Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Travel

How not to get fleeced by fuel prices on a New Zealand road trip

21 Aug, 2019 12:59 AM3 minutes to read
Filling a car with passengers can help offset the price of filling it with fuel. Photo / Getty Images

Filling a car with passengers can help offset the price of filling it with fuel. Photo / Getty Images

NZ Herald
By Thomas Bywater

At the end of the Kiwi winter motorists are already planning that time-honoured national pastime: the great Kiwi road trip.

But travellers returning to the roads might not remember it being so expensive to take four wheels for a spin.

This morning the Herald revealed Kiwi motorists are being fleeced of $400,000,000 a year in excess returns.

Particularly those filling up in Auckland feel an extra pinch at the petrol pump with the regional fuel tax.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

What used to be the most economical way of seeing Aotearoa is making Kiwis reconsider their travel options.

Here are our top tips for a planning a road trip that won't cost the earth:

1. Pick your route

There are much better reasons for visiting Ōpōtiki than 'Fuel Tourism', but it was recently identified by Herald readers as New Zealand's cheapest pump. The Bay of Plenty town could be a bit out of your way, but picking a route based on fuel prices could save you in the long run.

Apps such as GaSpy (gaspy.nz) can help drivers find the cheapest fuel prices on route and explore the road less travelled.

2. Bring spares

Empty seats are a waste of space. Filling a car with passengers can help offset the price of filling it with fuel. Even if you can't split the costs, it's a chance to cut your carbon footprint. It seems unreasonable to expect kids to chip in for fuel, but you can't really leave them behind.

The polar bears will thank you.

Related articles

Business

Price wars: Is this the cheapest fuel in New Zealand?

14 Aug 03:45 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Reckless thieves find dangerous new way of stealing fuel

20 Aug 05:00 PM
Travel

Flight check: Palmerston North to Auckland on Air NZ

20 Aug 04:00 AM
Travel

The most stupid thing you can ask your Uber in Brazil

20 Aug 04:27 AM
Kiwis are into roadtrips, in a big way: The giant Lemon Paeroa bottle in Paeroa. Photo / Getty Images
Kiwis are into roadtrips, in a big way: The giant Lemon Paeroa bottle in Paeroa. Photo / Getty Images

3. Hitch

It used to be the reserve of backpackers and sociopaths, however hitch hiking is having a resurgence on New Zealand roads. This is partially thanks to the mobile revolution. Apps like Chariot (getchariot.com) help drivers and hitchers find spare seats going in their direction. Beyond just 'thumbing it' apps can be a cheaper, fairer, often safer way of getting a lift to where you're going.

But of course that's not always an option for families or a group of travellers, unless you flag down a passing minibus.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

4. Ditch the car and fly

Auckland to Taranaki is the classic Kiwi road trip. The six-hour car journey leads to the beaches round New Plymouth or simply to bathe in the majesty of Mt Egmont.

But sometimes you just want to get there. It might surprise road users to know you can do far quicker and more cheaply by air. The 400km will cost around $90 in fuel one way, and the best part of half a day.

With a 50-minute flight with Air NZ for under $80 return, flying seems a more viable option if not the greenest.

Greta Thunberg might protest, but with petrol prices this high Kiwis have little choice but to take to the skies.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Travel

Two pilots fall asleep mid-flight while plane soars past destination airport

19 Aug 02:30 AM
Travel

Mount Kilimanjaro installs internet, social media-loving travellers rejoice

19 Aug 12:09 AM
Travel

Sharp focus: New York's thinnest building on Billionaire's row

18 Aug 08:32 PM
Travel

'See you in heaven': Family's terror as man tries to open door mid-flight

18 Aug 07:35 PM
Travel

Fast fashion: Giorgio Armani flees Sicilian wildfires

18 Aug 06:37 PM

Most Popular

Mark Lundy: No parole granted after serving 20 years for killing his wife and daughter
New Zealand|Crime

Mark Lundy: No parole granted after serving 20 years for killing his wife and daughter

19 Aug 03:00 AM
Watch live: Not over yet - Civil Defence warns of more heavy rainfall for Tasman region
New ZealandUpdated

Watch live: Not over yet - Civil Defence warns of more heavy rainfall for Tasman region

19 Aug 01:45 AM
'It's not fair': Dangerous Aussie Comancheros boss to be deported to NZ
New Zealand|Crime

'It's not fair': Dangerous Aussie Comancheros boss to be deported to NZ

19 Aug 12:39 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP