5 Ways to Protect Against New Zealand's Strong Sun

[Betsy Randall]

To outsiders, New Zealand is seen as a mythical place. It is full of beautiful untouched nature and it is quite literally at the edge of our planet. New Zealand also lacks the large and sometimes dangerous insects that inhabit its neighbour Australia.

The country is very safe and crime is uncommon. The Hobbit movies were filmed entirely in New Zealand, and a large portion of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy was also shot in locations in New Zealand. This has further amplified the mystique and nature of New Zealand.

It's a bright, beautiful, sunshiney place - in fact, visitors quickly realise how strong the sunshine is - and in fact, this can actually be a potential danger, thanks to ultraviolet rays. 

People find that they burn easier in New Zealand than in other countries. Around the world, New Zealand is not known for its heat, so this comes as a shock to travelers. Ultraviolet rays come from the sun and are the main reason for the cause of sunburn. And the mild and cool temperatures here can mask their negative effects, including acceleration of skin aging, increased risk of skin cancer and damage to the eyes. As a short-term traveler, you will not have to overly worry about these longtime effects, but sunburn is certainly an issue.

Why are UV rays are so strong in New Zealand? The ozone layer protects us by absorbing most of the UV rays emitted by the sun. But in New Zealand there is less ozone protection than in other places around the world. Due to the earth’s orbit, the planet is closer to the sun during summers in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere. Additionally, there is less pollution to block out UV rays in the southern hemisphere.

All these factors contribute to making the sunshine strong in New Zealand. However, don’t get me wrong. You should definitely now allow ultraviolet rays a reason not to visit the beautiful country of New Zealand. Just ensure that you take adequate protection with you when visiting.

Protecting Yourself

Unless you are keen to get a sunburn, it is necessary to take precautions when visiting New Zealand. If you visit during the summer, you may be shocked to find a significant number of Kiwis walking around without any protection. Well, equally then, it is no surprise that New Zealand has the highest skin cancer rate in the whole world! Do not allow the slack attitude towards sun protection of many New Zealanders deter you from taking your own precaution against ultraviolet rays.

There is a catchy slogan that is run in advertisements used to raise public awareness. It is as follows: slip, slop, slap and wrap.

  •    Slip on a shirt. This is especially true if you are going to be on a beach. Wearing a shirt covers your body, and  without one, you can suffer from significant sunburn. You don’t want your travels disrupted by agonising sunburn.

  •    Slop on the sun cream. This goes without saying. Sun cream is vital for protection against sunburn.

  •    Slap on a hat. This will provide you with much-needed shade for your face and scalp.

  •    Wrap around sunglasses. This is to help save your eyes from the sun. Besides, you don’t want to see the beauty of New Zealand through squinty eyes!

Additionally, the sun is at its most potent from 10 am to 4 pm, so if possible, keep your traveling during those times at a minimum (I know, those a prime touring hours, so easier said than done). 

New Zealand is a country with boundless natural beauty for adventurers to explore. So do not let the ultraviolet rays scare you away! As long as you slip, slop, slap and wrap, you will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of New Zealand without any worries.



Betsy Randall is a custom paper writer at Termpapereasy.com and part-time editor at WritingJobz. Her extra passion is Eastern philosophy and she provides free tutoring at local high school.