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am going out early next year and might want to hire a car, do i need anything other than a full british licence?
Nothing official, just your licence, but a lot of patience as the drivers out there are IME shocking. Dont ever speed either (100km max) as there will be a copper with a speed gun in the middle of nowhere when you havent passed another car for miles....
Also - beware of the turning right at a junction rule - i.e. a person turning right (across a lane of traffic) has right of way over the person turning left (onto the same road).
I haven't really explained that very well, but do look it up - it really throws a lot of people :]
chojin, i know what you mean, i was out there a few years ago and the pedestrian crossings are a test of nerve! Some odd rules.
That right turn rule is changing - not sure when. Also in rural areas watch for right turning cars pulling off to the left if there is oncoming traffic. Indeed, nz drivers are gash.
Yes UK licence should do it. Unlike here, driving in NZ is actually enjoyable, with no motorways and about 2 dual carriageways in the whole country, big views all over the place, and largely empty roads but yes I agree with above poster, they do like speed traps so watch that
Agree about speeding. Only ever been caught twice in 23 years of driving, both times were in NZ, in the same town on consecutive days. One day on the way in, and the next when leaving! The fines made their way back to me in the UK a month later via the hire car company.
I was caught speeding in a camper van, 1kph below being arrested. $400 fine. Other than that, it seemed fine.
[i]That right turn rule is changing - not sure when.[/i]
They'll change it for people turning left at the start of the week and for people turning right at the end of the week. 😉
A camera?
Especially if driving down the South island from tip to tip.
Beautiful.
And if you are driving your campervan at 80kmh for hours on end PULL OVER, or at the very least slow to a crawl, and let traffic get past, when you get to passing lanes.
Read the NZ road code first, there are some crucial differences, esp the right hand turn rule. If you sit waiting for the lights to change and then gun it on red you will likely get arrested.
A big car with a tow bar. It seems 2 metres in the pouring rain is the standard stopping distance for an early 1980s shitheap over there....
Build a shed on top of your car - then you'll fit right in.
am going out early next year and might want to hire a car, do i need anything other than a full british licence?
Sleeping bag and stove. It's nearly 13 years since I hired a car and drove all over NZ, but it is stunning. Me and my mate just rented an estate and slept in the back of that. No shortage of amazing places to pull over, make a brew and something to eat and just enjoy the views.
i'd consider buying a car, even if it's for a few weeks. there is an abundance of decent quality cars that can be picked up for very little from backpackers. i bought a toyota corona off someone who was leaving the next day for £70 for a two week tour around the south island. managed to sell it on in christchurch for £250! there are a couple of auction places in christchurch & aukland that are worth checking out:
http://www.backpackerscarmarket.co.nz/
Sleeping bag and stove. It's nearly 13 years since I hired a car and drove all over NZ, but it is stunning. Me and my mate just rented an estate and slept in the back of that. No shortage of amazing places to pull over, make a brew and something to eat and just enjoy the views.
or a tent and check out the free campsites run by the DOC (dept of conservation). some of the finest campsites i have ever stayed on. damn, i want to go back now!
as above really...
great country to drive in, just dont hold up the traffic staring at the amazing views like we did in our campervan, got pulled over by a copper!
and as above watch out for the turning right at junctions, can take getting used too.
you'll love it!
Singlelane bridges that are also rail bridges 😯 in the south. Very amusing. It is a truly fantastic place. Have fun.
Right turn rule.... check
Speeding ticket at 7am in a camper van in the middle of nowhere.... check
Single lane rail bridges on the highways.... check
Nothing more to add - it's all good 🙂
That turning right thing threw me - I just tried to drive like a local (ie badly) and let other people avoid me if I got in their way 🙂