Transportation

Rental Cars
There are a large range of Rental Car companies from AVIS, BUDGET and HERTZ to local operators in all major towns. All International companies have depots at the Airports and smaller local firms can pick you up from the Airport. Rental Cars can also be delivered to your Accommodation or collected from their downtown offices. A variety of COACH companies provide a national network on a daily basis, most with regular departures every day, passes can be purchased for different lengths of stay and journeys can be broken as you wish.

CAMPERVANS are extremely popular, these are available in 2, 4 and 6 berth and are available at key cities around New Zealand but must be booked in advance in the peak summer months.

Air
Air NEW ZEALAND and QANTAS fly all the major domestic routes with Regional Airlines covering the smaller centres.

Rail
Operated by TRANZRAIL which provides morning and evening services on the main trunk line between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island and Picton and Christchurch in the South Island. You may leave the train at any station you wish and there are several branch lines available as well as the very popular East to West coast TRANZ SCENIC daily Rail journey from Christchurch to Hokitika in the South Island.

Taxis
Taxi fares range from around $1.40 to $1.80 per km, plus a pickup fee of $2. For example the cost to get a taxi from Auckland International Airport to the central city is about NZ$35.

Inter-island Ferry
Train and car carrying Roll-on, Roll- off and large Catamaran (twin hull) ferries transport you across Cook Strait (separates the North and South Islands) in approximately 3 hours.

Distances around NZ

North Island distances
e.g. Hamilton to Rotorua = 107km

South Island distances
e.g. Dunedin to Queenstown = 283km

Drivers License
A valid, full, New Zealand, International, or Country of Origin driving licence is required to drive in New Zealand.

If you are intending to drive in New Zealand you must have held a non-probationary licence in their country of residence for a minimum of three years. You will only be able to drive those types of vehicles for which you were licenced in your country of origin.

If you hold a valid overseas driver licence with your photo on it, you can use this licence for up to one year, without having to get an international driving licence.

If you do not have a photo on your overseas driver licences, you will need to obtain an international driver licence. You should obtain this before you leave your own country.

If you are going to be driving in New Zealand for longer than one year, you must upgrade to a full New Zealand driver licence. After you have been in New Zealand for one year, your overseas driver licences will no longer be valid for driving in New Zealand.

Road Rules
Rental car and motorhome companies will provide a list of the more important rules, and the ones that maybe unique to New Zealand. The open road speed limit is 100 km/h and 50 km/h in built up areas.

In New Zealand, cars drive on the left side of the road. Generally most international road rules are followed, however;

Note: Cars turning left MUST give way to traffic turning right (i.e.: all other traffic). They do not have automatic right of way.
Example: Car B has the right of way where Car A is turning left.

One Way bridges require particular care, and have specific signage at both approaches to the bridge, indicating who has right of way. The circular Please Give Way sign with the large black arrow for approaching traffic shows you must give way.

Both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times.

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