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Planning a trip to New Zealand? If you’re looking for cheap flights, you could do worse than checking out the DialAFlight website – click the link to find cheap flights to New Zealand. If it’s your first trip to NZ, and you intend to drive whilst out there, it makes sense to acquaint yourself with some of the rules and conditions of the road. Here’s a general overview of driving in New Zealand…
All traffic drives on the left in New Zealand. Be extra cautious if you come from a country that drives on the right. It sounds like obvious advice, but driving on the wrong side of the road is a leading cause of serious injury and death for American tourists. Extra vigilance is worth the effort in a country known for steep, winding, hilly roads, not to mention the beautiful – and potentially very distracting – views you get from your window.
Take extra care at intersections. If you’re turning left, yield to oncoming cars which are turning right. Roundabouts, or traffic circles, are commonplace in New Zealand. When approaching a traffic circle, always give way to traffic coming from the right (and of course, any cars already in the circle).
The vast majority of intercity travel takes place on two-lane roads. In fact, there is less than 100 miles of multi-lane motorway – not surprising for a country with such a small population.
New Zealand is famed for its rugged terrain, so watch out for sharp curves and steep inclines. Be aware of wildlife on the roads. Also take note of the often-poor cell phone coverage across large swathes of the country.
It’s always worth considering public transportation when you are in a strange country. Buses, trains and taxis are all inexpensive, reliable and safe in New Zealand and, after all, you want to enjoy yourself on holiday, so why not leave the driving to people who are familiar with the roads and rules?
TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific editorial team has an experience of over 35 years in B2B travel journalism as well as in tourism & hospitality marketing and communications.
