Snap Rentals Blog: NZ Road Trip Guides and Travel Tips

Although widely referred to as the “city of sails” which tends to conjure up images of hot summer weekends surrounded by boats and various water based activities, the winter season in Auckland has just as much to offer with a vast array of sports events, attractions, activities, concerts, festivals and shows designed to delight and entertain visitors of all ages. Auckland’s relatively mild temperatures, even in the midst of winter, are what make Auckland the perfect winter de

For anyone looking to enjoy the unique coastal scenery of the South Island, travelling from Christchurch to Dunedin by car is an absolute must. State Highway 1 winds along the coast almost the entire way there, so you spend the entire journey with the sea on one side and beautiful rolling hills and plains on the other. This wonderful trip showcases the two environments that sustain New Zealand the most – its ocean and its farmland. It’s a straightforward, simple drive, with s

Heading northwards from Christchurch to Nelson is a popular self-drive route for many travellers in New Zealand. The twisting turning road takes you through an ever changing landscape of rural farmland, coastal panoramas and subtropical forests. The entire trip from Christchurch to Nelson can be made in a single (fairly long) day, or you can break the journey up into multiple fun-filled stops to enjoy the amazing views, delicious food and lots of fun activities. How Long Is T

With the hot days rolling in most of us will seek to cool off in the traditional Kiwi way and head to the nearest mass of water this summer. Droves of day trippers and holidaymakers head to the beaches, lakes and rivers around the country that offer up sun, swimming and relaxation at its best. Not sure where to go or looking for a new holiday spot for the summer? We have put together this handy guide to the best New Zealand Lakes – enjoy your summer holidays! 5 Best North Isl

Hanmer Springs is a popular alpine village located in the Hurunui District just 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. Famous for its alpine spa and hot springs, Hanmer also offers a range of adventure activities including bungy jumping, quad biking, go-kart safaris and scenic flights along with horse riding, clay bird shooting, golf and plenty of places to go hiking. Starting Out In Christchurch Be sure to spend a couple of days to exploring the delightful Garden City and the

With beautiful sandy beaches, hot sunny days and water everywhere you turn, summertime in Auckland is simply the best time to get the most out of this amazing city. Explore the sights and sounds of New Zealand’s ‘city of sails’ and soak up some sun this summer in Auckland. Read on for our suggestions on the best summer attractions in Auckland, fun things to do and some of the best events to hit this summer. 10 Best Auckland Summer Attractions Ice cream, golden sandy beaches a

We're are very excited to have opened our new Auckland Airport branch at 9 Manu Tapu Drive, Auckland Airport. This purpose built rental car depot is litterally the closest rental car branch to Auckland Airport. What this means is even quicker shuttle collection times, so hirers will get behind the wheel of one of our cars and hit the road in a matter of minutes. As well as being much closer to the airport, the new branch is much bigger than our previous location and includes

If you’re planning a trip around the whole of New Zealand, you will need to book an Interislander Ferry crossing to get you and your car across Cook Strait. Cook Strait is located between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and is often described as one of the most amazing cruises in the world. The journey itself is 92 km between Wellington and Picton is one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourist experiences. There are three ferries in Interislander’s fleet, carrying b

From the 21st through to the 24th June, Queenstown will come alive with vibrancy, fun and playfulness as the annual Winter Festival rolls into town. Welcoming all Winter lovers, our favourite little snowy town has been throwing this party for the last 43 years, so they sure know how to host. There’s a few things you’ll be wanting to do in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, so shake out your mittens, dust off that fabulous Winter coat and start preparin

Turquoise waters and picturesque snowy mountain peaks frame the exquisite town of Lake Tekapo. Located in the Mackenzie Basin, a three hour drive south west of Christchurch, Lake Tekapo is favourite spot for both locals and visitors. You can happily spend your time enjoying the natural beauty of the glacial fed waters of the lake. If however, you want for more, then Lake Tekapo has plenty on offer. Find a shooting star at the Mt John Observatory Lake Tekapo is one of the bes

Planning a trip around New Zealand? A little bit of planning before you book can save lot of money. Instead of beginning in Auckland and then dropping off in either Christchurch or Queenstown, consider starting in Queenstown or Christchurch and returning in Auckland. Snap Rentals normally offers discounts or shorter minimum hire periods for rentals heading South to North for our car relocations. Just enter in your dates, and locations to check availability and to book.

We are constantly upgrading our rental fleet, which means we have often have ex rental vehicles for sale at very competitive prices. We list a number of our vehicles on Trade Me, however we often have plenty more vehicles available so get in touch for a deal. Auckland Stock https://www.trademe.co.nz/members/listings.aspx?member=7638673&bof=txtDiEkR Christchurch Stock https://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=5432242

If you’re heading to New Zealand for a Winter holiday you need to be prepared for our wintery conditions. Get clued up on what you need to make sure your Winter trip is remembered for all the right reasons! SNOW CHAINS Snow and ice covers New Zealand’s roads in Winter – so get yourself sorted with snow chains. If you are travelling anywhere in the South Island during the late Autumn and Winter months you are going to need snow chains to explore our mountain passes and everyda

Booking your rental car just got easier and more flexible. Snap Rentals is excited to announce a collaboration with Zip, a leading New Zealand provider of the “Buy Now – Pay Later” movement. You might have seen or even used Zip, or similar services, during an online shopping haul. The flexible payment plan allows you the option to plan around important calendar dates, like holidays, and manage your money. You still get your goods, or in this case your rental car, immediately

In a first for New Zealand, Snap has replaced its traditional diesel transfer shuttle vans at Auckland Airport and Christchurch Airport, with 100% electric powered EV vans with funding help from EECA and the Government’s Low Emission Vehicle Contestable Fund. We've purchased three 100% electric powered LDV EV80 10 seater shuttles for use at our Auckland Airport, and Christchurch Airport pickup locations. We have always been at the forefront of the move towards electric vehicl

Summer is just moments away. Time to dust off those shorts you’ve stashed at the back of your wardrobe and check the expiry date of last season’s sun block. It is also time to schedule the summer events that will fill your social calendar. Maybe you’ll be doing a bit of lazy summer BBQing and trips to the beach but you might also like to include one of New Zealand’s premier Summer Music Festivals into your plan. If you’re a local you may already be well aware of the charms of

There’s no doubt the Otago region is a wildly beautiful place, and we’re sure that just like the people who live there, you’ll be keen to keep it that way! That’s why we’ve sorted your eco-friendly accomodation for you, because being kind to the planet doesn’t always mean camping in sub zero temperatures! Hereweka Garden Retreat Otago Peninsula, Dunedin Nestled in the Otago Peninsula, Hereweka is the ideal choice for those wanting some time out in a tranquil environment, ther

Aaron Ginger is our team leader at the Snap Rentals Christchurch branch and lucky for us, this guy knows his way around a car or two. We chat with him about very first driving lessons, doing up old cars in the UK and where’s good to go in New Zealand. Who taught you to drive? My dad taught me to drive in his old VW T4 work van. Tell us about your first car? My first car was a 1989 VW MK2 GOLF which I still own. It is currently at home in storage back in the UK. I bought this

If you’re heading down to the south of the south, you’ll be pleased to hear the eating and drinking options are still very much top class. Invercargill may only have a population of around 52,000 – but that doesn’t mean locals don’t know a good cup of coffee when they see one. Here’s our picks of where to park up while you’re in New Zealand’s southernmost town. The Batch 173 Spey Street Open since 2011, The Batch has long since cemented its place as a local favourite thanks t

Jeschua Strohmeier and Bendix Vormfenne started with us as a couple of Car Groomers last year and it wasn’t long before we discovered their skill and talent for film. These days they travel the country as our in-house film crew, creating amazing content showcasing the most beautiful spots around New Zealand. We chat to them about their driving experiences and favourite activities around New Zealand. Who taught you to drive? We learned to drive at a driving school back in Germ