I'm trying to figure out how to best traverse New Zealand in only 14 days. (Thanks to Chris for alerting us to those amazing flight deals with Fiji Airways!)
- Recommended car rental agencies? I see 'nu' seems to have the cheapest rates, however only 50% recommended
- Can you please share how quickly you adapted to driving on the 'other side' of road your first time. It's something I would like to try at least once in my life....but not sure for that length of time. I consider myself a prettty confident driver, and have done road trips in other countries before (including desolate roads in Iceland in winter!)
- Any comments on bus travel? To be honest, I'd rather travel by bus, but if I want to get to out-of-way places like Waitomo, I'm told car rental best.
I have searched the page, and didn't come across anything related to rentals.
Thanks in advance.

No left on red!
Vroom vroom vroom is best car rental search tool for Australia and NZ

Marc thank you. Is it easy to get used to the driving?

Marc yikes! Okay, heres hoing and praying I make it back home, lol.

Thanks for everyone's input thus far. Another question....what areas would you say maybe reminded you a bit of our province, that if I had to skip them due to time constraints, I wouldn't be missing much?

Following - we got the same deal (thanks Chris) and are going in May

I had slightly longer than your timeline. I decided to only do the North Island and pick highlights. Don't spend too much time in Auckland. Get out and see the island. Piha, just outside Auckland is amazing. I drove and saw Hamilton. Rotorua , Taungara. I ended up flying to Wellington (it was WAY cheaper due to summer vacation) and was able to drive North from there. Explored up to Palmerston North.
They just declared a state of Emergency so that may predict where you can or can't go.
The first block or so of driving a strange car on the wrong side of the road was stressful. Contemplated turning around. But it was good. I had to talk out loud every time I made a left or right turn so I went on the wrong side of the road. Only had one incident of pulling out of a parking lot and going the wrong way. Thank God it was a quiet road! When walking aroubd or in a bus/taxi, watch what the drivers do. I was much more prepared when it was my turn.

Alison thanks Alison. Good idea to focus on only one part of the country....but I'm not sure I'll ever get back there, so will try to do both. I'm not going for a bit, so hopefully the SOE will be over by then.

Alison I missed the last paragraph on your first read. So sounds like you picked it up fairly quickly. When were you in NZ?

Alison oh, great!

Alison im just reading up on the SOE. Sounds bad. Wondering if I should try to change my trip dates. I'm leaving in a few weeks (but less than two months time), so maybe things could be improved by them.... yikes.

Alison Tks. I'm flying into Auckland. Once New Orleans is complete, I'll get onto NZ. Really appreciate all your tips, as well as from the others.

Brian thanks Brian. I was actually just looking at Abel Tasman photos last night, and yes, looks gorgeous!

We rented a car on the South Island. I had previous left side driving experience while living in Africa but one thing I noticed in NZ is that roads are often very narrow with very little shoulder. This opens the possibility of driving in a ditch beside the road. There are quite a few roundabouts. Check out your auto insurance coverage carefully.

Brian lovely, lol. Do you mean check the coverage I'll buy down there? Or are you suggesting if I was to use, ie, my credit card coverage, to check that?

Brian thank you. I will prob just go with the rental agency insurance.

Thanks Brian. But sorry, what would o need Allianz for? And wouldn't most rental agencies offer the CDW?