Local tips as direct flights from NY to New Zealand go on sale – Times Union

Its an exciting prospect for my trips home! More convenient than doing a 24-hour trip from door to door, which typically transited through Los Angeles, San Francisco or Houston, says Noll, who grew up in Montgomery in Orange County.

The new nonstop travel time is 16-18 hours, faster in the Auckland to NYC direction, thanks to the jet stream.

Noll, who forecasts Hudson Valley weather via social media and his website on his own time, typically struggles to get a good nights rest on long-haul flights. He has a few tricks up his sleeve to make the trek easier. My general rule is to get a couple of solid nights sleep leading up to the trip. Im usually happy if I can tuck in a few hours of shut eye on the flight itself.

Still, Noll doesnt think the distance JFK Airport is 8,814 miles from Auckland should keep anyone from the adventure. If youre in New York and considering a trip to New Zealand, two words: Do it!

He has been living in the other hemisphere since the mid 2010s, moving for his job. Being in New Zealand and seeing its scenery is like being inside of a movie set.

Tickets are currently on sale for Air New Zealands nonstop flights, which will take place three times a week on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Noll is already enjoying thinking about the possibility they will afford him as an expat.

Being 16 hours from a slice of NYC pizza is alluring.

Be sure to hike to Kitekite Falls while visiting Aucklands west coast, a 45-minute drive from the city.

What should New Yorkers traveling to New Zealand be sure to see and do? While chances are good that travelers will extend their explorations beyond Auckland, Noll recommends pausing a beat to explore his adopted home town.

Auckland is well worth spending a day or two in at the beginning or end of your travels: great coffee, a cultural melting pot that influences its cuisine, an extremely comfortable climate almost any time of the year, and its mix of leisure and adventure activities being located on the water.

His suggestions:

You may not be able to find New York-style pizza in New Zealand, but the countrys grass-fed beef is bar none, says Ben Noll, who recommends Better Burger.

North Island

South Island

New Zealands most jaw-dropping scenery can be found in the South Islands Fiordland, including Milford Sound.

Dont expect to find NY-style pizza or subs up to the standard were all used to.

Dont expect your bill to be cheap: New Zealand is an island nation on the bottom of the planet; import costs are large and expect to pay while youre here. (That being said, the exchange rate is favorable.)

Dont assume the season is the same as New York. New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite.

More Hudson Valley travel

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Local tips as direct flights from NY to New Zealand go on sale - Times Union