The Middle Kingdom is set to overtake the Land Down Under as the Kiwi country's primary source of tourism income. Yang Feiyue reports.

Chinese tourists are poised to push Australians out of the top-spending spot among visitors to Kiwi country, as they are discovering a new zeal for discovering New Zealand.

They're expected to become the No 1 source of tourism income by 2020, surpassing Australia, the New Zealand government forecasts. Chinese arrivals to the island nation are expected to increase 12 percent annually through 2021, the government says.

Chinese tourists surged 26 percent to 300,000 over the past 12 months ending this April, New Zealand's statistics bureau reports.

Increasingly, wealthy Chinese are spending more in the country, as the yuan strengthens against the New Zealand dollar.

The country's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment forecasts spending by Chinese visitors will rise to NZ$2.32 billion ($1.7 billion) in 2020 from NZ$1.28 billion this year. Chinese visitors will stay 27 days on average and spend NZ$238 a day by 2020.

"New Zealand is not quite the right place for purchasing luxury items," says Zhang Chanqing, deputy manager of the tourism department for Australia, New Zealand and Russia of the Shanghai Spring International Travel Service (Group) Co.

Most tourists would buy local dairy and wool products, and honey, all of which are typically of top quality, since the country has an advanced animal husbandry industry, she explains.

South Island's popularity, in particular, has surged.

"The natural scenery is superb," Zhang says.

"There are no tall buildings but vast prairies and herds of cows and sheep."

Chinese film and TV star Yao Chen's 2012 wedding in the island's Queenstown sparked a media frenzy that put the island on the map for Chinese tourists, Zhang explains.

Visitors can dive from the Kawarau Bridge, which claims to be the world's first commercial bungee-jumping site.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Whale Watch Kaikoura, a major New Zealand tourism agency, has soared more than 200 percent in four years, media report.

The company employs Chinese-speaking staffers and engages Chinese social media, general manager Kauahi Ngapora tells media.

South Island also offers skiing, yachting and cross-country experiences.

Well-developed air services are among forces propelling the soaring number of Chinese tourists to New Zealand.

Daily flights from Shanghai and Guangzhou to North Island's Auckland take 11.5 hours. From there, flights to South Island are two hours.

China Eastern Airlines will open direct fights to Auckland on Sept 26, Zhang says.

China Airlines has also announced it will offer flights to South Island's Christchurch, media report.

"Travelers will have more choices, and cheaper flights may be possible," she says.

Although package tours account for up to 80 percent of Chinese visits to the country, independent travelers are proliferating.

"We've seen more than doubled the growth in individual Chinese travelers so far this year," says Dai Yu, marketing director of China's biggest online travel agency, Ctrip.

Christchurch and Queenstown are among the most popular sites for individual travelers.

Kauahi Ngapora says independent travelers are now whale-watching's greatest growth driver.

Self-driven road trips are also popular, but certified Chinese driving licenses with English translations are required for rentals, Zhang says.

Drivers can experience primitive simplicity and serenity at Arrowtown, and visit ancient gold mines after exploring Queenstown. They can trek Mackenzie Country's wilderness, and view Pukaki and Tekapo lakes after hiking Mountain Cook, the country's highest peak.

Road conditions may prove precarious from June through August, when wind and snow intensify.

The best time to visit is January through February, because of the Southern Hemisphere weather.

China's Lunar New Year holiday coincides with this period, so many Chinese visit at the optimum time, Zhang says.

An 11-day trip, featuring four-to five-star hotels, costs around 30,000 yuan ($4,833) through Zhang's company.

Individual travelers need to present proof of cash equal to no less than 50,000 yuan and a property ownership certificate when applying for travel visas.

Travel agencies can apply on behalf of tourists for fees of about 1,200 yuan.

"(Tour) costs can be 10,000 yuan cheaper if visitors choose to travel during the November-through-December or March-through-April periods," Zhang says.

Ice and snow impressed Shanghai resident Lu Qinhua during her May visit to Queenstown. "It had just snowed when I arrived," she says.

Lu took a 50-minute helicopter tour that gave her a bird's-eye view of the Antarctic glacier.

"It was amazing to see chateaus and vineyards from above," she says.

"It reminded me of sceneries from the Hans Andersen's fairy tales."

Helicopter trips are common in New Zealand and cost around NZ$300.

The near-vertical roads and skiing experiences also delighted Lu.

Local hospitality complemented natural wonders, she says.

"People told me all the interesting stories behind the beautiful scenery."

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn