Nothing tops dropping the windows of your rental car and coasting down long, smooth stretches of road. But before you motor off on a big adventure in Northland, how about learning a little about this travel hot spot? Make yourself familiar with New Zealand, because that’s where you’ll need to go to kick off your adventure.

With long stretches of highways and tempting open roads, many travelers choose to turn their Northland vacations into driving getaways. If you’re putting together an epic road trip, you’ll want to know which destinations to add to your bucket list. Here are some of the most popular regions to explore in this incredible place:

• Whangarei (population of 50,900)
• Dargaville (population of 4,700)
• Ruakaka (population of 2,900)
• Waimate North (population of 2,800)

We’ve compiled our best tips and tricks to help you keep more money in your wallet:

• Use our nifty filter tool to help point you in the direction of the cheapest car rental rates in town — and then compare the prices
• Arrange an email Price Drop Alert for your next exciting vacation destination. You never know what great deals will make a detour to your inbox
• Search for both airport and non-airport pickup and drop-off office locations to be sure you’re getting the absolute best deal in town
• If your pickup and drop-off dates are not yet confirmed, see if you can get a better price by changing the days of the week in your search
• No one likes being hit with a late fee. Avoid the hassle of having to pay for another day by ensuring your pickup and drop-off times are around the same time
• Sometimes companies reward you big time for prepaying — watch out for these great offers
• Make your booking as soon as your vacation dates are confirmed. The earlier you book, the bigger the choice.

It’s always a nice idea to get out of the city for a while, and if you do, you’ll be handsomely rewarded. With rocky coastlines, sandy shores, and impressive rock formations to take in, Northland offers loads of day trip opportunities. A bigger vehicle like a four-wheel drive or an SUV will give you and your passengers more comfort and space for those long, scenic drives.

Sometimes it’s all about the journey, which makes your car choice particularly important. If you’re about to embark on an epic road trip around Northland, a comfortable SUV could be the answer. If you’re looking for the cheapest price possible and plan to stick to city driving, a versatile compact is hard to beat. All you have to do is decide what suits you best, round up the troops, and hit the road.

There’s no better way to explore Northland than from behind the wheel of your own rental car. But before you fasten your seat belt and take off, it’s worth researching some of the road rules. Here are a few handy hints to help make sure your trip goes smoothly:

The left-hand side is where you’ll be driving in Northland. The controls of your rental car here, like the steering wheel, will be on the opposite side of what you’re used to.

Typically, speed limits in Northland range from 50km/h to 100km/h. On residential streets, you’re usually not permitted to travel faster than 40km/h.

Usually, your chosen car rental company will charge the fined amount to your credit card. Alternatively, the company may share your contact details with the relevant local law enforcement agency so they can send a fine to you directly.

They sure are. However, there may be exceptions for vehicles used by public transportation systems.

It is prohibited to use your cell phone while driving in Northland, and you could also be fined for just handling a phone when you’re in control of a vehicle. That being said, the use of hands-free or Bluetooth functions is permitted, as long as your attention stays on the road.

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit while driving in Northland is 0.05%. If a big night is on the cards, leave the car behind and organize another way of getting home instead.

It’s illegal to turn at a red light in Northland. When you encounter one, take the opportunity to enjoy a couple of mindful moments until the signal flicks back to green.