Self Drive or Tour Travel in New Zealand?

Question

Hi there, I'm planning a trip to NZ in September with family...me, wife, son & daughter (5 & 2 yrs old). I would love the freedom of self drive rather then taking a tour. However I have 2 young kids and am wondering whether things will be easy for me. What is your advice? This is my first time to NZ and is the timing right to visit both islands? Also where can I get good info/tips on self drive travel? Thanks very much!

Answer 1

Self drive is definately your best option with the kids. Plus most of the real treasures to be found in NZ are of the beaten track and definately the tour trail, so a car/camper will allow for flexibility.

Check the insurance details when renting a car- there's a few places that they won't cover you for. The back roads of the Catlins (lower South Island) and Skippers Canyon are 2 places I am aware of.

September here can be very windy, and just starting to warm up, but NZ weather is completely erratic and unreliable, so just come prepared with clothing for any conceivable weather and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

Self drive so you can travel at leisure & stop at all sorts of surprise things along the way.  A campervan is a good idea.  Some people buy one & sell it to other travellers before they leave.  You may be in for some surprises re driving though.  Our roads are good but the time it takes to get places can surprise people from overseas.  For instance Australians are shocked that if they drive from Auckland to Wellington that it takes 3 times as long as they thought it would by looking on the map.  They think it's like Australia where you jump on a highway & travel on that highway in virtually a straight line until you get to your destination.  Not so.  There are winding roads & hills & stopping for cattle crossing & all kinds of things they've never dreamed of!  So what they see as a 3 hour drive, turns into an exhausting 8 - 9 hour drive!

Also people can drive like maniacs on the open roads here, taking risks overtaking people on winding roads where you can't see what's around the corner, etc.  But they're not as bad as say Spanish or Italians or lots of other drivers around the world.  Not sure where you're from but remember what side of the road we drive on here, don't get confused when you're tired & cross the centre line to the other side!!

Driving around is alot of fun though, we call it "going on a tiki tour", meaning driving from your city to somewhere but taking your time about it by stopping off here & there on the way as there's so much to see & local food to try out, etc.  Your kids will love some of the stuff, like mental things like the giant carrot at Ohakune, towns with murals painted on the buildings like Katikati (go to the cute bird park on the outskirts of of Katikati on the way to Tauranga, your kids will love it, so cute, unusual ducks wandering around & our native parrot bird, the Kea, in cages with funny stories attached (like stories how Martha can't stand Billy so they're in seperate cages, now, etc - all that rural charm stuff like that.).  And the butterfly house at Thames on the way to The Coromandel, your kids will love it, it's full of exotic South American butterflies flying all around your head in a glasshouse you go into.  When you go there don't bother driving up the Western side to go the The Coromandel Township as there's nothing there to see, travel the other Eastern route.  Hahei Beach & Cathedral Cove on the Eastern side are fantastic.

And North of Auckland go to 90 mile beach & drive up to the tip of the North Island to Cape Reinga.  The Bay of Islands is a must as well.

It's a shame your kids aren't older though, as they're not going to remember anything.  Be careful around Rotorua re boiling mud pools they can fall into (volcanic & geyser area).



Sept - April is the best time to come but Feb is our only reliable month for non rain & hot weather.  School holidays means little in the way of accomodation - they start Mid Dec & end the first week of Feb.  Personally I'd come in Feb & do the sunny places then & after that travel elsewhere, North Island first then South Island.  Then again, maybe if you're from the UK you won't like the hot weather?  March & April are good weather usually too, but can rain sometimes.  Sept is the start of Spring so is nice but it can rain on & off.

Get a lonely planet guide & go to the forum on their website to ask questions of people who've driven here recently to find out the tips & the time of year they found ok, etc.

newzealand.com

weather:

metservice.co.nz

I'm sure we have travel guide books for driving holidays in NZ, try one of our bookstores to buy one:

whitcoulls.co.nz

Answer 3

priority car rentals , great deals on cars 5 minutes from airport, cost me about 1400, dollars for just over 5 weeks thats about £600. for 5to 6  week try it out

Answer 4

New Zealand isnt a very big country and driving is pretty straight forward with major roads connecting all towns. September is fine to visit both islands, it will be starting to get warmer and there will not be as much snow in the south island. touring with children will probably be harder rather than self driving and you can choose what activities/sights to see and when and where to stop.

AA is Nzs motoring club and they have plenty of maps,  ideas and links to car rentals.

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/index.php

Try and stay away from the larger rental companies hertz avis budget etc as they are very expensive.

Answer 5

I cannot imagine doing a tour with two children that age so think you would have to self drive. September will still be cold - it is winter and it is difficult to predict the weather, especially in the South Island.They could have snow then especially in the southern parts.Although often it can be lovely clear days. Our weather is changeable.

New Zealand roads are generally reasonable. Though often hilly and windy, and they are maybe narrower than you might be used to. I am not sure either if you are used to driving on the left?

Have a look here for information about rental cars, including driving tips etc.

http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com/ca...

and also look at the travel tips.

The site below

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/index.php

will give you plenty of information too .

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

If you have younger children, it may be easier to self drive so you can make stops when necessary.  Have you considered hiring a campervan?  Maui campervans have a great selection for families - worked great with our young ones.  September is at the verrry beginning of spring, but there is still a chill in the air, and lots of sunny days if we're lucky!  If you're booking your travel it may be cheaper through a NZ Travel Agent due to a better currency exchange rate i.e 1 pound = $3 NZ dollars.  If you have a nationwide travelagent they would also be able to assist you anytime throughout your trip and also book your Maui campervan.

Have a wonderful holiday! :)

Answer 7

nz is so small you could walk around it quicker than finding a carpark

Answer 8

Grab a lomely Planet NZ book has great ideas and travel advice. I've travelled all over NZ with young kids, having a in car DVD player helps.