Page 9 - Canada and Alaska 2020

TRAVEL TIPS

WHEN TO GO VISAS & PASSPORTS
Canada and Alaska’s climate varies tremendously, A valid passport is required with at least
with warm days in summer and sub-zero six months validity beyond the intended stay.
temperatures in winter. The climate and daylight All travellers to Canada are required to obtain the
hours can be very different in the south compared Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to travel,
to the north. see www.cic.gc.ca for more details. All travellers to
Alaska are required to obtain the Electronic System
Summer (June to August) brings long, warm, sunny for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel, see
days to most regions. This is the best time to see www.cbp.gov/esta for more details. Travel advice
Grizzly and Black bears as well as whales. Alaska is available from the New Zealand Government
can experience 16 to 22 hours of daylight, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at
midnight sun in the north of the state. safetravel.govt.nz.
Autumn (September to November) sees
temperatures drop and foliage turn all shades of TIME
yellow, orange and red. October to November is There are five main time zones in Canada. Pacific
the best time to see Polar bears and you may still Time (Vancouver) is 20 hours behind New Zealand
see Grizzly and Black bears, as well as whales Standard Time (NZST), Mountain Time (Edmonton)
through to October. Snow begins to fall from is 19 hours behind NZST, Central Time (Winnipeg)
October/November. is 18 hours behind NZST, Eastern Time (Toronto) is
17 hours behind NZST and Atlantic Time (Halifax) is
Winter (December to February) brings cold weather
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 16 hours behind NZST. Alaska is 21 hours behind
with temperatures dropping below zero, and NZST. Daylight Saving Time is observed from March
Alaska plummeting well below. Cities and towns to November when their clocks are turned forward
are geared to challenge the cold surroundings with by one hour.
many having covered walkways and indoor malls
to protect from the elements. Snow falls most of
winter in many regions. There are only four to six CURRENCY
hours of daylight in Alaska, and complete darkness Canada: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
in the northern parts of the state. The Northern Alaska: US Dollar (USD)
Lights are best viewed in winter.
TIPPING
Spring (March to May) sees days getting longer and Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars and taxis.
temperatures slowing rising. Snow starts to melt As a guide expect to pay 15% to 20% of the bill,
away in March/April and wildflowers begin to bloom. CAD1/USD1 per bag for hotel porters and 10% of
The whale and bear watching season generally the tour price for tour guides.
begins in May. The Northern Lights may be seen
through to March in some parts. LANGUAGE
French is the official language in Québec City and
ELECTRICITY
ALASKA Montréal however English is widely spoken.
(USA) 110V 60Hz. An adaptor is required.
Denali • •
Fairbanks
• Anchorage Arctic Circle TEMPERATURE & RAINFALL
Nunavut Vancouver, Canada J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temperature (max °C) 8 8 10 13 17 20 22 22 19 13 9 6
Average rainfall (mm) 168 104 113 88 65 53 35 36 51 120 188 161
Yukon
Banff, Canada J F M A M J J A S O N D
Temperature (max °C) -3 0 5 10 15 19 22 22 16 10 0 -5
• Whitehorse Northwest Territories Nunavut ATLANTIC Average rainfall (mm) 24 20 23 21 15 1 0 0 6 20 30 27
NORTH
OCEAN Yellowknife, Canada J F M A M J J A S O N D
• Juneau • Yellowknife Temperature (max °C) -21 -18 -11 0 10 18 21 18 10 1 -10 -18
Average rainfall (mm) 14 14 13 11 18 28 40 39 36 30 24 16
CANADA Toronto, Canada J F M A M J J A S O N D
NORTH
PACIFIC Temperature (max °C) -1 1 5 12 19 24 27 26 21 14 8 2
OCEAN Average rainfall (mm) 61 55 53 68 82 70 64 81 85 64 84 62
Hudson Bay
Churchill • Anchorage, Alaska J F M A M J J A S O N D
British Alberta Labrador Temperature (max °C) -5 -3 0 6 12 16 18 17 12 4 -2 -5
Columbia
Average rainfall (mm) 20 20 18 17 19 29 43 62 69 52 28 28
• Edmonton Fairbanks, Alaska J F M A M J J A S O N D
• Jasper Manitoba Temperature (max °C) -18 -13 -4 5 15 21 22 19 12 0 -11 -16
Saskatchewan Newfoundland Average rainfall (mm) 12 10 9 8 16 35 48 50 24 23 20 22
• Whistler Can adian Rockies Québec
Vancouver • • Banff

Victoria • • Calgary Ontario
Prince Edward Is.

New
• Winnipeg Brunswick
Québec City • • Halifax

Montréal • Nova Scotia
Ottawa •

USA
Toronto •

Niagara Falls •

Anchorage Provincial Park, New Brunswick 9