Car hire and driving in Christchurch
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In New Zealand traffic drives on the left. Picking up at CHC means 10 km (6 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4547309.
Drives from Christchurch
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch to Wellington | New Zealand | 305 km (190 mi) | about 4 h 40 min |
| Christchurch to Dunedin | New Zealand | 310 km (193 mi) | about 4 h 44 min |
| Christchurch to Lower Hutt | New Zealand | 319 km (198 mi) | about 4 h 52 min |
| Christchurch to Hamilton | New Zealand | 677 km (421 mi) | about 10 h 20 min |
| Christchurch to Tauranga | New Zealand | 715 km (444 mi) | about 10 h 54 min |
| Christchurch to Manukau City | New Zealand | 752 km (467 mi) | about 11 h 28 min |
| Christchurch to Auckland | New Zealand | 765 km (475 mi) | about 11 h 40 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Christchurch?
The left, as everywhere in New Zealand.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.