New Zealand has three main islands - North Island, South Island (also known as the Mainland) and Stewart Island (Rakiura). You can drive freely between North and South islands, crossing the Cook Strait by ferry. 

There are two companies operating drive-on-drive-off ferries between Picton and Wellington. The journey takes about 3 hours plus an hour at each end for loading/unloading.  It is advisable to book ahead for busy periods like summer and school holidays.  It costs approximately $350 one-way for one of our motorhomes on the ferry.

Bluebridge http://www.bluebridge.co.nz

Bluebridge operate two ships on the daily service between Wellington and Picton. 
Get a quote and/or make a booking

The Interislander www.interislander.co.nz

Interislander operate three ferries with four to six daily sailings in each direction. Get a quote and/or make a booking

Automobile Association (AA) www.aa.co.nz

We’ve partnered with the Automobile Association (AA), New Zealand’s leading roadside support company to offer 24 hour, 7 day support wherever you need it. And the calls are free dial 0800 734 543 toll free, even from a mobile phone.

The assistance covers any mechanical faults with the vehicle.  It does not cover the following and any associated costs will be the responsibility of the hirer.  (They will still come and help you out, the non-mechanical call out charge is $65 in city areas, $140 in rural areas and after hours (11pm-7am), and credit cards are accepted)

• The vehicle running out of fuel
• Keys being locked inside the vehicle or lost
• Flat batteries as a result of the lights or keys being left on
• A breakdown as a result of damage caused in an accident
• Flat tyre/s

101 Must do Weekends in New Zealand www.aatravel.co.nz/101

Take a look at the AA Travel website and choose a category or a region, then hit the road for a must do weekend getaway adventure.  Here you’ll also find New Zealand travel itineraries, roadtrips and sightseeing guides.  Local attractions that have made the 101 Must Do list are:  Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Town, New Chum’s Beach, The Pinnacles in the Kauaeranga Valley and the Karangahake Gorge.

Wises interactive maps www.wises.co.nz

...show local amenities, banks, campsites, museums, walks, vineyards and much more.  Some roads in NZ take you off the beaten track and show you some real hidden beauty spots.  While we have no road restrictions, extreme care is needed on unsealed, gravel roads which can be steep, narrow & windy.  Safety tips for driving on these roads can be found on the Department of Conservation website. 

KidzGo www.kidzgo.co.nz

is a family travel web guide to New Zealand.  It includes activities, where to eat and shop as well as information you need to make the most of your holiday here. 

Camping Our Way, Love NZ www.camping.org.nz/new-zealand

provides information about freedom camping and eco-wise tips so you can leave gentle footprints when travelling in New Zealand

Travel Calculator www.aatravel.co.nz/main/td-calculator.php

will give you an indication of the time it takes to travel between your destinations

Visitor Information Centres www.newzealand.com/travel/i-sites/newzealand/

are found throughout the country.  Look out for the green logo.

Business hours are generally Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.  Petrol (gas) stations are often open 24 hours.  They will all have diesel & water and some will have LPG.  Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.  Many will open on Saturday mornings and the bigger malls, retail chains & supermarkets are open on Sundays.

Banks are open Monday to Friday (except public holidays), 9.30am to 4.30pm.  Automatic teller machines operate on a card PIN number system.  Cash can be withdrawn 24 hours a day.  Use of EFTPOS is common.  Goods & Services Tax (GST) is 12.5% and is usually included in the advertised price.

	IMPORTANT NUMBERS: Emergency services (Police, Fire or Ambulance) - dial 111 (no charge) Local operator 010 International operator 0170 | NZ Directory assistance 018 International directory assistance 0172 National direct dialing full area code (with the 0 prefix) and local number International direct dialing 00 followed by country code, area code and local number.

Health

Medical centres are found in most towns and the bigger cities have hospitals & ER services.  A chemist is the NZ term for a pharmacist or drug store.  Their shops are open during normal business hours & most cities have urgent dispensaries open outside these hours, listed in the front of the telephone book under Hospitals.  Chemists also sell cosmetics, sun protection creams & insect repellant.

Sunburn: Please be aware that ultraviolet radiation from the sun can be harsh. It is important to wear sunglasses, a hat and sunblock.  The burn time between 11am & 3pm can be as little as 10 minutes, so seek shade or cover up during the middle of the day.  Outdoor stores sell Rash tops which have built in sun protection & they are available for adults & children.

Bites & Stings: While NZ doesn’t have any dangerous wildlife, sandflies & mosquitoes can be annoying in some areas.  Insect repellant will take care of them.  No serious diseases are carried by them, though travellers from overseas may come out in itchy lumps in reaction to being bitten by them until they adapt.  Wasps can be a nuisance in some areas, if allergic to their stings, carry medication.

Other useful information for travelling in NZ is supplied in every vehicle along with a full list of dump stations.