All the things you love
and none of the things you don't
Our local knowledge makes the difference for your bespoke holiday through New Zealand or Australia. Your journey Down Under starts here.
The best way to discover New Zealand like a local is by car. It gives you the flexibility to drive the best scenic routes, visit national parks, alpine lakes and all at your own relaxed pace.
What size car would you like to travel with?
A medium SUV offers good fuel efficiency and more space for you and your luggage. Our cars have extra ground clearance, so you can travel along gravel roads and enjoy the views. An ideal car for two. Along the way, stop for a picnic at the beach or go swimming in a crystal clear lake.
We can share our local knowledge of scenic routes, distances and accurate driving times. Our rentals cars are fully insured, less than 6 months and equipped for the different roads of New Zealand.
We strongly recommend a relaxed travel pace when travelling through New Zealand. Explore each local area and get the most out of where you are. This way you get to drive less but see more.
Our hire cars include insurance with $0 excess as standard. Please note: there are other insurance limitations to consider.
Tourism can be great for the environment, and, with us, you make a positive difference
Let's accentuate the positive, reduce the negative and offset what's left
Sustainability in action
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"State Highway 6 from Greymouth to Westport on the West Coast of the South Island is stunning, especially during sunset."
Ben, Travel specialist
Good to know
We plan to encourage electric driving by placing a charging station at all of our local accommodations. Since our routes between the accommodations are never too far, we can ask rental companies to offer electric cars.
Did you know?
Since 2008, we were the first to compensate for the impact of our travels with our replanting project in the Te Urewera rainforest. This is now also offered by other organisations. In this case, we warmly welcome that.
Useful facts
Ferry Crossing
Do you need to cross over to the other side? Travel on a ferry across the waters between the North and South Island. A journey that is renowned for being one of the best ferry rides in the world. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, it is truly one of New Zealand’s most iconic experiences.
The Interislander is the ferry service between Picton and Wellington. It is a 92-kilometre crossing and takes approximately three hours. The Interislander sails through the Marlborough Sounds and crosses the Cook Strait. There is a restaurant onboard and you can make use of WiFi.
Renting a car DownUnder
What do I need to rent a car?
- A MasterCard, Visa card or American Express in the driver's name.
- An international drivers licence.
- A national drivers licence.
What do I need to take into account when renting a car?
- A deposit will be held on your credit card for each rental car.
- You will sign a rental agreement when you collect the car. By doing so, you agree to the terms and conditions of the car company. Please read these in advance. You will find the terms and conditions in your travel documents.
Petrol stations in New Zealand
Petrol stations can be found nationwide and fuel prices do differ at different stations. The average petrol cost per litre is around NZD$2.30. If you are filling up at a BP, why not try a delicious pie. Local favourites are the mince and cheese or butter chicken pie.
How do I pay for toll roads in New Zealand?
There are three toll roads: north of Auckland on State Highway 1, the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road also near Tauranga. You can pay the toll charge at the beginning of the toll road or online, within five days of driving on the toll road. You will need the car registration number to do this.
New Zealand’s road rules
It is recommended to follow all speed limits and road rules whilst driving through New Zealand. Here are a few simple rules. And remember all signage/ distances is based on kilometres.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime in New Zealand.
- The driver and all passengers must wear a seatbelt.
- It is not allowed to hold your mobile phone whilst driving.
- It is illegal to pass other cars where there is a yellow line. The yellow line indicates that it's too dangerous to overtake. You will see this instead of the white line that usually marks the middle of the road.
Parks in New Zealand
With so much nature, it shouldn’t be surprising that New Zealand has many green and spacious parks to enjoy. The perfect place to stop and take a break. Some parks offer picnic tables, free barbecues, toilet amenities, shaded and undercovered areas. And more. Savour a picnic. Fire up the barbecue. Take a short nature walk. Spot wildlife including a large assortment of birds. And more.
Discover more about travelling with your partner
All the things you love
and none of the things you don't
Our local knowledge makes the difference for your bespoke holiday through New Zealand or Australia. Your journey Down Under starts here.
Contact us
We would love to discuss your dream journey