CAR HIRE NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand's varied scenery and quiet roads provide a host of touring possibilities. Holiday car hire is an excellent choice for this country due to the numerous campsites and stunning landscapes.

Traffic drives on the left but be prepared to give way to the right. There are few motorways in New Zealand and the single carriageway main roads can be slow. The open road speed limit is 100kph but where a Limited Speed Zone (LSZ) is signposted this drops to 50kph in adverse weather conditions. One strange New Zealand law is that when turning left into a side road, you must give way to an oncoming vehicle that wishes to turn across in front of your car into the same road. No left turn is allowed at a red traffic light except where a green filter arrow is lit. In town there are usually parking metres. Some cities have clearway zones and if you park in one illegally your car may be towed away.

Car crime is generally low in New Zealand but there have been thefts from hire cars and motor homes in tourist areas so take the usual precautions.