Driving in New Zealand in 6 points

As I write this article, I have just returned from a road trip around New Zealand, only a few hours by plane from Tahiti, and I could not wait to start writing about it. After suddenly finding myself facing a tourist driving toward me at 100 km/h on an otherwise deserted road, I thought this would be a good place to begin: driving in New Zealand. What do you need to know? It is always sensible to learn about the rules before driving abroad. If you are planning to explore the South Pacific and New Zealand’s beautiful national parks, there are a few important things to understand. I will cover the main rules, practical driving tips, and a few stories from our trip.

New Zealand is an island nation in Oceania, in the Southern Hemisphere, and has become an increasingly popular destination. Many travelers also move there temporarily on a Working Holiday Visa. For reference, here is our itinerary around New Zealand’s North Island.

If you would rather rent a van or motorhome, I often recommend this comparison site, which brings together offers from many major rental companies.

If you are preparing for your trip, you can also compare flights through this flight comparison site, which I have been using for several years.

Let us clarify one important point from the outset: an international driving permit is not automatically required for every visitor. You may drive with a current overseas license, provided it authorizes you to drive the relevant type of vehicle. If the license is not written in English, you must also carry either an accurate English translation or an international driving permit. Rental companies may impose additional conditions, so always check their requirements before collecting your vehicle.

The application procedure depends on the country that issued your license. You should therefore check the official government instructions in your country of residence well before departure.

For French license holders, applications for an international driving permit are now made online through France Titres rather than at the local prefecture. Processing times vary, so it is best not to leave the application until the last minute.

If several people plan to drive, each driver must carry their own valid license and, when required, their own English translation or international driving permit. The rental company will normally need to register every additional driver.

Rather than listing every distance between cities and attractions, I want to share my general impression after spending three weeks driving around the northern part of the country.

When I first began planning the trip, I considered visiting both islands in three weeks. After doing some research and speaking to other travelers, I realized that this would be extremely difficult, especially with a child, and that we would spend most of the trip driving from one attraction to the next. No, thank you. We therefore decided to devote all three weeks to the North Island. So, what did we learn?

Looking back, we did not even manage to see the entire North Island during those three weeks. It is easy to assume that the distances are short and that journeys will be quick, but this is often misleading.

You may have only 250 km between two places you want to visit. On a European or American freeway, that might take around two and a half hours or less. In New Zealand, the same distance can take considerably longer. The highest posted limit on many open roads is 100 km/h, but narrow roads, bends, hills, towns, roadworks, and changing weather conditions often reduce your average speed.

Much of the time, we drove at around 80–90 km/h on open roads and slowed down considerably through towns and villages. Urban speed limits are often 50 km/h, although lower or higher limits may apply depending on the road. For example, the direct route between Auckland and Cape Reinga is approximately 420 km and takes around five and a half hours under good conditions. We chose the more scenic western route and took two days to reach the cape.

My main advice is to avoid underestimating driving times between the places you want to visit. Rest breaks, town centers, traffic, roadworks, and delays around Auckland can all make a journey much longer than expected.

Weather can also disrupt your plans. I have written a complete article explaining the best time to visit New Zealand.

This is the main purpose of the article: explaining how driving works in New Zealand and highlighting a few local features. I probably do not need to remind you that seat belts are compulsory and that using a handheld phone while driving is prohibited.

Driving on the left

Let us begin with the most important rule. In New Zealand, you drive on the left-hand side of the road, and most locally registered vehicles have the steering wheel on the right. Many rental cars have automatic transmissions, although manual vehicles are also available.

Driving on the left is not necessarily difficult, but it changes many familiar habits. You need to adjust the way you park, check your blind spots, enter roundabouts, and position the vehicle after turning. Even simple actions such as operating the indicators and windshield wipers may feel unfamiliar depending on the car.

Road signs and markings

At first, some signs may take a little time to understand. I admit that I was too lazy to read the driving guide provided by the rental company, which was not my best decision. Most signs follow familiar principles, so their meaning is usually easy to work out. Road markings are generally white, while yellow lines have specific meanings, such as restrictions on stopping or passing.

Speed limit signs

These signs display the legal maximum speed and appear at changes in speed zone, including at the entrances to towns and along main roads.

Advisory speed signs

These are usually yellow warning signs showing a recommended speed for an upcoming bend or hazard. The number is advisory rather than the general legal speed limit, but it indicates a speed considered appropriate in normal conditions.

Warning signs

These signs warn you about an upcoming hazard or unusual road feature, such as an unsealed surface, a one-lane bridge, animals, or a series of bends.

As in every country, you must follow the posted speed limit. The limit depends on the road and may change along the same route. As a general guide:

• The maximum posted limit for light vehicles is often 100 km/h on open roads, although many roads have lower limits.
• Urban limits are commonly 50 km/h, but 30, 40, 60, or other posted limits may apply.

Heavy vehicles and some larger motorhomes may be subject to lower maximum limits than ordinary light vehicles, so check the rules that apply to the vehicle you are driving.

I will spare you the full story of the time the police stopped me after I entered a school zone much too quickly because I had not noticed the lower limit. Fortunately, the officer was friendly, knew French Polynesia, and let me leave without a fine after we spoke for a few minutes. Be careful: police enforcement was visible throughout our three-week trip.

The different types of roads

Here are some of the main types of road you are likely to encounter while driving around New Zealand.

Motorways and expressways

These are the closest equivalent to major highways or freeways. Some have divided carriageways and higher posted limits, while others may have intersections or narrower sections. They allow faster travel but are concentrated mainly around the larger urban areas.

State highways and secondary roads

These are the roads you will use most often when traveling around the country. Conditions and speed limits vary widely. Some sections are broad and relatively straight, while others are narrow, winding, hilly, or shared with agricultural traffic.

Gravel roads

Gravel roads require particular care. You will encounter them in more remote areas, and they can be useful when exploring beyond the main tourist routes.

Reduce your speed and drive smoothly on gravel, especially when braking or turning. Loose stones can significantly reduce grip, and the appropriate speed depends on the road surface, visibility, weather, and traffic.

Seasonal closures and difficult conditions

We did not experience any major problems because we visited the North Island in spring, but some roads, especially on the South Island and at higher elevations, can close because of snow, ice, flooding, slips, or other severe weather.

This official journey-planning page provides current information about state highway closures, incidents, roadworks, and traffic conditions.

This weather website is also useful for checking local forecasts and adapting your route when necessary.

Toll roads

Toll roads were a mystery to me at first because there are no conventional tollbooths where you stop and pay.

New Zealand currently has three toll roads:

• Northern Gateway Toll Road,
• Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road,
• Takitimu Drive Toll Road.

The amount depends on the road and the type of vehicle, and the current prices are displayed before you enter the toll road. You can find the details through this official page. Tolls can be paid online, and rental companies may charge the toll plus an administration fee if they handle it on your behalf. To be honest, I realized only afterward that we had used toll roads. We tried to pay online but were unable to complete the process, so the rental company later charged our credit card for the two journeys.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts were one of the things I struggled with during the first few days. Since you drive on the left, traffic circulates clockwise. When entering, you give way to vehicles already on the roundabout and, in practice, look to your right for approaching traffic.

Another small challenge is that the indicator and windshield-wiper controls may be on the opposite sides from those in your usual car. I cannot count how many times I activated the wipers instead of the indicator when approaching a roundabout.

One-lane bridges

Another important feature of driving in New Zealand is the number of one-lane bridges. I found some of them intimidating, particularly when they appeared shortly after a bend or in an area with limited visibility. Signs and arrows indicate which direction must give way, so slow down and make sure the bridge is clear before entering.

This question often comes up when you rent a car or campervan in New Zealand. Rental companies may offer a GPS unit for an additional daily fee. Do you really need one?

Everyone will have their own preference. Personally, I think most travelers can manage without a separate GPS, especially with smartphones and the many navigation apps now available.

Several apps allow you to download maps for offline use on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Options include Google Maps and Maps.me for offline navigation, while CamperMate and Rankers provide travel and camping information specific to New Zealand. Waze can also be useful when you have a mobile data connection.

If you are not comfortable using smartphone navigation, you can rent a GPS with the vehicle or buy one locally. Prices vary, so compare the total rental cost with the price of purchasing a device.

Rental cars may use petrol, diesel, hybrid technology, or electricity, while many larger campervans run on diesel. Service stations are widespread in populated areas, with major brands including Caltex, Mobil, and BP.

The historical price-comparison website linked here may no longer provide the most reliable current information, so compare prices using a recent fuel-price app or local station listings instead. Fuel prices can vary considerably between stations and regions.

In remote areas, you may see signs warning that there is no fuel for the next 100 km or more. Do not wait until the tank is almost empty before filling up, particularly in isolated and less touristy areas.

Although New Zealand is not densely populated, traffic around Auckland can still be frustrating. Congestion becomes considerably worse during the morning and evening rush hours, which is not surprising given the size of the city.

If your route takes you through Auckland, allow extra time and avoid peak commuting periods whenever possible.

I plan to write a complete article about traveling around New Zealand with a baby, but I wanted to include a few words about driving with babies and children.

Regular stops

Parents who have already taken a road trip with a baby or young child will know that driving for hours without stopping is rarely realistic.

Fortunately, New Zealand is well suited to family road trips. Rest areas are common, and we also found playgrounds in many towns and stopping places across the North Island.

Travel apps can help you locate rest areas and playgrounds on a map. Simply activate the GPS on your phone or tablet and look for a suitable place nearby when everyone needs a break.

Child car seats

New Zealand law requires children under seven to use an approved child restraint. A seven-year-old must use an approved restraint if one is available in the vehicle, while older children must use the appropriate seat belt. The driver is responsible for ensuring that children are properly restrained.

Airline policies for carrying child car seats vary, so check directly with your airline before departure.

When we traveled with Air Tahiti Nui on a flight from Papeete to Auckland, we were able to check our child’s car seat without an additional charge. This describes our experience at the time, so confirm the airline’s current baggage policy before relying on the same arrangement.

A car seat can be bulky and inconvenient to carry, but having your own familiar seat can be reassuring. The alternative is to rent one with the car. This is easier for some families, although it adds to the cost, and the available model may not be the same as the one you use at home.

Here are a few memorable stories from our time on the road:

• The most frightening moment of the trip was encountering a tourist driving on the wrong side of a long, straight road. At first, I saw a car in the distance and assumed it was traveling in the same direction. Then it began approaching extremely quickly. At the last moment, I realized it was coming straight toward us in our lane. I swerved to the right to avoid it, remembering that we were supposed to be on the left. The other driver appeared to understand what had happened and immediately moved back into the correct lane. It was a terrifying moment, and my heart was racing afterward.

• Another memorable moment came when I left a parking lot or small side road and instinctively started driving on the right. The passenger beside me calmly asked, “We drive on the left here, don’t we?” Yes, that happened to me more than once during the first few days.

• We also laughed every time I activated the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal, particularly when approaching roundabouts and intersections. Depending on the car you normally drive, the controls may feel completely reversed.

There you have it. I hope this guide has helped you understand the main things you need to know about driving in New Zealand and made you feel better prepared for your trip. There is no need to panic. The first few days require concentration, but most visitors soon become accustomed to driving on the left.

New Zealand, the volcanic land associated with The Lord of the Rings, is filled with memorable landscapes, including fjords, geothermal areas, geysers, and hot springs. I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time, just as I would also love to discover the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu one day. Whether you are visiting the country or moving there temporarily to work, it should be a memorable experience.

Have you decided to travel around the country?

See you soon for another article about the country.

Written by Sylvain PONS

Living in French Polynesia at the time, I explored New Zealand from 2017 to 2020 during two road trips of two months each. As a family, we camped and discovered the beauty of these two islands.

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!