Search for Car Hire New Zealand

Looking for another epic adventure? Get on a New Zealand car rental, hit the road and explore with freedom! With the many breathtaking landscapes and sceneries, a self-drive car hire in NZ will leave you amazed and refreshed.

New Zealand is one of the most popular travel destinations for a road trip in the world - for good reasons. This isn’t a large country, but it is a nation that is able to pack a huge amount of unique experiences despite its small-scale frame. What this means for NZ car rental travellers is that you don’t have to travel far to experience a stunning array of landscapes and cultural gems. Drive from the beach to the mountains, to rolling fields and on to bubbling mud pools and sulphurous geysers. You can do all these in one day with your own car hire in New Zealand! Smart road trippers will set aside plenty of time to delve into the many secrets that New Zealand holds.

Book cheap car hire in New Zealand with Airport Rentals

Getting around NZ isn’t difficult but you will need an affordable New Zealand car hire, to carry you to all the different attractions that this country has in store for you. Finding the ideal vehicle for your car hire road trip isn’t as tricky as you might think. We at Airport Rentals, guarantee the cheapest rates from the most trusted car rental companies in NZ.

Easily compare car hire deals and search cars from multiple brands in one site and discover a cheap New Zealand hire car that’s perfect for your trip. From zippy economy models to sturdy SUV and elegant luxury hire cars, AirportRentals.com is sure to have just what you’re looking for at a price you’ll love. This is because of the excellent relationships that Airport Rentals has developed with suppliers of car rentals in New Zealand over the years.

Major rental companies for your car hire in New Zealand:

• Europcar
• Budget
• Thrifty
• Avis
• Hertz
• Go Rentals

Where to go with New Zealand car rentals

 

Unsure where to go in New Zealand or just looking for a little more info on the cities you’ll be visiting in your rental car? Take a look at the car hire locations below to find more about NZ's top destinations and favourite places for a wonderful experience. Wherever you go, you can expect some spectacular scenery along the way.

Christchurch

Looking for a car rental NZ adventure on the east coast? A Christchurch Airport Car Hire will put you within a day’s journey of almost any destination in New Zealand’s South Island, making this a brilliant place to start your trip. Whether you choose to strike north for the whales in Kaikoura and the vineyards of Marlborough or head south to discover the adventure activities of Queenstown and the picture-perfect scenery of Milford Sound, Christchurch is centrally located enough to give you plenty of options easily explored with a New Zealand car hire. It’s more than just a launching pad though - it has many attractions in its own right, and any traveller starting from Christchurch should set aside at least a day or two to enjoy this beautiful city with a rental car.

Auckland

Make Auckland a priority destination when driving around in your NZ car rental. Arriving in New Zealand’s largest city gives you numerous different vehicles to rent and other travel options. Grab an Auckland Airport car hire and you can be at the remote beaches of the Coromandel, the geysers of Rotorua or the snow-covered slopes of Mount Ruapehu within a matter of hours. If you’re keen to sample some urban attractions before you set out, Auckland is more than happy to oblige. The Wynyard Quarter is a waterfront district with excellent restaurants and vibrant nightlife. It also offers an exciting ‘happening’ vibe. Drive your New Zealand car rental and head downtown to Kingsland to enjoy a more low key and hip experience. A place famed for its cafe culture, a coffee-lover should pay a visit to Mount Eden Village. Enjoy Auckland by hiring a car to take you to these must-see places in NZ.

Wellington

Hire a car in New Zealand and explore Wellington at your own pace. It isn’t just the political capital of NZ, it’s also the cultural capital of the nation. This city is a hub for music, theatre, art and fine cuisine. The centre of the city is easy to navigate on foot but if you’re looking to venture further afield then you’ll need to pick up a Wellington Airport car rental. You can hop across the Cook Strait to the South Island via ferry, taste your way around Wairarapa’s vineyards (with a sober driver, of course) or climb into the clouds at Mount Taranaki. A longer trip up north could even take you as far as Lake Taupo, the country’s largest inland body of water and a great spot for anglers and adventurers alike. You can also continue your car rental tour to visit Napier, another charming city worth seeing.

Queenstown

Why don’t you drop by Queenstown with your New Zealand car hire? This South Island town has achieved something of a legendary status among thrillseekers. Living up to its title as the Adventure Capital of the World, this city has many options for extreme activities. Try skydiving, bungee jumping and whitewater rafting and see what we mean. Not an adrenaline junkie? Queenstown still stands up as a tourism paradise. With its picture-perfect vistas, pumping nightlife and top-notch restaurants, it draws a lot of visitors on a rental cars NZ trip to stay a bit longer. Picking up a car rental in Queenstown allows you to discover the gorgeous locations around this town. Visit the former gold mining settlement of Cromwell, where you can still pan for gold in the river. Milford Sound, one of the most beautiful places on Earth is also within reach with your NZ rental car.

Nelson

Tour around Nelson with a cheap car rental New Zealand offers. Set right at the top end of the South Island, Nelson offers a very different experience to the typical “snowy mountains, chilly weather” South Island environments. In fact, Nelson is renowned for its perennially sunny weather and warm climate. This means that trips to the beach and tours around the vines are most definitely on the cards for Nelson visitors. Booking a rental car NZ in Nelson gives you the chance to go a little further afield. Drive your rental vehicle to the secluded sands of Golden Bay to discover the perfect vacation spot during the summer months. Embark on the Abel Tasman Track for one of the finest coastal walks in the world or make for the wild West Coast. You could even hop across to the North Island with your Nelson car hire, as the city is less than two hours from the ferry terminus at Picton.

Rotorua

Some visitors fly into Rotorua and get their Rotorua Airport car rental, but most drive down from Auckland to spend a few days enjoying the natural thermal activity and unique cultural experience the city offers. It’s a handy central base for exploring the North Island in your New Zealand car rental, almost halfway between the northernmost and southernmost points.

From Rotorua, it is a short dash to Tauranga or Taupo, both also popular locations to pick up rental cars and start a road trip. Auckland is not too far away and neither is Wellington with your New Zealand car hire. The city is also well-situated for the North Island’s most stunning bits of nature: Lake Taupo, the Central Plateau, Urewera National Park, the many delights of Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty coastline. Visiting these locations will surely be a memorable New Zealand car rental experience.

Picton

A very small town located at the head of the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound in Marlborough, Picton is included on the list of important travel hubs because it is where ferries across Cook Strait land - meaning many people begin the southern section of their road trip there. It is right at the top of the South Island and offers easy access to Nelson and the Golden Bay area, the upper West Coast, the Blenheim wine region and more. Book an affordable rental car New Zealand has and explore the town of Picton in a breeze!

Dunedin

Discover the second-largest city in the South Island when you hire a car in NZ! The southerly student city with a Scottish influence has a bustling airport with domestic flights to major cities around the country and is easily reached from overseas with a transfer from Auckland Airport. Although not a major tourism centre, Dunedin is a great base for a hire car NZ tour in the southerly South Island with its close proximity to wonderful areas. You can drive your Dunedin Airport car rental to visit Fiordland, the Catlins coast and the lakes and mountains surrounding Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau.

A quick guide to New Zealand road rules

 

New Zealand has fairly well-maintained roads - perfect for a road trip in a hire car. In some rural areas though, you can expect narrower and winding roads than what some international visitors are used to, so be extra cautious.

Here are a few things that you will need to remember in order to have a safe car hire experience on NZ roads:

• Drive your rental car on the left-hand side of the road - All rental vehicles will have the steering wheel on the right-hand side. This is different from most of the rest of the world, so make sure you keep this in mind especially when turning and at intersections.

• Always drive clockwise on Roundabouts - Also known as turning circles, these are a major feature on New Zealand roads, replacing traffic lights at many intersections. The key to successfully navigating a roundabout is to remember to always drive clockwise and give way to traffic coming from your right. Just before you exit the roundabout, indicate to the left to signal that you’re about to turn off.

• Don’t use a mobile phone while driving your hire car - Handheld operation of a mobile phone (whether for calls or texting) isn’t permitted while you’re at the wheel of a New Zealand car, even if you’re stopped at a traffic light.

• Speed limits in New Zealand are posted in kilometres per hour - The usual speed limit in urban areas is 50 kph, while on motorways or the open road, the limit is usually 100 kph. Any New Zealand rent a car will have a speedometer which is also in kph.

Tips for driving a New Zealand car rental

Driving your car hire in New Zealand shouldn’t be a daunting prospect. To start you off, here are some things to consider when you take your rental car to the NZ roads:

• Make sure you set aside enough time to get from place to place with your car rental in NZ. Distances aren’t huge but you may need to travel more slowly than you expect. Due to the winding roads in New Zealand (State Highways included), you’ll need to account for an average speed that’s substantially less than the maximum 100 kph - plan for 70-80 kph and you should be fine.

• Drive your NZ car rental carefully and keep an eye out for livestock crossing in rural areas. Farmers will often move herds of sheep or cows across the rural roads, requiring drivers to wait until the animals have passed. There should be a sign warning you that animals are crossing the road - make sure to come to a stop a safe distance away and wait until all livestock has crossed.

• Many smaller roads in New Zealand use unsealed gravel which can cause reduced visibility due to dust, and chips in the paint or windscreen of your vehicle rental if you travel too fast. Your New Zealand car hire may not be allowed on some of these roads, so always check with your car rental NZ supplier before you embark.

• On some corners you’ll notice yellow signs with black numbers - this is the suggested maximum speed for cars in dry weather. This is a safety suggestion, not a target, so if road conditions aren’t perfect you may want to go even slower.

• The New Zealand police don’t have much tolerance for those driving car rentals over the speed limit, but they can be particularly strict during long weekends when car accidents are more likely - travelling a few kilometres per hour under the speed limit will ensure that you never have to worry about this.

NZ is often referred to as God’s Own Country, and you can see why He would favour it. The scenery is spectacular, the people are friendly and, most importantly for road trippers, the roads are well-maintained. Ranging from smooth city motorways to unsealed and windy backroads in the more remote regions, they will get you where you need to go with few troubles.

A self-drive holiday with a New Zealand car hire is certainly the best way to see everything the country has to offer. So we have put together a guide to driving in New Zealand to help you stay safe and reach your destination, wherever it may be.

NZ Rules of the Road

Safety is always the number one concern when hitting the road with a New Zealand car rental. It’s hard to remember the differing road rules when driving in a foreign land, and it gets even more confusing for the many visitors who must remember to stick to the opposite side of the road.

Read on for the essential rules to keep in mind when driving your car hire in New Zealand.

Licencing

All drivers on New Zealand roads must hold a valid driver’s licence. Visitors and new arrivals to the country can use their current, valid licence from their home country for up to 12 months before they are required to convert it to a New Zealand one. If the licence is not written in English, you must also carry an approved translation or an International Driving Permit.

What are the speed limits in New Zealand?

Mind your speed limits while driving your car hire in New Zealand. They are posted on signs beside the road, and they consist of a black number on a white background inside a red circle. Open roads and motorways have a limit of 100 kilometres per hour, while suburban areas have a limit of 50 kilometres per hour, 40 around schools. Speed limits of 60, 70, 80 or 90 kilometres per hour are frequently seen on roads which fall somewhere between the two categories, and 30kph is generally the speed limit around roadworks. Always look for a sign so you know for sure.

 

Drinking and distractions

The blood alcohol level permitted for driving in New Zealand varies and dependent on age. Here is the acceptable alcohol level.

 

It is impossible to say how many drinks it would take to reach this level, as it depends on the size of a person, but the recommendation is to err on the safe side and avoid drinking when driving NZ car rentals. The law also states that you must not drive if you have taken any drugs which affect your driving ability. Always ask your doctor if this applies to any of your prescriptions.

It is prohibited to operate a cellphone while driving your rental car unless you have a hands free system to take calls which requires only very brief and infrequent use of your hands and eyes.

Driver fatigue is an issue for long road trips so be sure you had a good rest before driving your car hire in NZ. Pay attention to how you feel and take a short nap if necessary. If possible, we recommend adding additional drivers to your NZ car hire trip so the responsibility does not fall on one person.

Safe seating in your car hire

Before driving your car rental in New Zealand roads, take note that approved safety belts or seatbelts are a requirement for all drivers and passengers. New Zealand hire cars should all have belts that meet the specifications, but you can check them for fading, fraying and other damage to ensure they are in good condition. Children must also be in age-appropriate restraints which means a car seat or booster seat for children under the age of seven. Approved child restraints will show a logo, usually a red and white one which indicates compliance with the joint New Zealand/Australian standard.

Sharing the NZ road

All motorists drive on the left in New Zealand and overtake on the right. Always keep this in mind when driving rental cars in NZ.

Traffic lights use the standard red, green and amber signals to indicate ‘stop,’ ‘go’ and ‘prepare to stop’ respectively.

Uncontrolled intersections: Turning vehicles must give way to all vehicles following the centre line, and those turning right give way to those turning left in any uncontrolled environments.

Indicators (signals) should be used for at least three seconds before turning left or right, changing lanes or pulling out into traffic. These are used as an indication of intent only. In most New Zealand car rentals, the indicators are found on a stick to the right of the steering wheel.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are circular junctions common in some countries (including New Zealand) but unfamiliar to many visitors. Traffic always flows in a clockwise direction, so you veer left to enter the roundabout and left again to come off it. Drivers entering the roundabout must give way to all traffic already on it, for example, give way to the right. When approaching a multi-lane roundabout, pay attention to arrows painted on the road as they indicate which lane you should take for a particular exit direction.

Safe following distance is two seconds between cars, or four seconds in adverse conditions and when towing a trailer. To judge this, start counting as soon as the car in front of you passes a landmark and finish when you pass the same one.

Passing lanes

Passing with rental cars in New Zealand is always on the right. Many highways will have passing lanes every few kilometres, so you can pull into the right-hand lane and pass safely if you are a little patient. If there is no passing lane available, and you feel certain that you need to get ahead of the vehicle in front, make sure there will be at least 100 metres of clear road ahead of you once you have finished passing. Check that no vehicles behind you are intending to pass you, and indicate for at least three seconds before pulling out and then pulling back in. A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline (or on both sides) means no crossing the centerline to pass.

This is just a summary of the most pertinent driving rules for visitors to remember. For much more detail on New Zealand’s road rules to help you tour around in your car rental, check out the official Road Code.

 

What to expect from New Zealand roads?

NZ Highway system

New Zealand has a state highway network that links its cities, towns and natural attractions in the North and South Islands. It is administered by the NZ Transport Agency.

Motorways, which consist of dual-carriageway roads with controlled access (i.e on and off ramps), are not very common in New Zealand, and the majority are found in and around Auckland and a few other big cities. Most of the network is single-carriageway open roads, with just one lane each way and open access onto side roads. The highways are numbered and are marked by red shield-shaped signs with the numbers in white.

State Highway One forms the backbone of the highway network, running all the way from Cape Reinga at the northern tip of the North Island right down to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. It connects most of the major cities including Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, and branching off from it are nearly 100 other state highways to link in the rest of the country.

As a rule, the main highways do not bypass towns but pass through them - so you must be prepared to slow down as you pass through a residential or commercial area. Although this means travelling is slower, it also means you get to experience more of life in New Zealand up close! Once you leave the more populated areas, towns are few and far between so you are not constantly interrupted.

Tolls

There are two toll roads in New Zealand, one of which is located not far to the north of Auckland. It is a part of State Highway One and makes a more direct route for those heading into Northland, but it can easily be avoided with a short detour through Orewa and Waiwera (Unless the traffic is particularly bad, this will only add around ten minutes to your car rental journey). The tariff is $2.20 each way, and there are no toll booths to hold up traffic. Vehicles are recorded on camera, and then payments can be made online at www.tollroad.govt.nz using a debit or credit card and the license plate number, or at the self-service kiosks in marked locations before and after the camera banks. The other toll road is in the Waikato region as drivers pass through Tauranga.

Touring routes in New Zealand

There are sections of highway in major cities around the country designated as touring routes, which highlight a particular feature of a region or take you on a particularly scenic journey between attractions. Most are a few hundred kilometres long and could be driven with your New Zealand car hire in a day but are best stretched over several so you can explore in-depth.

• Twin Coast Discovery Highway - this is a ring route around the most beautiful parts of Auckland and Northland. A great one for those who love the beach!

• Pacific Coast Highway - This route will take you past some amazing parts of the eastern North Island, from Auckland down to Hawke’s Bay. Our highlight? The Coromandel Peninsula.

• The Thermal Explorer Highway is a long one which covers a lot of the upper North Island and includes not only geothermal hotspots like Rotorua but also the Waitomo Cave system where you can float in a tyre underground, and the majestic Tongariro National Park and its three mountains.

• Surf Highway 45 is pretty self-explanatory - it’s for those who want to catch a wave. Drive your rental car and follow the Taranaki coastline past some of the country’s best breaks.

• The Forgotten World Highway is a heritage trail which also includes scenery for a pretty and interesting route through the lower North Island. Natural history buffs will enjoy this car hire NZ experience.

• The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail covers both the lower North Island and upper South Island, where you find the best wine growing regions including the famous Marlborough. Wine lovers, this is where you should be - just make sure there’s a designated driver!

• The Top of the South Wine Trail is a little more focused and does not include the ferry trip. It covers Wairarapa and Marlborough with some lovely towns along the way - Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura are beautiful places to spend a night or two during your car hire NZ adventure.

• The Alpine Pacific Triangle is short but sweet, covering a range of tourist highlights all within two hours of each other. The North Canterbury region has everything from wineries to whale watching.

• The Great Alpine Highway heads cross-country from Christchurch to the West Coast, through the impressive Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass. A very scenic route for your rental car road trip.

• The Canterbury Pacific Trail follows the coast of Canterbury from Kaikoura to Waimate and includes the resilient city of Christchurch, the “little England” of the Pacific. Beaches and beautiful braided rivers abound.

• The Inland Scenic Route is an alternative to State Highway 1 which bypasses Christchurch to take you through some rural and alpine areas including Geraldine and Mt Hutt ski area.

• The Southern Scenic Route really ups the ante in terms of scenery, showcasing the best of the best in New Zealand. Highlights include Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, and the stunning Milford Sound., You could spend many days here!

Driving conditions

New Zealand’s road system is well-maintained and generally of high quality. However, the nature of the country means you may encounter unsealed roads, winding mountainous routes and areas with little civilization. It is necessary to take extra care on these roads, and also to check your rental contract terms and conditions as some do not allow you to drive your NZ car hire on unsealed roads without extra cover, or on certain routes. It is important to understand the limits of your hire car agreement, as you could find yourself in a hairy situation if the insurance is voided!

Some common roads which are expressly excluded in many contracts when you hire a car in New Zealand:

• Skippers Road in Otago

• Ball Hut Road in Canterbury

• 90 Mile Beach in Northland, which is officially a highway

• The road to Macetown in Otago

• Tasman Valley Road in Canterbury

NZ Road Signs

Road signs are a unique language, designed to be easily interpretable by car hire NZ drivers of all cultures and tongues. The road signs you’ll see when driving in New Zealand are no exception, and it shouldn’t be hard to figure out what it is they’re telling you. Here are a few guidelines to make sure you’re fluent:

• Red and white signs, as a general rule, denote compulsory actions or limits. These include speed limit signs, which are white circles ringed in red with numbers in black. The limits are always in kilometres per hour. Other common red and white signs are hexagonal STOP signs, round NO ENTRY signs and triangular GIVE WAY signs. No turning signs use simple symbols or pictographs to show where you cannot go, as do many others such as the ones marking bus lanes. No Parking signs use a P with a slash across it, or a blue circle with red cross over it, combined with arrows, to tell you where you may not park your rental car.

• Blue and white signs are also compulsory signs, and they give simple information using arrows to indicate where you need to turn, continue straight or keep left on your vehicle hire. One way roads are marked with blue and white ONE WAY signs, and pedestrian-only zones are marked with a white pedestrian symbol on a round blue background. Where parking is allowed but regulated, you will see square blue signs with a white P, arrows, numbers indicating time limits in minutes and sometimes further information including a disabled parking symbol.

• Yellow and black signs are classed as permanent warning signs. These include advisory speed limits (not legally enforced), information about upcoming intersections and other hazards, road condition information (such as “slippery when wet”) and things to watch out for - trucks, low-flying aircraft, etc. Most of these use simple symbols or pictographs which speakers of all languages can recognise. Some will specify for how many kilometres the warning applies.

• Orange and black signs are temporary warning signs, and are similar to their yellow and black counterparts but usually used for road works and temporary conditions such as slip risks.

• Green and white signs are commonplace, and they are the friend of any tourist travelling in New Zealand in their car rentals. These are the information signs, telling you how to get to where you need to go and how far away it is. They include directional arrows, place names, distances in kilometres, state highway shields and symbols denoting places of interest such as airports. When you’re feeling lost, keep your eyes peeled for a green and white sign!

 

Other useful tips for your New Zealand car rental holiday

Parking your car hire in NZ

When looking for parking spaces for your rental cars New Zealand offers many free and easy locations - be it by the side of the road or in a designated parking lot (Kiwis call them “carparks”). You won’t have too much trouble finding a place to pull over your vehicle rental. Most tourist attractions, national park visitors centres, trailheads and beaches boast carparks or plenty of roadside space. Use common sense when parking - lock your car, take valuables with you and do not leave any children or animals in a locked car unattended!

It can get tricky when looking for parking lots in the city centres, and you will have to pay attention to the parking signs mentioned above. Some areas offer parking only at certain times or days of the week, some use a “pay and display” method which requires buying a ticket at a machine and displaying it on the dashboard, and there are also parking buildings in the city centres which are privately operated and charge anything from a few dollars to a hundred or more for parking, depending on the length of your stay and the location.

Broken yellow lines at the side of the road mean no parking is allowed. Bus lanes, taxi stands, transit lanes and bike lanes are also no-go areas. You must not park your hire car on the footpath (sidewalk), the berm, less than one metre from a driveway, or in a position which will disrupt traffic flow.

You can find more useful parking information at the New Zealand Parking Association!

Emergency numbers

If you need the police, an ambulance or the fire service, call 111 and your call will be directed to the correct service. You can report unsafe driving and hazards on *555, a non-emergency number. For break-ins and the like which do not require an urgent response, go to or call the local police station which you can find on the NZ Police website.

NZ Travel information

i-Sites are the best place to find visitor information all over New Zealand. Run by Tourism New Zealand, a government-funded organisation, they are reliable and impartial - they are not trying to sell you on a specific service. There are 80 i-Sites nationwide, so you will find one in any major centre and a number of the minor ones too. They provide free maps, visitor guides, advice, information, and booking service. All of the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about their town or region. Find out more about i-Sites including all the locations on the 100% Pure New Zealand website.

The internet is always a good source of information. We recommend tourism.org.nz and newzealand.com as good starting points for your research. Apps are also great for travel tips and finding your way. Here are a few which might help you when you hire a car in New Zealand:

• itravelnz allows you to search for nearby places to eat or stay and things to do or see. It can integrate with other apps including Skype, Tom Tom and Google Maps, and it is free!

• The Essential New Zealand app by Tourism New Zealand is a treasure trove of information which you can access offline when needed.

• Google Maps comes with most smartphones, and it's always useful for finding your way around.

• The CamperMate app includes maps of all the country’s most important places as well as maps and information for all campsites and necessary facilities like supermarkets, public toilets and free WiFi.

• The Airport Rentals app is all you need to book a cheap car hire for a road trip in New Zealand, with a huge range of car hire locations, suppliers and fleet of rental vehicles.

 

General Disclaimer

This information is provided on a 'best intentions' basis. While we do our best to ensure the information is error free, we do not warrant its accuracy or adequacy for any intended purpose.

 

Airport Rentals wishes you a safe and happy self-drive holiday in beautiful New Zealand in the comfort of your own car hire!