TRAVEL TIPS

General Information

Good quality accommodation is readily available and it's a good idea to get off the beaten track and meet the locals - New Zealanders are hospitable people who enjoy meeting visitors!

Driving

There is no national network of multi lane motorways so travel is on standard 2 lane highways where the speed limit is 100 kph and is rigidly enforced by the authorities. With the exception of the high density population areas around Auckland and Wellington, traffic is generally light.

If you're accustomed to driving in Europe or the USA where traffic drives on the right hand side of the road, you need to be particularly careful to stay on the left when driving in New Zealand.

Visitors are often surprised to find that they can travel from the east coast to the west coast in a matter of only a few hours. Of course how much you see of the country will depend on how much time you have available and what your interests are.

The Tourism New Zealand web site will give you full details of where to go and what to do in specific areas. There is much to see in very short distances throughout the country.

If you're just wanting to drive around and enjoy the scenery and have a relaxing holiday through either or both the North and South Islands - these are just some general tips.

You can use one way rentals and travel the full length of the country or if you prefer, you can drive down one coast and back up the other and leave from the same airport you arrived at. Our car rental depot matrix can help you plan your journey.

Crossing between the North and South Islands

There are regular ferry crossings from Wellington to Picton and vice versa. Travelling by ferry across Cook Straight gives you the opportunity to see the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and Picton. The normal ferry crossing takes about three and a half hours and a fast ferry does it in about an hour and a half.

If travelling by rental car, you leave your car at the ferry terminal and collect another car at the other side. When you check in, your bags are taken care of and you're free to relax on the ferry and enjoy the views.

North Island

New Zealand's largest city is Auckland located at the northern end of the North Island and the capital Wellington is at the southern end.

The 4 hour drive north of Auckland to the Bay of Islands and the northernmost tip of New Zealand are well worth the effort for the scenic beauty and historic significance

On a clear day from North Cape you can see where the currents of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet in a froth of turbulence.

Heading south most visitors will call at Rotorua which is a geothermal region rich in maori culture and history.

South Island

The main cities in the South Island are Christchurch and Dunedin. Most visitors will arrive at Christchurch International Airport and spend a few days in Christchurch before heading off on their South Island tour.

Queenstown and the surrounding district are stunningly beautiful with pristine alpine rivers and lakes and in the winter - ski fields.

It's about a five hour drive from Christchurch to Queenstown via the main direct route.

From Queenstown you can drive on to Te Anau and Milford Sound

Tip: If you want to do a round trip of the South Island there are several options. Here's one suggestion:

Pick up your rental in Christchurch and you can head north to Marlborough (4 hours) then Nelson (2 hours from Blenheim) and down the west coast to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers (allow a good six hours for this section). You would then travel through the Haast Pass to Lakes Hawea and Wanaka (allow 5 hours) and across to Queenstown (Wanaka to Queenstown is about an hour and a half). From Queenstown you might take a day trip to Te Anau (2 hours) and Milford Sound (another 2 hours) or overnight at Te Anau before heading to the bottom of the South Island to Invercargill (Te Anau to Invercargill is 2 and a half hours). You would then travel north to Dunedin (approximately 3 hours) and on back to Christchurch (4 hours).

A Picture is worth a thousand words!