Enjoy an easy one-way car hire from Queenstown to Wellington with GO Rentals. Explore the most stunning locations on the South Island with confidence in our quality rental cars. We have a great selection of versatile vehicles suitable for long road trips, from SUVs to minibuses to carry your whole crew. With our basic insurance coverage and unlimited kilometres, you can steer towards an unforgettable journey with GO Rentals.
Experience absolute Kiwi freedom on your journey with a one-way car hire. By hiring a car with GO Rentals, you can set your own pace without worrying about public transport schedules or pickup times.
A road trip from Queenstown to Wellington takes you past some of the most famous destinations in New Zealand. You’ll go through fascinating cities and see unique local wildlife up close as you head toward the North Island. When you’ve experienced all that Wellington offers, you can easily drop off your hired car on your preferred date with our one-way rental plan.
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.
For a stress-free road trip, 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. Please note:
Whilst our one-way rentals are dependent on seasonal 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 can’t find availability online, 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.
With over 14 hours of driving on beautiful coastal roads between Queenstown and Wellington, there are plenty of spectacular sights to see while you’re on the South Island. Just make an itinerary with an interactive trip planner, pick up your hired car from Queenstown Airport and get GOing on an incredible adventure!
Here are a few iconic stops you don’t want to miss on your way to Wellington.
Sometimes called ‘The Adventure Capital of the World’, Queenstown has plenty of amazing sights to see and activities to experience before you head out on the road. Try out the world's first commercial bungee jump, soar down with the Queenstown Luge or explore Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range.
While you’re in the area, it’s well worth taking time to see Glenorchy. The short, 45-minute trip itself is one of the most famously beautiful drives in New Zealand. You’ll head past stunning vistas like the Dart Valley or hidden gems like Pigeon Island, Sam Summers Hut and Bob’s Cove.
The drive might seem familiar to Lord of the Rings fans. The Ithilien Lookout, the Routeburn Track and the Twelve Mile Delta were all used as filming locations in Peter Jackson's trilogy.
As you leave Queenstown, be sure to take a short detour to the Kawarau Gorge and the historic Kawarau Bridge. The area offers a tranquil, breathtaking view perfect for kayaking or hiking. Lord of the Rings fans may recognise the breathtaking gorge as the Pillars of the Kings from The Fellowship of the Ring.
This small town is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in nature. Wanaka is surrounded by beautiful, snow-capped mountain ranges and is located right by Lake Wanaka, offering a stunning and enticing contrast of colours all year round. Try the world's highest waterfall cable climb, or go jet boating across the lake.
If you need a moment to relax, you can also spend some time at the Wanaka Lavender Farm for an unforgettable tea time.
For nature lovers and thrill seekers, you’ll find the highest peak in the country at Mount Cook National Park. The park offers dramatic alpine landscapes and a vast array of glaciers, lakes and rugged mountains. For hiking fanatics, the Hooker Valley and Sealy Tarns track offer a complete overview of the area's most stunning features, including the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, a 1,882-step climb.
The largest city in the South Island features amazing parks, restaurants and boating areas. Be sure to check out the award-winning Botanical Gardens before you leave, containing over 21 hectares of native and exotic plants and stunning exhibits. You can also find unique hand-crafted products or local delicacies at the Riverside Market.
Kaikoura is the best place to stop and see New Zealand's iconic marine life. You’ll have breathtaking encounters with orcas, humpback whales and more on whale-watching tours, no matter what time of year it is. Or, you can take a quick jaunt to the South Bay to visit the local seal colony, featuring a variety of seals.
Nelson is most famous for its vibrant arts scene, beautiful natural landscapes and great local beaches. The region is also famous for its high-quality wines. It’s highly recommended that you book a hotel when you’re in the region, so you can safely enjoy the many world-class wineries nearby. Be sure to try the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir!
The Marlborough Sounds are an ancient sunken river valley ideal for exploration. The sunken lands make up over one-fifth of New Zealand's coastline and are perfect for a guided tour by boat or by air. Be sure to book in advance in case you run into the busy season!
Picton is where you’ll be getting the ferry from the South Island to the North Island, but it’s worth spending a day or two in this charming town before you go. Picton features gorgeous kayaking tours, hiking paths and even wildlife cruises. If you’re a history lover, you won’t regret a quick stop at Edwin Fox Maritime Museum, where you can learn more about the oldest merchant ship left in the world.
Before you finish up your trip to Wellington, why not visit the Red Rocks Scientific Reserve or the nearby fur seal colony? These striking red rocks are remnants of ancient volcanic pillow lava and sedimentary rocks over 210 to 150 million years old. You can also take a quick stop by the Red Rocks Scientific Reserve or visit the local fur seal colony, depending on the season.
You’ll end your journey in the capital city of New Zealand. Wellington offers many remarkable activities and places to explore, and it’s well worth booking a hotel for a day or two while you're here. Some local highlights you won’t want to miss include a visit to Te Papa Museum, taking a trip on the Wellington cable car, or exploring the local wildlife at the Zealandia Ecosanctuary.
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 was our first time trying out a Tesla, and it was an absolute treat! We sometimes found ourselves spending more time looking at the car than at the view. Our Queenstown trip was an absolutely great time - Arrowtown, Coronet Peak, Cardona, Wanaka, and Queenstown itself. We'll be back.
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.
Super 15-day experience with the car with a final night at Mt Cook. Drove to White Horse Hill Campground to see the Milky Way. We experienced heavy rain, snow and different road conditions. The RAV4 from GO is dependable and gave us peace of mind and no distraction from our road trip!
This photo was taken in Wellington. We were playfully trying to show how windy it gets there. 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.
Queenstown: Parking and traffic can be limited during peak tourism seasons. Parking options across Queenstown include street parking and public parking lots, but these can fill up quickly and commonly cost between $2 and $6 per hour. You can find free parking in the suburbs or shopping centres within specific time limits. Be sure to plan your route ahead of time and check for updates on road and traffic conditions when travelling in peak seasons. For further details, visit Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Wellington: Wellington traffic can get very busy, especially during congested peak hours. Street parking and paid facilities are available and cost $4 to $5 per hour on weekdays, and $3 on weekends. Free parking is rare, but it is available in the outer districts or residential areas. For further details, visit Wellington City Council.
There are three toll roads in New Zealand, all on the North Island. You won’t need to worry about any of them on your trip to Wellington. Roads across New Zealand are well-maintained and clearly signed. The average speed limits in urban areas typically reach 50km/h, while the speed limit is commonly 100 km/h on open roads.
Worried you might hit a toll road on your travels? With GO Rentals’ mandatory $3/day Total Road Care package, you can enjoy free passage on all toll roads. We’ll cover road fees on your journey, including road taxes and admin costs.
For more info, read our guide on New Zealand's toll roads.
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.
