Travel Guide New Zealand – Uncover the southwest Pacific Ocean

A country of contrasting landscapes and great escapes – New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It is divided into two islands – the North Island and the South Island. Weather in the country can be volatile and vary dramatically, from sunny to rainy and even snowy days. Australia is its closest neighbour, sharing common cultural and heritage identities.

New Zealand has some iconic cities to explore. Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, are just but a handful of them. World-class museums, art galleries, and tourist attractions seemingly merge with high-class restaurants, traditional coffee houses and shopping districts – to provide an overall magical experience for visitors to New Zealand. This travel guide to New Zealand has been compiled to help you maximise your stay and to enjoy everything the country has to offer.

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Look over the New Zealand travel guide topics listed below and take a look at each page for information on a specific aspect of traveling in New Zealand.

• New Zealand Car Hire Guide - Everything you need to know about renting a car from us in New Zealand.
• New Zealand Driving Information - A useful list of driving tips for New Zealand, including the country’s road rules and regulations.
• New Zealand Fleet Guide Options - Explore all the car hire options available to you for renting in New Zealand.

Road trips with my car hire in New Zealand

With amazing, varied landscapes, rolling clear roads and picturesque mountain ranges, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world for a road trip. Not only is it an island – ideal for a road trip – but it mixes rural with urban adventure perfectly. From beautiful bays to a stunning coastline, exploring both the North and South Island by car is an absolute must. There are endless road trips available, but we would recommend the following for your trip.

• Auckland to Napier: The perfect road trip whilst on the North Island, drive from Auckland to Napier along the Pacific Coastal Motorway and immerse yourself is some mesmerising countryside. The drive is a leisurely one, with many people that your encounter along the way being laid back and chilled. This classic New Zealand road trip is popular amongst travellers because you’ll get to really connect with nature, view miles of unspoilt sandy beaches and find some great hiking opportunities.


• Auckland to Bay of Islands: Another popular road trip amongst travellers and one that will allow you to capture most of what the North Island has on offer. The Loop of the Bay Islands as it is known, will take you from city to beautiful coastlines. Hiking and even dolphin watching can be undertaken during this road trip, with an added wine-tasting adventure. This trip can be done at any time of year, even whilst the South Island is covered in snow, this road trip on the North Island is mildly pleasant and stress-free.


• Opotiki to Gisborne: Known as the East Cape Route – this drive will take you through the East region of the island. Taking you to some amazing beaches and great coastline, you’ll also get the opportunity to learn about Māori culture. The East Coast allows you to also undertake one of the most popular hikes in the country – the Lake Waikaremoana Hike. This road trip isn’t popular amongst travellers, but that is more of a reason why you should try it. The views alone are worth the effort.


• Queenstown to Milford Sound: Take one of the most famous motorways in the country and uncover some draw-dropping landscapes and natural wonders. From pristine crystal-clear lakes to rainforests and waterfalls – you’ll see it all and more. Take in the clean air whilst you are overlooked by beautiful mountains and overhanging cliffs. There will be plenty of stopping opportunities so that you can take some great photographs and make everlasting memories.

What to do in New Zealand

New Zealand is a magical island to explore. Its landscape can vary dramatically from mountainous to long sandy beaches. The country provides some of the best hiking trails in the world, including some great extreme sports activities and adventures. Its cities contain some amazing museums, interesting art galleries and mesmerising historical wonders – both English and Māori. Have a look over the following suggested things to do in the country.

• Sky Tower: Sky Tower is in the city of Auckland’s. It is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere rising over 300 metres. Visitors who dare to head to the top will be gifted with a stunning view of the city and local landscape. At the top, visitors can also benefit from a world-class restaurant, a merchandise shop and the opportunity to walk on the outside of the tower! For added adrenaline, visitors can also book a jump off the tower once at the very top.


• Christchurch Botanic Gardens: Although Christchurch suffered during its last earthquake, it managed to preserve its iconic botanical gardens. The gardens are a magical oasis in an otherwise crowded and busy city. On its grounds, visitors are introduced to much of New Zealand’s flora and fauna - along with some examples of flora and fauna from across the globe. Featuring some of the best exotic plants in the area, the Christchurch Botanical Gardens are the city’s main attraction, welcoming in thousands of annual visitors.


• Museum of New Zealand: Gain a greater understanding of New Zealand’s heritage, culture and history with a visit to the Museum of New Zealand. This interactive museum guides visitors through some of the best stories and treasures that the country has to offer. Its unique environment will introduce you to the Māori culture, the Taonga treasures and artwork. This museum is located in Wellington – another iconic city to explore and enjoy at leisure.


• Te Pa Tu Village: If you are looking for an experience that is as possibly authentic to Māori culture and their way of life as can be, then visit the Te Pa Tu Village. The village is located inside a wonderful, lush forest, which is over-hanged by large Tawa trees. Learn about Māori culture, heritage and the Māori calendar. See how the ancient Māori conducted warfare and settled their disputes. Immerse yourself in Māori rituals, songs and tales. Try some authentic Māori foods and peek inside some indigenous huts and enjoy a Māori feast.


• Nelson Classic Car Museum: If you enjoy classic vehicles, consider visiting the Nelson Classic Car Museum during your time in New Zealand. With over 150 well-preserved classic cars, over a 100-years of motoring history can be viewed here. This private collection is one of the best in the country, and it’ll guide you through motoring in the country. From a 1908 Renault AX to many other classic cars from the 50s. Visitors can expect to find Triumphs, Cadillacs, Vauxhalls and many more automotive brands.

Frequently Asked Questions about travelling in New Zealand

We have compiled the following list to answer some of the most popular questions from visitors to New Zealand. Here you can find to find information on visa requirements, electrical supply, currency, time zones and many more. This simple questions and answers section will guide you through everything you need to know about the country and provide excellent travel tips. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please get in touch with us and one of our trained team will help.

Useful Links

New Zealand Airport Information

Official Tourism Website of New Zealand

Gov.uk New Zealand Travel Advice