New Zealand is disabled-traveller-friendly, but that does not mean everything is rosy. Many public buildings, galleries and museums are accessible to disabled travellers, but as a rule restaurants and local public transport make few concessions.
Long-distance transport companies will generally offer disabled travellers help with boarding, but on-board access to toilets and other amenities can be difficult for wheelchair users. All accommodation in New Zealand should have at least one room or unit suitable for disabled travellers but the level of facilities and access varies considerably, often depending on the age of the building in question. On the plus side, many tour operators are prepared to go to that extra bit of trouble to enable travellers with disabilities to participate in activities
Before you leave: Useful organizations
UK
Access Travel
, 16 Haweswater Ave, Astley, Lancashire M29 7BL (tel 01942/888 844). Tour operator that can arrange flights and transfers.
Holiday Care Service
, 2nd floor, Imperial Building, Victoria Rd, Horley,...
read more >>
Planning a trip
There are
organized tours and holidays
specifically for people with disabilities - the contacts in the box below will be able to put you touch with any specialists for trips to New Zealand. If you want to be more
independent
, it's...
read more >>
Accommodation
The New Zealand Tourism Board's Where to Stay Guide provides a few useful pointers on disabled-friendly accommodation, with
countrywide listings
, in which disabled facilities are indicated by a wheelchair symbol.
Current New...
read more >>
Travelling
Few airlines, trains, ferries and buses allow complete independence. Air New Zealand provides a special wheelchair narrow enough to move around in the plane, and the rear toilet cubicles are wider than the others to facilitate access; other
domestic...
read more >>
Useful contacts in New Zealand
Disability Information - Project Enable
tel 0800/801 981. Information service that can help with advice on travel, accommodation and activities.
Disability Resource Centre
, PO Box 24-042, Royal Oak, Auckland (tel 09/625 8069, fax...
read more >>
