Have you dreamt of driving around New Zealand? Perhaps a wild road trip though the South Island? Or even cutting through snow-capped mountains while sitting back and taking in the beautiful scenery all around you? If driving in New Zealand is on the agenda, you are doing it right! New Zealand is a driver’s paradise, and it almost feels like the roads in New Zealand are made for those driving through the beautiful and diverse landscapes this country has to offer. Driving in New Zealand is rewarding. Every corner and turn will leave you in awe. You will want to stop everywhere to capture the moment or take it all in.
Planning a trip to New Zealand can feel overwhelming. There are so many beautiful places to see and a lot to cover in what people typically have – a short time in NZ.
The first question you may have when planning a trip to NZ is, how difficult is driving in New Zealand? Is driving the right way to see this country or would you want to take a tour? Keep reading this post as I cover different aspects of driving in New Zealand. This will help you decide if you want to drive through this vast country or take a tour or do a mix of both.
Table of Contents
Driving in New Zealand
First and foremost, I must mention that if you are driving in New Zealand, be prepared for driving on the left side of the road. Take a day to get used to driving before you start your New Zealand Road trip. Driving in NZ is not difficult by any means but be prepared to face gravel roads and rough terrain.
New Zealand roads are good closer to the bigger cities but if you plan to venture on the inner roads, a lot of them are made of gravel. The beauty of New Zealand lies on these inner roads, and this is where you will see the diverse landscapes that the country is so famous for.
Weather conditions can change quickly. Keep in mind that this may alter your drive times substantially.
I recommend renting a bigger car or even a four-wheeler to make the drive smoother for you. Why do I say this? Well, we decided to drive to a shooting location from LOTR. The road there was a journey. It comprised of a dirt path and gravel. To top it up, there were rocky creeks and streams that you would need to drive over – some you can’t judge how deep they are. The smaller sedans that were driving behind us had to turn back but those that drove a bigger car, or an SUV could easily pass through.
New Zealand Road conditions are great during summer, spring, and fall. In the winter, snow fall can make the roads slippery. NZ roads are curvy, single laned and narrow. You will find yourself driving on the edge of a mountain or along the banks of a majestic lake quite often during your drive.
Driver’s license
You must have a current and valid overseas driver’s license to drive in NZ or you require an international driving permit. If your driver’s license is not in English, you will need an accurate English translation. If you plan to spend more than 12 months in New Zealand, you will need a New Zealand driver license.
If you plan to drive a motorhome or campervan, you need a full car driver’s license.
Cell phone service
If you plan to use google or apple maps to navigate you through your drive, I strongly recommend downloading the maps to use offline. Cell phone service is VERY choppy or does not exist on the inner roads and the last thing you want to do is be stranded on the roads.
Gas stations
Gas stations on the inner roads are not very frequent. Always fill up on gas and try not to go lower than a quarter tank (if even that). Fill up when you are low and see a gas station. DO NOT wait for the next gas station because you don’t know how far it could be.
New Zealand weather
New Zealand sees all four seasons in one day. You can wake up to a chilly morning but be soaked in sweat by the afternoon. You could see snow at night but rain by evening. It’s truly mesmerising yet mysterious! A packing tip: Pack layers so you can add on or remove layers as needed throughout the day as the weather changes.
Driving times
Add a substantial amount of time to the time that google map will give you. The roads are slower to drive on. It can be hard to pass a slower vehicle because of the narrow and winding roads. You may stop a lot more than anticipated to take photos or take in the views. The weather is also quite unpredictable so allot adequate time to drive and do not rush on the roads.
Where to stop
New Zealand drives have a lot of designated lookouts where you can stop to take photos. If you absolutely must stop anywhere in between the lookout spots, make sure there is a shoulder where you can safely stop and get off the car. You will be issued a ticket if you stop in the middle of the road or stop traffic behind you.
Speed limits
You must follow the speed limits posted along the roads. Sometimes you may have a hard time keeping up to the speed limit of the road. For example, some roads may be 100km/hr but may have a ton of turns and curves. Drive at the speed you are comfortable with but please be mindful to move onto the passing lane if there are cars stuck behind you. Passing lanes are frequent and a safe way to move on the side for faster vehicles to pass through.
One-way bridges
There are a lot of one lane bridges on the South Island. Traffic on one side can pass through at one given time. Every bridge will have a sign to let you know whose right of way it is. If oncoming traffic has a right of way, you can safely wait till there are no more cars coming before you can pass.
Rail crossing
Most rail crossings in New Zealand do not have lights or a gate that would go down every time a train is approaching. When you hit a rail crossing, you must stop and check both ways to see if a train is approaching and then safely cross.
Share the road!
The beauty about New Zealand is that there are more sheep and cattle than humans! This also means that there could be sheep walking on the road – hence, share the road and give them space to safely cross over.
Car insurance
I cannot stress enough; buy car insurance with the company you are renting. One of THE most common car damages while driving in New Zealand is windshield damage. Most rental companies have basic insurance included with your rental. This comes with a $3500 deductible. You can purchase additional insurance with $0 deductible for $35/day or $300 deductible for $28/day. This can change from company to company but please buy it!
10 minutes after picking up our car from the rental company, a truck passing on the highway manager to crack our windshield. If we were to pay out of pocket, we were looking at a $1800 expense. We bought the $300 deductible so ended up paying only $300 from our pockets but also learnt a lesson for next time to buy the 0$ deductible insurance.
Check with your rental company!
Not all companies allow you to drive on gravel road. Make sure you check your agreement ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Most of the inner roads in New Zealand are made of gravel and although they are well maintained, it would be a bummer if you are not able to drive on it.
Don’t drive fatigued
You will likely have limited time on the island and of course your itinerary will be jam packed with places to go or checking off those bucketlist items from your list. There are numerous rest stops along the way so take advantage of them and do not drive fatigued. The last thing you’d want is to get into an accident in a foreign country.
Best drives in New Zealand
This one is HARD! New Zealand is gorgeous and it’s hard to pick a favourite drive. Some splendid drives we did were from Te Anau to Milford Sound, from Queenstown to Franz Joseph Glacier, along Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook. Keep extra time for these stunning drives.
Te Anau to Milford Sound
If you plan to take a cruise in Milford Sound, you have a few options to get to Milford Sound – by helicopter, a bus, or a car. Whatever you choose, you won’t regret it. We chose to drive because I did not want to miss out on this beautiful drive. There are so many stops along the way and trust me, you will want to stop at each one of them. We drove straight to the cruise and then made all the possible stops on our way back. This way you will get to your cruise on time.
Queenstown to Franz Joseph Glacier
This drive takes you from the centre of the South Island to the west coast of the island. You will see the landscapes change as you cut between the mountains. Make sure you take the Crown Range Road between Queenstown and Wanaka – this drive is one you will forever remember. As you leave Wanaka and head for the west coast, you will start driving amongst the lush green rainforests. You will see little streams flowing down the mountains and if it’s raining, it gets even prettier as 100s of temporary streams are seen flowing down the mountains.
Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook
Lake Pukaki stretches a good 55 kms long and you will be driving right along this blue lake as you make your way to see New Zealand’s tallest mountain.
Some general rules
- You must always wear a seat belt.
- You need car seats for your children depending on their age.
- You cannot drink and drive.
- You cannot talk on your cell phone while driving.
- Stop at red lights and stop signs.
- Stop for pedestrians.
- Slow down and slowly overtake cyclists.
- Park on the left had side of the road.
- Know how to use roundabouts.
Self-drive or a tour in New Zealand?
This one is entirely personal. You can choose to do a self-drive or you can take a tour or even do a mix of both. If you are not fond of driving or don’t like covering long distances while being stuck behind the wheel, choose a tour! The country is so magnificent that you may want to take in the sights and that is fine! If you are looking to take a tour, reach out to me and I can help you pick the perfect pre-packaged tour for New Zealand. This comes from my own experience of driving around New Zealand.
If you choose to do a mix of both, you can self-drive in some off the path locations while parking your car in bigger cities like Queenstown and Christchurch and taking tours buses to see Milford Sound, Kaikoura, etc.
Final thoughts
Get to know the road rules in New Zealand. They could be very different from the country you are visiting, or they could be the same but take some time to familiarize yourself with it. When you land in New Zealand, if you have a vast time difference, take a day or two to adjust to the times. Do not drive long periods of time on the day you land.
Driving in New Zealand is a treat for your eyes and all your senses will awaken. It is magical. You will pass blue lakes, mountains, rivers, creeks, cattle farm, and so much more. Driving in New Zealand was easily one of the best drives we have done in the world.
If the prospect of driving in New Zealand is scaring you, don’t let it stop you! If you are mindful of the road etiquette, respectful of sharing the road and are aware of the driving rules, you will not have any issues driving in New Zealand. Infact, New Zealand is one of THE most gorgeous countries you will ever drive through.
The South Island is surrounded by the Southern Alps from the north tip of the island to the south. You will see mountains all around you as you drive through the beautiful curves. You will stumble across blue lakes and creeks when you least expect it and as they say, the journey to your destination makes the ride more fun! You can read even more driving rules on the Pure New Zealand website.
If you have any questions of driving in New Zealand, feel free to reach out to me!
