New Zealand Driving Guide

Driving in New Zealand

Driving in a foreign country is always different in at least some ways to driving in your own country. Here are some general points regarding driving in New Zealand.
 

• Vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road as they do in Britain, Australia, and Japan.
• All drivers in New Zealand must carry a licence at all times when driving. Your drivers licence needs to be current and if it is not in English, you must bring an English translation with you or obtain a current International Driving Licence.
• Speed limits are in kilometres per hour (kph), not miles per hour (mph).
  Speed conversion to imperial: 1 kph equals 0.621 mph.
  Speed conversion to metric: 1 mph equals 1.61 kph.
• The speed limit in towns and cities is usually 50 kph (31 mph).
• The speed limit on the open road is 100 kph (62 mph).
• New Zealand has strict drink-driving laws. A zero blood/alcohol level is encouraged.
• Seat belts must be worn at all times whilst driving in New Zealand. This stands for the driver and passengers. It is also the driver's responsibility to make sure all passengers under the age of 15 are correctly restrained.

• There are very few multi-lane highways in New Zealand and, as such, travelling times per distance travelled are often longer than in other countries.
• Petrol (gasoline) costs approximately NZ$2.17 per litre and is available in at least two grades (96 octane and 91 octane).
Fuel conversion to imperial: 1 litre equals 0.26 US gallons or 0.22 UK gallons.
Fuel conversion to metric: 1 US gallon equals 3.79 litres and 1 UK gallon equals 4.55 litres.

• New Zealand car hire
• NZ Transport Agency driving guide

New Zealand Travel Distances and Times

There are very few multi-lane highways in New Zealand and, as such, travelling times per distance travelled are often longer than in other countries.

North Island travel distances

All distances are shown in kilometres.

South Island travel distances

All distances are shown in kilometres.