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Avis is eager to be a part of your trip to New Zealand. Book a car with us and witness the wonders that the country possesses the way you want.
Situated in the south western pacific ocean, New Zealand is best known for its astounding bio-diversity and landscapes.
So, brace yourself for wild and expansive national parks, spirited Māori culture, and top-class surfing and skiing sites.
New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, apart from plenty of smaller surrounding islands. Stewart Island and Waiheke Island are among the most well-known stand-alone islands. The two main islands are divided by a 22 km stretch of water called the Cook Strait. A self-drive tour of New Zealand will take you amongst the changing landscapes from mountains to beaches, volcanoes to lakes, and much more. New Zealand is also well-known for its outdoor activities including skydiving, bungy jumping, rafting, jet boating and the list goes on. We suggest you begin the trip by hiring a car in Auckland.
If you don’t have a very long time for a road trip in New Zealand, begin the trip in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, towards the Bay of Islands loop. Here you’ll be able to spot dotted dolphins and bask in the comfortably warm beaches of Omapere before heading southwards to the waiheke Islands.
Driving is the fastest and easiest way to explore New Zealand. It’s best to hire a self-drive car in New Zealand from Avis car rental service. You can hire it from Auckland Avis center to begin the trip. You will easily find the lesser known and uncovered delights of the off-beaten tracks with your hired car.
There’s so much to discover the beauty of North Island on this route and it will surely lift your spirits. It begins with Peter Jackson's Hobbiton movie set in Lord of the Rings and moves towards the "Thermal Highway" south to discover a host of geothermal delights. Look out for the bubbling geysers of Rotorua and the volcanic crater of Lake Taupo. The winding roads take you to the wine regions of Martinborough. All these make up for the most famous places in New Zealand. The final destination is Wellington where you can soak up the energetic atmosphere of the southernmost capital city in the world.
If time is a constraint for you while traversing through the South Island, choose this short route. Take the TranzAlpine train as it follows the Waimakariri River and crosses from east coast to west. Begin your road trip in the seaside town of Greymouth. Get a budget rental car in this part of New Zealand from Avis. The southern track goes along the rugged coastline where you can visit the majestic Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. The next thing to do is descend through the mountains to Queenstown. Popularly called the adventure capital of the world, you can try skydiving, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, - whatever you fancy. By the end of it you'll feel a rush of adrenaline for sure!
Make a stop at Bay of Islands, on of the best places to visit in New Zealand known for the thrilling watersports, fishing and sailing. Three hours away from Auckland, this scenic and attractive region comprises of 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. If you decide to try scuba diving with Paihia Dive’s be prepared to be wonder-struck by a whole new underwater world.
If you really wish to survey Milford Sound, it will best be done on a boat. Get aboard a sightseeing cruise on the fjord and watch out for waterfalls and wildlife including dolphins and penguins. The other exhilarating way to witness all this is with a kayaking tour. With a rental car in New Zealand, you can take a ride through the meandering roads in Milford Sound.
Known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand it consists of numerous geysers and hot springs both within and outside the city. You can catch the eruption of steam, mud and hot water in nearby locations like parks and reserves. Wai-o-tapu and Lady Knox Geyser are some noticeable hot springs with colorful appearances. Take your time in this pre-possessing city of New Zealand in a self-drive car from Avis.
Waiheke Island is situated slightly more that 30 minutes away by boat from Auckland. It is one of the most commonly visited places in New Zealand especially by wine lovers. Home to plenty of vineyards, it is located in the middle of Hauraki gulf. You can sample a number of the drinks but make sure that when you hit the road again in your rental car in New Zealand, you are sober.
The lush green rainforests, the bio-diversity, the pure and pristine mountain lakes, the warm and cozy breeze on beaches fill the soul of a traveller only on a road trip in New Zealand. And if you have decided to travel in a self-driven car in New Zealand, it offers so many road trip possibilities. Road trip in New Zealand is more of a privilege than a mode of transport. When you are searching for car rental companies in New Zealand, let Avis be your companion on the trip that will never fade away from your memory. Given the unspoilt sites and views in a country so sparingly populated for its size, it will never, ever disappoint you!
Essential New Zealand road rules to know:
• Keep left.
• Use passing lanes when overtaking other cars.
• Never cross a solid yellow line, it indicates that it's too dangerous to overtake.
• A double yellow centerline means that no traffic can overtake.
• Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times, in both front and rear seats.
• Drivers must not use a hand held or hand operated mobile phone.
• You must not stop on a Motorway.
• Ensure your vehicle has current WOF and is registered.
• Always carry a valid international driver license or a translation of your foreign driver license in English.
• To drive basic model hire cars in New Zealand you must be over 21 years old.
• Speed limit on the open road is 100 kilometres per hour.
• Speed limit in Urban areas is 50 kilometres per hour.
You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP).
