Planning a road trip from Invercargill to Wellington soon? Travel stress-free by booking a one-way car rental before hitting the road. Hiring rental cars is a convenient option that makes travelling around New Zealand’s South Island smooth and easy.
More Reasons to GO
Driving from Invercargill to Wellington means covering nearly 1,000 kilometres of road. Avoid backtracking by hiring a one-way car rental that can take you from the southernmost tip of New Zealand to the country’s capital.
With four other GO Rental branches found in strategic points in the South Island (Nelson Airport, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown Airport, and Dunedin Airport), drivers have the flexibility to plan their rental car itinerary and drop-off locations as they see fit.
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 a straightforward process. The best way to do it is by booking a car hire in our fleet of vehicles through the GO Rental website’s booking widget.
To start, you simply have to choose a pick-up date and location for the trip, as well as the drop-off location and date.
You will be asked to pay a one-way rental fee amounting to anywhere between $100 and $1,000, depending on distance and branch availability. For instance, Auckland to Wellington drop-offs will cost a fair bit less than Auckland to Invercargill. In any case, the drop-off fee will be disclosed upon checkout.
Furthermore, the minimum one-way car hire period varies from 1 to 7 days, depending on the driver’s accumulated distance between the pick-up and drop-off locations.
As a note, the listed availability of one-way rentals on the website will depend on seasonal peak times and vehicle availability. If the listed dates or vehicles don’t fit your itinerary, feel free to give us a call. We’ll do our best to provide you with a good value rental car for your upcoming 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 10 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.
An epic New Zealand road trip isn’t complete without paying a visit to some of its most iconic towns and landmarks. Grab some inspiration for your [Trip Planner](/explore/trip-planner/ for some scenic stops as you meander your way through the South Island and onto Wellington.
From Invercargill, make your way to the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, Dunedin, 200 kilometres north. This town isn’t only surrounded by dramatic hills and picturesque harbour views, but it also has a rich heritage that’s steeped with history and charm, holding both Maori and Victorian influences.
When you’re here, be sure to visit Baldwin Street, a street with a 35% gradient level, which is the steepest street in the world.
About 113 kilometres north of Dunedin, you’ll find the port town of Oamaru, the biggest town in the Waitaki District. This town is within arm’s reach of a blue penguin colony and rare seabirds that aren’t easily found anywhere else.
A quick stroll around the Victorian Precinct and you’ll see fascinating steampunk and limestone architecture around every corner. It’s as if you’ve stepped back in time when you stroll past the town centre.
The Otago Peninsula is one of the reasons why Dunedin is called the Wildlife Capital of the country, being just directly east of the city. This wildlife haven is home to a vast array of endemic species found only in the area, namely royal albatross, yellow-eyed penguins, seals, and sea lions.
It’s also home to the Larnach Castle and its historic gardens. A drive down here will surely be worth it for any wildlife and nature enthusiast.
A road trip to the South Island of New Zealand is incomplete without visiting one of the country’s most scenic lakes, Lake Tekapo. This lake—a 175 kilometre drive from Oamaru—is renowned for its picturesque turquoise-blue waters and mountainous backdrop.
When in the area, pay a visit to the Church of the Good Shepherd, a small stone church built in 1935. If you’re in the area at night, you can also visit the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve nearby.
A city you surely have heard about, Christchurch is New Zealand’s acclaimed “Garden City”, and it’s known for being home to several world-class parks, gardens, and vibrant riverside views. It’s also a jump-off point for day trip locations like Akaroa or the Southern Alps.
Besides being a nice stopover to collect yourself and relax, Christchurch also has many fascinating spots to learn more about Kiwi culture. The Canterbury Museum showcases the region’s natural and human heritage, while the Cardboard Cathedral highlights the city’s cultural influences.
About 180 kilometres north of Christchurch is the seaside town of Kaikoura. This town is famed for being sandwiched between the Kaikoura Ranges that rise steeply behind the town and the Pacific Ocean that stretches in front of it.
In town, visitors can learn more about the rich whaling history of the area. If you want to do something more active, you can also walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway or go on a boating expedition to get up close with fur seals that frolic in the area year-round.
On your way to Wellington, one stopover you should consider in your road trip is Blenheim.
This town is home to the Marlborough Museum, which showcases the Polynesian and winemaking roots of the region. On top of that, this town is also the gateway to famous wineries in the Wairau Valley.
One of your final stops before approaching Wellington is Picton, a hilly town that connects the South and North Islands. It’s also the gateway town to the Queen Charlotte Sound.
A few iconic landmarks in town include the EcoWorld Aquarium and the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum. On your way to Wellington from Picton, you’ll need to ride a car ferry through the Cook Strait, which is arguably one of the most scenic ferry rides in the country.
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:
We stopped at a beautiful river on our journey to Lake Tekapo on a magnificent Spring morning.
This photo captures the most unforgettable moment of my life - my proposal in New Zealand. Thanks to GO Rental, we had the freedom to explore every corner of this beautiful country until I found a perfect spot to ask the biggest question of my life. A trip we’ll never forget, in a car that made it possible.
Photo in Christchurch city Christchurch tram behind me. Had 1 hair days in Christchurch then went to Hamner springs for 2 days. Love go rental they reasonable and very friendly staff.
This photo was taken in Wellington. We were playfully trying to show how windy it gets thee. One kick and everyone goes flying! We had a great experience with Go rentals, thanks to excellent service. The pickup process was smooth and quick. We got the perfect car for our needs. We'll definitely rent again.
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.
Traffic and parking in Invercargill are quite smooth. It’s not a very crowded city, and you can find both free and paid parking spots fairly easily. You just need to use a parking kiosk or download the PayMyPark app to park on the streets.
On the other hand, Wellington parking can be quite difficult and expensive during peak hours. The city offers free parking further from the city centre. It’s quite limited in the city centre, but not unheard of during off-peak hours or in certain streets, like near Dixon and Willis Street.
It’s best to research free parking spots in the city in advance.
New Zealand’s South Island does not contain any toll roads. This includes all roads connecting Invercargill and Wellington.
All of the country’s toll roads are situated in the North Island. If you do have to drive by a toll road, GO Rentals pays for tolls on your behalf through their Total Road Care package.
Road conditions connecting these two cities are generally good. That said, drivers should be alert to poor weather, as icy roads and fog can disrupt normal driving conditions.
On top of that, some roads can be windy and mountainous down south. They can also be quite tight, which can lead to traffic or delays. As such, we recommend drivers set some extra time for additional leeway when planning their road trip.
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.
The vehicle price is the same regardless of whether you return it to the same GO Rentals branch or to a different one. However, returning it to a different branch will incur a relocation fee ranging between $100 - $1,000. The actual fee will be shown to you in your booking summary before checkout.
Yes, all of our car rentals can go from the North Island to the South Island and vice versa via the Cook Strait ferry. If you need [help}(/help/), we suggest booking a one-way car rental in advance with us to secure a place on the ferry for a stress-free New Zealand road trip.
Yes, it’s absolutely possible. You can register them as an additional driver in your booking before or after securing the rental car. Once their name is relayed to us, they can return the one-way rental without needing your presence. That said, it’s essential for them to meet the license requirements beforehand. They should present this license at one of our branches before getting added to the agreement.
We don’t impose any kilometre limit on any of our GO Rentals car classes. You’re free to pick up your car rental and drive the whole of New Zealand and back without incurring additional costs. So let’s get GOing and embark on your trip of a lifetime today!
Driving from Invercargill to Wellington can take anywhere between 12 and 14 hours of driving without stops.
If you’re planning to see New Zealand’s scenic sights, you will naturally take longer to complete it. An ideal timeframe for this road trip is about four days, allowing you to cover most of the major attractions without rushing.
