Planning your New Zealand Holiday Taking the following few steps to help with your decisions and planning will ensure your visit to New Zealand is everything you expect it to be. The main factors to consider when planning your visit to New Zealand will vary considerably depending on your personal circumstances however some of the most common questions and answers are below along with some useful tips. When is the best time to visit New Zealand? The easy and short answer is anytime. Although we have distinct seasons there is no reason not to visit anytime. The long answer: There are a few factors that you might want to consider when deciding which season suits you. These are: The weather or season you might prefer Availability of specific activities in specific seasons Driving conditions during specific seasons Cost and availability of flights to New Zealand Cost of accommodations and activities etc in specific seasons The weather and our seasons: New Zealand does experience the 4 distinctive seasons. Officially these are: Summer: December, January and February Autumn: March, April and May Winter: June, July and August Spring: September, October and November
What sort of temperatures and conditions does each season produce? Summer: Expect an average high of 25 C (76 F) in the north to around 22 C (72 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 13 C (55 F) in the north to 12 C (54 F) in the south. Autumn: Expect an average high of 20 C (68 F) in the north to around 17 C (63 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 11 C (52 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south. Winter: Expect an average high of 15 C (59 F) in the north to around 10 C (50 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 6 C (43 F) in the north to 2 C (35 F) in the south. Spring: Expect an average high of 18 C (65 F) in the north to around 16 C (61 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 9 C (48 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south. Rainfall: Generally speaking rainfall days are consistent throughout the year at between 7 and 11 days per month but regions such as the West Coast and Fiordland do get drier during the winter months. Snow: The North Island only gets snow on the high central plateau around Tongariro National Park (the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski fields) and on a few other high peaks such as Mt Egmont/Taranaki. On the South Island almost everywhere can experience snow and as the Southern Alps and other high mountain ranges stretch from top to bottom then during winter snow isnt far away from anywhere. Stewart Island also gets snow in winter but not often. Canterbury, Otago and Southland generally get the most snow and this is why most of the ski resorts are based here. Driving conditions: New Zealand roads are very well maintained and well signposted. The local services are crews are also very used to the wintry conditions that some regions can experience and respond quickly to keep roads clear and safe. During winter months some of the high road passes such as Arthurs Pass, Lindis Pass and Lewis Pass (effectively the roads that join the East Coast of the South Island to the West Coast) might be closed following a heavy snowfall however road crews generally open these within a few hours of the storm passing. Train services such as the Tranz Alpine are rarely affected. Roads can become quite slippery around the colder regions and areas or sections that are particularly prone to this are well signposted.
Rental car companies do prohibit driving their vehicles on certain roads during certain hours (usually 11pm-6am) and seasons. The Milford Road can be quite a hazardous section in the winter months so if you are not familiar with winter driving our advice would be to take one of the coach trips into Milford instead. The drivers have special training and the specially equipped vehicles ensure a relaxed and informative day trip. Our tip - always drive to the conditions. Availability of specific activities during seasons. Almost every activity is available all year round in some form or another. The exception might be access to some of the multi day walking tracks such as the Milford Track and Routeburn Tracks. These close from mid April to late October for guided walks. Other popular trips to cease during the winter months are the Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound overnight cruises. Day cruises are still available however. Skiing is generally available from early to mid June until late September (conditions dependent of course). Some other businesses do close during winter months as the demand doesn't warrant being open. These might include cafes and restaurants in some of the destinations less visited during winter such as the West Coast of the South Island, Te Anau, Bay of Islands etc. Ski resort areas such as Queenstown and Wanaka however continue to fully operate right through the winter. Our tip - if there are specific activities or interests you might have check with us to ensure availability and suitability for the season you intend to visit. Cost and availability of flights to New Zealand.
New Zealand is well serviced by many international airlines including Air New Zealand, Qantas, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Thai Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Air Pacific, Lan Chile, Japan Airlines, Malaysian Airlines plus many others under code share agreements. Such a variety of airlines and routes offers you the chance to stop over in other interesting locations too. The largest international airport is Auckland with Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown also receiving some direct international traffic. Almost every city and region in New Zealand has a domestic airport and so connecting to one of these ports is quite straightforward and inexpensive. All air traffic arriving directly from or via North American ports such as Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver will arrive into Auckland with a connection to the South Island if required. Most airlines or travel agents should be able to add the domestic sector you need onto the international ticket. If not we can help with the domestic travel. Flights to NZ generally fluctuate in price depending on the season. Our summer (Dec- Feb) is peak visitor time and so costs are a little higher. Christmas and New Year periods can increase demand considerably and as this demand increases then so does cost. Flights into the South Island ports of Christchurch and Queenstown can also increase during winter as demand for the Southern Hemispheres best skiing increases. Airlines are now seeing more competition on certain routes and so shopping around for the best deal should produce some good savings. Airlines generally also offer special
low fares for booking in advance. So if you can start to shop around as soon as you can then there can be some great savings. Flight bookings are usually available around 11 months in advance. Be prepared to be a little flexible on dates - moving a few days either way or travelling on a specific day of the week might also produce some savings. Securing your dates and airfares would usually be the first step in making your plans to visit New Zealand - remember that the land or tour arrangements such as one of our self drive tours can be adapted to suit any date or length of stay. Our tip - shop around, maybe use an airfare agent or expert to help you, be flexible with the route, airline and dates, book early. Airport taxes All taxes for New Zealand airports should now be included in your air ticket cost. Visas Lots of visitors to New Zealand do not require a visa to visit as a tourist. To check if you need a visa to visit check out this website http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/ VisaFreeCountries.htm. Depending on the route you fly you may need a visa to transit or stopover on other countries. It pays to check this out with the airfare expert or the airline you are travelling with. Our tip - check regarding visas if you are in any doubt. Does it cost more to travel around New Zealand in certain seasons? As with any destination visiting in the high season or peak visitor season when demand is high means that hotels, motels, car rental companies and activity suppliers can charge a little more for their services. Low season rates are generally discounted to encourage or entice more customers during that period. The difference isn't that much - for example a 4 star hotel might cost around NZ$20 a night more in peak season. Costs such as eating out, fuel, drinks etc don't vary from season to season. Availability: One thing to consider is choice - some destinations such as the West Coast Glacier towns, Te Anau, Queenstown, Wanaka, Bay of Islands etc do get booked out during busy seasons. Making a booking as early as possible means you get the best choice of accommodations, room types and in turn, value and quality. Our tip - book early to get the best choices.
What do things cost such as fuel and dining out? New Zealand has a great range of cafes, restaurants and other dining options. Like anywhere else in the world restaurant prices can vary immensely depending on the style and location of the restaurant. Budget between NZ$25 and NZ$35 per main course for most establishments. A street meal might cost a little less. There is an abundance of take-away available from Indian to Vietnamese to good old fish and chips. A take-away meal for 2 might cost around NZ$40. Breakfast at a local café will cost between NZ$15 and NZ$25 depending on the style and location (bigger cities tend to cost a little more). Taking a tour which is inclusive of breakfast can sometimes be a good value option. Fuel costs: This of course will depend on how far you drive and for how long you tour around New Zealand. The following common tour lengths and routes will give you an idea of what to expect 10 day South Island tour in mid size car - expect to spend around NZ$300 on fuel 14 day tour of both islands in mid size car - expect to spend around NZ$500 on fuel Deciding how long to visit for and where to go. New Zealand is much larger than many first time visitors realise. It's a little larger then the UK, and around the same size as California or Germany. On top of this is the fact that the country is split into 2 main islands and only has around 100km or so of motorway road sections (or at least roads that could be compared with multi-lane highways in other countries). It has very few train services with the most frequented being the very popular Tranz Alpine and Coastal Pacific journeys on the South Island. So for most visitors getting around is by road, coach, flying or a combination of the three. This shouldn't put you off, instead it should be anticipated eagerly. The roads are well maintained, well signposted, spectacularly scenic with a surprise around every bend. They have much less traffic than most visitors might be used to. But... getting around takes a little longer than you might be used to. Realistically 80kph (or 50mph) might be your average speed over the course of your holiday. Add stops for photos, interesting turn offs and coffee stops to this time and you can see that planning a tour to fit your location and activity wish list without over doing the driving is important. This of course is where our expert advice comes in but you should also be aware of and consider how much time in the car you would be happy with. To comfortably visit both the North and South Islands Islands by road you will need at least 14 days. It can be done in a little less with a couple of longer drives or if you decide to skip some sections and take the train (Picton to Christchurch) or fly e.g Rotorua to Christchurch.
As a general guideline and using our experience of what visitors actually do the following is a good starting point. 3-5 days will allow you to do a short circular trip from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown (the most popular starting/finishing points). 5-10 days will mean you can take a tour with more time to explore and more 2 nights stops on one island. 10-14 days will allow you to visit both the North and South Island starting on one and finishing on the other. Getting back to your start/departure point is simple and cost effective to fly. 14-21 days allows for a more extensive trip with a good amount of 2 night stops and also allows time to include locations such as Milford Sound and Kaikoura or the Coromandel and Bay of Islands which might not be possible on shorter time frames. Anything over 21 days means you can start to tailor an itinerary to suit your interests rather than letting the time frame dictate what is possible. For lots of great suggestions just take drop us an email to see whats possible. Each of our tour suggestion shows the driving distance and time for each major leg so you can easily gauge the pace. Our tip - although the driving is great and the scenery spectacular don't try and fit too much in. Each region and destination has lots to see, explore and experience. Where to stay New Zealand has a wide range of accommodation styles to suit every taste, budgets and requirements from simple motels to luxurious lodges, from apartments to 4 star hotels and even the occasional hobbit house! We carefully select the properties we use and recommend to ensure they meet our quality standards and we monitor these standards by actively visiting properties and following up on the feedback we receive from guests. Location is an important factor when choosing somewhere to stay. A great example of this is Auckland or Wellington properties. Many of our competitors itineraries and tours use motels or hotels in the suburbs such as Epsom in Auckland or Lower Hutt in Wellington. While strictly speaking they are in the cities they pertain to be in, the locations are far from convenient (Epsom is 10km from Auckland City centre and Lower Hutt is 16 km from Wellington City centre. Staying in these locations might save a small amount of money but this is quickly swallowed up by the extra driving and inconvenience of travelling and parking in the city - after all its the city you want to experience, not the suburbs. Our suggestions, itineraries and tours use properties which are in great locations.
Value for money should also be a key consideration. The relative price of a property shouldn't be confused with the quality. For example a 4 star city centre hotel in a large city might cost the same as a 3 star hotel in a smaller town or even a good motel. The city will have lots of competition to contend with, good occupancy rates and so those elements dictate the price to some extent. A small town with just the one hotel can charge a little more. The below explanations of accommodation styles will give you an indication of what to expect. Remember we can mix and match any style of accommodations to an itinerary or tour for example a tour staying in motels with a couple of nights enjoying a more luxurious lodge is quite a popular way to experience some variety. Motels The motels we recommend in New Zealand are of a very high standard. Services and facilities on offer in some cases be compared with hotels. Costs can also be comparable particularly in the small popular locations such as Kaikoura and the West Coast Glaciers where accommodation options and types are limited. One of the most useful features of motel accommodations are the self contained facilities. At minimum a studio unit will have cooking utensils, a hot plate and or microwave, toaster, kettle and crockery and cutlery. Other room types will have more comprehensive facilities such as a full kitchen. This is great if you prefer to prepare your own meals. Other facilities can include saunas, spas and swimming pools and some also offer a full breakfast service. Motels also have a good choice of room types such as2 bedroom or family units making them a very economical choice for a family or larger group. Our motels are generally owned and operated by locals who have a genuine interest in their region and are keen to share it with you. 3 Star Hotel The star rating for hotels only generally applies to the facilities and services a hotel may have at your disposal and not necessarily the quality or value of those services. This is where our local knowledge makes your selection easier. Throughout New Zealand there are some great 3 star hotels that offer great service in great locations. Even within the same hotel some room types and hotel wings vary enormously and so our tours only use and recommend the type that we know to be the best to suit your requirements. All our 3 star hotels have restaurant facilities and we can include meals in our tour costs if you prefer. Note however that smaller destinations such as Coromandel, Kaikoura, Akaroa etc hotels don't usually feature as an accommodation option. 4 Star Hotel Our 4 star hotel range is immense and each one is selected and recommended for its location and room types. Many of the hotels in this category have a range of room styles such as standard/deluxe/superior, lake view, mountain view, suites etc. Many also have 2 and 3 bedroom suites which can offer great value for a larger family or group travelling together. 4 star hotels generally have swimming pools, gyms, a choice of restaurants
and in most cases are a little closer to town centres or occupy premium positions over a 3 star property. Bed & Breakfast Bed & Breakfast properties in New Zealand are often quoted by our guests as some of the best they have experienced. A far cry from simply taking a room in some ones house the owners and operators have made a dedicated effort to share their little piece of New Zealand with you while providing modern hospitality and comfort. All the properties we recommend have en suite bathrooms and very comfortable and private bedrooms. Occupying enviable positions or situated in a great suburb close to the action these properties are often owned and hosted by enthusiastic kiwi ambassadors and will definitely be a highlight of your New Zealand experience. Premium Bed & Breakfast Premium Bed & Breakfast offer every hospitality that our famous B&B's do but with that extra level of luxury. Properties are sometimes purpose built or historic and unique homes converted to accommodate their guests in premium quality surroundings. Luxury Lodges and Hotels New Zealand is world famous for its luxury and exclusive lodges and hotels. Ranging from some of the finest city centre cosmopolitan properties to purpose built lodges occupying prime locations in fantastic positions. Luxury Lodges in New Zealand afford guests every comfort and service. Often inclusive of dinner their in house chefs prepare some of the finest cuisine in the country and you dine amongst some of the finest settings. Lodges also provide services such as local fishing and hunting guides, walking guides, helicopter tours, in house massage and treatment facilities plus much more. Our luxury and 5 star hotels are globally recognised as some of the best. Our tip - look for overall value and location. remember a saving of NZ$20 a night can soon be swallowed up in parking and extra fuel charges. What type of car should you drive? We use a variety of rental vehicles for our tours from small economy cars to large 4WD and 8 seat people movers. The following factors and information will help you decide what's best for you. Size: The first factor to determine the style of car to drive is how many people are travelling. Another factor is luggage and the space you might need for this. A good example is that a large saloon will comfortably seat 4 adults but won't fit 4 large suitcases plus small bags into the boot. Fuel efficiency: The smaller the car the more fuel efficient this will be is the general rule. Some of the larger 4WD vehicles and people movers have diesel engines and these can be quite efficient. Diesel is also significantly cheaper than petrol in New Zealand. While a
specific engine type cant be guaranteed we can place a request or preference for this on your behalf. Manual or automatic: There isn't a lot of choice here as the majority of rental car fleets are automatic (as are most cars in NZ). Some categories such as compact or intermediate do offer a manual gearbox if you prefer a manual gearbox this may also mean an increase in car rental cost. Insurance: All our rental cars come with insurance cover. There is a maximum excess or deductible which you are liable for and this ranges between NZ$345 and NZ$450 depending on the rental car company and the type of vehicle. This will be clearly stated on your itinerary and quote from us. Insurance cover does have a few exclusions such as damage to tyres and windscreens and these details are also specified. In order to rent a vehicle a bond to cover the excess or deductible is requested by the rental company on delivery or collection of the vehicle. This is usually in the form of a credit card authorisation. Who can drive: There are few restrictions on who can drive the rental car with the main one being no-one under the age of 21. Each driver must also have a valid driving licence (i.e. valid for the category of vehicle) and the licence must be printed in English. If it isnt then you should obtain an international permit locally. Each driver must present their licence to be covered by insurance and listed as an authorised driver. Navigating New Zealand: Getting around is quite straightforward particularly once you leave the cities. Roads are well signposted for example Mt Cook is signposted virtually all the way from Christchurch. Coupled with the fact that there are few other roads once in the countryside then getting around is a doddle. GPS units can be useful for city driving and finding that tricky hotel entrance and for planning estimated arrival times on longer journeys. Coupled with our excellent map and guide books and simple driving instructions within your final itinerary we think finding your way will be easy. Our advice - choose a car that has enough space. Consider how long you will be spending in it and how much luggage you might have.
What to do in New Zealand: New Zealand offers virtually every activity and interest imaginable and some you wouldn't even dream possible. From horse back riding to hiking, fly fishing to farm tours, steam ship to steam trains and of course our natural scenery and our unique cultures. Many activities can be region or island specific. An example might be if you wished to experience a Maori cultural performance the best choices would be found in Rotorua with a few others offered in Auckland or Bay of Islands. As at writing there are very few options for this on the South Island. Walking and Hiking can be enjoyed almost everywhere and the extensive national and regional parks make this very easy to do. Fishing - depending on the style of fishing you like then some regions are more well known than others. Bay of Islands is considered one of the best big game spots in the world while Central South Island, Otago and Fiordland have the best trout rivers. With such a variety of experiences if you have a specific interest or a wish list then this could influence where you need to visit. Our tip - if you have specific interests or wishes let us know and we can incorporate them into a tour or itinerary for you. What to wear: New Zealand is a very laid back country and you wouldn't be out of place enjoying dinner at a fine restaurant wearing jeans and a shirt. There isn't really a definitive answer other than whatever you feel comfortable in. Practicality is also a key thing to consider. Remember depending on the length of visit you may need to do some laundry. Plan this into your trip or better still get us to do it for you. Take into consideration the temperatures you will experience and plan accordingly. The most effective method is layers. Having the ability to add or remove thinner layers as needed works best. Our tip: Practicality and comfort is the New Zealand way. Don't over pack, plan the laundry stops and leave some space for all those nice New Zealand souvenirs you will probably end up buying. What else to pack: The answer to this is based on some of the most common questions we get asked. If you have a more specific requirement then just let us know. Hairdryers - most accommodations will have a hairdryer. If its an absolute must to use one every day then just check with us to make sure that's the case at each property.
Voltage adapters - NZ works on 240 volts so check that anything you wish to bring along also works on this. Most cameras and electronics are dual voltage but might need the adapter so don't forget that. If in doubt just check with the supplier. Medication - if you have a specific medication and need to check its availability here we can do that for you. Check with your prescribing doctor to see what paperwork you might need to obtain it here. Internet and telephones A very common question is what is the best way to access the internet in New Zealand. Most accommodations offer wifi or in room access to internet. There may be a charge for this. Alternatively you can rent or buy 3G wireless internet access from larger providers such as Vodafone. While this gives you greater flexibility and most likely will be more cost effective if you need daily or lots of access, bear in mind that you are reliant on the 3G coverage. In smaller towns this might be limited or slow. In the South Island the mountainous and remote nature might mean no coverage at all (for example there is no Vodafone coverage on Stewart Island). Cell phone coverage is as above. Most of the country has coverage with the exception of remote towns and the restrictions that the mountain regions might place on the signals. Most cell phones have the capability to roam (use another providers network) while in New Zealand but these costs can be high. Check this out with your cell phone provider before deciding to use it here. A great alternative is to use one of our cell phones. For a small fee we can provide you with a local cell phone and number. The cost is usually the amount of credit that is on the phone i.e. cost of NZ$50 to rent the phone will have NZ$50 worth of phone calls. This is usually sufficient for most visitors to stay in touch with friends and family, make dinner reservations and as its an NZ number receiving calls or receiving text messages from friends and family costs you nothing. Our tip - think about what your needs really are - if accessing the internet once a week is all you need then use an internet café. If you need to stay in touch by phone then using one of ours might be the most economical way. Money The official currency is the New Zealand dollar. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere for almost anything from buying a newspaper to paying for a helicopter flight. Accessing cash is easy through a large network of ATM machines. Travellers cheques are becoming less popular as to get the best exchange rate you need a bank and they aren't always open. Our tip - check what services your credit card supplier can offer. Many now allow you to preload a card with the currency of the country you are visiting. This saves
you on currency conversion fees and the security and service offered by credit card companies could be invaluable. The main planning tips for your visit to New Zealand 1. Decide when you want to travel that best fits your needs i.e. season, pricing etc. 2. Decide how long you need to spend in New Zealand to experience the places and things you would like to. 3. Decide what style of accommodation and car would best suit you - remember you can mix it up. 4. Start your planning early and book early. This means you generally get the best price and the best choice. Accommodation Our self drive tours are categorised into different accommodation styles however we can create a tour that mixes any and all styles to suit you. So if you want a tour that offers great value in convenient locations but with a few nights of absolute luxury we can do it. In fact we can create just about any combination. Just drop us an email amor give us a call and we will fix something up according to your needs. The accommodations we recommend for our tours are selected based on many different criteria. From ensuring good value to the best and most convenient location to providing you with a unique and satisfying stay we carefully choose the suggestions to match your requirements. Remember when selecting a property that while cost and value for money are important, other factors can sometimes add even more value or a much more satisfying experience. Occasionally for a small difference you can be located in a more central location or have breakfast included in your tariff or you could be assured of the rooms with the best view. This is where our expertise and first hand knowledge is invaluable. All the properties and rooms we suggest have en suite bathrooms and are all nonsmoking. All of our tours and itineraries contain links to the properties own web sites so you can check them out and judge for yourself. Some of the accommodation categories or descriptions may not be familiar to you or in your home country so to explain what you can expect to receive the following descriptions will help with your decisions. Price scale $ - $$$$$ indicates an approximate comparison in cost ranges. Adding actual dollar values to the scale is difficult as this varies from city to city and season to season. The variation in pricing also doesn't necessarily mean a variation in quality. it might mean a variation in the facilities on offer or the location.
Motels $ - $$ The motels we recommend in New Zealand are of a very high standard. Services and facilities on offer in some cases be compared with hotels. Costs can also be comparable particularly in the small popular locations such as Kaikoura and the West Coast Glaciers where accommodation options and types are limited. One of the most useful features of motel accommodations are the self contained facilities. At minimum a studio unit will have cooking utensils, a hot plate and or microwave, toaster, kettle and crockery and cutlery. Other room types will have more comprehensive facilities such as a full kitchen. This is great if you prefer to prepare your own meals. Other facilities can include saunas, spas and swimming pools and some also offer a full breakfast service. Motels also have a good choice of room types such as2 bedroom or family units making them a very economical choice for a family or larger group. Our motels are generally owned and operated by locals who have a genuine interest in their region and are keen to share it with you. Mid range combination $$ - $$$ We created this separate category to provide tours that offer value for money and benefits for the selected location. These tours use a combination of motels, hotels (both 3 and 4 star), self contained chalets and cabins and bed and breakfast properties. The properties are chosen as the most suitable for the specific location rather than confining to a specific type. 3 Star Hotel $ - $$$ The star rating for hotels only generally applies to the facilities and services a hotel may have at your disposal and not necessarily the quality or value of those services. This is where our local first hand knowledge makes your selection easier. Throughout New Zealand there are some great 3 star hotels that offer great service in great locations. Even within the same hotel some room types and hotel wings vary enormously and so our tours only use and recommend the type that we know to be the best to suit your requirements. All our 3 star hotels have restaurant facilities and we can include meals in our tour costs if you prefer. Note however that smaller destinations such as Coromandel, Kaikoura, Akaroa etc hotels don't usually feature as an accommodation option. 4 Star Hotel $$ - $$$$ Our 4 star hotel range is immense and each one is selected and recommended for its location and room types. Many of the hotels in this category have a range of room styles such as standard/deluxe/superior, lake view, mountain view, suites etc. Many also have 2 and 3 bedroom suites which can offer great value for a larger family or group travelling together. 4 star hotels generally have swimming pools, gyms, a choice of restaurants and in most cases are a little closer to town centres or occupy premium positions over a 3 star property.
Bed & Breakfast $ - $$$ Bed & Breakfast properties in New Zealand are often quoted by our guests as some of the best they have experienced. A far cry from simply taking a room in some ones house the owners and operators have made a dedicated effort to share their little piece of New Zealand with you while providing modern hospitality and comfort. All the properties we recommend have en suite bathrooms and very comfortable and private bedrooms. Occupying enviable positions or situated in a great suburb close to the action these properties are often owned and hosted by enthusiastic kiwi ambassadors and will definitely be a highlight of your New Zealand experience. Premium Bed & Breakfast $$-$$$$ Premium Bed & Breakfast offer every hospitality that our famous B&B's do but with that extra level of luxury. Properties are sometimes purpose built or historic and unique homes converted to accommodate their guests in premium quality surroundings. Luxury Lodges and Hotels $$$$-$$$$ New Zealand is world famous for its luxury and exclusive lodges and hotels. Ranging from some of the finest city centre cosmopolitan properties to purpose built lodges occupying prime locations in fantastic positions. Luxury Lodges in New Zealand afford guests every comfort and service. Often inclusive of dinner their in house chefs prepare some of the finest cuisine in the country and you dine amongst some of the finest settings. Lodges also provide services such as local fishing and hunting guides, walking guides, helicopter tours, in house massage and treatment facilities plus much more. Our luxury and 5 star hotels are globally recognised as some of the best. Driving in New Zealand Driving Times and Distances The distances we have quoted in your itinerary are approximate and based on the most direct route. The driving times quoted are based on an average of 80 kph without stops. Im many cases you will take longer to travel the distances quoted particularly if you want to enjoy the scenery or explore a little more. Don't underestimate the times and distances. Driving Licence You must have a VALID driving licence from Malaysia. If you wish, you can also go to JPJ and ask them to give you an international driving licence - for a minimum fee. Seat Belts Seat Belts save lives. By law, everyone in the vehicle (front and back seats) must use a seatbelt or approved child restraint.
Keep Left Drive on the left at all times. On multi-lane highways, keep to the far left (slower) lane, particularly after overtaking. Speed Limits On the open road, the maximum speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour. In cities and towns, the maximum is 50 kilometres per hour. Exceptions occur, for example around road works, so be alert for signs (on the left of the road) that tell you to lower your speed. Road Signs STOP - You must stop, and then give way to traffic approaching from the right or left. GIVE WAY - Slow down; Stop if traffic is approaching from right or left, and give way to all traffic including those opposite if you are turning left. No Passing Lines You must not pass another moving vehicle where a solid yellow line appears on your side of the centre line. Passing Lanes On the open road, be patient and wait for passing lanes, which make it easy and safe to pass slow vehicles. Courteous Driving You may be unfamiliar with the roads or simply in no rush at all. Don't hold up other traffic as this can cause other drivers to take risks. When and only when it is safe to do so just pull off the road to allow other cars to pass. Motorways On a motorway you must not: Walk or cycle Stop your vehicle (unless in an emergency) Make a U Turn Always indicate for at least 3 seconds before changing lanes. If you need to make an emergency stop, signal your intention and stop your vehicle as far as practicable to the left. Turn on your warning lights until help arrives. Country Driving Country roads may have hidden dangers. Be on the look out for loose stones, ice and single-lane bridges. When you reach a scenic attraction, don't drive and look at the same time. Never stop on a corner, no matter how tempting the view. In a country with 40 million sheep, look out for livestock being herded along the roads, proceed very slowly.
Speed Cameras & Random Breath Testing DO NOT DRIVE IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL AND KEEP WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT AT ALL TIMES. Random breath testing is carried out and heavy penalties apply for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Speed Cameras produce an automatic fine, which is your responsibility as the vehicle renter. What to do in an Accident Stop and check if anyone has been injured. Give all the practical help you can and call an ambulance. If Police Officers have not attended the accident, and injury is involved, you must contact the Police within 24 hours. If the accident involves damage to property (eg a farmer's fence) and the owners cannot be located, contact the Police within 48 hours Fill in an Accident Report Form. Include the name, address, vehicle registration number and insurance company of any other person involved. For your protection, you should not admit liability under any circumstances. Immediately notify the rental car company. We wish you a safe journey and hope you will have a lasting impression on the beauty and splendour that New Zealand will offer.