Driving in New Zealand

planenut · 29th May 2015, 11:29

I have just returned from a three week trip to New Zealand; bucket list and all that.

We hired cars from Omega, one on each island. $29 (NZ) per day, that's about £14.50. Older cars, but very good; the first a Nissan Sunny the second a Toyota Platz, hatch-back thingy. We covered about 1800 miles on the trip. They drive on the normal side which is good, so the vehicles are right hand drive. National speed limit is 100k therefore 63 miles per hour.

We had had warnings that "this is winter" but in fact it's autumn and due to that very little traffic. Most of the roads are like A and B roads, lots of tight bends, but one day I travelled at least twenty-five miles and had no other vehicle travelling in my direction, and it was mid morning, most times you could only see one or two other vehicles on the road.

Waitomo caves on the 24th May, there was an MG meet, which was wonderful to see. Saw a very nice red Rover S type, pristine green Rover 10, and a Morris Minor. Saw no 75's though I am aware we have at least a couple of members over there.

Great trip, fantastic country, smashing people.

Supervinnie40 · 29th May 2015, 12:33

So jealous you got to go there. I would sell/leave everything I own in a heartbeat for a chance to spent the rest of my life there....
Tauranga or Mount Maunganui are my favorites.

planenut · 29th May 2015, 12:37

It was a trip where we promised to not look for other things to do as we had a very busy itinerary. Came home for a rest. Fantastic place.

Christopher · 29th May 2015, 13:36

I lived and drove in NZ for 4 years (Christchurch) and drove around much of the South Island (little to nothing of the North Island sadly). The scenery is beautiful and makes for really nice drives.

I had a blue Datsun Sunny and it was an OK 'student' vehicle that just 'went'!

Happy days

Supervinnie40 · 29th May 2015, 13:43

In my 2 years working there I had a Ford Falcon station and a Nissan Blue bird station. Both where barely legal on the road I think, but they just kept going. They where actually more economic than I expected. Did probably about 1500km a month, and they never missed a beat.
Also bought a Bedford CF180 which used to be an ambulance turned campervan. I thought I was gonna spent my life there so tried to fix it up. Had to sell it though before I could finish it due to my work permit expiring.

Ps3000 · 29th May 2015, 15:39

Have been twice (2005 and 2009) and love NZ. Love the people, quiet roads, quiet places, it's great.

planenut · 29th May 2015, 17:05

Hmm, I hadn't mentioned it to anybody yet, but yes, I would love to go back. It's expensive to get to because of the distance but the accommodation is dirt cheap; I used the backpacker hostels, when we weren't using the DOC huts.

Duotone · 29th May 2015, 17:25

I took this picture of a ZT in Christchurch, South Island, in 2005 but no pictures of the few 75's I saw in both the North Island and the South Island.

Dave T

29th May 2015, 11:29	#1
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Driving in New Zealand I have just returned from a three week trip to New Zealand; bucket list and all that. We hired cars from Omega, one on each island. $29 (NZ) per day, that's about £14.50. Older cars, but very good; the first a Nissan Sunny the second a Toyota Platz, hatch-back thingy. We covered about 1800 miles on the trip. They drive on the normal side which is good, so the vehicles are right hand drive. National speed limit is 100k therefore 63 miles per hour. We had had warnings that "this is winter" but in fact it's autumn and due to that very little traffic. Most of the roads are like A and B roads, lots of tight bends, but one day I travelled at least twenty-five miles and had no other vehicle travelling in my direction, and it was mid morning, most times you could only see one or two other vehicles on the road. Waitomo caves on the 24th May, there was an MG meet, which was wonderful to see. Saw a very nice red Rover S type, pristine green Rover 10, and a Morris Minor. Saw no 75's though I am aware we have at least a couple of members over there. Great trip, fantastic country, smashing people.

29th May 2015, 12:33	#2
Supervinnie40 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 1.8 Club Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Tilburg (Netherland) Posts: 2,612 Thanks: 572 Thanked 336 Times in 247 Posts	So jealous you got to go there. I would sell/leave everything I own in a heartbeat for a chance to spent the rest of my life there.... Tauranga or Mount Maunganui are my favorites. __________________ Proud owner of the Dutch "Golden 75". A much loved Gold White Metallic Rover 75 1.8 na from 2000.

29th May 2015, 13:36	#4
Christopher Owners Club Director Rover 75 V6 Copperleaf Red, MG ZTT 190+ Lagoon & Early MGF Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rugby Posts: 9,287 Thanks: 105 Thanked 343 Times in 81 Posts	I lived and drove in NZ for 4 years (Christchurch) and drove around much of the South Island (little to nothing of the North Island sadly). The scenery is beautiful and makes for really nice drives. I had a blue Datsun Sunny and it was an OK 'student' vehicle that just 'went'! Happy days __________________ Christopher in banana veritas

29th May 2015, 13:43	#5
Supervinnie40 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 1.8 Club Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Tilburg (Netherland) Posts: 2,612 Thanks: 572 Thanked 336 Times in 247 Posts	In my 2 years working there I had a Ford Falcon station and a Nissan Blue bird station. Both where barely legal on the road I think, but they just kept going. They where actually more economic than I expected. Did probably about 1500km a month, and they never missed a beat. Also bought a Bedford CF180 which used to be an ambulance turned campervan. I thought I was gonna spent my life there so tried to fix it up. Had to sell it though before I could finish it due to my work permit expiring. __________________ Proud owner of the Dutch "Golden 75". A much loved Gold White Metallic Rover 75 1.8 na from 2000.

29th May 2015, 12:37	#3
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	It was a trip where we promised to not look for other things to do as we had a very busy itinerary. Came home for a rest. Fantastic place.

29th May 2015, 15:39	#6
Ps3000 Gets stuck in None at moment Join Date: May 2013 Location: Loughborough Posts: 899 Thanks: 230 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts	Have been twice (2005 and 2009) and love NZ. Love the people, quiet roads, quiet places, it's great.

29th May 2015, 17:05	#7
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Hmm, I hadn't mentioned it to anybody yet, but yes, I would love to go back. It's expensive to get to because of the distance but the accommodation is dirt cheap; I used the backpacker hostels, when we weren't using the DOC huts.

29th May 2015, 17:25	#8
Duotone This is my second home 75 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Leeds Posts: 8,432 Thanks: 176 Thanked 907 Times in 716 Posts	I took this picture of a ZT in Christchurch, South Island, in 2005 but no pictures of the few 75's I saw in both the North Island and the South Island. Dave T