Key takeaways
- Drive on the left. At roundabouts, give way to traffic coming from your right.
- Overseas licences are valid for up to 12 months; carry an approved translation or IDP if yours is not in English.
- The open-road limit is 100 km/h, and many winding roads are signposted lower.
- Zero alcohol for drivers under 20; using a handheld phone while driving is illegal.
Your licence
You can drive in New Zealand on a current, full overseas licence for up to 12 months from arrival. If it is not in English, you must also carry an approved translation or an International Driving Permit. Rental suppliers check this at the desk — see our Queenstown Airport rental guide for what else to bring.
Keep left and give way
- Keep left at all times, and keep left on multi-lane roads unless you are passing.
- Roundabouts: give way to all traffic coming from your right.
- Turning left: give way to a vehicle coming the other way that is turning right into the same road.
- Stop and give-way signs: at a stop sign, come to a complete stop; at a give-way sign, slow down and give way to all crossing traffic.
- Pedestrian crossings: stop for anyone on or about to step onto a zebra crossing.
For the first hour, say "keep left" out loud at every turn and roundabout. It sounds silly, and it works — especially when you pull out of a quiet car park.
Speed limits
| Where | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| Open roads | 100 km/h (some signposted lower) |
| Towns and cities | 50 km/h (often 30–40 km/h near schools and town centres) |
| Winding roads | Follow the yellow advisory signs on corners |
| Expressways | Up to 110 km/h on a few signposted roads |
Speed cameras and police checkpoints are common, and fines are sent to your rental supplier, who will charge them to your card with an admin fee.
One-lane bridges
Common on rural roads, including the road to Glenorchy and on the West Coast. A sign with a large white or blue arrow means you have priority; a small red arrow means you must give way to oncoming traffic. Practise on the Queenstown to Glenorchy drive.
Alcohol, phones and seatbelts
- Alcohol: zero limit for drivers under 20. For drivers 20 and over, the limit is 250 micrograms per litre of breath (0.05 blood alcohol).
- Phones: using a handheld phone while driving is illegal, including at traffic lights. Mount it and use hands-free.
- Seatbelts: compulsory for everyone. Children under 7 must use an approved child restraint — rent one with the car.
Overtaking, passing lanes and letting others pass
A solid yellow line on your side of the centre line means no overtaking. Use the passing lanes instead, and if a queue builds up behind you, pull over safely in a slow-vehicle bay to let it pass. It is courteous, and it removes the pressure to drive faster than you are comfortable with.
Distances and fatigue
Roads look short on a map but are often winding with one lane each way. Plan a break every two hours, avoid long drives straight after a long-haul flight, and don't plan Milford Sound as a same-day return from Queenstown. For winter conditions, read driving in Queenstown in winter. For a longer loop, see South Island car rental and the Christchurch drop-off options.
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