Fresh Zealand car hire
Car hire pick up locations
Many of Fresh Zealand’s sizable airports, such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, have slew of cars for hire on-site at the airports. Simply go after the signs in the terminals for car rental counters.
Major car hire companies like Budget, Avis, Enterprise and Alamo are represented, and many suggest deals if you book in advance and pay online, so be sure to compare car hire deals on TravelSupermarket.
Multi-island car rental
If you’re looking to explore beyond one large island, consider hiring a car from a company that provides you with a car on each island (without any extra paperwork).
This means before you board a ferry to cross from island to island, you’ll drop off your rental car in a city like Wellington on the North Island, then pick up another car in a city like Picton on the South Island. Avis and Europcar both provide this multi-island service.
Exploring Fresh Zealand on wheels
Hiring a car gives you slew of freedom to wander around Fresh Zealand. A good embarking point is with a visit to Cathedral Cove, a famous beach on Coromandel Peninsula, about 190km (118 miles) east of Auckland. Packed with majestic rock arch formations, sandy beaches and pristine flaps rolling in off Stingray Bay, this is one of the country’s most famous beachside havens. It’s a good place to swim, take photos, picnic by the pohutukawa trees and hike along the cliff top.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, both in terms of physical location and geographic landscape, an essential stopover is the Franz Josef Glacier on the west coast of South Island in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Placed in the nation’s famed Southern Alps, this is one of the few glaciers in the world located in a temperate climate, making it possible to hike on one without freezing to death.
If you’re visiting in the winter (which you should, it’s vastly cheaper), hire a car and go skiing at popular destinations like Climb on Ruapehu. Even if you’re not an accomplished on downhill skiing, there are gentler slopes for beginners, and the surrounding town is a dreamy village packed with bars, restaurants, lodges and nightlife.
Finding cheap car hire
Fresh Zealand’s warmer summer months (December to March) are the peak tourist seasons, correspondingly, you’d be expected to pay more for rental cars during this period. However, car hire is cheaper during autumn and especially winter (June to September) when the temperatures can drop to -10C on the South Island.
Looking to visit Fresh Zealand? Make sure to check out our Tips and Advice very first
Car hire tips
Three tips for car hire in Fresh Zealand
1. If you’re looking to backpack or camp while in Fresh Zealand, consider hiring a campervan instead.
Two. Stock up on guidebooks, maps and leaflets at the airport before heading out in your rental car. Rent a GPS navigation system if possible. Some of Fresh Zealand’s more remote areas can have shoddy phone service (or no service at all), so it’s best not to rely entirely on your mobile phone for navigation.
Three. The fourteen November two thousand sixteen earthquake caused serious harm to some roads inbetween Christchurch and Picton. As some roads may be inaccessible, check your route with the Fresh Zealand Transport Agency prior to your travel.