Travelling Around New Zealand: Should You Hit the Road or Sail the Seas?
There is no doubt that New Zealand is a beautiful place.
Located just three hours by airplane from Sydney, it’s a must-see destination for those wanting to explore what the Pacific region has to offer. While cheap flights to New Zealand are always available, travellers are often faced with a common dilemma: do they explore the North and South Islands by car, or by cruise ship?
We believe both options offer up endless potential for a wonderful adventure, so have decided to delve into each of these a little more below.
Exploring New Zealand by Car
If you would prefer to rent a car and explore the destination via road, then there are plenty of options available to you. A lot of travellers opt for this method of transportation as it gives them the freedom and flexibility to determine their own itinerary, or to make up their minds as they go.
New Zealand is well-known for its stunning winding roads, rolling green hills, and snow-capped mountains, so it comes as no surprise that traveling around the islands by car is a popular choice. You can either rent a campervan or motorhome to truly immerse yourself within nature (particularly with the country’s breath-taking national parks), or you can rent a car to allow you to travel from place to place (whilst staying at hotels or Airbnb’s along the way).
Some of our must-visit places in New Zealand that are easily accessible by car include:
- Fiordland National Park
- Auckland
- Queenstown
- Napier
- Wellington
- Christchurch
Touring New Zealand by Cruise Ship
When it comes to exploring the country via sea, there are a tonne of New Zealand cruise deals available. Not only can cruise ship packages work out to be very affordable (especially with their long list of inclusions), but it can also be a very relaxing way to explore the destination. Rather than planning itineraries, booking accommodation, and purchasing tickets for activities, you can sit back and kick up your feet as the ship takes you from port to port.
Some of our must-visit places in New Zealand that are easily accessible via boat include:
- Bay of Islands
- Auckland
- Cape Reinga
- Fiordland National Park
- Wellington
- Port Chalmers
- Milford Sound
- Christchurch
Making the Most of Your New Zealand Trip
Did you know that Auckland in New Zealand also serves as a fantastic port for travellers looking to hop on a cruise ship to another nearby location, including Tonga, Polynesia, Vanuatu, and Fiji? Once you’ve finished exploring all that beautiful New Zealand has to offer, that doesn’t mean your travel adventure has to end there! With many Pacific regions being within close proximity to one another, you can easily spend another 8 – 15 nights exploring these other fantastic cultures, sights, and cuisine.
Our biggest piece of advice when setting off on any holiday is to make sure you have travel insurance. It’s better to be safe than sorry, as they say! You should always compare travel insurance to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible too.
.
There you have it – our quick guide to exploring stunning New Zealand, whether by road or by sea. Are you planning a trip to the country any time soon? And if so, do you plan on travelling via car or kicking-back on a cruise ship?