With the advent of mobile devices, travel has changed a lot – so long as there’s a signal we can navigate, look up recommendations and more with ease. When travelling around New Zealand, you’re going to want to make sure your phones and tablets are preloaded with these essential apps.
Triposo New Zealand Travel Guide
This is full of maps, guides, suggested itineraries, recommendations, event listings – everything you need to make the most of your trip, and it’s a free app – they have a booking functionality which they hope you’ll use, but whether you do or not this is a great resource. There’s a lot of information to explore here so we recommend downloading it early and using it as part of your planning process.
Great Rides App
If you’re into cycling or bushwalking (the locals call it “tramping”), The Great Rides app tells you where all the best trails are and gives you lots of information to make your adventures more pleasant. There’s even an offline download option for when you really get off the beaten track. It gives you up-to-date information on track closures and changes too, so you’ll never be caught unawares.
The Outbound
This is one for the outdoor enthusiasts – an app all around finding the best outdoor activity recommendations – it’s guide-to camping opportunities are particularly good and cover a lot of interesting and unique options, so if a night under the stars is on your to-do list (and it should be), this is a must-have. They also have a wide range of filters tailored to individual outdoor interests, so whether its paddle boarding, kayaking, hang gliding or team sports, this app shows you the best places to do it.
City Guides
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and more all have their own city-focused apps created by local tourist commissions and tourism organisations, so if you’re taking the time to explore it would be well worthwhile to get some of these on your phone. They’ll allow you to “travel like a local” and keep in touch with what’s going on around town while you’re there.
New Zealand loves festivals and markets, and there’s always something happening, so regardless of when your visit is, this is a great way to find out what’s going on and take in something unmissable.
Beanhunter
Great adventures need fuel – and Beanhunter is a must-have app for coffee fanatics. The New Zealand section is well-populated with recommendations and directions to your nearest caffeine hit that will leave a smile on your face.
Night Sky
Stargazing is one of the best free activities in New Zealand – it’s isolated geographical position and low pollution mean you’re likely to see some of the most spectacular starscapes of your life while travelling here. Night Sky tells you what you’re looking at, as it overlays astronomical information over your view of the night sky. You can impress your fellow travellers and educate and entertain yourself as you take in the twinkling beauty.