Roam from the bottom tip of the South Island to the biggest city on the North Island in a stress-free one-way car hire.
Simply take your rental car on the Cook Strait ferry and explore New Zealand at your own pace, without the need to circle back.
The friendly and efficient team at Invercargill Airport can get you on the road with a super-easy online check-in. Then, when you are ready to wrap up your adventure, the Auckland team at the city centre or Auckland Airport branches will be waiting to help you with a quick drop-off.
Don't limit yourself to just one Island, level up your Kiwi trip and explore every inch. The Invercargill to Auckland drive can take you through the main South and North Islands' breathtaking destinations without the constraints of a tour bus or public transport schedule.
Take the long way around and hit off bucket list majestic experiences like the jaw-dropping Milford Sound, the turquoise Lake Tekapo or the impressive Rotorua geothermal pools. You can truly plan an epic trip when you GO one-way between Invercargill and Auckland.
With unlimited kilometres, 24/7 roadside assistance and free basic insurance, your peace of mind on the road is prioritised.
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.
Booking a one-way car hire with us is easier than picking your favourite lake on the South Island. With two locations in Auckland to choose from, finish your one-way, your way.
Simply add your car hire itinerary details to our booking widget, select Invercargill Airport pickup and either Auckland Airport or CBD dropoff, and click "Find my car". We do offer one-way car rentals at all of our 9 locations on both the South and North Islands, but please note:
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.
We are proudly Kiwi-owned and managed by a passionate local team who love this beautiful Island. Our team love to yarn about the best places to GO in your rental car so we have collated their top tips right here.
Fill your Invercargill to Auckland trip with local insider tips and you will fall in love with our islands as much as we have. You can take a detour to Milford Sound, then meander your way North through the middle of the South Island for an adventurous getaway. Or, simply explore the Southland region then head straight along the Catlins Coast from Invercargill to the North Island and into Auckland.
The hardest part of planning a road trip is narrowing down your non-negotiable must-see stops. Check out our NZ trip planner for more local tips and travel stories and finally take the group chat road trip from "maybe" to "locked in".
So gear up for an Invercargill to Auckland drive, and get inspired by our six must-see stops.
The breathtaking Fiordland National Park region is a must for every epic New Zealand trip. It would take you 3 hours and 30 minutes to detour from our Invercargill Airport terminal branch to Milford Sound, and it's worth it. The stunning fjord offers tranquil scenic boat tours, an underwater observatory and an incredible starry night sky. Spend a night or two here, and it will be worth all the road trip planning stress, we promise!
Next up, head to the adventure capital of New Zealand - Queenstown. As the home of the world's first commercial bungee jump, Queenstown is proud of its adventure name. Brave the jump from Kawarau Suspension Bridge, hop on a thrilling Shotover jet boat or gear up for a ski car rental and hit the award-winning ski slopes. Queenstown is the perfect spot for couples, adventurous friends or active families.
Plan for a more relaxing spot in the simply stunning Lake Tekapo. The turquoise waters are truly mesmerising, it's no wonder it's a staff favourite. With a backdrop of the stunning Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo will take your breath away. Head to the Tekapo Springs for a spot of R&R in the thermal pools and saunas - thank us later! If you are lucky enough to stay the night, head out on a stargazing tour with a knowledgeable local guide.
Love a bit of bragging rights? Smash out the 19km Tongariro Alpine Crossing and earn lifetime legend status. Even if the total hike is not your bag, everyone should feast their eyes on Tongariro National Park at least once in their life (we're not biased, we swear). Home to three impressive volcanoes (including Mount Doom from LOTR), Emerald Lakes and hot pools, anyone will be blown away by the region.
No road trip is complete without a mud pool, we say! Head to the geothermal region of Rotorua for a truly relaxing stop. With world-class spas, natural hot pools and mud baths, Rotorua is the place to unwind on an adventure-packed itinerary. We also love this area for its celebration and protection of Maori culture with New Zealand's only living Maori village. Head to Whakarewarewa to learn about the culture, food and history for a truly unique experience.
Would a Kiwi road trip be complete without a surfing pit stop? We say no! Head to Raglan’s black sand beach on your way to Auckland, and you won't be disappointed. The iconic coastal area provides perfect waves for surfers and bodyboarders, and more tranquil waters for kayakers too. The surfer town is filled with charming cafes, bars and restaurants to chill out in. End your Invercargill to Auckland one-way car hire on a restful high.
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:
Hired a RAV4 from GO Rentals for our holiday in Queenstown and used it to travel very comfortably to Milford Sound, Arrowtown, Glenorchy and everywhere in between. Here is a photo of our RAV4 parked at Glenorchy near the Red Shed.
Snapshot of my dad with our reliable GO Rentals Pajero Sport with the backdrop of the majestic Lake Hawea! As of writing this, we have travelled from Christchurch to explore the amazing wonders of NZ: Mount Cook, Lake Wanaka, and Clay Cliffs. We have paid our visit to see the penguins in Oamaru as well. We can’t wait to explore the rest of South NZ Queenstown, Milford and Doubtful Sound and Dunedin! We won’t be able to make this trip without GO Rentals!
One of the highlights of my cousin's and my journey through New Zealand was exploring iconic filming locations from Peter Jackson's “The Lord of the Rings“. We sought out the most breathtaking spots featured in the films, including this rocky landscape in Tongariro National Park. Here, we recreated the scene of Frodo and Sam on their way to Mount Doom. Having the Toyota Yaris Cross proved invaluable in navigating this rugged terrain.
Before leaving my son to study abroad in Christchurch, we drove to Picton and did some sea kayaking. What an amazing adventure! Thankfully, we had a reliable car to help us get to our adventures.
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.
Invercargill experiences minimal traffic and is known as one of the easiest cities to drive around in New Zealand. Parking is widely available, and it's easy to find free or low-cost spots in the city centre.
On the other hand, parking in Auckland's city centre can be a little more difficult to find. CBD parking spots generally have a per-hour or day cost, whereas suburban and rural areas are generally free and easy to come by.
Rush hour in Auckland can cause some congestion, so plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.
The great news is that you won't have to worry about toll roads on the South Island, as all toll roads are based on the North Island. Therefore, you can pick up your car hire from Invercargill airport and drive to the ferry port in Picton with complete freedom.
Once on the North Island, you should be aware of three toll roads on your journey:
Paying for a toll road with GO Rentals
When you hire a GO Rentals vehicle, you are covered by our mandatory Total Road Care package fee. This includes all toll road fees so you never need to stress about paying for a toll road in your rental car.
We are regularly updating our relocation deals so you can get GOing on a one-way road trip for cheaper. Check out our latest relocation deals to see if your one-way hire itinerary matches our deal. Save money and still access our award-winning customer service.
