Auckland is a stunning city on New Zealand’s North Island. Situated on a narrow strip of land flanked by two natural harbours with other significant tourist spots, Hamilton and Wellington, it has blessed the citizens with idyllic sandy beaches and an abundance of beautiful islands.
You can kayak with dolphins in the morning and then dance and drink with after-work revellers at dusk. Auckland is also home to around a third of the country’s population. Migrants have resided here over the last two centuries from Europe, Polynesia, and most recently, Asia, so the city is a melting pot of cultures. Mixed with New Zealand’s rich soils and pure waters, this artistic diversity has enabled an incredible dining scene to flourish.
Furthermore, North Island is where the nation’s first grape vines were planted. Visitors to Auckland will discover a booming viticulture industry barely an hour’s drive out of the city and plenty of quality local brands at any good restaurant.
As you arrive at the airport, you’ll see why Auckland is ideal for a self-drive holiday. Threaded by a vast network of roads, the city sprawls out from the skyscraper-studded CBD. It quickly shifts into rolling hills and emerald pastures, with plenty of dark green forests plunging into serene, crystalline bays.
With your affordable Auckland car rental from Car Hire and Rental, you’ll be able to stop at any site of your selection, be it the brooding black beaches of the west coast or the chic cafes and bars along Ponsonby Road.
Compare Cheap Car Rentals in Auckland with Car Hire and Rental
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Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city in terms of size and population. To truly explore this large, sprawling urban landscape, you must organise a great Auckland car hire deal.
Search and compare the latest rates and deals on car rental in Auckland all in one spot with Car Hire and Rental.
We compare hire car deals across this picturesque country to guarantee that you’ll get the lowest price. Car Hire and Rental has also made it easy for you to find the best Auckland car rental deals. We work with the leading car hire providers such as Budget, Avis, Thrifty, and Hertz to bring you a range of rental options.
If you’re considering venturing further afield, search for deals in Queenstown, Picton, Nelson, Dunedin, Wellington, and Christchurch.
You must enter your travel details on our website, and we will do the hard work for you. Once we know your excellent pick-up and drop-off locations, we can generate a variety of options so that you can compare the prices and vehicles that are available. This allows you to pick the best deal suited to your needs.
Whether you are looking for a small hatchback on your road trip to the city for a weekend or a big four-wheel drive to venture out to the coast, there will be a perfect Auckland car hire deal for you.
Auckland Car Rental: Experience Freedom to Explore
The beauty of hiring a car is that you can drive to any destination you want.
Those in New Zealand who want to soak up the outdoors at its best will want to head straight towards the West Coast beaches. Piha, Muriwai and Bethells are just some of the breathtaking stretches of coastline which will leave you desiring to come back for more.
If you choose to stay close to the city, you don’t need to drive far to enjoy a dip in the sea. The North Shore boasts some delightful beaches, including Takapuna and Cheltenham. At the same time, Mission Bay is just a few minutes away from the CBD and a popular favourite with tourists, presenting views of Rangitoto Island.
Known as the City of Sails, Auckland highlighted some of the world’s best sailing and sailors and was home to America’s Cup in 2003. Teams still regularly tour Auckland to train. The Auckland harbourside presents a host of restaurants and other attractions. For those strong-hearted enough, there’s the exhilarating Sky Walk and Sky Jump from the 328-metre Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest man-made structure.
There are also some fantastic attractions in the city centre. Get to know the past of New Zealand by visiting Auckland Museum, or soak up views from the top of one of Auckland’s many inactive volcanoes.
You can go wherever you want as long as your Auckland car hire is set.
Best Places to Visit in Auckland
It would make sense to begin your explorations within the city proper, perhaps taking in Auckland’s volcanic landscape and urban sprawl from its highest point.
The syringe-shaped 328m-tall Sky Tower overlooks the city skyline. It offers views from 220 metres or 60 floors above ground. See if you can spot the Waitakere Ranges to the city’s west as these rugged volcanic mountains assemble the backdrop to the beach where titular scenes from Jane Campion’s acclaimed movie “The Piano” were filmed. You can saddle up for an adrenaline rush and walk around the Sky Tower pergola or base-jump 192 metres down.
Attractions at street level comprise the Auckland Art Gallery by leafy Albert Park, which highlights over 16,000 pieces. Learn about New Zealand’s history from early paintings depicting the first contact between Maori and European explorers in the 1600s or marvel at contemporary works by 21st-century artists.
The Maritime Museum at Viaduct Harbour describes a story of the country’s history through items related to seafarings like the replica of early Polynesian canoes and an interactive rocking cabin to mimic the ocean journey of an early settler. If you’ve never witnessed the impressive Maori battle dance known as the ‘haka’, visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. You can take a Maori cultural performance and journey to the world’s most extensive collection of Maori artefacts.
If you have little ones with you, your first destination should be Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World. This cutting-edge marine park has an Antarctic collection of King and Gentoo penguins and several fascinating spiny sea dragons – rarely seen by deep sea divers. Children can go behind the scenes to witness how this enormous aquarium functions and enjoy close encounters with penguins in their icy enclosure. Older kids can view sharks and stingrays from a cage immersed in the predator tank, while more adventurous grown-ups can come face-to-face with the ocean’s most fearsome creatures.
At lunchtime, you can go to Queen or High streets, where the corporate crowd rub shoulders with bearded hipsters and urban fashionistas digging for small-batch coffee, gourmet sandwiches, organic pressed juices and raw salads. This is the place to locate homegrown designer clothing, get a blow wave or have your nails done in the most delinquent seasonal shades, while narrow, pedestrian-only Vulcan Lane is an ideal place to sip a drink and people watch. Britomart by Waitemata Harbour takes Auckland retail up another notch, with a blend of leading international and Kiwi brands from Tiffany & Co to Trelise Cooper found in some of the city’s oldest and most luxurious buildings.
If your style is more creative or bohemian, look no further than Ponsonby. Brimming with character-filled structures dating back to the Victorian era, this sophisticated suburb is often referred to as Auckland’s artistic heart.
Indeed, many prominent New Zealanders who live or have lived in Ponsonby have gone on to obtain worldwide fame, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark and Ella Yelich-O’Connor, better known as Lorde. The contemporary Ponsonby Central is just a short drive away in your Auckland car rental and offers superb restaurants, pop-up stores, activities such as free yoga, and fresh food markets all in one location. More delectable dining and a full display of trendy boutiques can be located north of Ponsonby Road, along with some of the city’s most energetic nightlife.
What to See in Auckland?
So when should you travel to Auckland? The city is immaculate all year round, but if you’re into sport, culture, food or the arts, perhaps you want to time your holiday to overlap with one of these fantastic annual events:
Pasifika
Long-running Pasifika is a family-friendly festival of New Zealand’s Polynesian heritage held in March. It features 11 authentic villages established in Western Springs Park in Grey Lynn, each illustrating a specific Pacific Island culture.
Bring a picnic blanket to spend the day witnessing the different stages where traditional dances and performances take place. You can also try barbecued meats and take handmade home craftworks such as woven baskets.
NZ International Comedy Festival
Between April and May, comedians from around the world assemble in Auckland to get the city laughing. For three weeks, at different venues around the city, expect to discover a variety of side-splitting acts, from stand-up routines and improv to clowns and musicals at the NZ International Comedy Festival.
ITM Auckland SuperSprint
In November, rev-heads will want to be in town for the ITM Auckland SuperSprint, a three-day non-stop adrenaline-pumping track action event. Go trackside to experience the exciting sound of V8 engines as drivers push them to their limit at Auckland’s Pukekohe Park Raceway.
This custom-built racing establishment is 45 minutes south of the international terminal, so take advantage of cheap car hire at Auckland Airport and steer straight there.
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park
The most significant event on Auckland’s Christmas calendar, Coca-Cola Christmas In the Park, is a music festival featuring performances by the country’s most famous singers and musicians. Held at Auckland Domain in December, this free community celebration is a great way to bring all family members together.
Frequently Asked Questions by People Hiring a Car in Auckland
Which car rental companies are available in Auckland?
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and local provider GO Rentals all have their offices located in downtown Auckland.
Where are car rental companies located in central Auckland?
Budget and Hertz are located on Victoria street, with Avis right around the corner on Nelson street and Europcar up Shortland Street. They are all within a 10-minute walk of the Sky Tower. Thrifty is located on Khyber Pass Road in Grafton, and GO Rentals is on Beach road on the fringe of the city centre. Both offices are a short taxi ride from Sky Tower and the CBD.
What type of vehicles can I rent in Auckland?
Everything from economy and compact cars to family and 8-seater vehicles is available along with 4-wheel Drives.
Which side of the road should I drive on in Auckland?
New Zealanders drive on the left.
What are Transit Lanes?
Auckland operates several Transit Lanes at different times of the day, generally during peak traffic periods. Dedicated Bus lanes and T2 and T3 Transit lanes are available to only those vehicles carrying more than two people.
How far is Auckland from the Airport?
Auckland CBD is 15 km from the Auckland International airport, and driving takes around 30 minutes, depending on the time of day.
What are the speed limits in Auckland?
The urban speed limit in Auckland is 50 km/h, with expressways and motorways rising to 100 km/h. Some highways have 110 km/h speed limits.
Are Speed Cameras used in Auckland?
Yes. Although not as numerous as in other cities in the world, speed cameras are used in Auckland, and car rental drivers are responsible for paying any penalties incurred during the rental period.
Are there toll roads in Auckland?
The Northern Gateway Toll Road on State Highway 1 is located 7.5 km north of Auckland between Silverdale and Pūhoi. Two other toll roads are located near Tauranga, which is 200 km south of Auckland. You will be responsible for any toll incurred while driving your rental car. When collecting your vehicle in Auckland, speak to your rental provider about how road toll payments are collected.
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