Driving in New Zealand
We drive on the left-hand side of the road, the opposite side to America. The speed limit is 100km/h (60miles/h) on state highways and 50km/h (30miles/h) in urban areas. You will find multi-lane motorways and expressways on the approaches to the larger cities. Signposting follows standard international symbols and all distances are in kilometers (km).
Self-driving vacations are one of the most relaxing ways of enjoying New Zealand's landscape. Many of our roads are scenic and traffic is light when compared to American standards. Although New Zealand is a relatively small country, it can take many hours to drive between cities and other destinations of interest. Even when distances are short, hilly or winding terrain or narrow secondary roads can slow your journey.
All major international rental car companies operate in New Zealand, as do many motorhome rental companies. There are a number of hop-on hop-off bus services to take you around the country. Taxis operate in every major town and city but public transport is quite limited in the main centers. Think Los Angeles, not New York.
Flying around New Zealand
Air New Zealand flies to 26 regional airports within New Zealand. The longest flight time is around 2 hours, from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island. Using this service is a great way to see a lot of the country in a short amount of time.
Take a Cruise
New Zealand has thousands of miles of coastline. A number of international cruise liners call into the ports of the main cities and wilderness areas. Overland sectors are easily organized, as are pre- and post-cruise itineraries. There are 12 key ports of call in New Zealand, all with unique offerings and dramatically different landscapes. Most cruise ships begin their sail in the sunny North, working their way south to the historic cities of Christchurch and Dunedin and the dramatic fiords of Fiordland.
