Driving in New Zealand


Road Rules | Driver Licenses | Travel Distance & Time | Travel Recommendations | Save Fuel

Basic New Zealand Road Rules

When driving in New Zealand you must drive on the left hand side of the road.
driving in new zealand » Open road speed limit is 100 km/h
» City speed limit is 50 km/h
» Give way (yield) to the right at intersections
» All passengers must wear a seatbelt
» Emergency phone number is 111

New Zealand has some unique road rules
(especially one particular give-way rule)
For details, visit: www.nzta.gov.nz


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Driver Licenses for New Zealand

You can typically drive in NZ with a current, valid overseas drivers licence or an international drivers licence. You can only drive on an overseas licence for a maximum of 12 months from the date you entered New Zealand. If your licence is not in English you must carry a translation.
For the latest information regading licensing requirements in NZ, visit www.nzta.govt.nz .


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New Zealand travelling distances & times

New Zealand is a happening place. There are heaps of things to see and do. Make sure when planning your New Zealand holiday you know travel times between your destinations so that you can fit in as many activities as possible. To find out travelling times and distances in New Zealand visit www.aatravel.co.nz .


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Recommended for first time visitors

Try not to drive too much while you're in New Zealand as you'll miss out on too much scenery, culture and the laid back New Zealand lifestyle. Get out and do some of the walks you see along the open road. Check out the "big" cities and small town life. Research activities you enjoy and take the time to explore New Zealand's unique beauty.

If in doubt don't plan too much. If you're enjoying an area, stay a while, if not, move on.
Ask our experienced staff when you come to our office, or just figure out your travel plans as you go.
Follow the weather: if it rains on the East Coast, it'll probably be sunny on the West and vice versa.

Up to 1 week ...

For short holidays, 1 week or less in New Zealand, it's best to spend your time in just one region; concentrate on either just the North or just the South Island then choose a region within that island. We have lots of free information available on our New Zealand Travel pages.

Up to 3 weeks ...

Even with up to 3 weeks travel time, you are better to concentrate on just one island. With 3 weeks, you'll get right around the south island visiting all of the major tourist locations.

1 month or more ...

For travellers with a month or more of holiday time in New Zealand, we recommend you spend two thirds of your time in the South Island and one third of your time in the north. There is more to see and do in the south island.


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How to save fuel in New Zealand

  1. Use the brakes and acceleration pedal as little as possible. Avoid sudden braking.
  2. Lengthy idling burns more petrol than starting the engine. Turn the vehicle off if you expect a long wait.
  3. Limit your luggage. The heavier your vehicle is the less petrol you'll get per kilometre of travel. Rather than using roof racks, place your luggage inside the car to reduce drag.
  4. Keep your speed down. Reducing your speed from 110 kilometres per hour to 95 kilometres per hour will improve your petrol mileage about 15%.
  5. Air conditioning burns petrol. Only use air conditioning when essential; open windows or use air vents as often as possible.
  6. To gain better fuel economy, use the overdrive function in automatic vehicles. If you drive a manual, use a lower shift speed.
  7. The tires on our rental vehicles are checked before every hire. If you are hiring for a long duration, make sure you maintain the correct tire pressure. If you hit a curb and your tires become unaligned, make sure you get this fixed straight away to improve your petrol mileage.
  8. Avoid travelling at fast speeds in a low gear.
  9. Accelerating slowly after being stopped will improve your fuel economy.
  10. Don't rev the engine unnecessarily.
  11. When you fill up your rental vehicle with petrol during your travels, resist keeping your tank full. The more your rental vehicle weighs the more fuel you will consume. Please note: most rental vehicles come with a full tank of petrol and must be returned with a full tank of petrol.
  12. If you buy your petrol during the coolest time of the day, the petrol will be less dense. Petrol is measured by volume not the density of petrol concentration.
  13. Use the decline of hills to gain speed. Accelerate before going up a hill.
  14. When driving a manual transmission vehicle, do not rest your left on the clutch. The smallest pressure causes drag, wearing down the clutch. Drag also uses additional petrol.
  15. Stay away from unsealed or unkempt roads.
  16. Travel at the speed limit. Stoplights are usually timed to your advantage.
  17. Try to avoid reverse gear manoeuvres to save petrol.
  18. Check out www.energywise.org.nz for more information.


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If you have any questions, please use our Contact Us page.