Prepare

Passport

As soon as possible, find your current passport and confirm it will still be valid three months after we return. If you need to get a new passport or renew an expired or expiring passport, you can read about the process on the State Department page:

Vaccinations

The CDC has a few recommendations for travelers to New Zealand. These are not required by New Zealand, Baylor University, or Baylor in New Zealand. They are optional for you to consider in consultation with your doctor. You can review the CDC recommendations for travelers here:

The Baylor Health Center (in the SLC) is an easy way to get most of these shots if you need them. Call (254) 710-1010 to make an appointment.

Here are a couple recommended vaccinations:

  • Routine vaccinations: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (TDaP), varicella (chickenpox), polio, and an annual flu shot
  • Covid-19
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles

Visa, etc.

New Zealand immigration requires US citizens to acquire a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) and pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). You can read about the process here:

The cost is about:

  • $14.00 USD for NZeTA
  • $61.00 USD for IVL

You can apply on their website: New Zealand Immigration

You can also apply using the NZeTA app (found on Apple Store or Google Play)

NZeTA App

Summer Registration

The study abroad office will automatically register you for the summer courses you requested on your BearsAbroad application. If you’re unsure which courses you requested or want to change, please contact the program director.

Also, Baylor automatically enrolls all students studying abroad in Intercultural Competence Abroad.

  • GBL 1102 – Intercultural Competence Abroad

The course asks you to reflect on some cultural experiences while you are abroad and write short essays about your insights. While your e-bill will reflect a charge for this one-semester hour of credit, you will also see a credit equal to that same amount. The Center for Global Engagement provides a scholarship that equals the tuition for that course, making it a free credit.

Plane Tickets

We do not have a required group flight for this trip. I will pick a “preferred” international flight, and I’ll send you the information so you can purchase tickets for that flight on your own. However, if you need to travel on a different flight (e.g., you want to leave from Los Angeles), you may travel separately as long as you arrive at the same time or before the “preferred” flight.

Once we’re in New Zealand, the program will take care of all your domestic transportation.

Here is our general plan for the international portion of the trip. I will communicate the final “preferred” flight over email.

  • Please wait to buy plane tickets until the program director says it’s time.

FIRST DAY: (estimated based on last trip)

  • Depart Houston (IAH) on June 9, 2026 at 9:55 pm (Central Time), arriving in Auckland on June 11, 2026 at 5:30 am (NZT – New Zealand Time). Flight Air New Zealand NZ 29 (tentative plan)
    • note that we’re crossing the international date line and it appears we’re travelling over 3 days, but it’s actually just one long day.
  • Your destination is (AKL) Auckland International Airport..
  • If you are not on the “preferred” flight, you must arrive in Auckland at the same time or earlier. It is likely you will need to arrive a day earlier and pay for a hotel to spend the night before the group’s arrival. Students do this every year, so it’s perfectly fine to arrive a day or two early in Auckland. I’ll share notes with a recommended hotel and shuttle.
    • If you arrive after the group, you will miss the day 1 activities and have to purchase a ticket on a tour bus to take you to the town where we will spend the first night. Do your best to arrive with or before the “preferred” flight, but I’ll share notes on finding the rest of the team if you end up needing to do this.

LAST DAY:

  • Depart Queenstown on July 9, 2026 (NZT) at 3:00 pm.
  • Arrive Auckland at 4:50 pm
  • Depart Auckland at 7:40 pm
  • Arrive Houston (IAH) on July 9, 2026 at 4:25 pm (Central Time). Flight Air New Zealand NZ 28 (tentative plan)
    • note that we’re crossing the international date line, and it appears we’re arriving earlier than we depart
  • If you are not on the “preferred” flight, you may have to provide your own travel to the airport
  • When our “preferred” flight departs Queenstown, the study abroad trip is officially over. You are welcome to plan other excursions after this time, but not before. You’re also welcome to invite family or friends to join you once the “preferred” flight departs.

Early Arrivals

Here is the hotel I recommend for anyone who needs to arrive early. If anyone arrives early, they will need to be in the lobby of this hotel by 6:30 am (expected time) on the designated day. Contact the Program Director to work out a definite plan.

Class Preparation

There are a few things you’ll need for your summer classes:

  • Personal Computer or tablet with internet access and word processing
  • other requirements will be described in your course syllabi

Final Documents

Go back into BearsAbroad and complete the Post-Decision Materials. It will ask you to upload some things and just some other things…

  • flight itinerary
  • Form A: Adult Participation and General Release
  • Form B: Medical Release
  • Form C: Baylor Code of Conduct Acknowledgement
  • Baylor in New Zealand Code of Conduct

If you have any accommodations through OALA that you would like to use while in New Zealand, we are happy to work with you to find suitable solutions. Please contact the program director soon after acceptance to provide forms and to discuss a plan.

Packing

The most important thing to remember is that it is winter in New Zealand. Their June is similar to January in Waco. Here is a document to help you prepare: