A road trip is the only way to see New Zealand, whether by car, campervan, or foot (if you’re backpacking). It’s an epic journey that makes the country special and unique, and it’s small enough that you can go from the North Island to the South by ferry and crisscross from coast to coast in a short time. Will you be able to see everything in one week? No, you can visit a place for months on end and still not see everything. Heck, you can live in one place for your entire life and still not see everything. I live in the United States, and I’ve seen next to nothing in my country (granted, it’s enormous and I could drive for three hours and still be in the same state). So, visiting a country like New Zealand can be done in a few weeks, but the best way to see everything you want is to drive your own car or campervan. So as you start your planning, here are my top tips for a New Zealand road trip:
Drive on the Left
New Zealand is one of approximately 75, almost 80, countries or territories that are left-driving places. So, if you’re coming from a nation that drives on the right-hand side like me, the left-hand driving may take some adjustment. It did take me a day or two to get accustomed to it, and I was still veering too close to the left side on narrow roads or going slightly below the speed limit because I wanted to be extra cautious. The driving wasn’t bad overall (I actually loved driving in New Zealand because the roads were open for the most part and it’s easy to cruise), but you do want to give yourself some time in case you’re not used to it.
Don’t Underestimate Your Driving Time
You can plan and map out your routes all you want (and you absolutely should), but you shouldn’t rely on Waze or Google Maps, or any other navigation app to give you accurate driving times. New Zealand has a lot of construction, and roads can often be closed. Sometimes, especially on mountains, you may only have one-way traffic for a while. Or, you might get stuck at a crossing waiting for a herd of cows to get to the other side of the road (yes, this happened to us). Or, you’ll want to stop to take in the view or grab some photos, or stretch your legs. Even if the map says it’ll take you 2.5 hours to get to one place from the other, chances are that it will actually take you much longer. For help with mapping out your routes by proximity, I like the app Wanderlog! Long story short: don’t overdo it and slow down.
Take It Slow
I cannot emphasize this one enough. You don’t want to spend most of your trip in the car or campervan, nor should you try to pack everything possible into your trip itinerary, especially in New Zealand. Yes, there’s a lot to see and a lot to miss, but you cannot physically see everything in the country in the limited time you’ll likely have. We split our trip between the North and South Islands, but spent five days on the North Island and eight days on the South, because we knew there were more things we wanted to do there. We picked one or two major activities or spots each day, and filled in the gaps while also leaving plenty of time for driving and rest, and for all the stops that we made along the way. Slow down, and take in the views and landscapes. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh air. New Zealand is a beautiful country, and you don’t want to miss it by staring at the road in front of you.
Plan out your itinerary carefully and don’t try to jam everything in. You can also check out my 14-day New Zealand itinerary if you’re looking for somewhere to start! If you only have one week in New Zealand, I would suggest choosing one island to explore and not trying to do both.
Pack Plenty of Snacks and Drinks
You won’t always be able to find somewhere along the way to stop and grab something to eat, especially in the remote parts of the South Island, so you should definitely stock up on your favorite road trip snacks and plenty of hydrating liquids (do NOT forget the water) before you hit the road. We always stopped for coffee in the morning, and refilled our reusable water bottles before leaving wherever we had rested the night before. And if you have a strict diet or special dietary restrictions like I do, it may be even harder to find foods or snacks that fit your requirements, so plan ahead and keep plenty of snacks and easy food items (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, anyone?) with you.
Get Plenty of Rest
Driving is exhausting and it drains your energy very quickly. I know this all too well: my commute to my assigned office takes 2.5 hours every morning. You will do a LOT of driving in New Zealand, even if you just stick to one island. Yes, it’s a smaller country so it’s easier to cover greater distances, but all of the time spent behind the wheel (or in the passenger seat) will take its toll. Don’t try to overdo it, and get plenty of sleep at night. You want to be well-rested in the morning before you set out.
Take Turns
Unless you’re solo traveling and don’t have any other options, you should definitely take turns driving with whoever you’re traveling with (if they’re physically able to drive and have a valid driver’s license or permit). It will take a lot of the burden off each driver, and they can also enjoy the scenery and rest. Also, make sure you’re on the same page when you’re driving. You should try to agree on car temperature, whether or not to play music, etc., or you may run into conflicts. I like to listen to music when I drive, and prefer to open the windows rather than blasting the air conditioner, but my travel partner didn’t, so I didn’t. Be flexible, compromise where it makes sense, and do your best to accommodate the other person. You’re going to spend plenty of time in an enclosed space in the middle of mountains and valleys, and open roads with each other. Don’t ruin the trip before it’s even gotten started.
What are your essential New Zealand road trip tips? Let me know in the comments below!
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