New Zealand is a big country. If you want to see both islands, you’ll easily cover 4,000 kilometers in four weeks. We decided to rent an SUV from Apex Car Rentals—located right next to the airport, with friendly service and fair prices.
Details
- Vehicle: SUV (Toyota RAV4), automatic transmission, air conditioning.
- Duration: 26 days (Dec. 18 – Jan. 13), picked up in Christchurch and returned at Auckland Airport.
- Insurance: "Zero Excess" — no deductible, all-inclusive — which was necessary, as the car sustained a few scratches.
- Cook Strait Ferry: Already included in the rental price, booked through Apex.
- Total price: around 1,511 CHF for 29 days — very fair.
Practical Tips
- Driving on the left: Drive carefully for the first 2 hours, then it becomes second nature. Be especially careful on mountain roads, particularly when encountering oncoming traffic.
- Speed: Rarely outside of towns, but often 100 km/h allowed — the roads are winding and the police often conduct checks near towns.
- Gas stations: Fill up early in sparsely populated areas (West Coast of the South Island).
- Gravel roads: Some side trips (e.g., to Mount Sunday / Edoras) are unpaved — easily manageable with an SUV.
Cook Strait Ferry
Picton → Wellington, 3–4-hour crossing. Reserve tickets in advance (especially on holidays). The ferry itself is a highlight—albatrosses over the water, the Marlborough Sounds as you depart.
