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Driving License

If the licence is not in English, you must carry an accurate English translation.

Distance Calculator

To help you know the distances and the time between two places.

Driving Test

These 66 questions are the essential Road Code rules you need to know to help keep yourself safe on NZ's roads.

Visa

The authorization request should be made only on the government site or on the official application.
 Travel authorization to be requested at least 72 hours before departure.
Preferred app over  website

Plug

Type I    (AS/NZS 3112)

Consider taking a multiple socket to plug in several devices at the same time.

When leave?

  1. Summer is the best period from December to February
  2. Autumn with a beautiful day but cooler
  3. Very rainy winter especially in the south
  4. Spring still some rains

Budget

The currency is New Zealand Dollars, the exchange rate is $ 1 (NZD) ~ € 0.6 (EUR) or, conversely, € 1 (EUR) ~ $ 1.7 (NZD)
The cost of living in New Zealand is around 10% more than in France. Mainly in terms of food and restaurant, less gasoline $ 1.9 (€ 1.14) and car rental (Ex-Toyota Rav4: 17 days rental from and return to Christchurch airport with Avis ~ $ 1200 (€ 716).
For hotel rooms the prices vary a lot because between hostels (often the lowest prices are shared dormitories), hotels and motels the offer ranges from $ 20 (€ 12) to over $ 150 (€ 90).

Download the map

i-site map   Map New Zealand    Driving in New Zealand

The North Island: 10-15 days of road trip.

Auckland (J) to Paihia (B)
                   230 Km   3 hours 10 mins

Paihia (B) to Cape Reinga (C)
210 km   2 hours 50 mins

Cape Reinga (C) to Whangarei (D)
 270 Km   2 hours 05 mins

Whangarei (D) to Auckland (J)
                    160 km    2 hours 17 mins

Auckland (J) to Rotorua (F)
                    430 Km   6 hours 40 mins  

Rotorua (F) to Ohakume (G)
                    210 km   2 hours 30 mins

Ohakume (G) to Wellingtown (H)
                    290 Km   3 hours 30 mins

Wellingtown (H) to New Plymouth (I)
                 350 km   4 hours  30 mins

New Plymouth (I) to Auckland (J)
                  360 Km   4 hours 30 mins

Green: Hamilton to Matamata (Hobbiton village)
60 Km   55 mins

The tour of the 2 islands in +30 days

Combination of North and South Island road trips.

Plan the ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton (or vice versa) for a period of around 3 hours or 3 hours 30 depending on the company.


In green: Hamilton to Matamata (Hobbiton village)

In black: Dunedin - Te Anau via Invercargill

In red: Wanaka - Greymouth via the Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier

The South Island: 15-20 days of road trip.

Christchurch (A) to Dunedin (B)
                   360 km   4 hours 40 mins
 
Dunedin (B) to Te Anau (C)
                    289 km   3 hours 25 mins

Te Anau (C) to Queenstown (D)
                   270 Km   2 hours 05 mins

Queenstown (D) to Wanaka  (E)
69 km    1 hour 4 mins

Wanaka (E) to Lake Tekapo (F)
                   200 Km   2 hours 20 mins
  
                     Lake Tekapo (F) to Oxford
                    230 km   2 hours 30 mins

Oxford to Greymouth (G)
                     206 Km   2 hours 40 mins

Greymouth (G) to Motueka (H)
                    372 km   4 hours  50 mins

Motueka (H) to Blenheim (I)
                    183 km   2 hours 50 mins

Blenheim (I) to Christchurch (A)
 310 Km   4 hours

Christchurch (A) to Akaroa (J)
82 km  1 hour 30 min

Dark: Dunedin - Te Anau by Invercargill.
430 km 5 hours 30 min

Red:  Wanaka - Greymouth by Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. 
 450 km 5 hours 45 min