South Island trip requires a moderate level of fitness. While it’s impossible to assess your individual level of readiness to embark on this trip from afar, there are a few general rules that we can apply in order for you to get into great physical shape for the trip.
Practice Hikes – Find some local trails, hike through your town, or just get out and walk. Get used to long walks. Learn where your body struggles and how far you can push yourself. You’ll be amazed at how far you can go once you get used to pushing through the first wave of discomfort.
Training Program (2X per week):
- Hike or take a long walk
- Build up to 2-3 hours with minimal rests
- Choose hilly, uneven terrain whenever possible
- Wear your daypack and slowly increase the weight of its contents to 25lbs over time
OR
Gym Program – If you don’t have access to good trails, here is a basic training program that will prepare you for the North Island trip using a treadmill and stair machine. If you don’t have access to these machines, a running track in the park or going around the neighborhood will work just as well.
Training Program (2X per week)
- 45 minutes on the treadmill hill setting at a walk or slow job
- 10 minutes stair-stepping machine for at a speed of 30-45 steps per minute
- 5 minutes slow walk with no incline to catch your breath
- Repeat 2-3X
Increase the time of each interval as you’re able. For additional strength training, adding 3 sets each of 30 lunges and squats to build those leg muscles. Watch your form, and make sure you’re stretching after!
Breaking in your Hiking Boots - Do It Now!
OK, so first things first – you’ll need hiking BOOTS, with ankle support and they’ll need to be able to keep moisture out. They’ll also need to be sturdy enough with good stiching and construction. For unbiased reviews of hiking boots, check out Outdoor Gear Lab’s 2022 hiking boots review: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/shoes-and-boots/best-hiking-boots
Now go and hike in them, and do it regularly until you leave for the trip. The more you can break in your boots – i.e. get them moulded to your feet – the better. There’s NOTHING worse than finding that your hiking boots are giving you blisters or are uncomfortable when you’re halfway through a trek.
Travel Documentation
Visas are currently not required for Australian, US, Canadian or UK/EU passport holders wishing to visit New Zealand. If you are outside these regions, please check with your embassy. You can also check the Visa HQ website for up todate information.
New Zealand’s border opens to international travelers from May 2022.
Bringing Money And Changing Money
The New Zealand Dollar is the offical currency of New Zealand. There are ATMs everywhere and it is very easy to exhange foreign currency in cash at Auckland international airport upon arrival. In Christchurch, you’ll have easy access to ATMs, but while in the Mt Cook and central mountainous area of the South Island (most of the trip), there are no ATMs. Queenstown has a number of ATMs and money changing places.
Above all, bringing a small amount of USD in cash with you is advisable so you can quickly obtain local currency upon your arrival.
COVID Travel Documentation/Requirements
You’ll need to check with your airline as to what their requirements are regarding coid travel safety.
May 19th 2022 Update:
You need to provide proof of vaccination to enter New Zealand if you are:
- not a New Zealand citizen or resident
- not an Australian citizen living in New Zealand
- not a New Zealand citizen or resident and you are transiting New Zealand
- foreign air crew arriving in New Zealand.
Vaccination exemptions
You may be able to get an exemption if you are travelling to New Zealand from a country with no, or limited access to COVID-19 vaccines.
You will need to apply to the Ministry of Health for an exemption, along with evidence of why you need one.
Gear List
Please see our South Island gear list here: https://theconqueroradventures.com/south-island-gear-list/
Adding Pre and Post Trip Accommodation
If you’re arriving into Christchurch before Day 1 of the trip, and/or leaving Queenstown aftter the last day of the trip (Day 7), and you require extra accommodation to be booked for you, let us know and we can do this, and we’ll add this to your final balance invoice. We’ll be able to provide you with options for this.
Dietary and Medical Information
We know you’ve already provided these details to us in your traveler information forms when you booked, but sometimes this important information can evolve or change, so please let us know if we need any updates on your dietary or important medical information.
