New Zealand Road Trip: Why I Chose a Klook Car Rental

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New Zealand

Klook Car Rental Guide

Words & Photos © Lisa

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Hey fellow explorers, Lisa here!

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If you're currently planning a trip to New Zealand and

torn between a guided package tour and an independent road trip,

this post is for you. I'm going to share why renting a car is the absolute best way to experience this stunning country.

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I'll also give you the inside scoop on

the rental agency and booking platform I used.

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For my trip, I booked a vehicle from

Thrifty (a Hertz subsidiary)

directly through Klook's car rental platform.

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Having experienced it firsthand, a self-drive trip offers

so much more freedom than a rigid package tour,

and it turned out to be surprisingly budget-friendly.

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Let's dive right into my honest,

unsponsored New Zealand car rental review! :)

1. Why I Recommend Booking Through Klook

When planning my New Zealand road trip,

my biggest dilemma was deciding where to actually book the car.

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I ultimately went with

Klook Car Rentals.

They frequently run great discount campaigns.

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Klook is a globally recognized

travel platform,

and their car rental service is incredibly popular

with travelers from all over the world.

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✅ Massive selection of agencies and vehicle types

✅ Peace of mind with Klook's Full Coverage Insurance ⬆️

✅ Super user-friendly interface

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To make sure I was getting the best deal,

I compared prices across several platforms,

but Klook consistently offered the widest variety

of rental companies.

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By paying online in advance,

I avoided any hidden fees at the counter.

Plus, the rates were actually

cheaper than booking directly

on the official websites, so it was a no-brainer.

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🔻click!🔻

Book Global Car Rentals at the Lowest Price

2. New Zealand: Package Tours vs. Independent Travel

New Zealand's landscapes are so breathtaking

that literally everywhere you look is postcard-perfect.

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Cruising down the highway and watching the scenery unfold

is an experience on a completely different level.

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Because the distances between towns are vast

and public transit is sparse outside the main cities,

many people assume independent travel is too difficult.

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That's why so many travelers

lean towards booking a New Zealand package tour.

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I initially considered a tour as well,

but I chose a road trip for the following reasons:

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1️⃣ I wanted to fully soak in the natural landscapes.

➙ Package tours have jam-packed itineraries,

leaving you very little time to relax or take photos.

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2️⃣ I wanted to hunt down hidden gems on my own.

➙ New Zealand is full of off-the-beaten-path wonders.

Beyond the famous spots like Rotorua and Waitomo Caves,

I wanted to explore places like Lake Taupo,

Hahei Beach, and the Coromandel Peninsula—

spots you often miss on a standard group tour.

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3️⃣ I wanted the luxury of slow travel and cooking my own meals.

➙ High-quality beef and lamb are incredibly affordable in New Zealand!

I wanted to book Airbnbs with kitchens, grill up some local cuts,

pour a glass of regional wine, and just take my time.

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3. Auckland Pick-up + North Island Road Trip Experience

My New Zealand adventure was 10 days (8 nights) in total,

and I rented the car for 5 days (4 nights).

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With a rental car,

you can effortlessly hop between

North Island highlights like Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Tongariro,

Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, and Cathedral Cove.

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The same goes for the South Island!

You can easily access spots like Lake Pukaki, Queenstown,

and the Hooker Valley Track—

places that are tough to fully appreciate on a tight tour schedule.

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As mentioned, I booked through Klook

and picked up my car from

Thrifty.

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Since we were a family of four,

we needed a spacious SUV.

We were assigned a modern Hyundai,

which was fantastic because it had an intuitive interface

that made navigating a breeze.

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Because it was a newer model,

it came loaded with helpful features

like lane assist, a backup camera, and parking sensors,

which gave me so much peace of mind.

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In New Zealand, they drive on the left side of the road,

which can be intimidating if you're used to the right.

However, once you get just a few miles outside the city,

it's mostly straight, two-lane highways.

It's honestly a very low-stress driving environment.

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⚠️ Pro Tip: If you book Klook's Full Coverage,

you don't need to buy any extra insurance at the counter!

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Just remember to return the car with a full tank of gas!

If you return it less than full, they will charge you a premium rate

for the difference.

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I made sure to top it off right before dropping it off!

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📍 Top North Island Hidden Gem

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The best part of having a car

is stumbling upon magical hidden spots.

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My absolute favorite discovery on this trip

was this place...

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The Blue Spring!

📍 Leslie Road, Putāruru 3483

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It's only a 45-minute drive from Rotorua,

and the natural beauty here is unreal.

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You take a short, easy 30-minute trek

alongside a crystal-clear, incredibly vibrant blue river.

It is SO stunning.

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If you're doing a New Zealand road trip,

you absolutely must add this to your itinerary!!

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4. New Zealand Car Rental Costs

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As I mentioned,

I rented the car for 5 days (4 nights).

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Excluding gas, the total rental cost was

💰 ~$375!

That breaks down to roughly ~$69 per day.

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This price includes Klook's Full Coverage Insurance.

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I booked my rental about 4 months in advance.

Prices tend to skyrocket as your travel dates get closer.

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If your itinerary is set,

I highly recommend locking in your vehicle immediately!

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Since Klook offers a free cancellation option,

reserving early is a smart, risk-free way

to save a significant amount of money.

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🔻click!🔻

Check New Zealand Car Rental Deals on Klook

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5. Final Thoughts

After experiencing it for myself,

I can confidently say that a New Zealand road trip

is infinitely better than a package tour.

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You have the ultimate freedom to craft your own itinerary

and only visit the spots you actually care about.

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Plus, the pricing was much more reasonable than I expected.

Even when combining accommodation and rental costs,

it was cheaper than a standard package tour.

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And honestly, the scenery you see while driving

is pure art...!!

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I highly recommend using Klook for your rental.

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✔️ Easy-to-use interface

✔️ Transparent insurance policies

✔️ Easy price comparison across

multiple agencies and vehicle types

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I've attached the booking link below!

If you're on the fence, book now—

prices will only go up from here!

<📎 Helpful Travel Resources >

🔻click!🔻

1️⃣ Preparing an International Driving Permit for New Zealand

2️⃣ Discounted eSIMs & SIM Cards (Cheaper than Official Sites)

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