Car or Motorhome Rental in New Zealand?

The country covers about 1600 km, and it takes more than two days to reach Christchurch from Auckland. Fortunately, the New Zealand road network is in excellent condition. There are 52 000 km of asphalted roads and 42,000 km of gravel roads sometimes restricted to 4x4 vehicles.

The New Zealand is a hilly country where there are few two-lane motorways. That's why the speed limits outside urban areas are set at 100 km/h. One must remain vigilant and resist the temptation to accelerate, because the radar controls are common.

Traffic jams that are formed during office hours disappear as soon as you leave the big cities. Traffic is incredibly fluid, but driving on the left requires some time to adapt. Reading our article on the safety rules is strongly recommended before embarking on the road.

Should one rent a car or a motorhome to visit the country? This is the question that everyone is asking when preparing a stay in New Zealand. But there are other options such as the train, bus or plane. The more adventurous can even consider traveling by bike or on foot during long hikes such as the Te Araroa

I will present all means of transportation available to you. A summary of the pros and cons of each solution should help you to make your choice. If you still need help to make up your mind, I will give you my opinion at the end of the article.

In New Zealand, low price rhymes with bad Japanese cars: the market is saturated with their old models from the 90s, with a poor quality usually. I consider that saving $150 on a stay while sacrificing comfort and safety is not reasonable. Remember that you will drive thousands of kilometers in a foreign land!

Some unpleasant surprises are possible: the manual gearbox booked on the Internet can prove to be an automatic one, once on-site. However, and given the long distances, an automatic gearbox and a cruise control are essential. But be careful not to rent a cheap vehicle. The hilly terrain usually increases gasoline consumption dramatically if the gear ratios are poorly managed by a bad automatic gearbox.

Don't forget your international driver's license, and take your GPS or rent it for a few dollars a day.

Some rental companies refuse drivers under 21 years. Others may charge a supplement.

Finally, if you stay more than three months in the country, you should consider buying your own car.

The models of the 90s cost only an average price of $2100.

The major advantage of the camper is to allow you to adapt your itinerary according to your desires. In case of bad weather, you can change your plans and reach asunnier location. The country is remarkably laid out with more than 200 campsites specifically designed to accommodate such vehicles.

However, to drain or fill a drinking water tank will not please everyone.

A motorhome choice is essentially justified if you want to save money. But one must still beware of incidentals!

The high demand during the high season is accompanied by a surge in prices.

It becomes essential to book his camping for a long time in advance, or you will end up with a bill that exceeds the price of a car with hotel nights.

There are places to park for free, but they are often located on the fringes of the tourist places. Some allow you to connect the vehicle to power supply, others are more spartan and necessarily cheaper. Check out my article on the different types of accommodations to study the issue in detail.

Domestic flights are relatively inexpensive and can be useful during your stay. Provided you book at least four months in advance, you can enjoy very competitive rates. Here are some examples to give you an idea:

A domestic flight is often cheaper than the rental of a vehicle (with gasoline to pay) over several days.

For example, a flight between Queenstown and Wellington is much shorter and also very interesting financially if you do not want to visit the West Coast.

Apart the classic domestic flights, you can also book sightseeing flights of short duration and generally overpriced. However, a flight over the Bay of Islands, the Fox Glacier, White Island or Kaikoura is an extraordinary experience if you have the means...

Contrary to what one might think, a journey by train is one of the best ways to enjoy the country panoramas. The commercial lines were almost all closed in the past decades, but some tourist lines remain.

Speed is paradoxically the main advantage and the major drawback of a New Zealand trip by train. One can enjoy the scenery in special panorama wagons while listening excellent audio commentaries.

However, one must not be in a hurry, because a basic Auckland-Wellington journey takes approximately 12 hours to complete, with stops planned at every station!

Under these conditions, there is usually a single departure every the day, and the train leaves the railway station early in the morning to arrive late in the evening.

The TranzAlpine line is often quoted as being the most beautiful in the world. This old railway connects Christchurch to Greymouth through the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps.

Another fantastic trip is the Taieri Gorge Railway departing from Dunedin. It borrows viaducts overlooking spectacular gorges covered by yellow flowers.

The majority of tourists borrow the ferry to go from North Island to South Island (and vice versa). With several daily departures, it takes 3 h 15 to complete a crossing.

Interislander and Blue Bridgeshare the market with similar fares for passengers (about $65). If you travel by car, you may return your vehicle to the rental company before boarding. You will rent another vehicle at the arrival on the other side, and this might cost less than paying the transport of your car in the ferry hold.

Alas, travelers in camper-vans can't use this tip and they will have to pay an extra of $270 for the crossing with their vehicle!

The trip in itself is quite comfortable. You can get some sleep on the benches, or kill your free time at the bar, waiting for the last half hour of the trip.

When the ferry is about to reach Picton on the South Island, you should climb on the top bridge to admire the scenery (the wind is strong, even in summer so consider wearing a sweater).

Do not forget your medication if you are prone to seasickness (however, the ferry is so big, it's quite stable). Medication will also be useful if you join a whale-watching tour in the Kaikoura Peninsula.

If you have sea legs, you can even consider renting a small boat for exploring the 144 islands of the Bay of Islands. The Abel Tasman National Park is to be explored by kayak, but convenient water taxis can also be booked. Check the activities section on Kiwipal to organize these excursions.

New Zealand public buses serve nearly 600 towns and villages.

Intercity Coachlines and Naked Bus are the two main companies that offer to book on the Internet.

As tourists, should one travel by bus during a few weeks' stay? This mode of transport is especially suitable for students holding a WHV (Working Holiday Visa) and passing from a farm job to another.

The Kiwi Experience bus company is especially targeting this clientele. Special yearly loyalty cards are meant to accumulate points to gain substantial discounts.

It is a kind of tourist bus that travels through the entire country and helps to meet with other foreign students in a festive atmosphere on board.

But if you just want to travel occasionally or in total freedom, the bus is finally too expensive and can't be considered as a valid alternative to car or camper-van rental.

I will not speak of the downtown buses as it's not the subject here. The quality is variable and you will surely have the opportunity to borrow one in Auckland or Wellington for a few dollars a trip.

The bike trails are numerous in the country, but going from one city to another usually involved pedalling on the roadside. As New Zealanders do not always respect the safety distances, the helmet is mandatory under penalty of fine.

The construction of the New Zealand's Cycle Trail has changed the game in 2013. With 19 sections that cover both islands, the tracks reserved for bikes allow to rally the main wonders of the country.

The hilly and mountainous terrain of New Zealand, however, imposes to be in good if not excellent physical condition.

As for cities, Auckland is adapted to bicycle rides, but this is already less evident in Wellington. Dunedin has the World's steepest street in the world, and is more suited to hard-core bikers. You can bring your own bike in New Zealand, provided that it bends and if its weight does not exceed the limit allowed by your airline.

Buying a bike on location is possible, but in any case, make sure you know to change a wheel or repair a chain before considering a long bicycle trip in New Zealand.

The 3000 km of the “Te Arararoa” (the great walk in Maori) cover both islands and allows to connect the main attractions. You would sleep in huts where you can meet other travelers sharing the same adventure spirit. Hitchhiking is not as popular as in Europe but is fairly easy except in the regions with low traffic on the road.

This is less the crime rate (low in New Zealand) which is to be feared than the possibility of getting lost in the middle of nowhere, waiting for a car while the rain begins to fall.Sometimes, you might have to wait several hours to be given a lift. To deal with every situation, it is necessary to have your very own camping equipment.

I further recommend travelling with a friend to make this experience more enjoyable.

Compared to a self-drive-tour, the savings one can expect if traveling as a couple are to be counted as hundreds but not in thousands of euros or dollars. But for a family with children, the gain is often far more significant.

However, the total freedom often associated with the camper-van trip is quite illusory in summer. If you do not book your camping grounds in advance, you will have to pay for very expensive parkings or you'll get some fines.

The final rate can approach if not largely exceed the amount you would pay for a car rental with hotel nights.

For first-time visitors, I often recommend the car / hotel solution. Driving on the left is stressful enough for not adding the extra difficulty of maneuvering a large vehicle... but it's up to you!

It often rains in New Zealand, so be careful on the road and watch the speedometer. Accustomed to drive at a 130 km / h speed, Europeans are often spotted by radars and they leave New Zealand with some fines.