My New Zealand Road Trip Guide: How I’d Plan the Perfect Trip
Planning a New Zealand road trip and stuck on whether to hire a car or a campervan, which apps to download or where you’ll actually sleep each night?
I grew up road-tripping around New Zealand with my parents, usually in a campervan, so I know how much easier the planning gets once a few of these decisions are made.
The tricky part is the little things nobody mentions, like Warrants of Fitness, slow vehicle bays and which campsites allow normal cars. That’s why I love this guide from Yen of Swing Abroad, who did a winter road trip around the South Island after a month of pruning apple trees.
So here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect New Zealand road trip, from choosing your vehicle to where to stay.
Quick Answer: Planning a New Zealand Road Trip
⭐⭐⭐ Car or campervan? A car if you’re happy to stay in holiday parks and motels (cheaper to hire and run), a campervan if you want to sleep on the road. Compare car rental prices here →
⭐⭐ Where should you spend your first night? Most flights land in Auckland, so I’d book Pullman Auckland Airport and pick up your rental the next morning, fresh. Check prices & availability →
⭐ What’s one day I’d plan the trip around? The Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This return shuttle means you don’t have to leave your car at one end. Check availability →
The rest of this guide was written by Yen from Swing Abroad.
Taking a New Zealand road trip is probably one of the best things I’ve done in my whole life.
My travel partner and I went for the NZ road trip after our last job pruning apple trees in South Island, which lasted for a month.
We did the road trip in winter 2016, the season with the fewest tourists and backpackers. In my opinion, winter is the best time for a road trip in New Zealand.
Choosing Your Vehicle: Cars or Motorhomes
This will probably be the first question in your mind when planning for road trip. Let me give you a hand on deciding which one you should go for.
Car
Do you need a car in New Zealand? No, but I chose to use one for this particular New Zealand road trip. As I will explain, it can be a mixed bag.
I bought a car for $900 from my friend, which lasted me throughout my stay there in great condition. Here’s the pros and cons for cars.
Pros
- Cars consume less petrol as compared to motorhomes or campervans. That will be a great news for your pocket as petrol in New Zealand can be expensive especially in rural tourist towns like Fox Glacier.
- It’s faster and easier to operate. And most of us got used to operating it, shouldn’t be a big deal.
Cons
- Sleeping inside the car is a real struggle. Even though with station wagon, which the seats can be lowered down flat for sleeping, the roof is still too low. You will easily hit your head against the roof, and there’s not much space for rolling around in your sleep.
- You can’t spend your time in the car, because as I said, there’s not much spaces for activities.
Getting Your Car
There are several ways in which you can obtain your mechanical travel mate. Before that, I recommend getting yourself a minivan or station wagon because you can sleep with your body straightened inside.
You don’t want a sedan, where you have to sleep on the seat. I tried it, and it sucks. Another option is to convert your minivan so you can sleep comfortably!
Facebook Community Groups
I’ve found that there are actually many Facebook groups for road-trippers in New Zealand. You can easily find someone selling their car before leaving their country.
Trade Me
Trade Me is a platform for Kiwis and backpackers to sell pre-owned stuff. You can find things from notebooks to aircrafts there, so cars are no big deal.
While there are some risks buying from there because there might be some small issues with your car, I definitely recommend buying from fellow travelers from Facebook groups above.
They’ve just done their road trips, so you can rest assured that their cars are still functional.
Check out BackpackerBoard too. You can also find pre-owned vehicles there and buy from other backpackers.
Motorhome
Motorhomes provide a lot more flexibility to your road trips compared to cars. And who don’t love the ideas of doing road trips in motorhomes?
Pros
- More space inside the vehicle. Unlike cars, there’s enough space vertically and horizontally in the vehicle which allows you to cook your dinner, hang your surfboards, etc.
- It’s much easier to camp with motorhomes. In some campsites, there are no toilet facilities. That’s where motorhomes come in handy. Just don’t park overnight in public car parks unless a sign says you can. I’ll talk about a travel app which will help you find a perfect campsite in a moment.
Cons
- It’s much more expensive than a car. It runs on more petrol, and the rental fee is sky high.
- Motorhomes are difficult to operate, especially for newbies. It may take some time for traveler to actually get used to it. Which might be dangerous for others in the process.
Getting Your Motorhome
There are numerous motorhomes companies in the entire New Zealand. But the one I stumbled across the most is Jucy motorhomes.
It has lower minimum age requirements and budget-friendly price. Often the preferred choice for backpackers.
There’s one thing you should be aware of while renting. If the price looks unreasonably low, be careful.
Those are usually old cars with extremely high mileage, with no proper maintenance.
My friend rented a car in Christchurch at extremely low price and guess what, his car broke down in Te Anau.
He called the company and was provided no useful information. He had to call a tow truck to take his car to the nearest garage.
Check out Maui. Compare the price and decide if Maui is the most suitable for yourself.
Documents You Need for a New Zealand Road Trip
Driving License
You can drive in New Zealand on your overseas licence for up to 12 months, as long as it’s in English.
If it isn’t, you’ll need an International Driving Permit or a translation from a translator approved by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
WoF, or Warrant of Fitness
Understanding WoF is important since you’re not buying a new car in New Zealand. It’s basically a full “body checkup” for the car (WoF is one of those Kiwi slang words you’ll hear a lot).
If the car was registered before year 2000, the WoF will be valid for 6 months. For those after year 2000, WoF will be valid for 12 months. Check out here for more info.
Quick tips: Most people will not buy cars with WoF that’s expiring soon. So if you’re planning to sell your car before your road trip ends, you might need to consider renewing it before selling.
Where I’d Stay on a New Zealand Road Trip
(⭐⭐⭐ = my top pick)
⭐⭐⭐ Arista of Rotorua: Pick this one if you want a classic Kiwi motel done really well. It has over a thousand reviews, you park right outside your door, and it’s an easy base for the geothermal parks. Check prices & availability →
⭐⭐ The Glebe Apartments: Pick this one if you’re road-tripping on a budget and want a kitchen. It’s a short walk from central Queenstown, so you can cook a few dinners and save money for the activities. Check prices & availability →
⭐ Bay Vista Waterfront Motel: Pick this one if you’re taking the ferry across Cook Strait. It’s right on the water in Picton, so you can roll off the ferry and straight into bed. Check prices & availability →
Best Mobile Apps for a New Zealand Road Trip
Make things easier for your road trip in New Zealand with these great mobile apps!
Campermate
Campermate is probably the most useful app for road-trippers in New Zealand. You can easily find remote spots and hidden gems across the country.
Most of them are added by fellow travelers, so you have the chance of discovering what tours don’t show to tourists, like small New Zealand wineries off the main roads. The best part? Offline map is available!
This is a great app to help you plan the ultimate New Zealand campervan itinerary.
GPS
I always use Google Maps. I’m definitely not saying it’s the best but it did its job well. And offline maps are available.
A lot of people might not know this, once you set your destination and start navigating, you can turn off your mobile data. This helps you save your phone battery.
Kindle
One of the best time killer apps in the world. Download your favorite e-books and read them during your road trip in the wonderland, unless you got something else to do (and with so many things to do in New Zealand, you probably will). Because I love reading!
Things to Know Before Hitting the Road in NZ
Drive on the left lane
Driver seat is on the right. Opposite cars come from the right side and you drive at left.
You might need some time to get used to it if your country has the opposite driving rules, like US or Canada (driving on the left is one of those facts about New Zealand that catches visitors out). Just stay alert all the time.
Most highways have two lanes, one for each direction
In most highways, there will be only one lane for each direction. So please do not drive too slowly and block everyone behind you.
If someone is closing in behind you, pull into the next slow vehicle bay or passing lane and let them by. It’s polite, and it’s much safer for everyone.
Drive on left lane until the lanes combine again, let people overtake you from the right lane.
Honk = Thank you?
Some drivers will give you a quick wave, a toot or a flash of their hazard lights to say thanks (a roadside version of saying kia ora) when you let them overtake, so don’t misunderstand that!
The Speed Limit Is Usually 100 km/h
The open road limit is usually 100 km/h (a few expressways are 110 km/h), and it drops quickly through towns. Stick to it, because a speeding ticket will definitely break your budget (unlike tipping in New Zealand, fines aren’t optional).
There are a lot of winding roads in New Zealand, and there will be road signs telling you how sharp is the turn. Pay attention to these helpful New Zealand road signs and slow your car accordingly.
Use Your High Beams!
Unless you’re driving near cities, there is no street light along the highway. Make good use of the high beam headlights to see what’s beyond.
They give you much better visibility, but they also blind other drivers. Switch them off whenever there’s a car in front of you or coming from the other direction.
Never stop your car by roadside for photos
There are viewpoints along the road so don’t worry about missing any of them, including spots near some of the most beautiful New Zealand beaches. Stopping your car by the roadside poses huge risk for yourself and others.
Pay attention to the road signs. Those signs will tell you how far in front are the viewpoints. Slow down when approaching and park your car accordingly.
Picking up Hitchhikers
It’s very common to see hitchhikers in New Zealand especially during the summer season. If you’re planning on giving other travelers a ride, don’t do it in the middle of the highway!
And make sure there’s no car following closely behind, so you don’t cause an accident.
If there is, slow down gradually, turn on your indicator and let them pass before you make a complete stop.
3 Road Trip Stops I’d Book Right Away
🥾 Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Return Shuttle: Pick this one if you want to do New Zealand’s most famous day hike without worrying about getting back to your car. Check availability →
🛥️ Milford Sound Small-Boat Scenic Cruise: Pick this one if you’re driving to Milford yourself. The smaller boats get closer to the waterfalls. Check availability →
✨ Waitomo Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour: Pick this one if you’re driving between Auckland and Rotorua. Ruakuri Cave is full of glowworms and limestone formations, and it’s an easy detour. Check availability →
Where to Stay During your New Zealand Road Trip
With your own vehicle, there’s a lot of options for you.
Quick tip: when you’re sleeping in your car, wind the windows down a little for ventilation.
Campsites
The best way to find one is with Campermate. It has all the reviews and details like fees, facilities and how big each site is. You can also check out these campsites in New Zealand.
It’s a lot harder to find free campsites near the big tourist towns, especially Wanaka and Queenstown, so you might need to drive a little further. Since 2023, freedom camping on council land generally needs a certified self-contained vehicle, so if you’re sleeping in a normal car, stick to campsites and holiday parks that allow it.
Note: Some campsites are solely for self-contained vehicles (motorhomes) only. Cars are not allowed to camp in that campsite.
Backpacker hostels
Great option to make friends from around the world (and swap notes on Kiwi foods worth trying in the shared kitchen).
Dorm beds usually cost somewhere around NZ$30 to $50 per person per night, leaving a bit more for fuel and New Zealand souvenirs.
Chatting with fellow backpackers is also the best way to pick up tips for the road, on top of these New Zealand travel tips.
Holiday Parks
Basically a big piece of land for campervans, tents and cars, and most have cabins or motel units too.
You can choose to camp outside in the field or sleep inside your vehicle or in the hostel. Holiday parks can be expensive most of the time but safer compared to free campsites, and they book up fast over Christmas in New Zealand.
My Number One Tip: Hire a Car for Full Flexibility
If you don’t want to buy a car like Yen did, hiring one is the easiest way to do a New Zealand road trip. You can pick up at the airport, drop off in another city and stop at every lookout along the way.
Check here for the best car rental companies and prices for your New Zealand road trip →
Is a New Zealand road trip for you?
I hope you find the above information useful for planning your road trip in New Zealand (for the bigger picture, see this New Zealand travel guide). If you’re wondering where to go in South Island, check out these must-visits for New Zealand South Island.
It’s perfect if you’re planning one of the best road trips in New Zealand around the entire South Island, crossing over on the North to South Island ferry.
Yen is a full-time university student who always takes full advantages of his holidays to travel for new experiences. He’s been to New Zealand for Working Holiday before having his road trip and volunteered in Kathmandu, Nepal. Having spent months in foreign countries, he gives in-depth travel tips and guides in his travel blog, Swing Abroad (for more, see these New Zealand travel bloggers to follow).
Feel free to comment below if you love the article or have any questions. I’d love to help! Happy traveling!
Hey Anita, thanks for publishing the post!
I’m more than glad to help planning your road trip in New Zealand if anybody has any questions. 😀
Hi! I love how informative and great your articles are. Can you recommend any other blogs that share recipes of Indian Curries or authentic Indian cuisine? Thanks a lot!