New Zealand Car Rental Company Recommends New Zealand Self-Driving Tour Car Rental Guide New Zealand Visa Application Expressway

If you want to drive to New Zealand by yourself, you will know some New Zealand car rental guide and New Zealand visa information. The editor below will introduce in detail the relevant road travel strategies, don’t miss it.

New Zealand Car Rental Guide

Chinese driver’s licenses are recognized in New Zealand, so you can rent a car as long as you have a translated driver’s license. It should be noted that when driving in New Zealand, you must carry a valid translation of the original Chinese driver's license with you. Alipay can translate driver's license.

Translating a certified driver’s license is also easy. Search New Zealand on Alipay, fill in the information, and your account will be credited within 24 hours.

There are two ways to rent a car: online reservation and on-site pick-up. You can book a car rental online in China, use a credit card for pre-authorization (the credit card holder must go to the car rental site), and pay the full amount when signing the contract at the car rental company. An easy way to search for car rentals with Alipay. There are many cities and car models to choose from.

Or, after arriving in New Zealand, book and pay on the official website. When picking up the car, you can take the online car rental voucher to your company's store, or you can go directly to the car rental company to pick up the car on site.

A driver's license and translation are required when renting a car. Different models cost differently. Generally speaking, the longer the lease term, the more favorable the daily car rental rates will be.

: Car rental company

1. Ordinary cars

Apex

(www.apexrentals.co.nz/cars.aspx)New York The largest car rental company in Zealand, with low rent and many car rental points.

Hertz

(www.hertz.co.nz/rentacar/reservation) Renting a car is relatively simple. You only need to sign the contract in advance and no payment is required. Pay rent when you return the car.

2. Entertainment Cars

Maui

(www.maui.co.nz) There are many choices for large and high-end cars. What Miss In likes about Maui is that it is clear how many people can be carried, whether there is a kitchen, whether there is a bathroom, and the time it has been put into use. Last year when driving in New Zealand, I rented an RV in Maui and the experience was very good.

Jucy

(www.jucy.co.nz) Different from the white RVs we often see, most of JUCY’s cars have a wild appearance, and most of the car rental locations are in the South Island. , providing vans and medium-sized RVs that can sleep two people after ordinary modifications.

Travel Insurance

New Zealand has the famous ACC system. ACC accident insurance is one of New Zealand’s most famous and user-friendly welfare security systems. Regardless of nationality, there is no need to actively apply for insurance. As long as you are in New Zealand, you automatically have the right to apply for ACC compensation for accidental injuries. If you are accidentally injured while traveling, ACC will cover your medical expenses.

But before driving on the road, it is also important to buy a good car insurance. If an accident occurs, it can share a lot of losses for you! Some car rental companies already include standard insurance in the basic quote. Please read the insurance terms carefully. Some standard plans only cover expenses over $1,500, and can be upgraded to full coverage for an additional $12/day. Also check to see if the policy covers damage to glass, tires, roof and underbody, etc.

Generally, car rental companies are members of the New Zealand Automobile Association, so when you pick up the car, remember to leave the membership number of the car rental company and the 24-hour emergency number of the New Zealand Automobile Association in case of emergency.

RV Campground

Many people choose to drive themselves when coming to New Zealand. After all, it’s great to live in the landscape. There are over 2,000 holiday parks, DOCs and free campsites available in New Zealand.

Holiday parks: are one of the most popular accommodation options in New Zealand, and are generally located in the most scenic areas. Public facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms are generally provided. Campsites charge per person, and websites generally show prices for two people.

Campsite prices: NZD 40-50 per 2 people per night, additional adults NZD 20-25, children NZD 9-17.

Reservation website: www.top10.co.nz

DOC campsite: The campsite managed by the New Zealand Department of Environmental Protection is much cheaper than the holiday park. Of course, the facilities are not that complete.

Pitch prices: NZ$6-15 per person per night

Booking website: www.doc.govt.nz

Free campsites for freedom camping: Same as above Unlike paid campsites, freedom camping is a free campsite, but because it is free and basically does not have any facilities, the RV is required to bring its own kitchen and bathroom. However, most of these campsites are close to lakes or seasides, and the scenery may be better!

Website: www.freedomcamping.org

You can download these two free and Maui Resort Park NZ and Maui Roadtrip on your mobile phone. The map will indicate the campsite's location, contact details and fees.

: Self-driving safety rules

1. Right-hand drive and left lane

Unlike China, in New Zealand, the driver’s seat is on the right side and you must always follow the road Drive on the left side.

2. Seat belts must be worn.

According to New Zealand law, everyone in a car must wear a seat belt, whether sitting in the front or back seat. The police would knock on the back windows and check everyone. If you are caught not doing so, you may face a fine of NZ$150.

3. Disable mobile phones while driving

In New Zealand, it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. New Zealand is really strict on this! And while driving, the driver's eyes cannot leave the road. Regardless of making phone calls or using mobile apps such as WeChat, even adjusting the GPS is not allowed! If there are any emergencies that need to be attended to, please park in a safe and legal parking location before proceeding.

4. Pay attention to road conditions and weather

New Zealand has diverse terrain, so you should pay attention to road conditions when driving. In New Zealand, you can also experience four seasons in one day. Before setting off, please check the weather forecast and be prepared for all weather conditions. The following two websites are easy to test.

Useful website:

Check weather forecast: www.metservice.com

Check road conditions: www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

< p>5. Reasonable estimation of driving time

When driving in New Zealand, it is easy to underestimate driving time, which may be affected by narrow roads and hilly terrain. Actual travel time may be longer than shown on the map. This website has a more accurate estimate of driving time.

Useful website:

aa.co.nz/time-distance-calculator

Come on

All petrol stations in New Zealand It's self-service. When you rent a car, remember to ask the car rental company what kind of fuel your rental vehicle requires. After filling up, go to the counter to report the oil pump number and check out.

7. APP recommendation

Google Maps

Google navigation is very useful in New Zealand.

In addition, pay special attention to road signs when driving at night. Once you drive the wrong way, it can take a long time to get around to the right way.

CamperMate

CamperMate is also a must-have APP for traveling to New Zealand. It can be used to find nearby practical locations such as public toilets, campsites, etc.

Recommended routes

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is the most fun season in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand has two islands, the South Island and the North Island. The population of the North Island accounts for 3/4 of the country's total population. The capital, Wellington, and the largest city, Auckland, are both located in the North Island and have developed economies, while the South Island is famous for its agriculture and tourism. I recommend that friends who go to New Zealand for the first time drive to the South Island.

There are generally three self-driving routes in New Zealand’s South Island, the western route, the central route, and the southern route. The western route is famous for its glaciers, the middle route has tourist attractions such as Queenstown, Wanaka, and Mount Cook, and the southern route is mainly about feelings and literature.

Reference cities:

Western route: Greymouth (beer, sea fishing), Hokitika (beach, emerald, whitebait pizza), Fox Glacier.

Middle line: Queenstown (the birthplace of extreme sports, Skyline Restaurant, Fogg Burger), Wanaka (highly recommended! Skiing, flying), Mount Cook, Tekapo ( Starry Sky Town, Church of the Good Shepherd, Tekapo Butter Lake, Salmon Factory), Fruit Town, Christchurch, Aka Colora (Alpaca)

Southern Route: Dunedin (historic buildings, museums, bird sanctuaries), Oamaru (Moeraki Boulder), Invercargill (the southernmost Starbucks in the world).

Tips for choosing a route:

The selection of the New Zealand Southern Route self-driving route mainly refers to personal preference and time availability. If the holiday lasts for more than 15 days, it is recommended to take the large loop line so that no city is left behind; if the holiday lasts for 8-12 days, it is recommended to take the small loop line of the West Line Central Line or the South Line Central Line; if the holiday is within 7 days, it is recommended to take the Elite Central, from Christchurch to Queenstown and back.

The design of New Zealand’s highways is very user-friendly. Road signs will appear from time to time to tell you the names and distances of the attractions ahead. If you see a road sign like "Caution", it means that the scenery here is beautiful and there is a corresponding parking lot and viewing platform, so park the car and come down to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

New Zealand Visa

New Zealand’s visa policy for Chinese citizens is becoming more and more convenient;

Now New Zealand’s visa is more than five years. The most important thing is that you don’t have to wait for a visa next time you come to New Zealand. When you see the special price of air tickets (sometimes even 3k-4k round trip), you can go as soon as you want, which greatly reduces the travel cost; you can apply for the whole family. Family applications can support a family of up to four (family members need to be in the same household register). New Zealand family visa is recommended because only the entire family’s application materials are required. By paying the visa fee for one person, a family will have the opportunity to obtain a five-year electronic visa;

Chinese passports can be cleared through customs by themselves, and you can enter and exit New Zealand in 10 seconds.

How to apply for a New Zealand visa

Applying online is fast, convenient and saves money.

When going to New Zealand, you need to print out the electronic visa document and keep it with your passport. You may be asked to show this electronic visa when checking in or entering New Zealand. First log in to the New Zealand Immigration website:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/audiences/chinese/visiting

Then select the option "Apply for a tourist visa", be sure to select it The type of visa that matches the purpose of your trip.

If you are lucky enough to come here on a tourist visa to work or engage in other matters, you are likely to be banned from entry and deported.

Select the "Immigration Online" option to jump to the account registration page. After registering the account, you can start the online application.

In addition, please note when applying for a visa online:

You must have a UnionPay, VISA or MasterCard credit card to make payment;

Although the application form It is in Chinese, but it must still be filled in English;

Documents in PDF format are provided.

All Chinese documents need to be translated into English, issued by a NAATI-certified translation company, which can be selected on Taobao.

When applying for a visa as a family unit, the main applicant is required to provide more information, but other family members are relatively simple.

In addition, in the "Upload Documents" section, you can also submit relevant information certificates, such as birth certificates, driver's licenses, IELTS scores, past travel records, etc. thereby successfully passing the review. Basically, the more documents you upload to prove your assets, the longer the visa will be issued.

Simplified Visa

There is an easier way to apply for a New Zealand visa. Sister in only took 3 days to get it done. Immigration New Zealand has partnerships with a number of agencies. Applicants who meet certain requirements can apply for a visa through a streamlined visa application process, and they do not need proof of property, frozen assets or ownership of a house or car. Sister in only handed over the basic information of her passport (i.e. photo page and historical visa), photos, certification letter from the airline, a copy of the airline membership card and two supplementary forms.

Want to know whether you are qualified, simplify the process, and apply quickly:

https://www.immigration.govt.NZ/accessories/Chinese/visiting/special-visa-processing- arrangements

1. Bank of China wealth management and private banking customers

Provided: Bank of China confirmation letter

2. Elite Gold Card of Air New Zealand Star Rewards Program , gold or silver card members

Provide: copies of Singapore Airlines Star Elite Gold Card, Gold Card, Silver Card; the account information of the New Star Rewards Program shows the latest 20 transaction records using the Star Rewards membership card.

3. China UnionPay Diamond Credit Card or Platinum Credit Card

Provide: China UnionPay Platinum Credit Card, Diamond Credit Card (front); copies of the bank statement of the bank card (no older than three months ago)

4. Air China Phoenix Friends Gold or Platinum Card Members

Provide: A copy of Air China Phoenix Friends Gold or Platinum Card; Air China PhoenixMiles account information A printout showing the membership status and flight records of Air China and partner airlines within 24 months.

5. China Eastern Airlines “Eastern Miles” platinum, gold or silver card members

Provide: copy of China Eastern Miles platinum, gold or silver card; China Eastern Airlines Letter of certification from the company, including

The best time to travel to New Zealand is from the end of September to the end of April of the following year. New Zealand covers a large area, ranging from the subtropical climate in the far north of the North Island to the subpolar climate in the far south of the South Island, especially the southern and west coast of the South Island. It is normal to travel through snow-capped mountains, glaciers, plateau platforms, temperate rainforests, and sunny beaches on the same day, so it is absolutely necessary to prepare a thick down jacket. New Zealand has strong winds, so an umbrella is far less convenient than a waterproof jacket. In addition, New Zealand has strong ultraviolet rays, so be sure to wear sunscreen when going out.

2. Cash

You can use UnionPay cards to withdraw New Zealand dollar cash from bank teller machines in New Zealand. The general daily limit is US$1,000, which is basically enough. VISA MASTER credit cards can be used in most places, and you can pay with WeChat or Alipay at famous attractions.

3. Car charger, charging cable, power bank, adapter

I won’t go into detail about the importance of these items, mainly because they are too expensive to buy locally. The voltage in New Zealand is 230/2240V, and a conversion plug is also necessary. It is recommended to bring two.

4. Local phone card or mobile wifi

Local phone numbers are convenient for communicating with locals, including booking hotels and attractions. For example, if you book a glacier hike, the hiking company can notify you of weather conditions and itinerary changes. From the customs at the airport, you can see that there is not much difference between the commonly used Spark, 2 Degree, and VOD Fone, and they are all for human use.

5. Things you should pay attention to when clearing customs

When you have been to New Zealand customs, you must know the knowledge about customs declaration of goods.

If you are not sure whether you need to declare your belongings, please declare, please declare, please declare, please declare, please declare! If you violate customs regulations, you will face a minimum fine of NZ$400 and a maximum of NZ$100,000.