New Zealand Get Lost

While it might seem that New Zealand has the best laid infrastructure in the world, there are still plenty of white spots on the map. The best way to discover off-the-beaten-path New Zealand is to rent or buy a car and get out there to find it. New Zealand has a glut of cheap cars for backpackers and the popularity of buy-backs is growing. With some planning, many remote areas are also accessible by bus. New Zealand’s small towns offer a wealth of beaches, forests, and hillsides for casual exploration. In the Marlborough Sounds , roaming travelers visit the homes of dolphins, seals, and penguins, and find comfortable dwellings in the area’s many outstanding accommodations. The Coromandel Peninsula boasts unpaved roads winding past untouched kauri forests and relaxing ocean vistas. Small towns like Papatowai and Curio Bay in New Zealand’s southernmost region, the Catlins , astound with rugged cliffs and a stunning coastline.

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.