New Zealand Road Trip
Discussion
After recently watching a Brit ride a Harley round both the main islands on TV I've convinced Mrs K it would be a great idea to do a touring holiday.
We'd like to do it in a roadster is that a good idea?
Struggling to find a hire company with one though!
Any ideas, do's or don'ts the massed PH wisdom can share?
We'd like to do it in a roadster is that a good idea?
Struggling to find a hire company with one though!
Any ideas, do's or don'ts the massed PH wisdom can share?
Christchurch to Queenstown, via the west coast road ranks as my best drive anywhere in the world. Constantly changing and jaw dropping scenery. Quiet and extremely involving roads with plenty of places to stop off and visit (I recommend taking a walk on one of the glaciers)
I would have loved to have driven further south towards Milford sound but time (and my wife's growing displeasure at my sprited driving) meant that'll be a trip for another occasion
I would have loved to have driven further south towards Milford sound but time (and my wife's growing displeasure at my sprited driving) meant that'll be a trip for another occasion
Take a look at www.conceptcarhire.co.nz for more interesting rental cars...
Suggest Coromandel and Awhitu peninsulas, on opposite sides of the north island, both with very challenging and scenic roads.
Also well worth heading up to the top of the north island to Bay of Islands area and Ninety mile beach.
Beware of local lunatic drivers, tourists in camper vans, tour buses, more so in the south island...
Note many back roads are gravel in parts of the country and hire companies might not cover you for driving on them - check the paperwork.
Also well worth heading up to the top of the north island to Bay of Islands area and Ninety mile beach.
Beware of local lunatic drivers, tourists in camper vans, tour buses, more so in the south island...
Note many back roads are gravel in parts of the country and hire companies might not cover you for driving on them - check the paperwork.
I've seen this place advertised in the MX-5 club magazine, might be worth a look.
One piece of advice is that you're probably going to have to do a round trip.
Most hire companies in NZ I have come across don't let you start in one island and drop the vehicle off in the other. This means either staying on the one island or doing a big loop back on yourself.
Sounds like fun though (very jealous)!
Most hire companies in NZ I have come across don't let you start in one island and drop the vehicle off in the other. This means either staying on the one island or doing a big loop back on yourself.
Sounds like fun though (very jealous)!
howdycar said:
One piece of advice is that you're probably going to have to do a round trip.
Most hire companies in NZ I have come across don't let you start in one island and drop the vehicle off in the other. This means either staying on the one island or doing a big loop back on yourself.
Sounds like fun though (very jealous)!
Good pointMost hire companies in NZ I have come across don't let you start in one island and drop the vehicle off in the other. This means either staying on the one island or doing a big loop back on yourself.
Sounds like fun though (very jealous)!
I'm toying with a couple of weeks in an MX5
howdycar said:
Most hire companies in NZ I have come across don't let you start in one island and drop the vehicle off in the other. This means either staying on the one island or doing a big loop back on yourself.
When we visited NZ we flew into Auckland, drove around the north island and dropped the vehicle off near the ferry to the south island. Used ferry as foot passengers (MUCH cheaper than taking a car!) and collected another vehicle at the ferry terminal. Dropped this one at Christchurch and flew from there 
Be aware that the police do actually enforce the speed limits (only 100kph max.) in NZ, and that can be in the middle of nowhere as well as in towns. They are quite enthusiastic actually.
I got nicked a couple of times when I first moved there until I got the idea. Was also in a car with others and got ticketed by a cop we could hardly see, on an open road with no traffic in the middle of the north island somewhere early in the morning.
Also random roadside controls to check such as warrant of fitness (MoT), registration, seatbelt wearing, alcohol testing, etc.
Driving in the UK it's easy to get used to minimal-to-non-existent law enforcement and drive accordingly...
I got nicked a couple of times when I first moved there until I got the idea. Was also in a car with others and got ticketed by a cop we could hardly see, on an open road with no traffic in the middle of the north island somewhere early in the morning.
Also random roadside controls to check such as warrant of fitness (MoT), registration, seatbelt wearing, alcohol testing, etc.
Driving in the UK it's easy to get used to minimal-to-non-existent law enforcement and drive accordingly...
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