My wife and I will be visiting NZ for 2 weeks in Nov.( We are Canadians). We have been thinking about renting a car but are concerned about driving on the left hand side. Can anyone recommend a good guided bus tour or even a cruise that would stop at most of the worthwhile destinations? Many thanks.

Hi<BR>My hubby and I did a three week driving tour of the USA and were also concerned about driving ( on the right)<BR>It became 2nd nature and after a few initial run-in's trying to use the wipers as indicators and vice versa, it became the norm.<BR><BR>Watch the first day ~ this is where problems will occur ~ if at all.<BR><BR>We had one hic-cup turning of a main road into a side street.<BR>We ended up on the left momentarily but that was because there was no other traffic and we hadn't quite recovered from the flight.<BR>It took a while to re-adjust when we got home again so if you do drive, try to organise someone to pick you up at the airport when you get home.<BR> There are a few Guided tours around, check out www.purenz.com.<BR>there should be plenty of links in the transport section.<BR><BR>Good luck.

Christa, thanks so much for replying. If you ever decide to give Canada a try then give us a call. Best regards, Moe.

Hi, I have driven on the left several times in Britain and the Bahamas.Try to start off some place not too busy. Plan in your mind what evasive action you will take in an emergency.(eg: pull off towards the left, not the right, etc) I find that the yields require some extra thought as they are backwards from what we are used to. Leave the navigating to your partner so you can concentrate on the driving. As said above, you adapt fairly quickly. PS. My brother has the same e-mail address as you...do you know Mark??

We did a 6 week tour of NZ by car (we are from Canada) and as was stated before, the most confusing thing we found was having the controls on opposite sides. Often turned on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal until we got used to it. But it only took a couple of days. NZ is quite easy to drive in. I think that you would be fine. Just concentrate for a day or so and then it becomes second nature.

<BR>Hello Moe!<BR><BR>Don't fret about driving on the "wrong" side of the road. It's really not difficult at all. NZ is small and easy to get around, and the drivers are NOT the same as they are here in the US....or when I drive from the Toronto airport to Lindsay, Ontario on the 405 to see Grandma <BR><BR>Most drivers stay to the left, unless they are "overtaking" (passing). There's very little of the weaving in/out of traffic that we have here. Roads are well marked and the pace is slower.<BR><BR>I laughed reading everyone's postings about the windshield wipers! So true! I tend to have keys in hand, walk up to the PASSENGER side of the car and realize my mistake. I usually look around sheepishly,and if anyone's watching I pretend I MEANT to go to that side to get something out of the car!<BR><BR>Melodie

I would definitely not rent a car at Auckland airport and drive into the city if you have had no previous experience in driving on the left. It is a crazy place now for driving, we are car oriented like LA. Rent one as you are leaving Auckland to drive south.<BR>For coach tours look at Great Sights website and www.purenz.com for lots of info.

Ditto the remarks about the wipers & turn signal. My teenagers are still giving me grief about it. <BR><BR>We had no problems when we drove in Oz. When we came to a traffic signal or roundabout, everyone in the car chanted "Keep Left, Keep Left!" It quickly became a running joke in our family - but it worked!<BR><BR>John in Miami