Hey you guys, Pheobe here from Little Grey Box with Matt behind the camera
Hey you guys, Pheobe here from Little Grey Box with Matt behind the camera

Are you planning a trip to New Zealand this winter?
Are you planning a trip to New Zealand this winter?

(Music)
(Music)

Home to stunning mountains
Home to stunning mountains

beautiful coastline, great food and lovely locals, New Zealand is the perfect
beautiful coastline, great food and lovely locals, New Zealand is the perfect

destination for your next winter adventure. Here are a few things we think
destination for your next winter adventure. Here are a few things we think

you really need to know before you go
you really need to know before you go

New Zealand is located around 2,000
New Zealand is located around 2,000

kilometres east of Australia. It comprises two main landmasses the North
kilometres east of Australia. It comprises two main landmasses the North

and South Islands, the capital city is Wellington and it's home to a population
and South Islands, the capital city is Wellington and it's home to a population

of around 4.7 million people.
of around 4.7 million people.

One really important thing to keep in mind is you
One really important thing to keep in mind is you

absolutely will need travel insurance you guys and if you are planning on
absolutely will need travel insurance you guys and if you are planning on

visiting any of those snow fields like we like to do you're going to want to
visiting any of those snow fields like we like to do you're going to want to

make sure that your travel insurance specifically covers you for any days on
make sure that your travel insurance specifically covers you for any days on

the snow if you think that's a little far-fetched think again Laker fractured
the snow if you think that's a little far-fetched think again Laker fractured

three of his ribs on our recent trip you guys so it can happen even just by
three of his ribs on our recent trip you guys so it can happen even just by

accident even just a simple fall on the snow fields could result in injury so
accident even just a simple fall on the snow fields could result in injury so

make sure you are appropriately covered and if you don't have the right
make sure you are appropriately covered and if you don't have the right

insurance get it
insurance get it

Now public transport in the major cities
Now public transport in the major cities

is fantastic if you're in spots like Wellington or Auckland you can
is fantastic if you're in spots like Wellington or Auckland you can

definitely use the public transport systems to get around but if you are
definitely use the public transport systems to get around but if you are

thinking about travelling long distances you're going to probably need to hire a
thinking about travelling long distances you're going to probably need to hire a

vehicle if you are particularly interested in snow a four-wheel drive
vehicle if you are particularly interested in snow a four-wheel drive

might be your best bet. We were trying to visit this ski field once and there had
might be your best bet. We were trying to visit this ski field once and there had

been so much snow dumped overnight that two-wheel drives weren't permitted up,
been so much snow dumped overnight that two-wheel drives weren't permitted up,

the bus was booked solid and we couldn't get up the mountain. So just keep that in
the bus was booked solid and we couldn't get up the mountain. So just keep that in

mind especially if you're visiting in peak snow season
mind especially if you're visiting in peak snow season

Snow chains are a fantastic investment. It gives you peace of mind when you're driving around
Snow chains are a fantastic investment. It gives you peace of mind when you're driving around

especially in those wintry conditions where there's lots of snow being dumped
especially in those wintry conditions where there's lots of snow being dumped

and in certain situations, they must be fitted. Be prepared, know how to put them
and in certain situations, they must be fitted. Be prepared, know how to put them

on and make sure you've got them with you
on and make sure you've got them with you

If you are thinking about buying
If you are thinking about buying

your alcohol from the supermarket just be aware you will need your
your alcohol from the supermarket just be aware you will need your

passport to do so, not your driver's license. One other thing guys is that you
passport to do so, not your driver's license. One other thing guys is that you

can't buy hard liquor from the supermarket so if you do want a bottle
can't buy hard liquor from the supermarket so if you do want a bottle

of whiskey for example you're going to need to go to a designated bottle shop
of whiskey for example you're going to need to go to a designated bottle shop

Now most of your accommodation spots in New Zealand are going to have some kind
Now most of your accommodation spots in New Zealand are going to have some kind

of laundry service and that's because they're quite aware that we all go up to
of laundry service and that's because they're quite aware that we all go up to

the snow fields we come back we're all mushy and stinky and we need to get our
the snow fields we come back we're all mushy and stinky and we need to get our

clothes clean. So pack lighter only pack those outfits you'll know you'll really
clothes clean. So pack lighter only pack those outfits you'll know you'll really

wear and rely on those accommodation washing facilities to get your clothes
wear and rely on those accommodation washing facilities to get your clothes

clean or the next time you need them
clean or the next time you need them

In some small towns you might randomly hear
In some small towns you might randomly hear

like an air alert kind of siren going off Matt and I heard it we panicked we
like an air alert kind of siren going off Matt and I heard it we panicked we

thought it was about to be an earthquake we didn't know what to do it's just a
thought it was about to be an earthquake we didn't know what to do it's just a

way to notify volunteers in the village that there is some kind of emergency
way to notify volunteers in the village that there is some kind of emergency

be it a fire or something similar and while you should be alert if you hear it
be it a fire or something similar and while you should be alert if you hear it

there's no need to be alarmed it doesn't mean the apocalypse is starting and you
there's no need to be alarmed it doesn't mean the apocalypse is starting and you

need to arm yourself with a bat and something to kill zombies with
need to arm yourself with a bat and something to kill zombies with

When I want to go to the beach in Australia I've gotta think are there crocodiles in this area?
When I want to go to the beach in Australia I've gotta think are there crocodiles in this area?

Are there sharks? Are there sea snakes? Yeah those are a thing
Are there sharks? Are there sea snakes? Yeah those are a thing

In New Zealand, that's snot a thing you have to worry about. No bears, no sharks
In New Zealand, that's snot a thing you have to worry about. No bears, no sharks

No significant predators just your fellow humans
No significant predators just your fellow humans

Make sure if you are driving in New Zealand you guys
Make sure if you are driving in New Zealand you guys

that you understand the road rules and you are really really
that you understand the road rules and you are really really

careful especially in winter Black ice is a real thing and it's very very
careful especially in winter Black ice is a real thing and it's very very

dangerous if you aren't used to those driving conditions. My advice would be
dangerous if you aren't used to those driving conditions. My advice would be

that you find some other YouTube videos that are dedicated to road driving tips
that you find some other YouTube videos that are dedicated to road driving tips

while you're in New Zealand so you know what to expect
while you're in New Zealand so you know what to expect

If you're doing a road trip
If you're doing a road trip

and you're thinking about your drive times make sure you allow a little
and you're thinking about your drive times make sure you allow a little

bit of extra time everywhere you go because New Zealand is stunning
bit of extra time everywhere you go because New Zealand is stunning

the landscape is beautiful, the Southern Alps are incredible there's so many spots
the landscape is beautiful, the Southern Alps are incredible there's so many spots

that you're going to want to stop and take photos
that you're going to want to stop and take photos

We made a really silly rookie mistake
We made a really silly rookie mistake

we had glass bottles full of water we
we had glass bottles full of water we

were there in the dead of winter we left them in the car overnight we woke up the
were there in the dead of winter we left them in the car overnight we woke up the

next morning there was this lump of frozen water with jagged bits of glass
next morning there was this lump of frozen water with jagged bits of glass

sticking out of it everywhere it was horrifying and
sticking out of it everywhere it was horrifying and

absolute nightmare to try and clean up so you don't want to be leaving your
absolute nightmare to try and clean up so you don't want to be leaving your

electronics like your laptops and your cameras and that really cold car
electronics like your laptops and your cameras and that really cold car

overnight you guys things can and will break
overnight you guys things can and will break

You're gonna come across single
You're gonna come across single

lane bridges you guys and you need to know how to tackle them so you will see
lane bridges you guys and you need to know how to tackle them so you will see

on the sign next to the bridge a big black arrow pointing in one direction
on the sign next to the bridge a big black arrow pointing in one direction

and a small red arrow pointing in the other and that will indicate whether or
and a small red arrow pointing in the other and that will indicate whether or

not you have right-of-way if you are going in the direction that the small
not you have right-of-way if you are going in the direction that the small

red arrow is facing you are required to give way if you're unsure ask your car
red arrow is facing you are required to give way if you're unsure ask your car

rental company so that you know what the road rules are and you know how to
rental company so that you know what the road rules are and you know how to

handle it when you see it
handle it when you see it

Customs in New Zealand are no joke so when you arrive
Customs in New Zealand are no joke so when you arrive

and as you're on the plane they will hand out the customs forms for you to
and as you're on the plane they will hand out the customs forms for you to

fill out and it is incredibly important that you answer them honestly and that
fill out and it is incredibly important that you answer them honestly and that

you don't try to bring anything into the country that you shouldn't that is
you don't try to bring anything into the country that you shouldn't that is

specifically around the things like food any wood items any dirty clothes shoes
specifically around the things like food any wood items any dirty clothes shoes

with mud or anything like that in them answer your forms correctly declare if
with mud or anything like that in them answer your forms correctly declare if

you're unsure and ask questions
you're unsure and ask questions

Be sure to try and make friends with the locals
Be sure to try and make friends with the locals

ask for local food tips ask for their recommendations on things you should see
ask for local food tips ask for their recommendations on things you should see

and do and you might just make a new friends in the process
and do and you might just make a new friends in the process

As your planning your budget and thinking about how much you might spend while you're in
As your planning your budget and thinking about how much you might spend while you're in

New Zealand one thing to keep in mind is that fuel is quite expensive you guys so
New Zealand one thing to keep in mind is that fuel is quite expensive you guys so

just factor that in and allow enough money in your budget
just factor that in and allow enough money in your budget

In our experience
In our experience

the Wi-Fi in New Zealand isn't always easily accessible and it isn't the best
the Wi-Fi in New Zealand isn't always easily accessible and it isn't the best

Wi-Fi we've ever had so if you do run your business online like Matt and I do
Wi-Fi we've ever had so if you do run your business online like Matt and I do

and you feel that you need access to good quality Wi-Fi just be prepared that
and you feel that you need access to good quality Wi-Fi just be prepared that

it might be a little bit patchy and a little bit hard to come by
it might be a little bit patchy and a little bit hard to come by

The people of New Zealand are really environmentally conscious and it's important that you
The people of New Zealand are really environmentally conscious and it's important that you

respect that as a visitor don't leave any rubbish behind don't litter and I
respect that as a visitor don't leave any rubbish behind don't litter and I

always think it's a good idea if you do see rubbish just to pick it up and put
always think it's a good idea if you do see rubbish just to pick it up and put

it in the bin and be the change you want to see in the world
it in the bin and be the change you want to see in the world

When you're packing
When you're packing

for your New Zealand winter trip we always encourage you to pack on the
for your New Zealand winter trip we always encourage you to pack on the

light side but I would recommend making sure that you have some really good quality
light side but I would recommend making sure that you have some really good quality

winter gear especially a good pair of thermal underwear
winter gear especially a good pair of thermal underwear

you want to make sure that you've got a pair of shoes that are going to hold up
you want to make sure that you've got a pair of shoes that are going to hold up

to the snow when it melts so something waterproof or water-resistant and
to the snow when it melts so something waterproof or water-resistant and

something that the wind can't just rip through I've worn my Converse
something that the wind can't just rip through I've worn my Converse

high-tops a few times they aren't appropriate they are way too cold but
high-tops a few times they aren't appropriate they are way too cold but

something like my Doc Martin boots or my Salomon sneakers which are water
something like my Doc Martin boots or my Salomon sneakers which are water

resistant they are much better suited and I always find two pairs of shoes is more than enough
resistant they are much better suited and I always find two pairs of shoes is more than enough

Now English is the official language in New Zealand but
Now English is the official language in New Zealand but

Maori is also widely spoken
Maori is also widely spoken

There are a few local... colloquial ... slang phrases that
There are a few local... colloquial ... slang phrases that

you're going to need to learn
you're going to need to learn

Jandals, those are your flip-flops Your chilly bin, that's your esky or cooler
Jandals, those are your flip-flops Your chilly bin, that's your esky or cooler

they have some other really great phrases you'll hear a lot like
they have some other really great phrases you'll hear a lot like

'sweet as' that just means like cool yep that's good
'sweet as' that just means like cool yep that's good

'chur bro', chur bro, I really like that one that's
'chur bro', chur bro, I really like that one that's

thank you like thanks man thanks bro thanks a lot... playa!
thank you like thanks man thanks bro thanks a lot... playa!

No that... not the player bit
No that... not the player bit

Kumara is sweet potato and you'll hear the term Kiwi a lot and
Kumara is sweet potato and you'll hear the term Kiwi a lot and

there are three different Kiwis the people the bird the fruit so make sure
there are three different Kiwis the people the bird the fruit so make sure

you're using the right Kiwi in the right way
you're using the right Kiwi in the right way

And of course it's really important
And of course it's really important

that you are respectful of the Maori people and the local Maori culture if
that you are respectful of the Maori people and the local Maori culture if

you get the opportunity you should absolutely do some activities that allow
you get the opportunity you should absolutely do some activities that allow

you to experience it I did an amazing experience where you go to a cultural
you to experience it I did an amazing experience where you go to a cultural

performance and there's some traditional dancing there is an incredible haka
performance and there's some traditional dancing there is an incredible haka

which just rips through your soul and it's followed by a Hungi which is a
which just rips through your soul and it's followed by a Hungi which is a

traditional meal of the Maori people and it was awesome such a great experience
traditional meal of the Maori people and it was awesome such a great experience

but make sure you're being a good person and a good traveler and you are
but make sure you're being a good person and a good traveler and you are

respecting the local indigenous culture
respecting the local indigenous culture

Alright you guys that is it from us
Alright you guys that is it from us

I really hope you enjoyed this video now if you don't already be sure to
I really hope you enjoyed this video now if you don't already be sure to

subscribe and say kia ora in the comments below have a great weekend and I will
subscribe and say kia ora in the comments below have a great weekend and I will

see you, next week...
see you, next week...

love ya!
love ya!