Credit Cards have become more acceptable within the last few years with American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Carte Blanche common forms of payment in the tourist areas. The north tends to be sub-tropical and the south temperate. Being an island, uninfluenced by any close land mass, the yearly range of temperatures is small by continental standards - around 10deg. C variation between winter and summer. Areas lying to the west of the ranges are much wetter than those to the east.
Many eastern areas experience drought conditions, especially in summer.
These regions have over 2000 hours of sunshine a year and contain the main wine-growing regions, extensive sheep stations and summer resorts. The west, particularly in the South Island, is a land of mountains, lakes, dense rain forests, and lush, green pastures. Few people need reminding that the seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. The average daily winter temperature is between 11 to 15C in the north and slightly less in the south. With no extremes between winter and summer temperatures, New Zealand is a year-round destination.