Survival Guide - New Zealand's South Island - page 712

BUY-BACK DEALS
» You can avoid the hassle of buying/selling a vehicle privately by entering into a buy-back arrangement with a dealer.
Predictably, dealers often find sneaky ways of knocking down the return-sale price, which may be 50% less than what
you paid, so hiring or buying and selling a vehicle yourself (if you have the time) is usually a better bet.

Road Hazards
» Kiwi traffic is usually pretty light, but it's easy to get stuck behind a slow-moving truck or campervan − pack plenty
of patience. There are also lots of slow wiggly roads, one-way bridges and plenty of gravel roads, all of which require a
more cautious driving approach. And watch out for sheep!

» To check road conditions call 0800 444 449 or see www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions .

Road Rules
» Kiwis drive on the left-hand side of the road; cars are right-hand drive. Give way to the right at intersections.

» At single-lane bridges (of which there are a surprisingly large number), a smaller red arrow pointing in your direction
of travel means that you give way.

» Speed limits on the open road are generally 100km/h; in built-up areas the limit is usually 50km/h. Speed cameras and
radars are used extensively.

» All vehicle occupants must wear a seatbelt or risk a fine. Small children must be belted into approved safety seats.

» Always carry your licence when driving. Drink-driving is a serious offence and remains a significant problem in NZ,
despite widespread campaigns and severe penalties. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% for drivers over 20, and 0%
(zero!) for those under 20.

Hitching & Ride-Sharing
NZ is no longer immune from the perils of solo hitching. Those who decide to hitch are taking a small but potentially
serious risk. That said, it's not unusual to see hitchhikers along country roads.
Alternatively, check hostel noticeboards for ride-share opportunities, or have a look online at www.carpoolnz.org or
www.nationalcarshare.co.nz .

Local Transport

Bus, Train & Tram
NZ's larger cities have extensive bus services but, with a few honourable exceptions, they are mainly daytime, weekday
operations; weekend services can be infrequent or nonexistent. Christchurch has a free city-shuttle service and the his-
toric tramway (now open again after the earthquake). The bigger South Island cities have late-night buses for boozy Fri-
day and Saturday nights.