If your trip to Wellington is all locked in but your travel itinerary is looking a little empty, let us give you a few hints and tips.Explore the best that this city has to offer by adding Civic Square and Wellington Cable Car to your to-do list. If you’ve got some spare time, drop by Te Papa and Cuba Street Mall as well.Plan a stop at Interislander Ferry Terminal. It’s one sight you’ll find on travelers’ to-do lists. Wellington Waterfront and Zealandia are also nearby and worth checking out.

If you’re after a day-trip destination, we can help out. Located 30 miles away, Paraparaumu is worth the drive. Paraparaumu Beach, Waikanae Beach and Southward Car Museum alone make the drive out here worthwhile. Martinborough is another great option. It’s 35 miles away and home to an array of fascinating things to see and do. Martinborough Vineyard, Ata Rangi Vineyard and Palliser Estate are just the start.

Don’t forget to pack a good book and maybe even a kite. Wellington has some awesome beaches you can go for a relaxing drive to, such as:

• Scorching Bay Beach (3 miles away).
• Plimmerton Beach (15 miles away).

Constantly on the move for work-related purposes? Convention centers are most likely familiar places to you. With easy access to hotels, restaurants and cafés, your trip is sure to be a success if you’re heading to any of these places:

• TSB Bank Arena (0.1 miles away).
• Queen’s Wharf Event Centre (0.2 miles away).
• Michael Fowler Centre (0.2 miles away).

Wellington knows how to dazzle. You could spend a while here and not run out of things to see. If you’d like to experience as much as you can in this buzzing metropolis, a rental car is a must. Keep in mind that driving around big cities usually comes with tight streets and limited parking spots. But don’t stress — a compact or mini car will make this a lot easier to navigate. If you can’t wait to head out of the city and check out some of the sandy shores that Wellington is known for, you’ll want something with more room. A mid-size or full-size SUV are perfect for scenic road trips.

First of all, there’s a great range of both economy and luxury vehicles to rent in Wellington. What you go with depends on what you’re willing to spend and what you plan to do. Specialty and prestige vehicles offer unparalleled comfort and class. If you want to treat yourself, why not pick an elite SUV, or perhaps a stylish mid-sized vehicle? On the other hand, if you just need a car to get from A to B at the cheapest price possible, we can help you out with an economy vehicle (or something else that won’t break the bank).

Keep to the left side of the road in Wellington. If you’re planning to explore this destination on wheels, take note that the steering wheel will be on the right. It may take a little getting used to!

Parking in Wellington is a snap. You won’t need to circle the block in heavy traffic here — and that’s what the locals love about it. There’s lots of off and on-street parking available.

As with most cities, the roads are generally busy in the morning and afternoon rush hours. However, thanks to its smaller population of roughly 381,900, traffic gridlock isn’t a major problem in Wellington.

Speed limits vary around the city of Wellington, but usually range from 50km/h to 100km/h. Most residential roads have a maximum speed of 40km/h unless signed otherwise.

Normally, your chosen car rental company will charge the amount stated on the fine to your credit card. Alternatively, the company may share your contact details with local law enforcement agencies so they can issue a fine to you directly.

Provided you have hands-free or Bluetooth functions enabled, you can lawfully use your cell phone while cruising in your car around Wellington. But be sure to keep concentrating on the road.

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

Turning on a red light is a big no-no in Wellington. Always keep an eye on traffic signs and lights to make sure you don’t break any traffic laws.

Seat belts should always be worn in Wellington Region. Having said that, the rule may differ for certain vehicles, such as those used by public transportation networks.