During the Easter holidays, the roads in New Zealand are almost as busy as they are in the Christmas season. So, if you’re planning a road trip through this beautiful country, you’ll need to book your rental car early as they usually sell out and reach their peak rates during this season. Once your rental car is booked, you’ll be ready to explore New Zealand over Easter.
If you only have a few days in New Zealand, this short road trip is a great route for viewing the beauty of the northern coast via the country's largest city, Auckland. The North Island of New Zealand is filled with endless scenery, and the Bay of Islands is no exception.
Start off in Auckland and take State Highway 1 through Kawakawa before proceeding to the Bay of Islands via Causeway Road.
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Get even more out of the stunning North Island by cruising through the wine regions of Martinborough, an unforgettable journey beginning in the world’s southernmost capital city, Wellington.
If you’re flying into Wellington Airport, you can pick up a rental car from there or otherwise book one from a depot downtown. Once you’re buckled in, you can make your way through the city and out into the countryside.
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The road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown will introduce you to glaciers, national parks, mountains, and stunning scenery. Starting in Christchurch, your journey will take you to the adventuring capital of Queenstown, where you can spend Easter bungy jumping, skydiving, and ziplining.
From Christchurch, head south via State Highway 76 and follow the open road to Queenstown.
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Taste your way through three of the country's most popular wine-making regions: the Martinborough, Blenheim, and Marlborough. This classic wine trail is perfect for wine lovers, especially those wanting to learn more about wine production in New Zealand.
In order to get to the Marlborough wine region, you can fly into Marlborough and rent a car from the airport. You can also fly into Christchurch and drive north.
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New Zealand’s State Highway 43, also known as the Forgotten World Highway, can be reached from Stratford or Taumarunui.
You can fly into New Plymouth and start your road trip there. It’s only 31 minutes away from the beginning of the highway and is also an amazing place to explore.
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