Travel Blog

Matakana is about a 50-minute drive from central Auckland and has become one of the best weekend trips NZ wide for travellers who want a mix of boutique wine tasting, a famed Saturday farmers’ market, nearby white sand beaches and coastal art trails.

If you love wine, Hawke’s Bay is one of the best places in New Zealand to slow the pace, base yourself in Napier and spend a few days cruising between cellar doors, coastal viewpoints and sunset vineyards in a rental car.

Cape Reinga is one of the most powerful NZ road trip destinations; it combines sweeping lighthouse views, the visible meeting of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean and deep Māori spiritual significance at Te Rerenga Wairua.

Rotorua and Taupō are two of the best North Island road trips for geothermal sights, hot pools and adventure, linked by a scenic 80-kilometre drive that takes about an hour on State Highway 5. Learn more

Queenstown is widely known as the adventure capital of the world and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for bungy jumping, jet boating, skydiving, biking and more. This

The best self drive day trips from Auckland are Piha on the wild west coast, Matakana in the north for wine and beaches, and Hunua Falls in the south east for forest and waterfalls.

In this guide, we explore New Zealand’s most scenic drives, from legendary icons like the Crown Range Road to remote treasures such as the Forgotten World Highway.

This 3-day North Island itinerary blends adventure, relaxation, culture, nature, food, and local expertise, including insider tips from RaD Car Hire teams in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Taupō.

Whether you’re chasing marine wildlife, wineries, or mountain trails, this post breaks down how to choose between the Kaikōura coastal route and the inland Lewis Pass route, including recommended stops, expert insights, and exclusive tips from RaD.

Discover some of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets, recommended directly by our local branch teams, and all within easy reach of a RaD Car Hire location.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing a whale up close, there’s no better place than Kaikōura, New Zealand’s marine wildlife capital. Learn more.

Planning a road trip in New Zealand? Whether you’re exploring Auckland’s city-to-coast routes or taking a weekend break in Tauranga, it’s worth knowing how New Zealand’s toll roads work, especially if you’re driving a rental car.