Travel Blog

The best way to explore Rotorua's geothermal parks and adventure hubs is to pre-book with RaD Car Hire Rotorua and collect from the Rotorua Airport terminal or our depot. Pick an SUV or people mover for mountain bikes and family luggage. Learn more

The best way to explore Nelson, Abel Tasman and Marlborough by car Book car hire in Nelson and collect at Nelson Airport, Picton Ferry Terminal or Blenheim Airport, then return wherever suits your route. Learn more

The best way to explore Hamilton and the Waikato is to collect your car from our Te Rapa depot at 1 The Boulevard or arrange a Hamilton Airport pick-up, then match it to the road. Learn more

The best way to get around Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and the wider Bay of Plenty is with a car that matches what you've actually got planned. Pick up at our Tauranga City depot on Fifteenth Avenue or arrange a seamless collection at Tauranga Airport.

The best way to explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula is with a car that suits your terrain, not just your itinerary. Pick up at our express Momona Airport depot or our Kensington CBD branch, then match your booking to the trip. Learn more

Queenstown is one of the few places in New Zealand where the drive is as much a part of the holiday as the destination. Learn more about driving in and around Queenstown and how to make the most of your trip.

Christchurch is the smartest launchpad for a South Island road trip, with direct highway access north, south and inland to the Southern Alps. Picking up at RaD Car Hire Christchurch Airport rather than a terminal counter gets you on the road faster.

Wellington is one of the most rewarding cities in New Zealand to explore by car, but it’s also one of the most distinctive to drive in. Steep hillside suburbs, narrow one-way streets, harbourside crosswinds and a compact CBD. Read more

Auckland is the perfect starting point for a New Zealand road trip, whether you’re heading north to Matakana, west to Piha, or south towards the Coromandel Peninsula. However, choosing the right car hire Auckland pickup location is essential.

Planning a New Zealand road trip is one of the most exciting travel experiences in the world. From the volcanic plateaus of the North Island to the dramatic alpine passes of the South Island, self-driving gives you the ultimate freedom.

Tourists most often miss five key rules: keep left, give way correctly at roundabouts, read one-lane bridge arrows, slow down on gravel roads, and never use a handheld phone while driving. Distances also take longer than they look on the map.

Queenstown’s best scenic drives change with the seasons, but winter needs the most care. Glenorchy is the safest low-altitude option when snow is around, while the Crown Range and Milford Sound routes demand close attention to road conditions.