Auckland, New Zealand: Two Months Exploring Over Christmas

I spent about two months based in Auckland over Christmas — which is peak summer in New Zealand. My parents covered the housing and stayed with me, so this isn't a tight day-by-day itinerary; it's more of a guide to the visa, the flights, getting around, and the day trips worth doing.

For shorter, itinerary-style trips in this same format, see my Japan (Osaka & Kyoto), Seoul, South Korea, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), and Bangkok, Thailand guides.

Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. Booking through them may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Visitor Visa for Filipinos (2025)

Philippine passport holders need a Visitor Visa to enter New Zealand — the NZeTA (electronic travel authority) is for visa-waiver countries only, and the Philippines is not on that list. Apply online through Immigration New Zealand: immigration.govt.nz — the Visitor Visa page has the full checklist.

• Fee — the online Visitor Visa application starts at NZD $441, which includes the NZD $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Fees change, so confirm the current amount on the official page before you apply.
• VFS Global service fee — passports are submitted and collected through VFS Global in Makati or Cebu; their service fee is roughly ₱1,500 on top of the visa fee.
• Maximum stay — up to 9 months within an 18-month period (single stays are granted for 6 or 9 months).
• Passport — valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
• Proof of funds — at least NZD $1,000 per month of your stay if you're self-funding, or NZD $400 per month if your accommodation is already paid for. Show bank statements to match.
• Onward travel — a ticket out of New Zealand, or evidence you can afford one.
• Supporting documents — travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, proof of employment and approved leave (or proof of funds if not employed), and anything showing ties that bring you home.
• Processing — Immigration NZ aims to decide 80% of visitor visa applications within about 2 weeks; apply well ahead of a Christmas trip since that's peak season.

Getting There

There are no direct Manila–Auckland flights on my usual budget, so I route through Australia: Manila → Brisbane (sometimes Sydney) → Auckland. Round-trip runs around ₱50,000 on Qantas, which is the airline I recommend — they're generous with points, so the miles add up fast across this kind of long-haul routing.

One thing to check if you transit through Australia: Philippine passport holders usually need an Australian transit visa (subclass 771) even to connect airside. It's free, but apply for it ahead of time.

Getting Around

To do trips outside the cities you really need a car, or it's best to book a group tour (or a DIY tour package). Public transport between towns is limited.

Within a city you can take buses or trains, but the intervals are long — often close to an hour between services depending on the city. In Auckland we used the AT HOP card for buses and trains; you can buy one at pretty much any convenience store, then top it up as you go.

Day Trips

Hamilton Gardens & Huka Falls

Hamilton Gardens (about 1.5 hours south of Auckland) is a set of themed gardens and free to enter. Pair it with Huka Falls near Taupō — a short, powerful waterfall on the Waikato River with an easy walking track.

Rotorua Day Trip

Rotorua is the geothermal town about 3 hours from Auckland. In one day we did the Blue Lake (Lake Tikitapu), Hamurana Springs, and the Redwoods Treewalk through Whakarewarewa Forest.

Cathedral Cove

Cathedral Cove is on the Coromandel Peninsula, This is where narnia filmed (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ) about 2.5 hours from Auckland — a walking track down to the archway and beach. We did this one DIY with a rental car, but there's also a Cathedral Cove day tour on Klook if you'd rather not drive.

What to Budget

Prepare at least ₱60,000, more if you're covering your own accommodation (my parents handled housing this time). New Zealand is expensive day to day — a basic meal like fish and chips or eggs benedict starts around USD $15, and that's the low end. Groceries and cooking help a lot on a longer stay.

Final Thoughts

Auckland over Christmas is long, bright summer days and an easy base for the North Island. The visa is the real work — start it early, get your proof of funds in order, and sort the Australian transit visa if you route through Brisbane or Sydney. Once you're there, budget for a rental car or tours, because the sights are spread out and the buses are slow.

Book Your Own Trip

For hotels, book through Agoda; for activities and day tours, use my Klook Kreator Shop. My discount codes for both are below.