Driving In New Zealand: 11 Must-Know Laws And Tips 2022

Author: Tessa Mager Read Time: 9 minutes

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When planning a New Zealand trip, there is one thing you will not be able to get around… Travelling from A to B. New Zealand roads are unique with windy turns and narrow surfaces. Becoming used to driving can require a bit of mental preparation. To make it easy for you, we collected all the must-know laws and tips when it comes to driving in New Zealand.

Driving In New Zealand 2022: 11 Must-Know Laws And Tips

1. Driving in New Zealand… Left or Right?

Depending on where you are flying in from you are either used to driving on the left or on the right side of the road. In New Zealand, they drive on the left side of the road. This means if you come from a country where you drive on the right side, you might be in for quite a ride! Most rentals will have a reminder sticker on the dashboard with an arrow showing you to keep left. However, if this isn’t present, you might want to put some sort of reminder up yourself.

Most damage and accidents involving tourists come from this change in driving. Things like, going the wrong way on a roundabout (traffic circle) or looking left first instead of right, are on top of the list.

This might confuse you more than it helps you, but I always repeat in my head ‘the left side is the right side and the right side is the left side’. Take it or leave it 😉

2. Don’t believe the speed limit on district roads

There are two different types of roads in New Zealand, state highways and local roads. Highways are spacious, well-marked, and often have safety barriers separating each side. The speed limit on these highways is 100km/h (62 mi/h).

However, the speed limit on local roads is often 100km/h too, even when these roads don’t even have a centre line! We do not recommend this speed limit. Local roads are often windy, narrow, missing centre lines, and will not have safety barriers. Therefore, stick to a maximum of 80km/h on these roads no matter what the sign says.

3. Rent from a good rental car company

The last thing you want on your holiday is getting stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Having a reliable rental car can make all the difference in the world. Saving $200 might sound like a good deal at the onset but will lose its charm when you are trekking 2 kilometres up a hill trying to find cell reception to call AAA.

If you want to save money, consider visiting New Zealand in July as car rentals will be about 31% cheaper compared to renting a car in February. Other tips to save a few bucks are booking your rental well in advance and straight from the airport depot.

Prices for rental cars vary from $56 per day for a small car to $149 per day for SUVs. A great website to compare all available rental cars is Discovercars. Here you can check the prices of 500+ rental car providers!

Compare Rental Car Prices Here.

4. Add extra time to your trip

One thing you will soon realise is that driving in New Zealand takes a bit longer than what you might be used to. Due to the windy roads and lower speed limits you will need to calculate extra time into your trip.

For example, from Auckland to New Chums Beach might only be 186 kilometres (116 miles), it will take at least 3 hours (including a break) to get there. If you are driving from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo (257 km/ 160 miles) you can expect to be underway for about 3.5 hours or longer.

New Zealand is a beautiful country to explore by road so take your time to enjoy all the vistas. Add 25% more time on top of your trip when checking the time on Google Maps so you don’t have to rush and take unnecessary risks.

5. How to cross a one-lane bridge

Before coming to New Zealand we had never before crossed a one-lane bridge. Now, not a week goes by that we don’t at least cross one. One-lane bridges can be a little intimidating and confusing so pay attention.

The most important thing is to know when you need to give way. The give-way sign will have a red ring, a dead giveaway. The red arrow will be pointing away from you meaning the opposite direction has the right of way. There will be a stop line on the road showing where you have to wait.

Make sure no other cars are heading in your direction before moving onto the bridge. Having to reverse off the narrow bridge is no fun.

Normally, the direction that has the longest view of the road ahead and the bridge will be the one giving way as you will be able to see the other cars coming.

If you have the right of way, your sign will be a blue square sign with a white arrow pointing away from you. When the red arrow is pointing towards you it shows the other direction needs to give way.

Don’t take it for granted though that the other direction will actually give way and always be careful. Never slam your brakes abruptly as there might be people behind you expecting you to proceed.

A good tip is to always look far ahead to get a good read of the situation before you are actually in it.

Don’t forget to enjoy the one-lane bridges as they are often scenic and unique.

6. Do NOT drink and drive

Even though the acceptable limit of BAC (Blood Alcohol Level) in New Zealand is 0.05% we would not recommend you drink and drive. There are plenty of options such as public transport, Uber, Taxi or simply grabbing a bike to get you from A to B when planning to have a couple of drinks.

If you insist on drinking, 0.05% equates to 2 standard drinks. Going over the legal limit could result in a fine or losing your visa. Even getting arrested is an option.

7. Safe money by using Transfercar

If you looking to save a few bucks, you might want to consider using Transfercar while you are in New Zealand. This service offers rental cars for free in return for you relocating the vehicle from A to B.

For example, there might be a rental vehicle from Avis that was dropped off at Auckland airport but needs to make its way back to the fleet in Christchurch. Transfercar will then post this car on their website. They will also tell you how many days you can take to get the car to the destination. If you want to use the car for more than the allocated days they will offer you a reduced rental rate.

Other benefits are that they might give you a free tank of fuel (who doesn’t want that right about now?!) and sometimes they even throw in a ferry ticket. My favourite part is that you usually get to drive much nicer cars than would have been available within your rental budget range.

Important to note

Before you can request a booking you will have to enter your credit card details. The reason for this is that in the past, Transfercar has seen a very high percentage of no-show drivers. This obviously will cause issues for their clients, the rental car operators. To avoid this in the future they now ask for card details to charge a no-show fee if necessary.

There will be small extra costs for things such as full insurance and adding an extra driver but these are optional. We have only had good experiences with Transfercar and can’t recommend this service enough.

If you are looking for other good ways to travel around New Zealand make sure you check out our post ‘7 best ways to travel around New Zealand’.

8. Look ahead and keep your eyes moving

As we’ve mentioned a couple of times already, driving in New Zealand can be challenging. It might be tempting to keep your eyes glued to your immediate surroundings but this could cause you to miss early warning signs. The golden target is to try and keep your eyes moving every two seconds.

Keeping your eyes moving means that you maximise your central and peripheral vision. Your central vision alone is sharper but your peripheral vision is more sensitive to light and motion. Exactly what you want when driving. Because you are constantly changing your area of focus it will keep your early warning system engaged which is extremely important for New Zealand roads. In addition, it keeps your mind alert, no automatic pilot taking over here!

Finally, it increases your ability to see many things in advance, making you quick to react when needed. Just remember… When your vision is fixed a bit tight, move your eyes from side to side 😉

9. Keep extra distance on the windy roads

Most of us have been taught to keep a 3-second following distance which in most cases is a good safety buffer. However, on the windy New Zealand roads, it is not uncommon for people to hit the brakes just before a sharp corner or when passing oncoming traffic on a narrow road. To make sure you always have plenty of room to slow down, keep 4 seconds between you and the car in front.

A bit rusty on how to figure out how many seconds following distance you have? Look at the broken centre line. When the back wheels of the car in front pass one of the lines, start counting twenty-one, twenty-two, until your car reaches that same line. If you made it to twenty-four, you have a good following distance.

Not possible to increase your following distance? Decrease your speed. The sign is there to show the maximum speed, not a target you need to hit. Especially on windy roads through the mountains, there will be overtaking lanes for cars wanting to pass you, so don’t let anyone rush you!

10. Rest frequently

Being adequately rested when jumping behind the wheel seems to be the slogan in every driving campaign across the globe. But do we actually take heed? As you have read in the points above, driving in New Zealand can be challenging and shouldn’t be attempted when tired.

When we are tired we overlook important details, are slower in our reaction speed, and are easily agitated by fellow road users. None of these makes a good driver. Instead, take advantage of the opportunity and visit any of the multitudes of cafes along your route. Stop at a scenic viewpoint and stretch your legs while taking in the vistas. Maybe you could even calculate some extra time and stop at something quirky or historic spots along the way.

No matter what you want to do while taking a break, just make sure you take them! At least every two hours of driving you should have a 10-minute rest.

11. Plan ahead!

What makes New Zealand so beautiful is also what can make it tricky. The long outstretched patches of nothingness could get you into trouble when not planning ahead. Below are 3 important things to consider before hitting the road.

Cell reception

Cellphone reception can be far and few between when driving through valleys, mountain passes, and farmland. This also means you won’t be able to call for help when you get a flat tyre. Neither can you complete a Google map search and calculate your route. So before you leave the town borders, make sure you have planned your route and checked your tyre pressure.

Radio coverage

This might not be life or death but you could still get into serious trouble with your fellow passenger. No one likes going on a 3 hour drive with a crackling radio or utter silence. We recommend you download your favourite music to play offline on your music streaming app of choice. Or even better, go all out and create a road trip playlist, and go from zero to hero with your fellow passengers!

Petrol / Charging Stations

Being stuck on the side of the road with no fuel is not our idea of a good time. Especially in New Zealand where the nearest petrol station can be a solid 20km hike. Better be safe than sorry and fuel up when your tank hits its last quarter.

We have had a bad experience where our rental car indicated that we had 0 km left on our fuel tank while the nearest town was still 13km ahead! We managed to get by with a prayer and very fuel-efficient driving but we wouldn’t wish those nervous 20 minutes on anyone.

Driving an electric vehicle can prove to be extra tricky as charging stations are still a bit scarce and the hilly terrain demanding on the battery of the vehicle. Check your route for charging stations and plan accordingly.

Is Driving in New Zealand Difficult?

After reading this post we might have led you to believe that driving in New Zealand is difficult. However, we believe it is not so much a case of it being difficult but rather that it requires an adaptation to the driving style you might be used to.

As long as you keep a safe distance, drive to the conditions, and take your time, you should be absolutely fine. Oh, and of course, remember to keep left! Driving in New Zealand isn’t difficult, it’s just different. And that is exactly why some people get a bit nervous when driving these roads. There is no need to be though! Trust that all the road signs will give you the information that you need to stay safe. That is what they are there for after all…

Just don’t let anyone rush you and take breaks when you need them. You will be alright, we promise.

Who Is Allowed To Drive In New Zealand?

The short answer is… Most people that hold a valid driver’s license, and have done so for at least 2 years, will be allowed to drive in New Zealand. For visitors who stay in New Zealand for 12 months or less, the authorities recognise valid foreign driver’s licenses if they are printed in a Latin alphabet.

However, if your driver’s license doesn’t have a photograph on it, you might need to get an IDP (International Driving Permit). Make sure you carry your original at all times as well. You might be asked to show both your IDP and license issued by your own country.

Can I Drive In New Zealand With A US License?

Yes, since a US license shows a photograph and is printed in the Latin alphabet, you can drive in New Zealand with a US license. The conditions are that you have had your license for longer than 2 years and that you are visiting New Zealand for 12 months or less. Of course, your license needs to be valid for the vehicle you are driving and can’t be expired.

Can I Drive In New Zealand With An Australian License?

Granted that your license is current and you haven’t been given a disqualification or suspension within New Zealand, you will be able to drive in New Zealand using your Australian license. If you are planning to stay longer than 12 months you will need to get your Australian license converted to a New Zealand License.

What Are The Road Conditions Like In New Zealand?

In summary, it would be good to note again that driving in New Zealand might not be what you are used to. Many of the roads here are windy, narrow, and not always well marked. Because we do get snow and frost in New Zealand, it is important you check the current conditions of your route so you can take precautionary measures such as snow chains when needed.

Other conditions that can impact your travel are road works (there are many!) and slips and falls. Slips occur mostly in wet periods when the above-lying soil comes loose and slides down onto the road beneath, sometimes closing entire sections. Falls can happen when rocks get dislodged and make their way down the hill, often leaving a path of destruction. Keep a close eye on any signs alerting you of potentially hazardous areas. Don’t stop in these areas if you don’t have to.

On the website of the New Zealand Travel Agency, you will be able to plan your journey and see what the current road conditions and potential bottlenecks are.