![View of Auckland city and the Sky Tower from Mt. Eden]()
Find the best Auckland car rental for you
Compare rental cars with Airport Rentals and explore the city of sails. With approximately 1.7 million residents, Auckland, or Tamaki Makaurau in Māori, is New Zealand’s biggest city and the main destination for most international travellers arriving into the county. The central business district and inner suburbs are full of shops, cafes and restaurants, while across the harbour bridge you’ll find dozens of beaches and parks to explore. Search now and find the perfect car hire Auckland with Airport Rentals.
Auckland car rental locations
Many of our rental partners, including Budget, Hertz and Europcar are located in and around Auckland CBD, perfect for those staying centrally. You’ll find three suppliers near Victoria Park alone. Other car rental companies are located towards and at Auckland International Airport, making it easy to pick up your vehicle as soon as you arrive.
Car hire Auckland: What you need to know
Most people in Auckland drive rather than take public transport, which means traffic can build up quickly, especially on the motorways which extend north, east and south of the city. Once you have picked up your car rental, finding your way around should be relatively easy, but allow a bit of extra time in case you encounter unexpected traffic.
![Auckland city highways at night]()
Driving tips for car hire in Auckland
Driving somewhere new can be daunting. That’s why Airport Rentals has put together some tips to make sure that anyone driving in Auckland for the first time gets to their destination safely:
-
Make sure to drive on the left! New Zealand is a left-driving country, which means that drivers sit on the right-hand side of the car. This can take some getting used to for those coming from countries that drive on the right. If necessary, put aside some time to practice driving on the left on the roads near the airport before hitting the motorways for your rental car Auckland road trip.
-
Always pay attention to speed limit signs while driving your rental cars. While most urban and built-up areas have a speed limit of kilometres per hour (kph), there are exceptions such as driving near schools or in Auckland CBD, which is 30kph. On motorways, highways and open roads, the speed limit is generally 100 kph. However, on some parts of the motorway, such as the Waterview tunnel, the limit is 80 kph.
-
Reduce your speed to suit the road and the weather conditions. Especially when travelling between cities where roads can often be steep and winding.
-
New Zealand’s main highways tend to pass through a lot of small towns rather than bypassing them. Keep an eye out for speed signs and reduce your speed when required.
- Roundabouts are common in Auckland and throughout the country. Always give way to vehicles to your right.
-
The blood alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over in New Zealand is 0.05%. The limit for drivers under 20 is zero.
-
If you need to refuel your hire cars in Auckland, there is a Z petrol station on Tom Pearce Drive, which is closest to Auckland Airport. In nearby Mangere, there is a Waitomo petrol station on Richard Pearce Drive. These are the two closest options.
![Stunning view of the 328-meter Sky Tower]()
What to see and do in your car rental Auckland
One of the best things about Auckland is that it doesn’t take long to get out of the city and find yourself amongst lush forests, rolling hills, or overlooking crystal blue water.
To start you off with some ideas for your North Island adventure, we’ve put together a list of things that you might want to see and do in your hire cars Auckland.
The North Shore
Take a trip north over Auckland’s majestic harbour bridge and find yourself spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches, playgrounds, eateries and views of Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands. If it’s nature you’re interested in, Shakespear Regional Park on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula is a pest-free habitat and safe home for wildlife less than an hour from Auckland city centre.
![Auckland Harbour Bridge with lights reflecting on the water]()
West Coast beaches
Approximately 45 minutes from the CBD, across a mountain range called the Waitakere Ranges, you’ll find West Auckland’s stunning black-sand surf beaches. While spectacular, these beaches can be rugged and wild, so caution when swimming is advised. You may prefer to take your rental car to one of the great walking tracks in the hills along the coastline such as the 2.4km Piha Valley Track.
Waiheke Island
A short ferry ride from downtown Auckland, Waiheke Island is a great place to visit if you’re after beautiful scenery, great food, world-class wineries, and white sand beaches. While most people live or holiday in Oneroa and Onetangi, there is lots more of the island to explore, which is why taking your Auckland hire car on the car ferry is a great option.
Fun with the kids
If you’ve got the whole family with you, there are a number of action-packed days you can plan around Auckland. About 30 minutes south of the city you’ll find Rainbow’s End amusement park. While not quite Disneyland, it does have rides for kids big and small, including a roller coaster. If you head west of the city, you'll find Crystal Mountain, featuring an animal park, rides, and a crystal mine museum. If you are staying near Auckland Airport, there’s Butterfly Creek, an animal park that also has a playground and animatronic dinosaurs.
