Heading from the Middle Kingdom to Middle Earth

"More and more Chinese investors came to New Zealand for hotels and relevant infrastructure, which also spurs Chinese-language services in more scenic spots," he explains.

"What's more important, President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand has also drawn many Chinese tourists' attention to the country."

But it's not a cheap destination.

The Chinese travel website Tuniu.com says a 10-day tour from China averages nearly 20,000 yuan ($3,200) per person during Spring Festival.

Still, Chinese tourism to that country has continued to grow.

More than 257,000 made the trip between December 2013 and November - a year-on-year increase of 11.5 percent. And November's figure represents a nearly 48 percent surge over the same month in 2013.

China has been the second-largest source of New Zealand's overseas visitors since 2012. Additional flights will run during Spring Festival.

China Eastern Airlines, for example, is operating a daily direct flight from Shanghai to Auckland until March 8. The airline regularly runs four flights a week on the route.

China Southern Airlines, which signed a strategic agreement with Tourism New Zealand in November, is running 14 flights a week - four more than usual - connecting Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou to Auckland until March 29. Chartered flights between Guangzhou and South Island's Christchurch will also take off.

"It's better to book hotels, entry tickets for scenic spots and transportation in advance because some prices will rise during the festival," Craig recommends.

He expects the temporary boom will lead to long-term increases in regular routes. Air China will likely team up with Air New Zealand to open a regular Beijing-Auckland route, he says.