Newbie traveller help! Money, email etc on hols in New Zealand!

NorthernKitty

Never been abroad in my life so never thought about these issues, going to NZ backpacking next year on tight budget. 
Have been looking into money and how to pay for stuff! Sorry about dim questions but I am clueless and not technical at all. 

I was going to take about $200 dollars in NZ cash just in case, but need a card too, will be prepaying for Intercity coach card before I leave, and possibly first week's backpacker hostels. 
I currently have a Nationwide credit card which can also be used abroad, but I am paranoid about it being cancelled etc, and having to sleep under hedges etc!

a)I looked into the Post Office travelcard where you load up money so presume that you pay for things with it like a debit card and it won't ask for authentication etc, but still presumably need a backup card?  Due to the modern bank and other company authentication business where the company texts or emails you to check it is indeed you trying to pay for stuff, I'll have troubles as my English phone number (on Lebara £5 a month) will be invalid and I'll have a month's NZ SIM card bought at Auckland airport! So how so I convince the bank my phone number's changed when I get to NZ and them believing it is me so my payments don't get stopped and I get stranded etc? 

b) And bearing in mind I might have to go online to check emails for hostel bookings, flight info etc, how will I log into Gmail from NZ to tell it my number has changed if it also wants to text me on an English number that won't work to check it is me? 

Sorry for daft questions but it isn't obvious to me!
Thanks for any input!

eDicky

First, forget about the PO travel card and other prepaid cards where you 'load' foreign currency. Obtain at least two of the 'travel' credit or debit cards recommended by MSE such as Halifax Clarity (if eligible) and Starling Bank:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

There's no reason why your Lebara SIM will be 'invalid', there would be roaming rates but receiving an incoming SMS, such as bank verification codes, is always free.

Airports are always the most expensive place to buy a SIM on arrival, in town better. If you're buying a new phone before your trip, make it a dual-SIM handset, common these days, so you can use your UK and NZ SIMs at the same time.

Gmail should be accessible as normal on their app with your phone.

Hope that helps for a start...

Murphy_The_Cat

OP - have a very close look at the cost of living in NZ.  It's not a cheap place to visit - especially when you are running on a tight budget.  Could a working visa work for you, where you could earn whilst in NZ ?

NorthernKitty

e-Dicky: ( I tried to use your answer as a quote but the forum told me I had to do more posts before posting links!) 

Thanks! I will look into those. Due to past financial history I might not be eligible for some bank's cards but I will certainly have a go!

I know nothing about mobile phones, SIMS etc so I didn't know incoming messages would be free! Phew. 
I was going to buy a SIM straight away at the airport so I could then go on my phone and pay for a ticket to the airport bus thing to town! 

I have various visual and physical fine motor skill impairments etc that means I struggle with touch screen and using Smartphones but I now have one that I've been trying to practice with for 2 months, to be ready for NZ in March. Hopefully my emails will work over there without too much trouble. I am only taking a backpack so travelling light, so not taking my Macbook which would have been a lot easier! 
Thanks again!

NorthernKitty

Murphy_The_Cat said:

OP - have a very close look at the cost of living in NZ.  It's not a cheap place to visit - especially when you are running on a tight budget.  Could a working visa work for you, where you could earn whilst in NZ ?

Thanks! I am going to NZ as it is a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Never been abroad, not likely to again as will then be saving for a house.
I have wanted to go there for over 40 years, I have relatives over there in North Island whom I will be visiting in passing!  I am travelling the country over 5 weeks. Sadly most working visas are for younger people, and as I'm only spending a day or two in each town or city working isn't an option! I have my bag virtually packed as been planning it since before covid so only expenses there will be certain sightseeing trips by coach, laundry etc.  Financially I am not too worried as will be travelling by coach, staying in hostels, and have vegan diet so will be mostly eating sarnies, rice and noodles and the occasional vegetable if I'm lucky whilst on the road! Just didn't want to get stranded if payments didn't go through etc! 

TELLIT01

Lots of good advice has been given, possibly the most important is to have at least 2 different cards to obtain money.  One card may get damaged, swallowed by a cash machine etc so the second is a safeguard against being totally stranded.

Misslayed

Not completely money related, but if you're tempted to take those leftover apples from the onboard meals with you - don't! The sniffer dogs at the airport are after fruit, not drugs! You could be fined. Make sure your hiking boots and any camping gear are pristine too, a trace of mud (potentially containing foreign seeds/spores) will more than likely get them confiscated - not good for the cash flow. 

Voyager2002

NorthernKitty said:

I know nothing about mobile phones, SIMS etc so I didn't know incoming messages would be free! Phew. 
I was going to buy a SIM straight away at the airport so I could then go on my phone and pay for a ticket to the airport bus thing to town! 

I have various visual and physical fine motor skill impairments etc that means I struggle with touch screen and using Smartphones but I now have one that I've been trying to practice with for 2 months, to be ready for NZ in March. Hopefully my emails will work over there without too much trouble. I am only taking a backpack so travelling light, so not taking my Macbook which would have been a lot easier! 
Thanks again!

I suggest you ask your NZ relatives about SIMs available there: deals offered at the airport are unlikely to be the best available. I have NEVER needed to use a 'phone/SIM to get a bus from the airport so cannot imagine why that would be necessary.

I also struggle with my (aged) Smartphone: have you considered using a Tablet? Or try what I do: I have a small portable keyboard that I use with my iPhone.

NorthernKitty

Thanks, TELLIT01, Misslayed, and Voyager2002, am taking all information on board! 

(Voyager 2002, only thought I might need the SIM at the airport as thought that Skybus thing had to be booked online, but if it is reinstated post-pandemic, apparently there are places at the stops you can buy a ticket! If not I can buy a pass for the normal public buses apparently!).

Thankfully I have a few months to take in all this information, and hopefully will have a fairly hassle-free trip where I won't get stranded or arrested for fruit-smuggling... Thanks all! 

Murphy_The_Cat

NorthernKitty said:

Murphy_The_Cat said:

OP - have a very close look at the cost of living in NZ.  It's not a cheap place to visit - especially when you are running on a tight budget.  Could a working visa work for you, where you could earn whilst in NZ ?

Thanks! I am going to NZ as it is a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. Never been abroad, not likely to again as will then be saving for a house.
I have wanted to go there for over 40 years, I have relatives over there in North Island whom I will be visiting in passing!  I am travelling the country over 5 weeks. Sadly most working visas are for younger people, and as I'm only spending a day or two in each town or city working isn't an option! I have my bag virtually packed as been planning it since before covid so only expenses there will be certain sightseeing trips by coach, laundry etc.  Financially I am not too worried as will be travelling by coach, staying in hostels, and have vegan diet so will be mostly eating sarnies, rice and noodles and the occasional vegetable if I'm lucky whilst on the road! Just didn't want to get stranded if payments didn't go through etc! 

Have a wonderful time in NZ - it's a great place to visit.  May I respectfully suggest that you spend a lot of time pre-planning your trip ? Away from the Auckland (where well over a quater of the NZ population live), there are a lot of fields, masses of sheep, but very few people and not that many cities/large towns/towns - in particular buses/coaches seemed to be few and FAR between !

comeandgo

Have you looked at trip advisor , go to the  New Zealand forum.  Even if you just read it you will pick up lots of info.  Before you are allowed into New Zealand you must be able to show them your return flight ticket.