New Zealand Road Trip: Why I Chose a Klook Car Rental
Ditch the restrictive package tours! Discover why renting a car through Klook is the ultimate way to explore New Zealand's breathtaking hidden gems and landscapes.
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Ditch the restrictive package tours! Discover why renting a car through Klook is the ultimate way to explore New Zealand's breathtaking hidden gems and landscapes.
New Zealand
Klook Car Rental Guide
Words & Photos © Lisa
Hey fellow explorers, Lisa here!
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.
I'll also give you the inside scoop on
the rental agency and booking platform I used.
For my trip, I booked a vehicle from
Thrifty (a Hertz subsidiary)
directly through Klook's car rental platform.
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.
Let's dive right into my honest,
unsponsored New Zealand car rental review! :)
When planning my New Zealand road trip,
my biggest dilemma was deciding where to actually book the car.
I ultimately went with
Klook Car Rentals.
They frequently run great discount campaigns.
Klook is a globally recognized
travel platform,
and their car rental service is incredibly popular
with travelers from all over the world.
✅ Massive selection of agencies and vehicle types
✅ Peace of mind with Klook's Full Coverage Insurance ⬆️
✅ Super user-friendly interface
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.
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.
🔻click!🔻
Book Global Car Rentals at the Lowest Price
New Zealand's landscapes are so breathtaking
that literally everywhere you look is postcard-perfect.
Cruising down the highway and watching the scenery unfold
is an experience on a completely different level.
Because the distances between towns are vast
and public transit is sparse outside the main cities,
many people assume independent travel is too difficult.
That's why so many travelers
lean towards booking a New Zealand package tour.
I initially considered a tour as well,
but I chose a road trip for the following reasons:
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.
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.
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.
My New Zealand adventure was 10 days (8 nights) in total,
and I rented the car for 5 days (4 nights).
With a rental car,
you can effortlessly hop between
North Island highlights like Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Tongariro,
Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, and Cathedral Cove.
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.
As mentioned, I booked through Klook
and picked up my car from
Thrifty.
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.
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.
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.
⚠️ Pro Tip: If you book Klook's Full Coverage,
you don't need to buy any extra insurance at the counter!
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.
I made sure to top it off right before dropping it off!
📍 Top North Island Hidden Gem
The best part of having a car
is stumbling upon magical hidden spots.
My absolute favorite discovery on this trip
was this place...
The Blue Spring!
📍 Leslie Road, Putāruru 3483
It's only a 45-minute drive from Rotorua,
and the natural beauty here is unreal.
You take a short, easy 30-minute trek
alongside a crystal-clear, incredibly vibrant blue river.
It is SO stunning.
If you're doing a New Zealand road trip,
you absolutely must add this to your itinerary!!
As I mentioned,
I rented the car for 5 days (4 nights).
Excluding gas, the total rental cost was
💰 ~$375!
That breaks down to roughly ~$69 per day.
This price includes Klook's Full Coverage Insurance.
I booked my rental about 4 months in advance.
Prices tend to skyrocket as your travel dates get closer.
If your itinerary is set,
I highly recommend locking in your vehicle immediately!
Since Klook offers a free cancellation option,
reserving early is a smart, risk-free way
to save a significant amount of money.
🔻click!🔻
Check New Zealand Car Rental Deals on Klook
After experiencing it for myself,
I can confidently say that a New Zealand road trip
is infinitely better than a package tour.
You have the ultimate freedom to craft your own itinerary
and only visit the spots you actually care about.
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.
And honestly, the scenery you see while driving
is pure art...!!
I highly recommend using Klook for your rental.
✔️ Easy-to-use interface
✔️ Transparent insurance policies
✔️ Easy price comparison across
multiple agencies and vehicle types
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)
This article states that a rental car was booked through the Klook platform from Thrifty, a subsidiary of Hertz. Klook is mentioned to have a wide range of companies and vehicle types, offer Korean language support, and provide stable booking with full coverage insurance.
The total booking amount for the 4-night, 5-day rental car trip in this article, excluding fuel costs, was ~$322. This was based on a Klook full coverage booking. It was booked approximately four months before entry, and it is advised to book as soon as your itinerary is ready, as prices tend to increase closer to the date.
The hidden gem recommended by the author, discovered during a New Zealand North Island rental car trip, is Blue Spring (Leslie Road, Putāruru 3483). It is about a 45-minute drive from Rotorua, where you can enjoy a 30-minute trek along a pristine blue river.
The vehicle rented in this article was a spacious new model Hyundai SUV suitable for a family of four. It featured functions such as autonomous driving, a rearview camera, front sensors, and a Korean language option. Although New Zealand has left-hand traffic, the author noted that driving was less burdensome outside urban areas due to mostly straight roads and two-lane highways.
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