Roads to be Careful on Driving Rental Cars in New Zealand

When you are driving a rental car in New Zealand, there are a few things you should be aware of before you begin your journey. As you will probably be unfamiliar with your surroundings, bear in mind the following when driving in the North Island. (See also driving hazards on the South Island).

Which Roads Should I be Extra Careful on with my Rental Car in New Zealand?

On the North Island, you should take extra care with:

Snow and ice – Whilst snow and ice can effect any of the roads in New Zealand, before setting out (in a rental car especially) on journeys which use the Desert Road (State Highway 1 (between Turangi and Waiouru) and the road between Napier and Taupo, you should check driving conditions. These roads can be closed if the weather is particularly bad.
Narrow roads – Stretches on some major highways are relatively narrow and offer drivers few, if any, passing places. State Highway 2 at the bottom of the Bombay Hills and the Thames turnoff and the Centennial Highway (State Highway 1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay) are two of the worst accident black spots. Drive your rental car in New Zealand with care—drive to the conditions, reduce your speed especially on tight roads and corners and avoid pulling over to admire the views, unless it is safe to do so.
Road ditches – You may notice that some roads, especially those in the Waikato have deep water drainage ditches on one or both sides of the road. They can be obscured by long grasses, so take extra car to stay on the tarmac (sealed road surface).