Nearly all stores and shops are open between 9.00a.m. and 5.30p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 10.00a.m. to 1.00p.m. on Saturdays. In tourist areas and resorts, shops are invariably open on Sundays and evenings. For complete details contact your nearest Tourist Information Bureau. Camping Camping grounds and sites are found throughout New Zealand.
All international telecommunications are readily available in New Zealand.
In wetter areas, particularly in Fiordland, sandflies can be a pest, but these can be effectively controlled by use of an insect repellent. This internal microscopic parasite, which is present in some backcountry rivers and lakes, can cause serious stomach illness. The best way to avoid contracting this disease when camping is to boil, filter or chemically treat drinking water. Further information on Giardia is available from local Department of Conservation offices and health agencies. New Zealand's clear, unpolluted atmosphere produces sunlight stronger than most European countries, so be prepared to wear hats or sunblock if you plan to be out in the sun for more than 15-20 minutes.