Journeying through New Zealand is best done on your own terms. With our fleet of GO Rentals cars, we give adventure seekers a chance to experience the true spirit of Kiwi Freedom by allowing you to pick up a car hire in Christchurch and drop it off in Invercargill—or vice versa!
FREE basic car rental insurance
Our basic insurance cover is included in the cost of every car hire with two upgraded insurance options available!
One-way car rentals
We can organise one-way rentals with pick-up in one location and drop-off in another. Stick to your dream itinerary without worrying about circling back.
Offset carbon emissions
In partnership with CarbonClick, you can choose to offset the carbon emission of your GO Rentals road trip.
24hr AA roadside assistance
All GO Rentals hire cars have access to the AA 24-hour mechanical breakdown assistance and our Tesla EVs have access to Tesla Roadside Assistance.
GO App
With our GO Rentals App, you can book a car, check in faster and even control your Tesla car functions, right from the palm of your hand.
Renting a car with GO Rentals in New Zealand is straightforward. The best and most convenient way to do it is by booking online.
You simply have to add your itinerary details to our booking widget, namely your pick-up location and pick-up date, as well as your drop-off location and drop-off date. Our system will inform you of branch and vehicle availability across our 8 locations on the North and South Islands.
As a note, a one-way fee may be applied to vehicles dropped off at a different location from their original booking location, which is most likely the case if you’re travelling long distances, like from Auckland to Wellington. The exact relocation fee will show up as an add-on on your booking summary before checkout.
Our one-way car hire period also varies from 1 to 7 days, depending on the distance between the pick-up and drop-off locations. However, we offer flexible terms depending on seasonal peak times and vehicle availability in our branches.
In most cases, we’re happy to accommodate one-way car rentals as we often need drivers to move our rental car vehicles across branches. Give us a call or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get you a vehicle sorted out with good value for your one-way road trip journey across the South Island.
You can take any GO Rentals vehicle on the Cook Strait Ferry between the North and South Island, which is perfect for a stress-free one-way road trip. We have 9 car rental branches spread evenly throughout New Zealand, in the major destinations. You’re never far from a GO Rentals car.
Get your journey started as quickly as possible thanks to our speedy check-in. Manage your booking online or download our app to get through the check-in process and on the road faster.
A Christchurch to Invercargill road trip is a fantastic route to get you to see some of New Zealand’s most remote and scenic views up close. If you’re looking for some cool spots to put in your bucket list, here are some one-way trip ideas to get you started.
Christchurch is one of the South Island’s most prominent cities, and it’s not just because it’s a central jump-off point to the rest of the South Island. This city is home to a wide array of parks, gardens, and a wide expanse of green areas along the Avon River, earning it the nickname the “Garden City”.
Ashburton is about an hour's drive south of Christchurch, and is quaint, rural, and home to some cool museums, namely an Aviation Museum and a local art gallery. This town also has some lakes and riverways that can be a good stopover if you’re into fishing or sitting by clear, picturesque waters. It’s a great place for those who enjoy quiet travelling and small-town adventures away from the bustle of city living.
An hour's drive south of Ashburton is the town of Timaru. This port city provides a similar yet drastic contrast to the last stop by being home to a famous beach for swimming, Caroline Bay. Iif you’re more into scenic views, then the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden near the baywalk could be more of a fascinating stopover for you with its array of colourful roses during blooming season.
Follow the coastal road south of Timaru for a little over an hour and you’ll find yourself in the largest town in the North Otago region. This town is home to spots that can impress different crowds. Want to see a rare colony of penguins found nowhere else in the world? Oamaru has a grandstand where you can view the Blue Penguin colony from afar.
Make your way south of Oamaru and you’ll find yourself in Dunedin, New Zealand’s Wildlife Capital. This town is a stone's throw away from the biodiverse Otago Peninsula, which has a vast array of albatross and penguin colonies sprawled about.
In town, you can also see the Larnach Castle, one of the country’s only castles. The world’s steepest street, Baldwin Street, is also found in Dunedin. Making a stopover in Dunedin is something every New Zealand South Island road trip itinerary should include, as it’s packed with history and nature.
Southwest of Dunedin, you can find yourself in the Catlins National Park. This coastal region is a rugged nature stop that only people with a car rental can make the most of in a short time span.
In the Caitlins, you can find many waterfalls, beaches, and unique wildlife across many walking tracks and trails. Unique geological wonders like Jack’s Blowhole and Curio Bay’s Petrified Forest also exist. Manmade structures like the Nugget Point Lighthouse also exist and hold a rich history.
Bluff is the last town on State Highway 1, the South Island’s highway system. It’s a port town with cool bushwalks and coastal trails near the area, but the place is primarily famous for two things.
Its first claim to fame is its local oysters. Bluff oysters are briny, sweet, and fresh, a unique flavour combination unique to oysters that grow in the deep waters of the Foveaux Strait.
The final spot on this list naturally belongs to the town where you’ll be ending your trip: Invercargill. Besides enjoying the local beer as a celebratory measure of finishing the road trip, you can enjoy visiting a few cool sights while in the area.
To name a few, some cool spots you can visit include Queen's Park, Oreti Beach, and Stewart Island. If you’re into cars, you can visit Bill Richardson Transport World. Be sure to return your car hire in our Invercargill GO Rentals branch on or before your listed drop-off date to end your trip on a good note.
We love that our stress-free rental cars do more than get you from A to B. They become part of your travel memories, and we want to see them!
Submit a happy photo to our Snap Happy Photo Competition and be in with a chance to receive up to $500 back off your booking!
New Zealand is best explored in a modern, reliable car. But don't take our word for it. Cruise through the happy customers revv'd up about their experience:
It is our family’s first time visiting New Zealand, and everything has been wonderful — the breathtaking views, the friendly people, the delicious food, the rich culture, and the stunning nature.
Our journey began with GO Rentals, and the car we rented became a reliable companion throughout the trip. In excellent condition, it carried us smoothly as we ventured into the southern part of the South Island, making every stop along the way even more enjoyable.
Oh, and how could I forget — on the second day in Te Anau, we woke up to find everything blanketed in snow, the whole town painted white. It was truly magical, a scene we will never forget.
The reception and services I received in the Go Rentals office were very warm. The staff has provided every information in detail and the entire process to rent the car was very smooth. The condition of the car is excellent.
This is the cool little car I hired from gorentals and I drove it from Christchurch airport to Ashburton to see my friend and her family in their new home that was actually built in 1912.
Driving from Invercargill to Dunedin.
With a great selection of affordable vehicles, GO Rentals is ready to get you on the road for a one-way trip. Choose from 4-wheel drives and SUVs for ski or family trips to luxury electric vehicles for a stylish self-drive trip. Put your itinerary details in to see our vehicle availability and start planning your GO trip.
Christchurch can be busy and congested during peak hours, especially near the city centre and in major roads. Parking locations are also quite infrequent and typically charged by a parking meter. That said, it’s possible to find free parking locations closer to the suburbs. You may also arrange a free or low-cost parking agreement with your accommodation in advance.
Invercargill is much smaller than Christchurch. Traffic flows quite well even in the city centre. Free parking is also easier to come by in the centre; however, top parking spots in Invercargill are often paid. In any case, you’ll have little issue finding available parking and navigating your rental car in Invercargill.
New Zealand toll roads are concentrated in the North Island, which means that you’re not going to encounter them in your Christchurch to Invercargill road trip. However, if your road trip extends to Auckland—which is along State Highway 1—you’ll encounter toll roads with a corresponding toll fee.
By using a GO Rentals rental car, you won’t have to worry about paying for any toll roads you pass, as they’re all covered by us under our Total Road Care package.
Road conditions from Christchurch to Invercargill are generally well-maintained; however, just be aware of any weather advisories to prepare accordingly. For instance, embarking on a South Island winter road trip may require you to equip your vehicle with winter tires to ensure safety.
In any case, you’ll likely encounter a mix of rural and city streets during your trip,. There’ll be speed limits for each road ranging between 50 km/h and 100 km/h. Just make sure that you’re driving responsibly and following the speed limits of the locations you’re visiting to stay safe throughout your road trip.
We regularly update our relocation deals to help you save on one-way road trips. Check out our latest relocation deals to see if your itinerary matches our deal. Save money and still access our award-winning customer service.
