Self Drive Tours in New Zealand

If you want to take your holiday in your own direction, a self-drive holiday is the way to do it.

People say the secret to happiness is freedom, and what symbolises freedom more than the open road and a ready engine? At Silver Fern Holidays, we’re a big believer in freedom which is why we’re so excited about our New Zealand self-drive tours.

Driving in New Zealand is easy; the country is compact, you’ll often be the only vehicle on the road, and the sights are out of this world! It’s just possible a drive yourself New Zealand holiday could be the ticket to freedom you’ve been looking for.

Why Choose a New Zealand Self-Drive Tour?

A fly-drive holiday is the ultimate flexible holiday. If you want to linger a little longer in one place, or you can’t contain your excitement and need to move on early, self-drive holidays let you explore New Zealand at your own pace.

A self-drive tour also gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with all the beauty the New Zealand landscape has to offer. From the majestic lakes, mountains, fjords and glaciers of the South Island, to the bustling streets of Auckland and Wellington in the North Island, there is so much to see on a New Zealand self-drive holiday. In fact, your only problem will be fitting it all in.

But this is where we come in. We know every inch of the Land of the Long White Cloud, so we can help you build a holiday that plays to your preferences, ticking off the sights that you’d most like to see.

So if you want a holiday you’ll never forget, talk to our New Zealand travel experts today. We’ll help you build a holiday you’ll remember forever.

Why Choose Silver Fern Holidays for Your Self-Drive Holiday Package?

We’ve been building dream holidays for nearly thirty years and have tackled every eventuality. We know New Zealand as well as any local, and we’ve built up some great relationships with local hire companies so we can build you a package that is as competitive as they come. 

We’ll also help you decide which car fits your needs, from engine size to boot space.

Our tailor-made holidays are ideal if you’re looking for a self-drive tour, as our travel experts can book an itinerary that suits you perfectly! We’ll organise your vehicle hire, accommodation, activities, everything! Before you know it, you could be sweeping through New Zealand’s 94,000 km of road, reaching places buses and other forms of transport don’t travel to.

At Silver Fern, we pride ourselves on our flexibility in tailoring our packages to suit our customers’ every need. So, if you like the look of an existing itinerary but want to make it self-drive, no problem! Or if you prefer to fly through the country on two wheels, talk to us today about our motorcycle tours.

See New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Side

A self-drive tour is easily one of the best ways to experience the beauty of New Zealand. It can be impossible to predict which of the country’s many stunning sights will catch your attention but when you’re driving yourself, it’s always possible to press pause.

Whether you need an extra ten minutes to gaze over a breathtaking view, or an hour to tack an extra mile onto a trek, a fly-drive holiday lets you take things at your own pace, within your itinerary of course!

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The Rules of the Road

Whichever mode of transport you go for, we’ll also help to guide you through the rules of the New Zealand roads. There’s a handy section dedicated to driving in New Zealand on New Zealand’s tourism site covering things like how to tackle the railway crossings and one-lane bridges, and how to deal with the weather conditions. And check out our self drive New Zealand tips for campervans and general driving to get an idea of things to consider before you hit the road.

There is nothing quite like the freedom and adventure of a self drive New Zealand holiday, where the journey is just as important as the destination.

Get in touch, get excited, get your keys and go and tour New Zealand, your way.

For a step-by-step guide on how to book with us please visit our

Booking page

Self Drive Tours Frequently Asked Questions

The Great Coast Road on the South Island isn’t just the most scenic drive in New Zealand – it’s one of the most beautiful in the world.

This 63-mile stretch of road runs between Westport and Greymouth. You could run through it in 90 minutes, but that would deprive you of the chance to explore the Westland Temperate Rainforest, or admire the outcrop-studded beaches.

Or you can just stay on the road, and still enjoy the rugged, wild coastline and you won’t be left unhappy. More than the scenery will draw your attention, with the winding road a joy to travel down as well.

Driving from the top of the North Island (say, Auckland) down to the bottom (Wellington) would take around 8-12 hours depending on traffic. For the South Island, driving from Nelson to Invercargill will take slightly longer, probably 13-18 hours.

Of course, if you want to actually enjoy this beautiful country to its fullest, you need a little longer than that. We recommend between two and three weeks. It is possible to do it in a shorter period and still get a sense of New Zealand’s beauty, but this doesn’t allow much time to explore, to stretch out the days in an area that catches your interest, or to detour for an unplanned hike or day visit.

A three-week road trip allows you to see the more remote spots on both the North and South Islands, such as Fiordland National Park or Waipau, while also seeing many central parts of the country.

A self-drive holiday is the perfect way to New Zealand as it lets you travel at your own pace. However, the best vehicle to use is entirely down to you.

When it comes to the driving experience, we can pair you with a compact hatchback or other rental car that pairs wonderfully with the New Zealand roads. If you just want journeys that pass as quickly and easily as possible, to get more time in your chosen destination and plan to stick to your itinerary then a hire car might be the choice for you.

Generally, the roads of New Zealand are well-maintained with a low volume of traffic, which is a big bonus for visiting drivers. The fact that they drive on the left is useful for British drivers too!

However, some roads, particularly rural ones, can be windy and narrow, making them a little bit more intimidating. For anyone used to driving outside of the cities in the UK, it shouldn’t be too alarming but do be prepared to slow down when necessary and always stay alert and aware of what’s ahead.

You shouldn’t need to source a new driver’s licence in order to hire a car or drive in New Zealand. A standard-issue UK photo driver’s licence is enough, and even a paper licence may be acceptable.

However, you will need a full driver’s licence – a provisional licence is not sufficient.

There are no real disadvantages to a self-drive holiday – our only warning is to keep an eye on the weather forecast. It’s frequently said that you can experience all four seasons in one day in New Zealand, and the chances of this will increase if you are swallowing up the country by the mile on a road trip.

The New Zealand climate can be tempestuous, and skies can darken quickly. As with the UK, the switch from warm sun to thrashing rain can be almost instant, and on twisty, narrow New Zealand roads that can be hazardous.

The changeable weather won’t detract from the joy of a self-drive trip – in fact you’ll probably find yourself grateful for a comfy dry car to wait in if the sky does burst. But if you are looking to travel a long distance in one day, you may need to press pause for a weather break rather than risk driving through it.

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