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Driving in New Zealand with Kids: Left-Hand Traffic, Campervans & Family Road Tips

5 min read
Driving in New Zealand with Kids: Left-Hand Traffic, Campervans & Family Road Tips

Driving is the best way to explore New Zealand as a family — the roads are scenic, well-maintained, and take you through landscapes that public transport simply can’t reach. Here’s everything we learned about driving in NZ during our three-week family campervan road trip with kids.

Left-Hand Traffic Tips

If you’re used to driving on the right (like in the US or Europe), driving on the left takes adjustment — especially when you’re also keeping an eye on the kids in the back. Here’s what helped us:

  • Keep left, look right: Your biggest risk is at intersections and roundabouts. The mantra “keep left, look right” saved us from multiple mistakes in the first few days
  • Roundabouts: Give way to traffic from your right. NZ has a lot of roundabouts, especially in smaller towns
  • Overtaking: Pass on the right. The slow vehicle pull-over bays are common on winding roads — use them
  • Turning: Right turns cross oncoming traffic (opposite of what right-hand-drive countries expect)

The first day was the hardest. By day three, it felt natural. Don’t be hard on yourself — even kiwis know tourists are adjusting.

Speed Limits & Road Rules

  • Open road: 100 km/h (unless signed otherwise)
  • Urban areas: 50 km/h
  • School zones: 40 km/h during school hours
  • Police enforcement: Speed cameras and patrol cars are common. NZ police take speeding seriously
  • Blood alcohol limit: 250mcg per litre of breath (lower than many countries). Don’t drink and drive

Important NZ-specific rules:

  • You must carry your license at all times (international driving permit recommended)
  • Many rural bridges are one-lane — the side with the smaller blue arrow gives way
  • Stock crossings are real — be prepared to stop for sheep on the road! (the kids found this hilarious every time)

Family Campervan Tips

We rented a family-sized campervan and it was the best decision of our trip. Here’s what we learned about campervan travel with kids:

  • Size matters: Get a campervan big enough for your family. We chose a 6-berth with a fixed rear bed and fold-out bunks for the kids. Cramped quarters make everyone grumpy
  • Practice first: Spend 30 minutes in an empty parking lot getting used to the size before hitting the highway
  • Snack station: Set up an easily accessible snack zone in the van. Hungry kids on winding roads are nobody’s friend
  • Regular stops: Plan rest stops every 1.5–2 hours. Look for playgrounds along the route using the CamperMate app
  • Wind: NZ gets serious wind, especially in the South Island. Keep both hands on the wheel
  • Mountain roads: Use low gear going downhill. The Arthur’s Pass and Milford road have significant descents
  • Fuel up early: In rural areas, petrol stations can be 100+ km apart. We made a rule to fill up whenever we hit half a tank
  • Freedom camping: Only legal in certified self-contained vehicles at designated sites. With kids, holiday parks are usually the better bet — playgrounds, showers, and laundry

Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Drives

NZ drives are scenic but can be long and winding. Here’s what worked for our family:

  • Tablets with offline content: Download shows, audiobooks, and games before leaving WiFi
  • I-Spy and car games: The NZ landscape is perfect for “I Spy” — sheep, mountains, rivers, birds
  • Playground stops: The CamperMate and Rankers apps show playgrounds along your route
  • Audiobooks: Family-friendly audiobooks made the drives genuinely enjoyable for everyone
  • Stretch breaks at viewpoints: Combine scenic stops with run-around time for the kids

Fuel & Gas Stations

  • Fuel type: Most campervans run on regular unleaded (91 octane)
  • Prices: Roughly $2.50–$3.00 NZD per litre during our trip
  • Payment: Most stations accept credit cards at the pump. Some rural stations are unmanned and card-only
  • Budget tip: Fuel is generally cheaper in larger towns. We found that Gull and Waitomo were consistently cheaper than BP and Z

Our Favourite Family-Friendly Scenic Drives

  1. Milford Road (Te Anau to Milford Sound): The most dramatic drive in NZ. Allow extra time for short walks and viewpoints — kids love the Mirror Lakes
  2. Coromandel Peninsula coastal road: Stunning ocean views and hidden beaches perfect for a quick swim stop
  3. Crown Range Road (Queenstown to Wanaka): NZ’s highest sealed road with incredible views — stop at the fruit stall in Cromwell
  4. Arthur’s Pass: Crossing the Southern Alps through beech forest — look for kea (alpine parrots) at the summit car park
  5. Forgotten World Highway (SH43): Remote, winding, and utterly unique — best for older kids who enjoy the adventure

Our biggest piece of advice: don’t underestimate driving times in NZ. The roads are winding and the speed limit is genuinely 100 km/h maximum. A distance that looks like 2 hours on Google Maps often takes 3+ hours once you factor in the terrain, toilet stops, and the inevitable “can we stop at that playground?” requests.