Driving in New Zealand: Advice & Tips
If you’re not a New Zealand resident, then you can drive with your current driver’s license for up to 12 months, as long as it’s in English or you hav...
Find out more about driving in New Zealand
Other places to visit in New Zealand
Not only is Auckland the biggest urban area within New Zealand but it’s surrounded by a large expanse of beautiful scenery, from stunning harbors and ...
Popular tourist destinations to visit in New Zealand
History of New Zealand
The first Europeans to discover the country arrived in 1642, followed by Captain Cook in 1769. However, the Polynesian Maori were there at least 1000 years ago. British travelers began settling there properly in 1840, once their sovereignty had been established. Today, New Zealand is a Commonwealth member. The country is run by a government which is elected for three years and the British monarch still remains as the Head of State.
The original Maori culture continues to be very prevalent throughout the country. Rotorua, for example, contains an art center where young Maori come to learn traditional skills and visitors can enjoy traditional music and cuisine. Alternatively, if you head to the South Island you can visit picturesque towns which still ooze their original Britishness. There are also a number of UNESCO recognized national parks, including Whanganui and Egmont, both of which are in the Western North Island. Enjoy the country’s cultural heritage and make sure you hire a car in New Zealand so that you don’t miss out on any cultural gem.
The geography of New Zealand
The country is separated into four Associated Terrorities: the Cook Islands in the northeast, Niue to the west, Tokelau to the northwest and Ross Dependency which incorporates the Antarctic. Geographically, New Zealand is made up of two main islands, which are divided by the Cook Strait, and fringing these are a plethora of smaller islands. Most of the major cities, including the largest city, Auckland, are located on the North Island. The rest of the terrain is mainly lush, rolling hills. However, if you head to the center you’ll find active volcanoes, bubbling mud pools and spewing geysers. The South Island, on the other hand, is predominantly composed of snowcapped mountain ranges, majestic glaciers and fjords interspersed with quaint towns. The cities tend to be a fair distance apart, so a cheap car hire in New Zealand ensures that you get to see and experience as much of the island as you can.
Weather in New Zealand
As you can imagine, the weather differs from the north to the south of the country and it’s generally controlled by the sea and the mountain ranges. In the north, the clime is subtropical and in the south it’s temperate. The south has a colder winter and can drop as low as -10 degrees. However, what with the mountains, this makes fantastic weather for heli-skiing. If you’re looking for a warmer clime, the east is hotter and has even been known for drought conditions in the summer. The west, however, attracts a lot of rainy weather. As the majority of the country is in close proximity to the coast, the temperature tends to be mild with a lot of sunny weather. The warmest months to visit are January and February although it’s still mild in Autumn. Sun worshippers should head to Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and the Bay of Plenty for the most heat. But, be warned: the weather is renowned for changing quickly and can do so unexpectantly so it’s worth it to hire a car in New Zealand.