While most people are tucked up in bed sound asleep at 3am, Pokemon lovers are patrolling the streets looking for the best Pokemon.

Released in New Zealand on Wednesday, Pokemon GO is the latest virtual reality craze, mostly taken up by millennials desperate to reclaim this small part of their '90s childhood.

Pikachu at the Mount.

New Zealand is in fact one of the lucky ones. Only us, Australia, Ireland and the US have been granted access so far.

The smartphone app, powered by a combination of Google Maps and your camera, takes the traditional format of the Pokemon video games (walking around fighting and capturing made-up animals) and plants it into the real world.

Basically, all you do is walk around your city centre/local park/neighbour's garden until your phone alerts you to a pokemon's presence. At this point you attempt to catch it by flicking pokeballs in its general direction. Simple and seemingly addictive.

Pokemon GO opens a universe of Pokemon to find, catch, trade, and battle on your iPhone or Android device.

A squirtle pops up near a pair of his real world inspirations. Image: imgur

Real life landmarks are also home to "pokestops", where items can be collected. Users can fight each other at "gyms", level up, and eventually, catch 'em all.

Facebook pages dedicated to the app have also been popping up on social media. People are also organising group walks around the Bay of Plenty, so people can get together, collect Pokemon and level up.

"There's been a couple of times where I've just looked up and made eye contact with someone and smiled at them. You know instantly who's playing," says one player in Tauranga.

He says it's like having a part of his childhood back.

'It does get people out and about, the only downfall is that people are out and about looking at their phones.”

- Stuff

What do you think of the new app?