Kiwi-Nutz

The Alternative NZ driving page

Driving in New Zealand

First for some essentials:

• Yes, you drive on the left
• Distances are in Kilometers
• The national speed limit is 100 kph (50 kph in towns)
• Carry your driving licence with your car at all times
• The AA are the real experts

The Roads

Driving in New Zealand is a breeze and by that I mean exceptionally pleasant when compared to anything that I have ever been used to. The roads are mostly single carriageway (outside of the cities), with meandering bends and long long straights.

The meandering bends on all interstates and highways are all marked with a recommended maximum speed limit. These signs appear approximately 100m before you reach the bend The signs are yellow with the recommended limit and orientation of the bend in black. (see pic) You'll get to recognise and rely on these signs, they are very useful to maximise your road use enjoyment. You'll soon find your own formula for the true 'maximum' limit for these bends I'm sure.

yellow sign provides a recommended max (km/h) speed for manouvering bend, as visually shown with the black arrow.

You can drive for 50-100kms without actually seeing another car on the road in some out-lying districts of NZ.

Some roads carry warning indicators of the likelyhood of forest fires etc. Should you be planning a journey through any of these regions plan extra time. Be warned, not necessarily for your safety as I'm sure the emergency services will get you out of trouble but... should one of these roads be closed you can easily add 1 hour to your journey. It is highly unlikely that there will be a convenient detour for you to take. You'll probably find yourself doubling-back before you can go forward. Pleasant views though.

Interstates, Highways and Town streets are all edged with a white line to the left of the carriageway. Beyond this is usually enough space for a 'cars-width'. This is commonly known as a 'shoulder'. Drivers from the UK will liken this to a hard shoulder but they are everywhere not just on motorways. You will often find a slower driver or truck edging over this 'shoulder' to let you pass, not too much road-rage goes on here.

Seal

Enforcement

Police Cars regularly patrol the interstates, highways and town streets for driving offences, In particular for speeding offences, which they are very hot on. You will be stopped and issued with on-the-spot fines. My experience is that you will be treated fairly and 'with respect', should you offer the same in return. My advice is don't speed! Oh yes, one more - When driving you must at all times be in a position to produce your driving licence to a police officer. There is a compulsory $500 fine if you fail to produce

One of the other enforcement issues that the police will pick you up for is parking with your car facing toward on-coming traffic, it is very subtle but you will notice that this rule is strictly obeyed by all kiwi's.

And another one to watch is that all children under six years of age must be seated securely in a safety-chair.

Differences

1. When turning left 'when you have right of way' i.e. from a main road to a side road.
2. Look to see if a car on the opposite carriageway (facing you) is indicating to turn 'right' down the same road as you.
3. If No. 2 applies then you must not turn. Instead you must stop and let that car turn from the opposite carriageway infront of you.
4. And then any other cars that wish to turn 'right' in front of you etc. etc. etc.
5. You may now carry on your journey.

If that doesn't help then try the picture: Imagine that you are in the red car with right of way to proceed striaght on at the junction. But instead today you are turning left (see red arrow now turning left). In the UK you would simply continue your manouvre (turn left), however in NZ you would in fact have to stop at this point to ensure that on-coming traffic has the opportunity to turn 'right' in front of you.

Parking

Parking is plentiful and it is extremely rare outside of the main cities to have to pay to park your vehicle. This is not to say there are not parking restrictions in place. The interesting thing from this statement however is that you can pretty much park in any safe place and including any handy grass verge that you find.

Petrol Stations

Petrol Stations are modern and plentiful, stocking pretty-much everything you would expect. Be warned however that plentiful does not mean 'everywhere' and you will be well advised to fill-up at every opportunity when travelling through some of the more quiet areas of NZ. That way you'll never have to wonder whether that last station you saw was the last station you are going to see.

Pump Prices

• approx $1.14 per litre of leaded
• approx $0.67 per litre of diesel

Diesel is the interesting commodity as although it is cheaper you will have to purchase additional diesel (kms) from the Post Office counter. They are available in multiples of 1000 kms but you will still find this the cheaper option, even with this addiitonal tax mechanism. What with the long kms between towns there may be even more savings to be reaped.

The other thing that is pleasant yet disconcerting for the UK traveller is that petrol attendants are alive and well in NZ. When you stand around waiting for someone else to fill your car up you will understand the word 'disconcerting'.

Car Hire

All the big names are here, as you might expect and again the prices are competetive. There are varying terms to car hire throughout all the car hire businesses but the one that I advise you pay attention to is the 'unlimited kms' term. There are some big distances to travel and they can wrack-up. I used hertz for a week whilst I purchased a car but it depends on your plans.

Car Purchase

If you are staying in NZ for any significant period then this is my recommended approach to travelling. Providing that you can establish a permanant residential address (for vehicle registration papers etc.) then you can 'own' a car. You will find many an option for selling the vehicle, one of the methods I advise is to arrange to dispose of the car through the same dealers that you purchased it from but why not try selling it at a profit?

Car Insurance

Most insurance companies are not interested in the casual-trade of a holiday-maker type, even for six months. The only insurance that I could arrange was through my ANZ bank account, this however only came through the good-will that I had already established and had a $1300 excess. On a positive note however, providing you have good medical insurance and don't mind the risk, you don't actually have to be insured. Maybe that's why everyone drives around at 50kph.

and Finally...

One final bit of advice (and it's a hard UK habit to break). Don't flash your main-beams to let people out of tricky situations. They will look at you like you're mad. Just go about your business and everyone will fall into line. It works.