Driving in NZEnglish

What’s different about driving in New Zealand?

Driving is a great way to see our beautiful country, however, there are a few things that you may not be used to when driving in New Zealand.

For example:

  • We drive on the left side of the road
  • We have a unique give way rule at intersections
  • Hilly, narrow or winding roads mean that your journey may take longer than you expect

Make sure you have a safe and enjoyable journey – please take a few minutes to read this information.

For more information, view the official guide to driving in NZ.

Key driving skills for New Zealand

Keep left

Always drive on the left side of the road. If you drive on the right hand side in your own country, please take a moment to re-familiarise yourself with this rule before pulling out onto the road after a break – it’s easy to forget where you are!

Give way rules

The general rule of thumb is to give way to your right as with most countries where you drive on the right hand side of the road. The key difference in give way rules in comparison with the UK and Australia is at four way intersections. You can see more about this rule on the NZ Land Transport & Safety Authority website.

Travelling times

It’s easy to underestimate travelling times in New Zealand.Although distances may seem short on paper, New Zealand roads may be narrower than you are used to, cover hilly terrain and vary from motorways to unsealed gravel roads. An average of 50km in one hour of driving is a realistic norm. Be aware that due to road network, a maximum average of 65km/hour for long haul driving is an absolute maximum under the right circumstances ( weather, traffic,...)See our distance calculator: LINK

Sunstrike

Sunstrike can occur at any time in New Zealand, not only during sunrise or sunset. Be especially careful, in winter when the sun is lower in the sky or when the sun's rays hit your windscreen at a low angle. This can make it difficult, or even impossible, to see. This is a very dangerous condition to drive in.

Winter driving

Look out for this slippery surface sign in wet or icy conditions – slow down and avoid braking suddenly.Snow and ice can make roads even more hazardous, particularly around mountain passes. We supply chains when required. If you are likely to be driving in these conditions – make sure you know how to fit them before setting out.