A relatable, funny, and genuinely helpful tale from the roads of New Zealand

Have you never driven on the left before? You might imagine it involves a bit of concentration, a touch of panic, and possibly a windscreen wiper going at full speed on a perfectly sunny day. You wouldn’t be wrong. I still remember my first attempt at driving in New Zealand. It was somewhere between thrilling, confusing, and oddly empowering. Almost like joining a secret club… except the membership test is not hitting the kerb.

New Zealand is a brilliant country for a road trip. Big views, quiet roads, and friendly locals who’ll happily point you in the right direction if you do end up going the wrong way. So if you’re new to left-hand driving, here’s how the first few kilometres usually feel — and a few tips for New Zealand driving that might save you from the classic rookie moves.

That moment your brain realises everything is backwards

The first thing I noticed was that everything felt familiar… but not quite right. The steering wheel was on the other side, the indicator was on the other side, and every instinct I had needed a quick double-check.

And yes, I absolutely turned on the wipers instead of the indicator. More than once. The locals don’t judge – they’ve all seen it before.

Tip: Before you set off, take 30 seconds to sit in the driver’s seat and look around. Get a feel for what’s where. The time you spend doing this may save you from accidentally giving the car behind you a perfectly unnecessary rain-clearing demonstration.

Corners, roundabouts, and other spicy moments

Right-hand turns were my biggest challenge. My brain wanted to swing wide like I was back home. New Zealand roundabouts were another moment of glory. The first one I approached, I had a full internal debate about which way to go. Luckily, they’re designed to be simple and well-marked.

Tip: Take your time through intersections. Kiwi drivers aren’t in a rush and won’t mind if you move a little slower at first.

The roads are beautiful… but they’re not all motorways

Once you get out of the main cities, New Zealand roads quickly change into scenic two-lane stretches that twist through mountains, skim along lakes, and roll past green farmland. It’s stunning, but it’s also where a lot of visitors get a bit too confident too soon.

Tip: Expect tight bends, single-lane bridges, blind corners, and the occasional sheep. Pull over for photos – don’t stop in the middle of the road (trust me, people do).

Give yourself time

I learnt very quickly that in New Zealand, travel time isn’t the same as distance. Just because a place is 80 kilometres away doesn’t mean you’ll be there in an hour. Some stretches are slow, especially on the South Island where the views make it almost impossible not to stop.

Tip: Add extra time to every New Zealand drive you do. You’ll enjoy it more, and you won’t feel pressured to rush through the trickier bits.

The good news? It becomes second nature

Somewhere around day two, you suddenly realise your hands are doing the right things without thinking. The indicators behave themselves, roundabouts make sense, and the left side of the road starts to feel normal. Before long, you’ll wonder why it ever seemed confusing.

Final thoughts from someone who’s been there

Driving on the left in New Zealand is absolutely doable – and part of the fun of exploring the country your own way. Take it slow, keep your sense of humour, and don’t worry about the occasional wiper-indicator mishap. We’ve all been there.  Just remember ‘Keep Left’ each time you jump into your vehicle.

And if you’re looking for official advice, The New Zealand Transport authority offers useful resources and Drivesafe’s handy guide for visitors is well worth reading.

If you’re planning your first New Zealand road trip and want help designing an itinerary that avoids the stress and gives you plenty of easy, scenic drives, our team at WeTour is happy to help. It’s what we do every day.