If you're not going to see New Zealand on an organised tour then organising car hire in New Zealand is essential. Public transport can take you between the major tourist centres but the best spots are only accessible by car, or in some cases by foot.

Get behind the wheel
In New Zealand they drive on the left hand side of the road. The motorways and roads in the cities and towns are well cared for but there are still a number of unsealed roads in more remote areas, in fact a few roads won't be covered by the insurance you get with your car hire. New Zealand has a mountainous terrain so there are lots of steep and windy roads and many of the state highways have only one lane in each direction so pass with care.

Popular drives
Organising New Zealand car rental is just the first step. You then have to select a few of the many amazing drives around the country. Here are three of our favourites:
West Coast of the South Island - this rugged length of coastline is sparsely populated and open to the elements which have produced beautiful rock formations, including the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki.
Auckland to the Bay of Islands - most people will fly into Auckland and as the Bay of Islands is one of the most popular tourist spots this is a popular drive. You will see a variety of landscapes from coastal towns to forests and along the way there are plenty of museums and craft shops to stop at. The Bay of Islands is known for its boat trips where swim with dolphins or sail through a hole in a rock.
Milford Road - rainforest, lakes, waterfalls, birds, mountains of moss and mountainous terrain make this one of the most beautiful (and slightly scary) drives in the world.

If you've sorted out your car hire in New Zealand, why not get yourself a good hotel deal?