Are you stuck at home and dreaming of traveling the world again? Me too, so let’s plan a road trip to New Zealand together, because this place is high on my bucket list.

Can You Drive Around New Zealand?

Yes it is possible to drive around on both islands of New Zealand by car hugging the coast as much as possible. The main route is 5000km (3,100 miles) without detours and completing the journey will take at least 4 weeks if you want to visit the top 30 tourist highlights.

Do you want to know everything else about planning an overland trip through New Zealand? We’ll discuss everything from required time, distance, best places to see and safety in the rest of this article.

Header photo by Mark Mialik

How long would it take to drive around New Zealand?

Driving around New Zealand takes 60 hours according to google maps when driving a car from North to South and East to West on both islands. This would take at least 2 weeks to complete driving an average of 4,5 hours per day.

However New Zealand has so much to offer that driving around the country in two weeks or less would unwise because you would spend more time in the car then having fun. If you can’t stay for more then two weeks it would be wiser to keep the route shorter, drive less and adventure more.

For most of us New Zealand is not around the block, so spend as much time as you possibly can. Everything is possible, a week on the North Island or 6 months exploring every corner of the country.

How much does it cost to road trip in New Zealand?

On average it will cost US$ 60 per person per day to road trip through New Zealand. That includes everything you need like car/van rental, fuel, food and accommodation. With this budget you will be mostly camping and cooking your own dinners.

This budget is excluding air travel and any insurance you might want to book. My favourite travel insurance is Safetywing which is easy and convenient for short and long term travel.

These calculations are based on 2 or more people traveling together in a vehicle. If you are traveling alone add US$50 per day (total of US$110pppd) because you cannot share the costs of the vehicle and petrol.

If you plan to eat out more and stay in hotels most of the time a budget of US$ 130 per person per day. Unfortunately New Zealand is not a cheap place to travel.

Is it safe to drive around NZ?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to drive around New Zealand and is just like driving in any other developed part of the world. Most people get used to driving on the left quite fast. The main roads are in good condition and people stick to the traffic rules.

However, roads are narrower, more winding and sometimes steeper than you might expect and therefor it is easy to underestimate the traveling time. Most roads are two way with one lane in each direction. If there is a faster car stuck behind you it is customary to find a place to let them pass.

It is quite unlikely to get involved in a traffic accident resulting in death, those statistics are roughly the same for New Zealand and Europe. However, I never recommend driving (long distance) in the dark in a country that you don’t know. It is not fun and an unnecessary risk.

Is driving in New Zealand difficult?

Driving in New Zealand is not difficult as the roads outside of the big cities are relatively quiet. There is usually only one way to get from A to B so navigating is very simple. The biggest hazard driving around in New Zealand is getting distracted by the amazing scenery.

The other things to keep in mind are animals on the road, like sheep and the weather you will be driving in. I’m assuming you are planning your trip during the warmer months, however don’t think you won’t see any snow in summer. Mountainous areas are known for their unpredictability and New Zealand has a lot of those. The government website has great tips on driving safety.

How do I plan a New Zealand road trip?

1. Decide how much time you want to spend in the country and when (summer/winter)
2. Decide how much money you want to spend
3. Make a list of things you want to do
4. Choose your mode of transportation (car, motorcycle, van)
5. Create your itinerary
6. Book your flights

These are the rough steps you have to follow to plan a New Zealand road trip. There are a thousand lists of best things to do in New Zealand or cannot miss these lists out there on the internet. I am not going to give you my list because I feel like it’s part of the planning joy is figuring this out.

My personal style is just to schedule some highlights and let the rest of the journey flow and leave space for spontaneous ideas. Create the itinerary to the level of detail you like, some people enjoy scheduling every hour of their three week trip, others don’t plan anything. Do what feels good for you.

Now it is up to you to choose a mode of transportation, I loved riding my motorcycle around the world and it gives a certain kind of freedom feeling that you cannot recreate in a car. But now that we are a little family that is not an option anymore so renting a van is the next best option for us because we love camping and we like to keep the costs low.

The cheapest rental camper vans I’ve found are from Jucy, you are driving around in a purple and green machine but the prices are really affordable. Make sure you get a van that says “self contained” if you plan on doing any wild camping. It means there is a toilet on board.

Can you wild camp in NZ?

In general it is allowed to wild camp in New Zealand however rules got a lot stricter in the last few years. Without a toilet on board you are not allowed to freedom camp. Fines can go up to NZ$ 200 per night and police is known to check.

Besides that make sure to check the signage on any parking lot if it is allowed to stay there overnight. For example, it is nearly impossible to find a place around Christchurch to free camp because all the spots have been made illegal. Please follow the rules and take your trash so that the country continues to allow wild camping for future generations.

Do you need a 4WD in New Zealand?

You do not need a 4WD to drive around in New Zealand to visit the main towns and tourist attractions. All of these places are accessible via a tarmac or gravel road. All 4x4 only roads are well indicated so it is impossible to accidentally get stuck on one of them.

However, if you like overlanding and offroading as much as I do and you want to see the remotest and emptiest places of New Zealand you will want to rent a 4wd.

New Zealand off road driving

New Zealand is an offroad driving paradise for 4wd and motorcycle enthusiasts alike. It has a comprehensive network of public back-country roads and tracks ranging from easy to extremely difficult.

So renting a 4wd to explore these places is one of the best thing you can do while visiting New Zealand. Just take a look at the video of the 2020 GS Rally introduction. Ignore the epic voiceover and just look at the scenery.

There is even a government website that will tell you about the 4wd options in the area. Other options of finding good offroad trails are wikiloc and for the south island there is a paid website called 4x4 explorer. Here are 5 routes around New Zealand that are easy to explore.

Make sure you pack the right things, be prepared for something unexpected to happen and do your research before leaving on a trip. Stay safe because the mountains are no joke.

Conclusion

Exploring New Zealand by car is the best way to get to experience the country in its raw form. It gives you the freedom to explore whenever and wherever. Depending on the amount of time you have you are best off exploring one or both of the islands. Let us know in the comments what your favourite New Zealand highlight is.

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FAQ

CAN YOU DRIVE FROM … TO

Can you drive from Australia to NZ?

No, you cannot drive from Australia to New Zealand because the two islands are 1700 km or 1056 miles apart. The Tasman Sea can be very rough and because of the distance there is no ferry service or bridge possible.

How long would it take to drive to New Zealand from England

Driving from England to New Zealand would take anywhere between 3 months to a year because there are so many great places to visit in between. The last section will have to be completed by shipping container because there is no ferry connection to the islands of New Zealand.

Can you drive from North Island to South Island NZ?

Yes, you can drive from the North Island to the South Island of New Zealand by taking the ferry. There is no bridge or tunnel so the ferry is the only way to travel between the islands.

Can you drive across NZ?

Yes, driving across New Zealand is possible, even though the island is quite mountainous in most places there is an extensive network of roads, backroads and trails. No matter where you want to drive from and to you will always find a way.

Can you drive from one end of New Zealand to the other?

Yes, you can drive from one end of New Zealand to the other by car without any issues. Starting at the most northern point in Cape Reinga is takes roughly 5 days and one ferry ride to drive to Slope Point's End, the most Southern Point on the South Island.

Can you drive from Auckland to Christchurch?

Yes, you can drive from Auckland to Christchurch in New Zealand even though both cities are on different islands. The journey is 1100km or 685 miles long and will take at least 2 days to complete. This includes a ferry ride across the cook straight.

Can you drive to New Zealand from USA

No, you cannot drive to New Zealand from the USA because there is no road, tunnel, bridge or ferry connecting the islands of New Zealand to the mainland.

Related questions

Is it better to visit Australia or New Zealand?

The two countries are relatively close, but do not have a lot in common. New Zealand is small and known for its mountainous terrain, Lord of the Rings set and incredible nature. Australia is big, often sunny and known for its beaches.

What is the best way to get around New Zealand?

The best way to explore and get around New Zealand is by car or motorcycle because the public transport system is great in between cities but doesn’t get you to the best that New Zealand has to offer.

Is it legal to sleep in your car NZ?

According to the NZ government website, sleeping in your car is recognised as freedom camping which is legal on public land. However each district and council has its own bylaws so make sure to check before parking up for the night. https://www.govt.nz/browse/recreation-and-the-environment/freedom-camping/

Is it easy to drive around NZ?

Yes it is very easy to drive around New Zealand. Roads are in great condition, people drive relaxed and outside of the cities is is quiet on the roads. Just remember to drive on the left.

How long does it take to drive from the top of New Zealand to the bottom?

It takes about 5 days to drive from the top of New Zealand to the bottom. Starting at the most northern point in Cape Reinga the journey is 2036 kilometres or 1265 miles and includes one ferry ride reach the most southern point, Slope Point's End, on the South Island.

How long does it take to road trip New Zealand?

The minimum time required to road trip in New Zealand is about 1 week for visiting one island and two weeks to visit both islands. However, there is so much more to see so make sure to maximise your time in the country.

How long does it take to drive across New Zealand?

It takes about 5 days to drive across New Zealand from North to South. Starting at the most northern point in Cape Reinga the journey is 2036 kilometres or 1265 miles and includes one ferry ride reach the most southern point, Slope Point's End, on the South Island.

Can US citizens drive in New Zealand?

US citizens can drive legally in New Zealand with their current drivers licence for up to 12 months. You must carry your licence when driving at all times or risk a NZ$400 fine when caught. Not that they drive on the left in New Zealand.

Can a UK citizen drive in New Zealand?

UK citizens can drive legally in New Zealand with their current drivers licence for up to 12 months. You must carry your licence when driving at all times or risk a NZ$400 fine when caught.

Do you need AWD in New Zealand?

You do not need a AWD to drive around in New Zealand to visit the main towns and tourist attractions. All of these places are accessible via a tarmac or gravel road. All 4x4 only roads are well indicated so it is impossible to accidentally get stuck on one of them.

However, if you like overlanding and offroading as much as I do and you want to see the remotest and emptiest places of New Zealand you will want to rent a 4wd.