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I like freeway journey. There’s nothing pretty like hitting the open freeway, residence residence house home windows down and music blaring with nothing nonetheless journey on the horizon. (Or, you perceive, maybe chances are you may be driving twisty mountain roads contained within the pouring rain… each means, ADVENTURE!)
On my ultimate journey to New Zealand, I went alone mini freeway journey from Christchurch to Kaikoura and as quickly as further (after which did one utterly completely different one-day roadie with an exquisite good buddy to Mount Put collectively dinner from Wanaka). Driving in New Zealand is always an journey — and by no means just because they drive on the improper aspect of the freeway on the improper aspect of the auto.
Driving in New Zealand is like driving by means of some magical fantasy land (it really type of IS Middle-Earth). There are so many good landscapes — they often can change drastically even everytime you might be merely driving for quite a lot of hours.
That being acknowledged, there are some elements it’s advisable know do you’ll want to plan on renting a vehicle and driving in New Zealand.
DOs and DON’Ts for a New Zealand freeway journey
DO take into consideration whether or not or not or not or not you desire a campervan or solely a vehicle
In New Zealand, renting campervans is just as well-liked — if no additional so — than renting autos. Though they’re higher and generally a bit unwieldy on New Zealand’s slender roads, they’re going to forestall some money whereas touring spherical NZ since they act as your transport AND your lodging.
In New Zealand you’ll “freedom camp” in quite a few areas as soon as you have a extraordinarily self-contained van (i.e. one with a toilet) — which suggests you’ll spend far masses loads a lot much less on lodging and sleep in some unimaginable areas.
In some circumstances, though (like, maybe do you’ll want to really hate tenting), you don’t really need a campervan. They’re often in extreme demand, so must you most likely can care for with a smaller van or vehicle, undoubtedly take into consideration that. (Plus, it will forestall on gasoline.)
RELATED: The Remaining Data to Planning a Campervan Road Journey in New Zealand
DON’T anticipate to have the power to freedom camp all over the place
Though freedom tenting is permitted in quite a few areas in New Zealand, it is not licensed everythe place. Bear in mind the place you’ll and should’t freedom camp — when uncertain, ask a neighborhood. Moreover, should you occur to happen to mustn’t have a self-contained van, please DON’T freedom camp. No particular person wants your waste dumped all via New Zealand.
DO retailer spherical for leases and ponder the place you is probably deciding on up/dropping off
Everytime you are renting a vehicle, camper, or the remaining on wheels, retailer spherical for presents — and along with consider the place you is probably deciding on up/dropping off the auto. Renting from an airport location is type of always going to worth higher than renting from an in-city location.
Everytime you are trying to find deal on a vehicle in New Zealand, I can advocate Jucy. They’ve respectable vehicles and truly low worth prices. (And no, they aren’t paying me to say that — I’ve rented autos quite a few cases from Jucy in NZ!) Absolutely utterly completely different worth vary decisions embody Thrifty, Funds, and Europcar.
As for campervans, I had experience renting a smaller van from Spaceships.
DO take into consideration doing a rental vehicle/camper relocation
Everytime you are up for a bit little bit of little little little bit of an issue and/or don’t really need a vehicle in your full journey (which, chances are high chances are high you may not — New Zealand has number of trains and buses to choose from), look into doing a rental vehicle/camper relocation.
Rental vehicle firms repeatedly need autos and vans pushed from one drop-off location to a singular, and in case you are ready to help them out, they principally present the rental with out spending a dime.
In model relocation routes embody ones between Auckland and Christchurch, and Christchurch and Queenstown. Most of the time these leases worth about $1 per day and generally embrace one free tank of gasoline. And, whether or not or not it is advisable get the auto from one island to the selection, the company typically throws in a ferry ticket, too.
This isn’t your finest option to just remember to a satisfying leisurely freeway journey (Christchurch to Auckland transfers, for example, typically should be completed inside 4 or 5 days), nonetheless it IS a very low value methodology to get from one place to a singular whereas nonetheless attending to see the environment alongside the very best methodology.
Good internet pages to try embody Jucy Leases’ relocation internet web internet web page, Transfercarand Thrifty’s relocation internet web internet web page.
DON’T attempt to take the improper type of vehicle over mountain passes
New Zealand’s mountain passes are NO JOKE. Snow, ice, and landslides are always a hazard. For individuals who’ll be driving any of them contained in the autumn, winter, or early spring, take note of what kind of vehicle it’s your selection.
Barely bit tiny monetary system vehicle won’t in the reduction of it on many mountain roads in unhealthy native local weather — some even require snow chains. So be certain you not lower than have an considered the routes chances are you may be taking so you’ll lease accordingly.
DO perceive that gasoline is expensive – in the reduction of up the costs must you most likely can
Since New Zealand sits really on the tip of the world and has to import a bunch of stuff from really far-off, gasoline is terribly pricey. It was sitting at higher than $2 per liter as shortly as I used to be there ultimate — that’s pushing $8 per gallon!!
Everytime you most likely can journey with buddies (or make buddies on the freeway) to separate costs with, your pockets will thanks.
DO let people change it’s a must to you are driving sluggish (it’s actually the authorized tips!)
I get it: driving overseas on unfamiliar roads — roads which is perhaps often really slender and twisty — generally is a bit nerve-racking. It’s completely okay whether or not or not it is advisable take it sluggish (and, really you ought to decelerate, as New Zealand is principally cracking down on velocity limits as of late!).
Nonetheless, do you’ll want to uncover autos lined up behind you, be courteous and pull over to permit them to maneuver when you’ll.
Be aware of it or not, you might be breaking the authorized tips as soon as you have 4 or additional autos lined up behind you and fail to tug over. That’s notably an issue for people driving campervans by means of the mountains, so hear. Most New Zealand roads embrace built-in pull-off components — use them!
DON’T stop on the aspect of the freeway to take pictures, irrespective of how pretty the view is
Constructive, New Zealand is terribly stunning. And constructive, you ARE going to want to tug over roughly every 5 minutes. Nonetheless DON’T DO THIS. If there’s not a delegated pull-off, driveway, or giant shoulder with a view to stop on, merely defend driving.
Accidents happen steadily in New Zealand on account of people driving stupidly — and this consists of pulling over on really dangerous stretches of freeway to take pictures.
I toddler you not, I seen this happen with my very non-public eyes. My good good buddy Liz and I had been driving on a terribly straight stretch of freeway predominant as masses as Mount Put collectively dinner. We REALLY wished to stop to take pictures, nonetheless waited until we seen a gravelly pull-off house.
As we had been taking turns watching the freeway and taking pictures, a vehicle zipped earlier us and pulled over about 100 meters up the freeway. Moreover there was no pull-off up there — they pulled over principally nonetheless partially ON the freeway, to the place the passenger was opening her door INTO the freeway. Constructive, the freeway is straight and also you may even see oncoming guests. Nonetheless that’s nonetheless ridiculously dangerous and in addition to you SHOULD NOT DO IT. Ever.
Liz went right correct proper right into a rage like I’ve by no means seen, and we stopped to yell at these vacationers (who had been in any case oblivious to the reality that their OPEN DOOR hanging into the freeway might very efficiently be dangerous.)
DO get off the usual vacationer path
The great thing about having a vehicle in New Zealand is that you just simply’re free to hunt out wherever the freeway may lead (after which uncover even additional using your ft). New Zealand will not be nearly as touristy as one completely different areas, nonetheless there IS undoubtedly a “vacationer path.” This typically consists of areas like Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
And in addition to chances are you’ll suppose {{{{that a}}}} nation as small as New Zealand wouldn’t have way more to see. Nonetheless oh how improper you may be! New Zealand is FULL of unimaginable corners, from the collaborating seashores of the Bay of Islands to the hen sanctuary on Kapiti Island to the coastal metropolis of Kaikoura to the wildness of the West Coast to loosen up and funky Wanaka.
Everytime you are creating an itinerary in your New Zealand freeway journey, assure that it’s a free one. You may probably undoubtedly ought to allow time to deviate from the deliberate path right correct proper right here.
DO resolve up hitchhikers
As you is probably cruising by means of New Zealand, you might be sure to establish some hitchhikers alongside the very best methodology. Hitching is unquestionably a very well-liked means for backpackers to journey spherical New Zealand — largely as a result of nation is principally protected and the locals are good.
Everytime you are cozy with it, be totally utterly comfortable to choose up hitchhikers! They’re typically attention-grabbing people — AND you’ll ask them to help pay for quite a lot of of that pricey gasoline.
DON’T overlook your journey insurance coverage protection safety security
Via journey, you merely by no means know what may happen. For that perform, I by no means go away residence with out journey insurance coverage protection safety security security! Which implies your entire factors from misplaced baggage to a nasty accident is roofed – because you merely by no means know! I wish to counsel World Nomads for elementary (and truly low value) journey insurance coverage protection safety security.
And, lastly, DON’T overlook to drive on the left!
READ NEXT: New Zealand Road Journey: The Good Itinerary if You Solely Have 2 Weeks
What to Pack for New Zealand
There are undoubtedly quite a few belongings chances are high you may ought to assure that to hold with a goal that may help you may need an unimaginable New Zealand freeway journey. Components like:
Check out additional of my New Zealand packing strategies right correct proper right here!
Have you ever ever ever ever freeway tripped in New Zealand? What totally utterly completely different strategies would you add?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to higher than 60 worldwide areas on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful journey by means of the US, Europe, and the rest of the world. Amanda solely shares strategies based on her non-public experiences and areas she’s actually traveled!