Road trip in New Zealand

A road trip in New Zealand is not a way of getting from one attraction to another, it is the attraction itself. That said, I have to say this straight up: New Zealand does not have amazing road infrastructure. And that genuinely surprised me, especially given how popular the country is with tourists.

Because of the terrain, most roads are mountainous, narrow, single-lane serpentines. And paradoxically, that’s brilliant. Every route is an experience, and a road trip around New Zealand could easily be the main point of the journey rather than just a means of getting somewhere. Driving technically demanding roads surrounded by mountains, lakes and vast empty spaces delivers unforgettable impressions.

That enjoyment, however, is sometimes taken away by the technical condition of the roads. Some look as if they’ve been stuck in a never-ending state of roadworks for years, while others are simply rough and uneven. Extra caution is needed on rainy days, as water-filled ruts can catch you out and make skidding dangerously easy. Still, to be fair, the quality of the roads needs to be viewed in context. New Zealand has only around 5.2 million inhabitants spread over 268,000 square kilometres. For comparison, Poland covers 312,000 square kilometres but has more than six times the population. As a result, a significant number of roads run through complete wilderness, and stretches of 100 kilometres without any sign of civilisation are nothing unusual. There’s a certain charm to that, even if the tarmac occasionally disappears beneath your wheels.

Navigation and fuel

The low population and limited urbanisation directly affect the number of petrol stations. In New Zealand you really have to keep an eye on your fuel level, as there are stretches where you won’t find a single petrol station for over 100 kilometres. Sometimes there are warning signs, but it’s far from guaranteed. I stuck to a simple rule: never let the tank drop below half. Petrol 91 usually cost me between NZD 2.50 and 2.70 per litre (2025).

Before leaving, it’s worth installing the Gaspy app, which shows the cheapest petrol stations nearby. The most sensible option is to refuel in larger towns, where prices are noticeably lower. It’s also a good idea to download offline maps, because in New Zealand mobile signal can disappear faster than petrol.

Road tolls

At present (2026), there are only three toll roads in New Zealand: the Northern Gateway Toll Road north of Auckland, the Tauranga Eastern Link, and Takitimu Drive. Full information is available here. The tolls are low, usually around NZD 2.50 (2025). Payment is made online by entering the vehicle’s registration number, and forgetting to do so is not an option. You have five days from the date of travel to pay; otherwise, you’ll receive a fine. Toll roads are clearly marked, with large signs spelling out the payment obligation well in advance.

Traffic rules

New Zealand drives on the left, so sticking to the left-hand side is absolutely essential, and roundabouts are entered the “wrong” way compared to right-hand traffic – clockwise 😉. It’s important to follow the rules carefully. Even though the driver sits on the right-hand side of the car, speed limits are metric, not imperial.

The maximum speed nationwide is 100 km/h, although some sections allow up to 110 km/h. In towns and cities, the standard limit is 50 km/h, with some areas reduced to 30 km/h.

It’s also worth remembering that parking against the direction of traffic can result in a fine. From my observations, local drivers genuinely stick to the rules. I hardly saw any police on the roads, speed cameras and average-speed checks are rare, and they are usually clearly signposted.

Car hire

Hiring a car in New Zealand is straightforward. You’ll need your driving licence as well as an International Driving Permit. Before the trip, I came across information stating that the permit should be issued under the Geneva Convention, as New Zealand is a signatory. On the ground, rental companies also accepted licences issued under the Vienna Convention, but in hindsight I think it’s safer to get the Geneva one. I didn’t have any encounters with the police, so I didn’t check this in practice, but better safe than sorry.

There are plenty of well-known rental companies on the market. I saw a lot of cars from Jucy on the roads, a brand I hadn’t known before – maybe not in huge numbers, but they were hard to miss.

I chose a local company, Bargain Rental Cars, as I was travelling solo and focused on keeping costs down. On the North Island, I was given a 2008 Nissan Tiida. It had clearly seen better days and was definitely not a head-turner, but it drove, which was all I needed.

On the South Island, things changed dramatically: for the price of a mini car, I got a 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid. That car made my holiday. At first, I was happy about saving money on fuel thanks to the hybrid system. In reality, I just drove even more, because it was such a pleasure to drive.

Altogether, I covered nearly 6,000 kilometres on New Zealand roads, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of the entire trip. Every route was an adventure in its own right, and I honestly feel like I could drive there endlessly, even without a specific destination marked on the map.