Get GOing with GO Rentals for easy car hire from Invercargill to Nelson! Enjoy a wild South Island adventure as you make your way from the southernmost city in New Zealand to the sunny shores of Nelson. With a wide range of modern vehicles from SUVs to minibuses, basic insurance coverage and unlimited kilometres, you can steer into adventure with GO Rentals.
With GO Rentals, you can enjoy the open road at your own pace, without hurrying back to your pickup point. An Invercargill to Nelson adventure lets you explore the most unique sights the South Island has to offer. Start your journey in New Zealand's Southernmost city before setting off into sunny Nelson. We make it easy to pick up your rental car in Invercargill and drop it off in Nelson within your own schedule with our one-way rental.
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.
Simply add your itinerary details to our booking widget, including your chosen return location, and click "Find my car". We offer one-way car rentals at all of our 9 locations on both the South and North Islands. If you’re planning on a car rental Invercargill to Nelson, just select your pick-up date and drop-off location for a convenient and great value rental car experience. Please note:
Whilst our one-way rentals are dependent on season peak times and vehicle availability in branches, we can create more one-way availability if we need to move vehicles to another location. If you are not satisfied with our website availability, please call us, and we will do our best to accommodate your epic one-way road trip.
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’re here to do more than just get you from A to B. With our interactive trip planner and extensive travel blog for inspiration, your hire car is the perfect companion to incredible adventures across New Zealand's South Island. Here are some must-see stops as you make your way from Invercargill to Nelson.
Before you head out on your trip, it’s well worth taking a day to explore Invercargill first. Enjoy the city's motor culture with trips to the Bill Richardson Transport World and the Classic Motorcycle Mecca, featuring rare antique vehicles. Take a stroll on the serene sands of Oreti Beach, or learn about the region's unique history at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
Sometimes called ‘the adventure capital of New Zealand’, Queenstown offers thrilling activities that are as fun as they are breathtaking. Head up Skyline Queenstown for unforgettable gondola views, bungee jumping and an exciting ride downhill in the Queenstown luge. Or, take your Invercargill Airport car out of the city, towards some of South Island's most breathtaking natural wonders. Visit Lake Wakatipu on a rowboat or hike the world-famous Ben Lomond track for legendary vistas.
The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is worth it for the scenery alone. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you won’t want to skip this 20-minute drive to Glenorchy. The region was a major filming site for many of Middle-Earth’s most iconic locations, including the Misty Mountains, the Ford of Bruinen and Isengard. Adventure lovers can also try out jet boating and kayaking on the Dart Valley.
No matter what time of year you’re exploring New Zealand, Wanaka will have something incredible for you to see all year round. In winter, you can find the country’s only Nordic ski field at the Snow Farm running from June to September. During summer, Lake Wanaka offers kayaking, paddleboarding and waterskiing, as well as beautiful beach spots. Wanaka is also a part of the Central Otago region, famous around the world for quality Riesling and Pinot Noir.
Lake Tekapo is one of the most stunning destinations you can find in all of New Zealand. From the bold contrast of the snow-capped mountains on the turquoise waters to the rustic sight of the Church of the Good Shepherd, there are plenty of sights to take your breath away. Lake Tekapo is also part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve for clear night skies. Book a professional stargazing tour from the back of a tour van or even a hot pool.
The biggest city on the South Island is full of gorgeous cultural landmarks to discover. Take a break on your trip to experience Christchurch's array of 5-star restaurants and outstanding shopping boutiques. You can also experience a centrepiece of the city at the Riverside Market. Built after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, the market stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of the local community.
Take a moment from the road to completely rejuvenate yourself at Hanmer Springs. This gorgeous resort town offers picturesque alpine views, a fantastic skiing area and natural hot pools. If you’re just looking for a quick stop and a bite to eat, the main street has plenty of remarkable cafes, shops and restaurants for you to enjoy. A trip wouldn’t be complete without a quick dip in the thermal pools and spas while you’re here.
Stretch your legs from the long drive with a stop at the Mount Richmond Forest Park. Enjoy a quick picnic or short stroll from the Onamalutu Scenic Reserve. Or, for the more experienced adventurers, the longer North Bank Road and Alpine Route tracks will take you high into the stunning mountain ranges.
Welcome to Sunny Nelson! Now that you’re at the end of your journey, why not relax and enjoy everything the city has to offer? You’ll find incredible exhibitions like the displays at the Suter Art Gallery, or fascinating luxury vehicles at the Nelson Classic Car Museum. If you’re not too tired from the journey, the astonishing vistas of Abel Tasman National Park are just an hour’s drive away.
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:
Invercargill: When Nature is contemplating what weather to welcome us with.Half Cloudy Half Sunny.
Gemstone Beach near Invercargill: Are any of these gemstones?!
Drove from Nelson to Abel Tasman to hike the Great Walk with my mum as a late Mother's Day gift. Here is with the cheeky Wekas down at Apple Tree Bay!
Great service from GO rentals to collect our car in Nelson and travel around the top end of the South Island over 5 days.
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: Parking in Invercargill is widely available, and relatively easy to find for free or low-cost spots in the city centre. It is also one of the easiest cities for drivers in New Zealand, so you will likely have no issues parking.
Nelson: Nelson is a great place to drive, and traffic is typically light. However, during major local events, traffic will be more congested and roads may be closed. Nelson offers many long-term and short-term parking spaces, and some areas have free parking available.
There are only three toll roads in New Zealand, all located on the North Island. You don’t have to worry about them on your trip to Nelson.
Thanks to GO Rentals’ Total Road Care Package, you don’t need to stress about paying for toll roads even when you are travelling on the North Island. This mandatory $3/day package covers you for all toll road fees you incur, including associated admin costs.
The roads between Invercargill and Nelson are well-maintained and offer clear signage. However, some roads on the South Island may be winding or narrow. 50km/h speed limits apply in urban and populated areas, and 100km/h limits apply on the open road.
See our blog posts on New Zealand's toll roads and general roads guide for more information.
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 itinerary matches our deal. Save money and still access our award-winning customer service.
