Planning a trip to New Zealand? Our Frequently Asked Questions page covers everything from booking tours and transport options to what to pack and when to visit. It’s your go-to guide for clear, reliable answers that help take the stress out of organising your holiday. Whether you're travelling solo, as a couple, or with a group, you'll find helpful tips to make your Kiwi adventure run smoothly.
A self-drive package is a travel package that includes a rental car and a pre-planned itinerary for independent exploration. It provides you with the freedom and flexibility to travel at your own pace, choosing your destinations, and stopping wherever you please along the way.
Most packages include pre-booked accommodation, rental car hire, selected tours and activities, travel support and an electronic travel guide. Rental inclusions commonly provide unlimited kilometres and comprehensive insurance, although an excess may apply.
Depending on the itinerary, your package may also include:
Flights, fuel, parking, optional activities and meals not specifically listed are generally additional. Your personalised quote will clearly identify every inclusion.
Our self-drive packages offer a range of rental car options to suit different preferences and group sizes. Common options include economy cars, sedans, SUVs, campervans, and 4WD vehicles. Choose a car that best fits your needs in terms of size, comfort, and terrain suitability.
Travel insurance is typically not included in self-drive packages, so it is essential to purchase comprehensive travel insurance separately. Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other unforeseen events that may occur during your self-drive holiday.
All-inclusive insurance can also be added to your rental car if you book your self-drive package with us.
Fuel costs are not included in self-drive packages. You are responsible for refuelling the rental car during your trip. Fuel stations are easily accessible throughout New Zealand, and it is advisable to plan fuel stops to ensure you have sufficient fuel for longer drives, especially in remote areas.
Yes, all our self-drive packages are fully customisable. Discuss your requirements with us, so we can help you plan the perfect self-drive holiday that meets your requirements.
Driving in New Zealand is safe. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with the local road rules, signs, and conditions. Take note of varying road conditions, especially in rural or mountainous areas. Follow speed limits, wear seat belts, and drive defensively. Be cautious of narrow or winding roads and adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions.
Many self-drive packages offer the flexibility to choose from a range of accommodation options. You can often select the type of accommodation that suits your preferences and budget, whether it is hotels, motels / self-contained accommdation, or other types of lodging. Discuss your accommodation preferences with us when booking the package.
Parking options vary depending on the location. In cities and towns, you will find paid parking lots, metered street parking, and parking buildings. Some accommodation may provide on-site parking. In rural areas and national parks, there are designated parking areas for attractions and hikes. Always check for any parking restrictions or fees when leaving your vehicle.
Most rental car companies allow you to add additional drivers to the rental agreement, but they may charge an extra fee. Check with the rental car provider regarding their policies and any additional costs for adding extra drivers. Each driver must meet the age and license requirements set by the rental company.
New Zealand has a few toll roads, primarily in Auckland and Tauranga. If your self-drive itinerary includes these toll roads, be prepared to pay the tolls. The toll fees can be paid either electronically through a prepaid toll account or manually at designated payment points. Ensure you understand the toll payment process before driving on these roads.
The general speed limits in New Zealand are 100 km/h (about 62 mph) on open roads and highways, 50 km/h (about 31 mph) in urban areas, and 30 km/h (about 19 mph) in school zones. However, speed limits can vary, so always follow the posted signs. Be aware that speed cameras and police enforcement are in place to ensure compliance.
Most rental car companies have restrictions on driving their vehicles on gravel or off-road tracks. Driving off-road or on unsealed gravel roads may violate the terms of your rental agreement and could result in damage to the vehicle. Always check with the rental car provider about any restrictions or guidelines regarding the use of their vehicles on specific types of roads.
In case of emergencies or breakdowns, contact the rental car company's emergency assistance number provided to you. They will guide you on the necessary steps to take. If it is a medical emergency, call the local emergency services number, which is 111 in New Zealand. Ensure you have travel insurance that covers emergency medical assistance and roadside assistance.
Winter driving in New Zealand can present challenges, especially in alpine regions or areas prone to snow and ice. If you are planning a self-drive holiday during winter (June to August), check the weather and road conditions before setting out. Be prepared for icy or snowy roads, carry snow chains if required, and drive with caution in wintry conditions.
Drivers must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid full English driver’s licence that has been held for at least one year. If the licence is not in English, it must be accompanied by a current International Driver’s Permit.
You can start and finish your motorhome rental at any of the three depot locations: Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
If you return the motorhome to a different depot from your pick-up location, a one-way fee may apply. This fee is often waived for hires of 21 days or more.
No, our packages do not include holiday park passes, but New Zealand offers a wide range of affordable and accessible options for overnight stays in a motorhome.
Holiday parks are a popular choice and are located near most major tourist towns and scenic attractions. They provide powered and non-powered sites, with access to shared kitchens, bathrooms, BBQ areas, and often play areas or swimming pools—ideal for families and comfort-focused travellers.
For those seeking quieter or more remote stays, Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites are available throughout the country, often in spectacular natural settings with walking trails nearby. Facilities vary from basic to well-equipped.
If you're travelling on a budget or prefer more flexibility, freedom camping is permitted in many areas, provided you follow local regulations and use a certified self-contained motorhome. To plan your overnight stops, use trusted apps like CamperMate, Rankers Camping NZ, or Campable—they show locations of campsites, public toilets, and waste stations.
Our motorhome packages include standard insurance, but this usually comes with a high excess (liability)—often NZ$5,000 to NZ$7,500. If the vehicle is damaged, you’re responsible for this amount unless you choose to upgrade.
Most rental providers offer optional insurance upgrades that we can add to your package:
Even with premium cover, exclusions can apply—such as damage from unauthorised roads or misuse.
Full insurance details, including terms and upgrade options, will be provided with your personalised quote.
Accessible self drive itineraries typically include an automatic vehicle chosen for ease of access and comfort. Vehicle delivery can often be arranged at accommodation to simplify the start of the journey.
Accommodation on accessible self drive tours is selected to offer step-free access where possible. Properties are chosen to support ease of movement and relaxed stays throughout the itinerary.
Self drive routes are planned with manageable driving distances and regular opportunities to stop. This approach allows for flexible pacing, rest breaks and scenic pauses.
Accessible self drive itineraries can be customised to suit individual mobility and comfort requirements. Adjustments may include additional nights, alternative activities or shorter driving days.
Accessible self drive tours are designed to support travellers with limited mobility. Step-free accommodation, accessible touring options and suitable vehicles are selected to provide comfort and independence.
Auckland is a convenient starting point for North Island and two-island itineraries. Routes can travel through the Coromandel, Waitomo, Hobbiton, Rotorua, Taupō, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington before finishing in Auckland, Wellington or continuing to the South Island.
Christchurch provides easy access to the South Island’s alpine, coastal and wine regions. Depending on the itinerary, you can travel towards Kaikōura and Marlborough, cross to the West Coast or head south through Aoraki/Mt Cook, Dunedin, Fiordland and Queenstown. Alternatively you can head north to Auckland or Wellington.
Queenstown is well placed for journeys to Christchurch through Central Otago, Wānaka, Fiordland and the West Coast. Longer routes can continue north through both islands and finish in Auckland or Wellington.
Starting in Wellington allows you to explore the lower North Island or cross Cook Strait to Picton. From Marlborough, you can continue through Kaikōura, Christchurch and the Southern Alps towards Queenstown.
North Island itineraries combine Māori culture, geothermal landscapes, film locations, forests, beaches and wine regions. Popular routes feature Waitomo, Hobbiton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tongariro National Park, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.
South Island journeys showcase alpine lakes, glaciers, national parks, wildlife-rich coastlines and dramatic mountain roads. Depending on the route, you may visit Aoraki/Mt Cook, Queenstown, Fiordland, the West Coast, Abel Tasman, Kaikōura, Dunedin and Stewart Island.
Allow at least 10 to 14 days for a focused two-island itinerary, although 18 to 21 days provides a more comfortable pace. Interisland travel may include the Wellington–Picton ferry, and some itineraries also use scenic rail journeys or domestic flights.
Most driving days involve approximately one to four and a half hours behind the wheel. Longer itineraries occasionally include five to six-hour travel days, while days devoted to guided tours, walks, cruises or local sightseeing may involve little or no driving.
New Zealand roads can be slower than distances suggest, particularly through alpine regions, winding coastal areas and national parks. Each itinerary should show the estimated driving time and distance for every travel day so visitors can understand the pace before booking.
Food and wine itineraries visit celebrated regions such as Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago. Selected winery tours, tastings, local lunches and boutique accommodation can be included.
Film-themed itineraries combine Hobbiton, Wellington film locations, Wētā Workshop, Edoras and landscapes around Queenstown and Glenorchy. These journeys also include many of New Zealand’s leading natural and cultural attractions.
Nature-focused routes can feature whales in Kaikōura, rare dolphins in Akaroa, penguins on the Otago Peninsula, native birds on Stewart Island and marine life around Abel Tasman. National parks, glaciers, fiords and rainforest landscapes add further variety.
You can choose from itineraries featuring short day walks, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or fully guided Routeburn and Milford Track experiences. Rental car travel before and after the walk makes it possible to combine a Great Walk with other regions.
Popular northern routes connect Auckland with the Bay of Islands, Waipoua Forest, the Coromandel Peninsula and Waitomo. These itineraries combine beaches, maritime history, ancient forests, caves and smaller coastal communities, often returning to Auckland at the end of the journey.
Central and southern routes travel through destinations such as Hobbiton, Rotorua, Lake Taupō, Tongariro National Park, Napier, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. Depending on the route, you can experience geothermal attractions, Māori culture, volcanic landscapes, wineries, wildlife encounters and city sightseeing.
Most North Island itineraries are planned around driving periods of approximately 2 to 4 hours on travelling days. Routes through rural areas, coastal regions and volcanic landscapes can take longer than the distance may suggest, so itineraries allow time for rest stops, viewpoints and attractions along the way.
Some longer sectors may involve 4 to 5 hours behind the wheel, particularly when travelling between major regions. Multi-night stays in places such as Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, the Bay of Islands or Wellington help balance these travel days with time to explore without packing and driving every morning.
Most South Island self-drive packages run for 7 to 16 days, although extended itineraries of up to 21 days are also available. Seven days is suitable for concentrating on one route, such as Christchurch to Queenstown, while 10 to 14 days provides a more comfortable balance of driving and sightseeing.
Allowing 16 days or longer makes it possible to explore both coasts, Fiordland, Central Otago and the upper South Island. Whenever possible, include two-night stays in major destinations so you have time to enjoy activities without changing accommodation every day.
Most South Island self-drive packages begin in Christchurch or Queenstown and finish in either city. Popular choices include Christchurch to Christchurch, Christchurch to Queenstown, Queenstown to Christchurch and Queenstown to Queenstown.
South Island itineraries can also start in Wellington with an Interislander ferry crossing to Picton. Car rental normally begins in Picton and finishes in Christchurch or Queenstown. Another option is to return the vehicle in Picton and travel back to Wellington by ferry.
Car hire from Wellington can be arranged when required, although it is not normally included in a Wellington-starting South Island package.
Packages generally include car rental for the required driving period, pre-booked accommodation and a detailed day-by-day itinerary with recommended routes, approximate travelling times and suggested stops. Depending on the holiday selected, inclusions may also feature a Milford Sound cruise, scenic rail journey, wildlife encounter, glacier experience, guided walk or other attraction.
Wellington-starting itineraries may include Interislander ferry travel when specified. Airfares, fuel, parking, most meals, travel insurance and optional activities are not normally included unless clearly stated. Exact inclusions and rental vehicle conditions will be confirmed before booking.
Most travelling days involve approximately 2 to 4 hours of driving, with some longer regional journeys taking 4 to 5 hours. Multi-night stays in destinations such as Queenstown, Wānaka, Te Anau, Christchurch or the West Coast glaciers provide days with little or no driving.
South Island distances can take longer than expected because roads often cross mountain passes, follow winding lakeshores or include narrow rural sections and one-lane bridges. It is important to allow additional time for rest breaks, short walks, viewpoints and photographs, as the scenery between destinations is an important part of the holiday.
Allow at least 14 days if you want to visit a useful selection of destinations in both the North and South Islands without spending most of your holiday travelling. A 21-day itinerary offers a more comfortable pace, additional two-night stays and time for regions such as Rotorua, Wellington, Kaikōura, Aoraki/Mount Cook, the West Coast, Wānaka, Queenstown and Fiordland.
Seven or ten-day journeys are possible, but they generally concentrate on fewer destinations and involve more frequent travel and longer driving distances.
This depends on the rental company and the arrangements included in your package. Some vehicles can travel aboard the Cook Strait ferry, allowing you to continue with the same car.
Other packages require you to return the North Island vehicle in Wellington, travel across the strait as a passenger and collect another rental car in Picton. When separate vehicles are required, both car bookings and the ferry crossing are coordinated as part of your Both Islands itinerary.
Auckland to Christchurch or Queenstown is the most popular option because it provides a natural journey through the central North Island, Wellington and the South Island. These routes can also operate in reverse when flight arrangements or personal preferences favour south-to-north travel.
Shorter holidays can begin in Wellington and finish in Christchurch or Queenstown, although this provides only a brief North Island experience. Your preferred destinations and available time should determine the most suitable direction.
Most travel days include approximately two to four hours of driving, although some longer sectors can take five to six hours. Driving times do not include sightseeing stops, meal breaks, roadworks or weather-related delays, so additional time should always be allowed.
New Zealand roads are often winding and can take longer than the distance suggests. A comfortable Both Islands itinerary includes regular two-night stays, providing complete days for sightseeing, activities and relaxation without needing to drive.
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