New Zealand has become one of my favorite road trips. It’s also the best way to explore the country in my opinion. And so easy to do so. You can fly between cities, but there are so many places to visit that the better way is by car or campervan. Roads can be narrower than in places like the U.S., not to mention you’ll be driving on the opposite side. You get used to it after a few days. What I found to be more mentally tiring was keeping to the center of your lane and remembering which lane to be in when turning having to do it so often. If you’re from the U.S., gas will be more expensive. Roads are pretty good and I didn’t find many reasons or opportunities to off-road. Though I was expecting and looking forward to. I specifically rented a small SUV with AWD and some ground clearance that wasn’t really necessary. In hindsight, I’d go for a hybrid or regular sedan next time for a single person or a couple to save some cash. Campervans vary in size from small van to larger RV. Some vans are not much bigger than a small or midsize SUV if you’re worried about that. There are many companies for both cars and campervans, so you’ll have no trouble finding what best suits your needs. If you have a particular vehicle in mind, find that first and then book with the company that offers it. Going local will help you save money and also support the local economy. As long as you have a license that’s readable in English, an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) isn’t necessary. The country and rental companies have embraced road tripping here, so finding places to park your campervan is safe and easy.
The country is actually separated into two islands, North and South Islands, separated by the Cook Strait. Most rental companies will allow you to pick up and drop off at different locations, which includes ferrying between islands with your vehicle. The North Island is where the majority of Kiwis live. It has a more rural, countryside feel with the exception of the cities of course. It’s sub-tropical and will be warmer, but I don’t think it ever really gets hot like in the tropics. There are some nice beaches and islands as well as hot springs. The South Island is really where you get to see the true beauty of New Zealand. The first place I visited in the South still felt like New Zealand, but also totally different. Each place after that got better and better as I finally reached the crescendo that is the area around Queenstown. It’s much cooler, especially in the mountains and glaciers. Most people seem to do a week in the North and 2-3 weeks in the South, which I think is a good guideline. For more information check out the full New Zealand post.