Road trips for Beach lovers
By Vroom Team • Reviewed 20 Jan 2026
Book a rental car in New Zealand with VroomVroomVroom and get yourself around to New Zealand’s beautiful beaches. Rent a car from Queenstown / Tāhuna or a motorhome in Christchurch / Ōtautahi — you can stay as long as you like without anyone telling you to get back on the bus!
Hahei Beach - Coromandel / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui, North Island
Hahei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui is one of the most breathtaking beaches on offer. This sheltered and fabulous beach is perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming.
Directions: Rent a car from Auckland Airport and drive to Thames via State Highways 1 and 2 toward Coromandel Peninsula / Te Tara o Te Ika a Māui. Continue onto State Highway 25 towards your destination.
Māhia Beach - Gisborne / Tūranga Nui a Kiwa, North Island
With clear blue waters and soft white sand, Māhia Beach is a summer staple for those who live on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
Directions: Pick up a rental car in Gisborne / Tūranga Nui a Kiwa and head on a journey to Māhia via Nūhaka.
Waihi and Mount Maunganui - Bay of Plenty, North Island
The Bay of Plenty region is famous for its bright sunshine and cool, clean sea. You can start at the eight-kilometre-long Waihi Beach or continue driving for another 40 minutes to Mount Maunganui.
Kaiteriteri Beach - Nelson / Whakatū, South Island
Situated at the very top of the South Island, Nelson / Whakatū boasts long hours of sunshine. Kaiteriteri Beach doesn’t have surf, but it does have golden sand, and it’s the gateway to the magnificent Abel Tasman National Park.
Directions: Pick up a rental car from Nelson Airport and head northeast on Trent Drive toward Rapide Place. Continue onto Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road via State Highway 60 to your destination.
Koekohe Beach - Otago / Ōtākou, South Island
Situated on Koekohe Beach–between Moeraki and Hampden—is one of the most enchanting and popular attractions on the South Island: the Moeraki Boulders. Currently, there are 50 gorgeous boulders, and they are now said to be protected by law.
Directions: Collect a hire car from Dunedin / Ōtepoti and head north on State Highway 1 toward Queens Gardens. Follow the signs for Route 1 Timaru / Te Tihi o Maru to Moeraki Boulders Road in order to reach your destination.
Hokitika Beach — West Coast, South Island
Hokitika Beach is another amazing place to unwind and relax with family and friends. This is also an ideal place to carve your own greenstone pendant, since Hokitika is known as the jade capital of New Zealand.
Directions: Pick up a rental car from Greymouth / Māwhera and head north on State Highway 6 to reach your destination.
About the author
Vroom Team
VroomVroomVroom’s writing team brings together decades of writing expertise to share their insights into travelling around New Zealand by rental car. Let our team help you get the most out of your rental car experience.
