Making your way around New Zealand is simple, and many tourists find renting a car the cheapest and most flexible option. But if you're short on time, fly between major destinations and pick up a rental car for short journeys.
Many of you will find the roads "virtually empty" compared to those in your own countries. That said, don't be mislead by the seemingly short distances between places. Most roads are only two lanes -- except near bigger cities, where they become four-lane highways -- and in some places they're steep, winding, and narrow as they negotiate river gorges and mountain tracts. Allow much more time than you would for a similar length journey at home.
