Driving in New Zealand

[NX74205]

I'm planning a holiday in New Zealand in February next year, based predominantly in Auckland but will make the trip to Hobbiton and to Wellington by road.

Any tips on driving on NZ roads and generally getting around Auckland and Wellington? Are there any road rules which differ significantly from those of Australia (in particular WA) that I should be aware of?

Finally, are there any car rental companies in Auckland where I can rent a Falcon?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Did a week in NZ in a camper and loved it. Not much was different actually in terms of driving and rules that I could recall.

Any of the regular car companies should carry falcons for their large car segment. Problem is, most won't confirm the badge, just the size.

Meaning you could arrive and be given a Commodore or Aurion. Which is why they advertise "or similar" when you book.

Space out your driving times and bring a really good camera... If you haven't been to NZ before you will be stopping often to take in the wonderful scenery.

[LTDHO]

They still use the rule of right turning vehicle has right of way over a left turning vehicle (Make sense?). We used to have it here but it changes in the 90's.

I spent two weeks driving a camper too. Heaps of fun!
However I would suggest getting out of the city, so much to see.

[EASYBOSS]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

They still use the rule of right turning vehicle has right of way over a left turning vehicle (Make sense?). We used to have it here but it changes in the 90's.

Incorrect, the rule changed a year or two ago, left turning has right of way

[FGX335]

You'll find them to be more considerate on the roads than us. We noticed that straight away, and it is a nice place to drive. Would love to do it in something nice like a GT.

We had someone pull in front of us, and I was thinking that we were finally seeing a moron, but he then went really wide and slow, and waved us through. I was very surprised and thankful that he didn't make his move my problem, and was so courteous. You'll love it.

In the week that we were there, I didn't see one Silver Fern (confirming my suspicion that they send their dropkicks over here), but the fuel will make you cry when you need it. Oh well, it's worth it for the relaxed drive.

[smoo]

Drivers are more retarded than Aus.

Hertz still do Falcon. Don't think I've seen any in Avis or Budget line up for a while. VF is a better place to sit in anyway.

If you want to avoid the main route (and the brain dead drivers) down the island PM me and I can give you better alternatives.

[MAGPIE]

Hertz is your best bet for getting a Falcon.

[zilo]

Keep the fuel tank filled up.

It can be hard to find fuel at times.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by zilo

Keep the fuel tank filled up.

It can be hard to find fuel at times.

Most service stations have it, never had a problem finding one

[blueoval]

Did 10 days in the South Island in an FG in 2009. Traffic similar to Aus. But yes, need to be aware of slower campervans and the slow 'wicked' vans. Other than that, enjoy.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by EASYBOSS

Incorrect, the rule changed a year or two ago, left turning has right of way

Well it has been a few years since i was there.

[Tonz]

There is a police purge on 'overseas' drivers not being used to left side road driving and distance driving (hmm think we have same problem). these tourists have caused a few fatal car accidents recently.

ie 5-10 hours on plane, grab rental vehicle and off they go to see the long white cloud, sometime permanently.

The North Is is more reminesant to Aus with driving habits.... gotta get there first, speed signs are indication only but can be ignored etc
love the road work gangs have females working on them.

Over the past few years have travelled all over several times, having family involved in car buying from Auckland and selling in Dunedin/CHCH etc helps too. They supply car I drive and pay half of fuel and usually 2-3 weeks to get there.
Original Mini, FG falcon, Audis, Mercs, lot of Jap stuff we have never seen, VW Phateon...(very nice)

[BradEL]

Driving in NZ is fine once your out of Auckland, but Auckland is a poorly planed city with traffic delays every where and plenty if idiot drivers in cars, buses, bikes and heaps of arrogant cyclists.

Great once you get out of Auckland though, just dont try and go south out of Auckland in the afternoon or evening, especially not on a friday.

[EASYBOSS]

^^^ or even better, just get the hell out of Auckland, that's what I'm about to do, I've come to hate most of it.

[Raptor]

I hired a red FG XR6 Falcon in Auckland when I was there with the family a few years ago

Once you get out of town you'll love driving in New Zealand (well compared to NSW anyway). Better maintained roads, more scenic and less traffic. The south island is even better than the north in that regard but I was in a stupid Kluger (Highlander there) by then.

Only downside of having the fast red Falcon was the speeding fine I got in the mail a month or so after we got back.

[GT0132]

Highlights of that trip I remember as a kid.

- The picturesque scenery at Cambridge, East of Hamilton along the Waikato River.

- The forestry between Tokoroa and Taupo.

- The drive from Lake Taupo to Waiourou, where you get a good views of the lake and the adjacent Tongariro national park from the Eastern side of the Mount along the Desert Rd. However you may want to take the alternate road down the western side of Lake Taupo between Te Kuiti and Wanganui.

- Stopping to get a pie at Taihape. Good spot for a toilet break and a bite.

- Seeing how far you can get the speedo needle on the Himitangi Strait between Sanson and Foxton.

- Stopping at the honey shop on the side of teh road at Foxton to buy an ice cream.

- Fish & Chips at Paremata

Once you get to about 25km out of Wellington, say around Plimmerton, it becomes built up with roads becoming dual carriageway and divided. Wellington is a beautiful city on a nice day with a picturesque harbour. Surrounded by hills, a lot of houses are built on slopes with access via narrow winding roads. I actually love Wellington despite its often inclement weather and will move back there one day.

Speed limit is generally 50km/h except on motorways and rural areas when it becomes 100.

Unless you're coming into an urban area the roads throughout the North Island are single carriageway and often not divided. The government has promised for years to upgrade State Hwy 1 (the main highway between Auckland & Wellington) , but nothing happens. In fact quality of roads in Australia , especially Queensland, (but maybe not NSW) is far superior to NZ in my opinion.

Good luck and enjoy

[mjrstar]

When planning your trip bank on ~85kph average speed, given the number of small towns and twisties you won't average 100kph like you can in stretches of australia.

[EASYBOSS]

Originally Posted by Tonz

speed signs are indication only but can be ignored etc

No, those speed signs you refer to are recommended for corners etc only, you cant not ignore all the speed signs, otherwise we would have no speed limits, what are you thinking giving that advise

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by EASYBOSS

No, those speed signs you refer to are recommended for corners etc only, you cant not ignore all the speed signs, otherwise we would have no speed limits, what are you thinking giving that advise

Yes I absolutely agree, the recommended speed signs for corners are a guide only, but for the actual speed limit, these should be followed. They are a limit after all, and if you go too far over them you could find yourself catching a bus the rest of the trip.

[99AUXR]

As a rule of thumb I generally try and double those recommended corner speeds. They are recommended for campervans and the like not really cars lol.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

As a rule of thumb I generally try and double those recommended corner speeds. They are recommended for campervans and the like not really cars lol.

I thought that was compulsory

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by mjrstar

When planning your trip bank on ~85kph average speed, given the number of small towns and twisties you won't average 100kph like you can in stretches of australia.

Yep 85 kph for North Island, 90+ kph for South Island.


Also if your going between Akl & Welly on State Hwy 1 ensure your cruise control is set to the speed limit on the Waikato Expressway, Desert Road and the Himatangi Straights.

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

I thought that was compulsory

Even at night time and in the rain it is still safe to go twice the reccomended corner speed

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by BradEL

Even at night time and in the rain it is still safe to go twice the reccomended corner speed

Yep win it or bin it

[smoo]

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

As a rule of thumb I generally try and double those recommended corner speeds. They are recommended for campervans and the like not really cars lol.

These are probably the greatest difference in driving between the two countries from my experience. I drive the speed of the advisory signs in loaded 45 tonne truck/trailer no worries, and twice than on motorbike.. Aus one need to be adhered to more on 4 wheels.
Also there is a flat limit of 100k open road. No dropping down to 60 or 80k at the hint of a hill or twisty section of road, seems the authorities give the benefit of the doubt and entrust kiwi drivers with some responsibility. Which is good considering vast majority couldn't drive a greasy stick up a dogs ****.

The revenue raising filth are everywhere. If you have cruise use it IMO.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

....
Also if your going between Akl & Welly on State Hwy 1 ensure your cruise control is set to the speed limit on the Waikato Expressway, Desert Road and the Himatangi Straights.

Yep, Desert Road. That's where I got done

[Davehoos]

Im a regular visitor to car club general meeting. conditions are much more OZ than with my first trips. the road rules have been standardising with NSW/eastern OZ so there is nothing there to crazy like now like old giving way to your right when you turn left from a main road. you still get the English/euro road signs and they go over board with painting on the road and traffic pacification.

forget about Auckland CBD and area around in a car you could drive in without seeing a car the park in a cross street for a few hours. driving until you get going on the expressway south or over the harour bridge can be a life altering lesson. It a greeny designed car park most of the day. I got caught because I been there a few times with no traffic-and then the rugby must have ended.. I found good cheep value motel in the city center and used the busses.

My first trip in 1996 I used public transport only to travel across the north island using trains [not many now] and rail busses.

I enjoyed the national transport museum and took the tram to the air base museum. its not as good as other collections in the south island. Kiwi collect loads of stuff and put it on display everywhere.

I have driven the east coast a few times not much but slow roads an quiet life. in the wine country and log trucks are good collections to look at, the main run up the center to me is dull because its no different to here with dairy regions like dungog[nsw]

Travel times are slow-but distances are not like OZ. It is possible to get stuck behind very slow traffic for a town to town journey. and the speed limits change more than any reasonable person can plan for. by the time you looked in the shop or took that picture you stuck behind the slow plodder again. the KIWI are running bigger trucks now in the north and its not uncommon to pretend there are 3 lanes.

study some good maps-you often find towns a joined by secondary roads with no signs. It will be different driving a falcon compared to motor home-but fuel is not always easy to get. I ran out at a servo and had look hard to wait till the sporting event ended the roads are so slow in places that the consumption can be high. last sept I did a camper in south island they provided GPS with items like fuel and speed programed in.

With a car club outing points of interest are planned. I liked the CAT machinery collection in rotarua ,maritime centers , wellington CBD[historical], glow worms sheep and some farm stay restaurants.
hastings-east coast.

[towtaltowing]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Most service stations have it, never had a problem finding one

brace your self for the price...

did 2weeks over there bout 3 weeks ago .
and the 100km/h limit over there seems really slow on there roads that are better than most in NSW

[nstg8a]

Lol, dunno why these guys are baying fuel can be hard to get, I never had an issue in 20ish years of driving.

And being a south islander born n bred, I can quite happily recommend ditching any north island part of a holiday and just sticking to the South Island.

[aussiblue]

Watch out for the sheep :-) Someone had to say it.