Wellington - Getting There By Road

New Zealand is an ideal country to explore by car, as the scenery is spectacular. Most roads are State Highways (‘SH'). All other roads are known, although not officially, as ‘B' roads.

You will just need a valid national driving licence to drive in New Zealand, for up to 12 months. The legal driving age is 18 years, and the minimum age for hiring a car is 21. Insurance is not mandatory but recommended. Traffic drives on the left and seat belts are mandatory.

The New Zealand Automobile Association (www.aa.co.nz) provides information on road conditions (tel: 0900 33 222) and general information (tel: 0800 500 444) and has a reciprocal agreement with the British AA, whereby visiting drivers can get free maps.

Emergency breakdown service: NZ AA (tel: 0800 500 222).

Routes to the city: The two main roads into the city are SH1 down the Kapiti coast from the north, and SH2 through the Hutt Valley to the east.

Driving times to Wellington: From Auckland - 9 hours 15 minutes; from Rotorua - 6 hours 30 minutes; from Napier - 5 hours; from Hamilton - 7 hours 30 minutes; from Taupo - 5 hours 10 minutes; from Palmerston North - 2 hours 10 minutes.

Coach services: InterCity Coachline Service (tel: (04) 385 0520 or 0800 468 372; www.intercitycoach.co.nz) runs throughout New Zealand. Discounts are available for Youth Hostel members and VIP cardholders. Backpackers also use the Kiwi Experience (tel: (09) 366 9830; www.kiwiexperience.com) and the Magic Bus (tel: (09) 358 5600; www.magicbus.co.nz) which sell a variety of passes including accommodation in hostels.