Driving Guide

Driving in New Zealand

New Zealand road rules generally follow international standards. Some key points to note:

• Visitors driving in New Zealand do not need an international driver's licence but must carry their local driver's licence at all times.
• Drive on the left-hand side of the road.
• Give way to the right.
• Vehicles turning left must give way to traffic turning right.
• Speed limits are in kilometres per hour (kph) - 1 kph = 0.621 mph OR 1 mph = 1.61 kph.
• The speed limit in towns and cities is usually 50 kph (31 mph).
• The speed limit on the open road is 100 kph (62 mph).
• New Zealand has strict drink driving laws. The best policy is never to drink and drive. Some guidelines.
• It is required by law that seat belts are worn at all times by the driver and all passengers. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under 15 years are safely restrained.

A comprehensive Guide to New Zealand Road Rules is provided online by the New Zealand Automobile Association (NZAA).

Travelling Times and Distances

Use the charts below to find the distances and approximate travelling times between frequently visited New Zealand towns and cities.

Times displayed assume an average travelling speed of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour on the open road, with an allowance of 10 minutes per hour for petrol/refreshment stops.

• North Island Travelling Distances & Times
• South Island Travelling Distances & Times

North Island Travel Distances (in Kilometres) & Times (in Hours:Minutes)

	Auckland	Gisborne	Hamilton	Rotorua	Taupo	Tauranga	Wellington	Whangarei
Auckland		509 km 8hr:20	126 km 1hr:55	234 km 3hr:35	278 km 4hr:05	205 km 3hr:20	658 km 9hr:15	165 km 3hr:00
Gisborne	509 km 8hr:20		394 km 6hr:30	286 km 4hr:50	332 km 5hr:25	298 km 5hr:00	538 km 8hr:15	664 km 11hr:10
Hamilton	126 km 1hr:55	394 km 6hr:30		108 km 1hr:40	152 km 2hr:10	106 km 1hr:55	532 km 7hr:30	291 km 4hr:45
Rotorua	234 km 3hr:35	286 km 4hr:50	108 km 1hr:40		80 km 1hr:20	86 km 1hr:30	460 km 6hr:30	400 km 6hr:25
Taupo	278 km 4hr:05	332 km 5hr:25	152 km 2hr:10	80 km 1hr:20		156 km 2hr:25	380 km 5hr:10	443 km 6hr:55
Tauranga	205 km 3hr:20	298 km 5hr:00	106 km 1hr:55	86 km 1hr:30	156 km 2hr:25		546 km 8hr:00	370 km 6hr:10
Wellington	658 km 9hr:15	538 km 8hr:15	532 km 7hr:30	460 km 6hr:30	380 km 5hr:10	546 km 8hr:00		823 km 12hr:05
Whangarei	165 km 3hr:00	664 km 11hr:10	291 km 4hr:45	400 km 6hr:25	443 km 6hr:55	370 km 6hr:10	823 km 12hr:05

South Island Travel Distances (in Kilometres) & Times (in Hours:Minutes)

	Christchurch	Dunedin	Invercargill	Greymouth	Kaikoura	Nelson	Picton	Queenstown
Christchurch		362 km 5hr:00	579 km 8hr:10	258 km 4hr:10	183 km 2.50	424 km 6hr:15	336 km 5hr:00	486 km 7hr:15
Dunedin	362 km 5hr:00		217 km 3hr:10	551 km 8hr:10	454 km 7hr:50	786 km 11hr:05	698 km 10hr:00	283 km 4hr:25
Invercargill	579 km 8hr:10	217 km 3hr:10		769 km 11hr:20	762 km 11hr:00	1003 km 14hr:15	915 km 13hr:10	187 km 3hr:00
Greymouth	258 km 4hr:10	551 km 8hr:10	769 km 11hr:20		338 km 7hr:00	290 km 4hr:35	671 km 11hr:10	583 km 10hr:55
Kaikoura	183 km 2.50	454 km 7hr:50	762 km 11hr:00	338 km 7hr:00		245 km 3hr:35	157 km 2hr:15	669 km 11hr:10
Nelson	424 km 6hr:15	786 km 11hr:05	1003 km 14hr:15	290 km 4hr:35	245 km 3hr:35		110 km 2hr:10	910 km 13hr:30
Picton	336 km 5hr:00	698 km 10hr:00	915 km 13hr:10	671 km 11hr:10	157 km 2hr:15	110 km 2hr:10		822 km 31hr:20
Queenstown	486 km 7hr:15	283 km 4hr:25	187 km 3hr:00	583 km 10hr:55	669 km 11hr:10	910 km 13hr:30	822 km 31hr:20