NZ Road Trip: Tips & Tricks

Mac & I spent almost 3 full months cruisin’ around New Zealand. During that time, we sure learned a lot about what to do (and sometimes what NOT to do) on an NZ Road Trip. Here are some of our tips & trips to have a successful NZ Road Trip of your own! So get ready & buckle up, because this is a long one!

Petrol

The main petrol (gas) stations in NZ are: BP, Z (pronounced zed), Caltex, Mobil, Gull, & Pak n Save. All towns will have at least one of these, and some will have prices varying by up to 6 cents, so feel free to shop around!

AA SmartFuel card

Pick up a free AA SmartFuel card at any BP or Caltex. After registering the card online, it allows you to redeem $0.06/L on fill ups up to 50L. You can also stockpile points and end up redeeming $0.12, $0.18/L etc. It may not seem like a lot, but as roads in NZ are long, you end up going through a LOT of gas, so those 6 cents sure do add up! Mac & I drove over 7700km, and we spent $1235.08 on gas!

Save grocery receipts

Similar to the SmartFuel card, many grocery stores will provide coupons for $0.04-$0.06/L on your receipt if you spend over a certain amount on your bill. Some of them expire within a week/month, and/or are only valid at nearby petrol stations, so be sure to read your receipt and fill up accordingly!

Location, Location, Location

The cheapest gas we found in all of NZ was in Pahia in Northland at $1.55/L, with Taupo being a close second. The most expensive we filled up was in Wanaka at $2.00/L. Gas in the South Island will typically be more expensive, with the highest prices on the west coast.

Also keep in mind your driving plans and petrol station proximities before heading out on a long  journey. For example, the 100+km from Te Anau to Milford Sound has no gas stations. Leave Te Anau with a full tank! We met travellers who didn’t do this and were forced to top up their empty tank at an emergency station in Milford Sound for $4.00/L!! The same can also be said for driving to Mt. Cook, through the Catlins, and various roads along either coast.

Campsites

Mac & I camped for a total of 22 nights on our road trip (we definitely would have liked to do more, but those winter temperatures were not inviting for a thin-walled tent!!). There are a few things to know prior to ‘roughing it’ in New Zealand.

Tent Camping vs Campervans

One term you’ll start to see everywhere is ‘self-contained’. This refers to a vehicle that has some sort of toilet. Big RVs down to renovated camper vans can come equipped with some sort of toilet – whether it be a fully flushing one, or a chemical/disk toilet. Having a ‘Self-Contained’ sticker on your vehicle allows you to ‘Freedom Camp’ where allowed. Campervans or cars not equipped with toilets are NOT allowed to camp at these locations – getting caught will be a $200 fine.

Campsites

With the help of CamperMate (see below), we limited our search options to non-self-contained campsites. This is where things can get a bit confusing. There are five types of DOC campsites: serviced, scenic, standard, basic, back country.

Serviced campsites are $15pp/night. These are the ‘glamping’ campsites. Flush toilets, tap water, kitchen facilities, etc are all present at the campsites.

Scenic campsites are $10pp/night. These sites are in high-usage locations and are similar to serviced sites – flush toilets & tap water are available. Cooking facilities and picnic tables may be provided.

Standard campsites are $6pp/night. There are toilets (long drop usually), and water from either a tap, stream, or lake.

Basic & Back country campsites are both free! These are the most limited campsites. There are toilets (long drop) and there may or may not be a water source. You need to be fairly self-sufficient while camping at these sites.

There are also Great Walk campsites which range from $6-$18pp/night. These need to be booked in advance online or at a DOC office.

Camping Tips

If you’re driving a camper van, you can pretty much just pull up and park. If you’re tent camping though, you need to be a bit more mindful. We looked for a flat spot that was close to a cooking spot (fire pit, a log to sit on, picnic table etc), and near a toilet (but not TOO close!!! Those things can really reek!).

Accommodation

If camping isn’t your thing, fear not! NZ is FULL of many different types of accommodation. Be it B&B’s, inns, hotels, or hostels, you’ll be able to find something you like almost anywhere. When we weren’t camping, Mac & I stayed in hostels. Ignore everything you’ve seen in movies about hostels being dirty, scary, or dangerous places to stay! The majority of the hostels we stayed in were all pleasant experiences (ok, one or two could have used a good cleaning, but that’s besides the point!).

What to Expect

Unlike the other countries we travelled through, WiFi was not automatically free and/or unlimited in NZ. The majority of the hostels we stayed in either had a daily limit for WiFi usage (300MB – 1GB), or you had to pay for it ($1-$5). This was frustrating at times (especially for a certain someone who wanted to stream the NBA playoff games!), so if WiFi is an issue for you, be sure to confirm before you check in.

It’s quite common to have to bring your bedding (pillow case & sheets) down to reception at check out. This saves time & energy for the cleaners.

Treat the common areas (bathrooms, kitchen, living room) as you would in your own home. Don’t leave a mess and clean up after yourself.

Dorm rooms will be cheaper than privates, and rooms without ensuites will be less expensive than those with. The least we paid for a dorm room was $20pp and it had 28 beds (we also stayed in an 8 bed dorm for $20pp). Private rooms usually cost ~$30pp.

BBH Card

Though I don’t exactly know what it stands for, BBH is a membership program that hostels (or any type of accommodation) can belong to which provide discounts to guests. A BBH card costs $45pp and if presented at a BBH affiliated hostel, you save a minimum of $4 per night. The $4/night of savings typically applies to dorms, and we found that the savings increased if you opted for a private room. If you’re planning on travelling around NZ for a few weeks, consider getting a BBH card – it’ll pay for itself in 12 nights (or less!).

Food

Grocery Stores

The main grocery stores in NZ are: Countdown, Fresh Choice, Pak n Save, New World, & Four Square. Countdown and Fresh Choice are owned by the same company, as are New World and Pak n Save (which is similar to Costco). Four Square can be found in most smaller towns and tends to be a bit more expensive.

Be sure to also check out fruit & veggie stores. When we lived in Auckland, I would get all of my produce from Fruit World and just go to Countdown for the non-perishables etc. The produce in the fruit & veg stores is often really reasonably prices and very fresh.

Road Trip Cooking

Most hostels or hotels will have fully stocked (or what some may deem fully stocked!) kitchens. However, if you find yourself hungry with no hostel in sight, road side cooking is where it’s at! I’d highly recommend investing in a camper stove from Warehouse (NZ’s Wal-Mart). It’s only $20 and takes butane canisters (4 cans/$6) and comes in a handy carrying case. Mac & I had many a road side meals and they were all delicious! With either a pan or small pot, you can make almost everything. Though we did consume probably a few too many instant noodle lunches, we also made chickpea flour tortillas, bean & lentil stir fries, pancakes, and much more! Lots of parks have picnic tables which are perfect ‘kitchens’, and some even have BBQ’s which are free to use!

Eating Out

Like most things in NZ, eating out will be more expensive compared to Canadian prices. However, there are positives to the initial sticker shock. Tax is included in prices! (This is actually standard for all goods & services across NZ). Also, tipping is not expected! So, when you see a $20 meal, you actually pay $20! Tips are included in servers’ wages (minimum wage is $14 in NZ), and while not expected, they are always appreciated. Tipping in NZ is how tipping should be done – a reward for exceptional service!

Apps & Technology

With technology being what it is these days, road trips have come a long way from paper maps and compasses!

CamperMate

This app was hands down one of the most useful things on our road trip! It’s free to download and is incredibly useful. It shows you where the nearest campsite/accommodation/petrol station/public toilet/WiFi/you-name-it is as well as any additional information about that spot. This app was SUPER useful for when we were trying to find campsites as it specifies the price and whether or not the site is for non-self-contained vehicles.

To save on data usage, be sure to download the offline maps when you have WiFi.

Pre-Load Google Maps

Mac’s mom actually told me about this way back in Nicaragua and it was super helpful throughout all of our travels! What you do, is when you have WiFi, pre-load the area of the map where you’ll be heading next. The map stays loaded even after you’ve left WiFi which makes for easy navigation in a new city!

Coupon Websites

Canada has WagJag & LivingSocial, NZ has GrabOne & BookMe. Though we didn’t actually use GrabOne, we did use BookMe twice and it was great! We toured the Steampunk HQ in Oamaru for 50% off, and saved over $15 on our Monteith’s Brewery Tour. There are deals all throughout the country for anything you can imagine!

Information

iSites

Almost every town/city will have an iSite. Here, you’ll be able to talk with a non-biased rep who will be able to give you advice/suggestions on what to do in that area. Watch out for similarly branded i-Sites or information sites which are often affiliated with a business and are only trying to get you to buy something.

Many iSites are often in the same building as DOC offices making for easy one stop shopping.

Driving

Buying a Car

Buying a car is one of the easiest options for getting around if you’ll be in the country for more than 4-5 weeks. It’s also super easy to do. Sites like TradeMe.co.nz (similar to Kijiji) have heaps of cars for sale. Or, if you’re in Auckland, you can go to the Ellerslie Car Mart on Sundays to try and find a bargain. Our beloved Camry was only $2200. And transferring ownership couldn’t be easier! You can do it in person at NZ Post, or online – and it only costs $9! No tax either!

LEFT

In New Zealand, you drive on the LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!! This can take a bit of getting used to (especially with using the blinkers and windshield wipers. Let’s just say that in the beginning, my windshield was very clean every time I made a turn!). There are sometimes arrows on the road that will remind you what side to drive on, but just remember that the driver’s side needs to be in the middle of the road – just like at home (but on the opposite side…)

Stock Crossings

Stock crossings are common, because of NZ’s massive rural area. (Stock = sheep, cattle, etc). If you see the farmer, ask them if it’s cool to keep driving through, otherwise just use your judgement. Sheep and heifers are pretty tame and docile and will generally move out of your way. We did encounter a herd of steer which were the farthest thing from docile! Several of the bulls were kicking (uncomfortably close to the car!) and a few were even butting heads! I sure was happy when we got out of their way!!

Roundabouts

These are a dime a dozen in NZ, so you’d better learn to use them!

Following Directions

One thing I LOVED about driving in NZ were the abundance of easy-to-follow signs. Because there are so few roads & highways, it’s pretty hard to get lost. But even if you do, there are plenty of signs that’ll soon point you in the right direction.

Hitch Hiking

Hitch hiking is very common among backpackers. Mac & I picked up a few hitch hikers and always had pleasant experiences. Again, use your judgement in these situations. If driving, you’re in control. If you’re hitch hiking, be aware that in rural areas it can take quite a bit of time to get picked up – it just depends how long you want to wait.

Crazy Roads

Compared to the straight, flat roads of South Western Ontario, the roads in NZ were on drugs! They are narrow, hardly ever straight, and very hilly!! Not to mention, there’s also barrier-free edges on cliff faces which can be quite scary! You should also keep an eye out for slips (aka landslides). Sheer cliff faces can often produce falling rocks, so caution is always recommended in these areas.

Enjoy it!

Once you get past the opposite-side driving, animal interactions, and snaking roads, take a moment to really appreciate the pure beauty of New Zealand. Often, those crazy roads are surrounded by lakes, mountains, or fields as far as the eye can see. Though there aren’t many spots to pull over (shoulders are pretty non-existent), if you find a safe place, take advantage! Some of my favourite memories from our road trip were when we pulled over to get out and just admire the insane scenery surrounding us.