New Zealand Car Rental

If you’re visiting New Zealand a rental car is one of the best ways to get around. New Zealand is a small country but has the astounding geographic diversity of a major continent squeezed into its small size. For example, within 3- 4 hours drive of Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city, are sub-tropical beaches, volcanic mountains with ski fields, boiling mud pools, ancient forests, unspoiled trout fishing rivers and world class golf courses.

Having a rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want.

Driving in New Zealand

For most overseas visitors driving in New Zealand is a breeze because, compared to what they are used to, there is surprisingly little traffic on the roads – especially in the South Island. Whilst New Zealand is about the size of UK its population is only 4 million – UK by comparison has over 60 million.

Another difference is the limited number of motorways and freeways. Roads are generally only 2-laned and frequently windy due to the ever changing landscape. In New Zealand we drive on the left, as in UK. If you’re from America or another country that drives on the right then you might feel apprehensive about having to drive on the “wrong side of the road”. Don’t be – it’s straight-forward and tens of thousands of foreign visitors happily do it every year.

New Zealanders typically show a little less consideration to other drivers than is seen in UK, Australian, and the US where more cars on the road force people to be more considerate. Having said that, don’t be put off – driving in New Zealand is nothing like the harrowing experience of driving in Italy or parts of Asia!

New Zealand Car Rental Firms

New Zealand car rental firms range from the familiar multi-national big brands through to small local car rental firms. The advantage of the big name rental firms is they can be found throughout New Zealand and offer the biggest and newest range of rental vehicles. The disadvantage is that generally they’re the most expensive and often have lots of hidden costs.

At the other end of the scale are the small local operators who typically have older rental cars. Whilst you may not end up driving this year’s latest model the advantage is that the smaller car rental firms can be substantially cheaper, so leaving you more money to spend on the many exciting attractions New Zealand offers. Between these extremes you’ll find a wide range of NZ car rental firms catering to different needs and budgets.

What Sort of Driving Licenses are Required in New Zealand?

You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver’s license from your home country, or an International Driving Permit.

Most car rental companies require drivers to be over the age of 25 and to have held a full license for at least 3 years. Some firms will rent vehicles to younger drivers. For example, A2B Car Rentals rents vehicles to drivers who are 20 or older and hold a full driver’s license. At the manager’s discretion, a holder of a license for less than three years is acceptable but may incur a higher insurance excess.

Make sure your overseas driver’s license is current. If your license is not in English, you should bring an English translation with you or obtain an International Driving Permit. Contact your local automobile club for further details about obtaining a translation or an International Driving Permit.

In New Zealand it’s a legal requirement that all drivers, including overseas visitors, must carry their license or permit when driving. Naturally you will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country.

What are New Zealand’s Road Rules?

Here’s a brief over-view. You can get more details the NZ Government Land Transport Authority website (www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/)

· In New Zealand, all vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road as in UK.

· When turning left, give way (or yield) to traffic crossing or approaching from your right

· When the traffic light is red, you must stop

· Speed limits are strictly enforced by police using radar, speed cameras and un-marked patrol cars. Fines for speeding can be expensive

· The speed limit on the open road is 100 km/h (approx 60 mph)

· In built up areas the speed limit is 50 km/h. (approx 30 mph)

· Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times

In Summary

If you’re planning to visit New Zealand a rental car is one of the best options, especially for independent travelers who want to experience everything New Zealand has to offer. A rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want to enjoy this wonderful country.

New Zealand is probably one of the best places to take a trip to. It is a lovely, clean and richly bio diverse region and an exceedingly peaceful and accepting country but has strict visa schemes that must be abided by to gain permission to visit the country. Once permission has been granted finding accommodation is a piece of cake. Your choice of accommodation does for a large part depend on your purpose of visit.
If you are visiting New Zealand in a bid to live there on a near permanent basis for work or simply for a change of location then the first thing you need to do is obtain a residency visa or a residency permit (they are the same thing). Locating a reliable real estate company or agency to help you locate and lay claim to a good piece of property is crucial. Real estate is a competitive business in New Zealand and so it is extremely important to gauge the market and find an agency, agent or company you can trust to make you a good deal. This can be done with great facility via the Internet or via any contacts you might have in the region. Remember that business is a slippery game, though and to always appropriately repay any such services you might receive.
For people on a working holiday or people that are sightseeing or touring and have a more temporary itinerary there are a number of other options available.
Hotels, bed and breakfast inns, cottages, cabins, beach resorts in the traditional Kiwi style, and beach houses, farmhouses, holiday homes, hostels, motels. They are easily available (though at high rental rates) and are also largely self-catering thus eliminating your accommodation and sustenance worries in a single blow. Most of these places also offer discounts that can and should be availed of. The rental rates in New Zealand are comparatively very high as is the real estate market due to the property or housing bubble that exists in the country.
A lot of these temporary holiday homes are usually homes that are being rented to visitors when the owners are no using them. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit one’s tastes and can be located all over the country in any part of it that is necessary. New Zealand is on the whole a very clean and well-maintained country and almost any living arrangement will be suitable and comfortable. They do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage of personal property; injuries though so caution is necessary.
Another more feasible option is choosing to live in a youth hostel. Youth hostels are a comfortable and budget friendly option to travelers tight on money. New Zealand is associated with the International Youth Hostel Federation and so has many youth hostels nationwide that are open to travelers from all over the world twenty-four hours a day. They are completely modern and updated with laundry facilities, a Travel desk (to provide guests with any required advice and transport information), Internet access and kitchens where guests are free to cater to them. Booking can be done online, off the official website, or via telephone or email. Advance booking is generally wise especially during the summer, which is when accommodations are full, and your stay could be limited.

New Zealand – a country with superb landscapes and beautiful vistas – is commonly used by movie production companies as a location to film their  next biggest hit. The Academy Award trilogy blockbuster, The Lord of the Rings, was filmed entirely at many various locations throughout the country. The director, New Zealander Peter Jackson who won the Oscar as the best-director for the third instalment, stated that there was no other country on earth which could provide the scenery that would do justice in transforming the J. R. Tolkien’s epic novel from book-form to the big screen. New Zealand company, Weta Workshop, also won several Oscars in the special-effects category for their innovative works on the movies.

With a population that has only recently exceeded four million, New Zealand has been the butt of jokes primarily from it’s nearest neighbour Australia because there are approximately 60 million sheep. Throughout it’s history, New Zealand’s economy has been based on farming, agriculture and timber industries. In more recent times, while these industries continue to remain an important contributor to the economy, New Zealand’s innovative and creative psyche and culture has created many other industries that are actively making a significant input to the economy. It is a small modern country which more than holds it’s position against much larger and more populous countries in terms of lifestyle, living conditions, environmental sustainability and human rights for all it’s peoples.

As a proud and very patriotic New Zealander, I accept that my views and opinions will be seen by many as biased and one-eyed – I absolutely make no apologies for this. I have travelled abroad to many countries such as USA, UK, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Iran. It is my firm belief that we must all get out of our comfort zone by visiting other countries to experience other cultures. It is then that we will have a full appreciation of what we have and take for granted in our own homeland. That said, I urge all readers of this article to seriously consider New Zealand as a viable option to visit, as a tourist or simply to relax and recharge. Due to it’s isolated position deep in the Pacific Ocean, it is a long distance to travel for many, e.g. appproximately 24 hours flight time from the UK depending on travel routes and stopovers. If the reader contemplating visiting New Zealand is a member of an air-miles scheme, the points you acquire will be huge.

I recommend to all readers to check out an amazing report that provides comprehensive information on many factors to consider when visiting New Zealand. You will find information on:

• Visa requirements,
• Driving in New Zealand,
• New Zealand culture,
• New Zealand lifestyle and
• A wealth of information on living, working or investing in New Zealand.

Thanks and my appreciation to all readers of this article. Should you require further information on any matters contained in this article, please contact me at: caymanz@yahoo.co.nz and I will happily and gladly reply.

New Zealand is considered to be one of the youngest countries in the world, as it was the last major land mass to be discovered by Europeans. For a young country, New Zealand boasts many fascinating and important historical sites, a legacy of its original inhabitants, the Maori and also its years as a British colony.

The most important historical site in the country is at Waitangi on North Island, where a treaty was signed in 1840 between the Maori and the British, the site is considered to be the birthplace of New Zealand as a nation. The grounds cover 1000 acres and were a gift to the people of New Zealand by the governor at the time, Lord Bledisloe.

There are several highlights of any visit to Waitangi. Not to be missed are the Treaty House, the country’s oldest home, and built for New Zealand’s first resident. Te Whare Runanga is an elaborately carved Maori meeting house; and you can also marvel at one of the world’s largest ceremonial war canoes. Many visitors simply enjoy strolling around the beautiful grounds. If that inspires you, you can even get married at Waitangi.

Two of the oldest towns in New Zealand are situated in the area of the country known as the Bay of Islands, Russell and Kerikeri. Russell boasts an excellent small museum offering an overview of contact between the Maori and Europeans; as well as Christ Church, the oldest wooden church in New Zealand. Russell is also the site of one of the most infamous incidents in the country’s history, the chopping down of the ceremonial British flagpole by the Maori chief Hone Heke.

Kerikeri has the distinction of being the oldest European settlement in New Zealand. A stroll through the quaint streets of the town will show you both the oldest wooden building and the oldest stone building in the country. A couple of nearby historical sites give an insight into New Zealand’s history. Kororipo Pa is a well-preserved Maori fort; Rewa Village is a full scale reconstruction of a Maori fishing village.

Throughout New Zealand, there are many other reminders of the Maori, such as burial grounds, sacred sites and tribal meeting places. The area around Taranaki on the North Island is a particularly good place to visit if you want to learn about the Maori culture, the small settlement at Parihaka was the largest Maori village in the region during the 19th century. There is also a monument to the Maori leader Maui Pomare, as well as the remains of several Maori forts, known as pa.

Wellington has been New Zealand’s capital since 1865 and boasts several historic buildings and sites, many dating from its days as an early European settlement. You can take one of several walking tours of Wellington which take in such historic sites as the birthplace of Katherine Mansfield, the country’s most famous author; and the Dominion Observatory, which once kept the time for the entire country.

Much of the country’s more recent history has been shaped at the Parliament buildings complex. Not to be missed if you are in Wellington are the Old Government building, the second largest wooden building in the world, and the National Library of New Zealand, with its books, maps and other documents. Also, not too far away, you can see one of the country’s most important and famous documents, the actual Treaty of Waitangi, on display at the National Archives building.

Nearly all visitors traveling to New Zealand by air arrive in Auckland, the country’s largest city. Although Auckland is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, it is worth taking the time to seek out some of the area’s historic sites. One of Auckland’s most beautiful buildings is Alberton, an ornate Victorian mansion dating from 1863, which offers a glimpse into how the wealthy lived 150 years ago.

Another historic home in the Auckland area is Highwic; a wooden house built in the Gothic style and filled with antiques. In order to gain some insight into the important role the sea has played in the lives of New Zealanders, visit the National Maritime Museum. Not only can you look at exhibits spanning 1,000 years, you can sail on them. The historic ship Ted Ashby offers rides several times a week.

Admittedly, many people visit New Zealand for the spectacular and dramatic scenery, and the chance to experience the great outdoors at its very best. However, if you are lucky enough to visit New Zealand, do not overlook the country’s proud and fascinating history.

Auckland, New Zealand is the most populated of all of the New Zealand cities and is home to many different ethnicities. This is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and the weather is usually mild throughout the year in Auckland. There are many Auckland, New Zealand events that take place throughout the year to attract visitors. Some of them include the famous Avondale Fleamarket, the Kapa Haka Theater, the Auckland Art Festival, the Annual Auckland Sail Parade as well as many others. There is literally something for everyone when it comes to Auckland, New Zealand events.

Avondale Flea Market

If you are looking for bargains, you can shop at the Avondale Flea Market, the largest flea market in Auckland and an attraction that brings in thousands of visitors each year. The Avondale Flea Market takes place in the Avondale area of the city on every weekend. Not only can you find good buys on electronic equipment, but you can also experience some of the food that New Zealand is well known for. If you are looking for a true taste of New Zealand, as well as looking for the opportunity to get some bargains, then you need to visit the Avondale Flea Market.

Kapa Haka Theater

The Kapa Haka Theater is one of the traditional Maori theatres in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand is the home to the Maori people, although today is has been inhabited by people of all cultures. The Maori traditions still survive in the Kapa Haka theatre. If you are looking for a bit of traditional New Zealand culture, you will enjoy the Kapa Haka Theater that celebrates Maori traditions.

Auckland Art Festival

The Auckland Art Gallery is the place you want to visit if you want to see art. The art that is displayed at this gallery is a combination of art from other cultures as well as art from inhabitants of New Zealand. Every year, there is an annual Art Festival that gives those who are yet undiscovered a chance to exhibit their own art pieces. If you want to see the best of art that New Zealand has to offer, visit the annual Auckland Art Festival when you visit New Zealand.

Annual Auckland Sail Parade

The City of Sails is another name for the Westhaven Marina in Auckland. There are many sailing events that take place throughout the year in Auckland. Very often, the America Cup has been held in Auckland. One event that you will not want to miss when you visit Auckland is the Sail Parade. This begins at the start of sailing season and is basically a parade of the large sail boats throughout the Marina. You can even tour some of the larger vessels with the permission of the owners. If you enjoy sailing or watching these magnificent boats, you will enjoy the annual Auckland Sail Parade.

There are many annual and daily Auckland, New Zealand events that take place throughout the year in this part of New Zealand. As the weather is usually very nice in this part of the world, you can count on there being some sort of event anytime you visit Auckland, New Zealand.