Getting wheels sorted for the Kiwi roads

[Magnor]

Right guys, I'm flying over to New Zealand for a proper campervan-free roadie next month. Every man and his dog seems to rate a wagon over there for hitting the trails, but I'm a bit green on where to book one without getting stung. Any tips for a clued-up hire?

[Kajinn]

Once you land at Christchurch or Auckland without a booking, you are basically at the mercy of whatever is left in the lot, and during peak tourist season it is slim pickings. Most folks lock in a decent rent a car well before they even get to New Zealand, sorting the insurance excess and an extra driver online so they can just grab the keys and shoot off to Queenstown without any faff at the desk. You can compare the available motors for your trip dates right here https://getrentacar.com/en-US/new-zealand .

[Keris]

Never brush off the gravel cover at the counter. A cracked windscreen from a loose stone on the Crown Range Road costs an absolute bomb, and without the extra cover it comes straight out of your pocket.