Travel Tips » Auto

Give way rules are changing in New Zealand

Vi — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:00:05 +0000

There are road rule changes if you are planning trip to New Zealand this year. You probably heard about right-hand rule in New Zealand. From 5am on 25 March 2012 this rule will be obsolete. The new rule will be in force: vehicles turning left will then have right of way over those turning right. This applies at cross roads, T-intersections and driveways where both vehicles are facing each other with no signs or signals, or the same signs or signals.

On NZ Transport Agency website you can find details of new rules, illustrations and explanations. Hopefully it will reduce confusion for tourists travelling in NZ and it will be less accidents on roads of New Zealand.

Give way rules are changing in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips

What is a road train

Vi — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:01:56 +0000

You probably already heard about road trains if you are planning go to Australia. But as always it is better to see once then thousand times to read about it.
But lets start from other countries before heading to Australia.
In the United States, trucks are limited to two trailers (the length limit is 19.2m (63 ft) end to end) on public roads. In less populous states it is allowed three trailers.
In Finland, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and some selected roads in Norway trucks with trailers are allowed to be 25.25 m (82.8 ft) long. Elsewhere in the European Union, the limit is 18.75 m (61.5 ft).
In Canada road trains (or Long Combination Vehicles) may be up to 38 m (125 ft).
But largest and heaviest road-legal vehicles in the world are in Australia.

53.5 metres (175.5ft). That’s the maximum allowable length of road train on public roads. How big it is? For example the regular bus is about 12-13 meters (40-43ft) long. So just imagine 4 buses standing in one lane to get impression how long road trains in Australia are. But on private mines there are even longer road trains.

What is a road train is a post from: Travel Tips

Australian road conditions

Vi — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:01:11 +0000

It is big country and before heading into Australian outback it is good idea check road conditions as it can be long re-route in case some roads closure. Here is list of official websites where it is possible to check roads current status:

Have a safe trip!

Australian road conditions is a post from: Travel Tips

How big is your fuel tank?

Vi — Thu, 06 May 2010 04:01:41 +0000

When I was renting car in Europe, US or Canada, I never was thinking or wasn’t care how much fuel I can fill into car tank. Usually was no problem to find gas station near by. But in Australia is different story. Unless you travel on East Coast or South West near Perth in other places distances between gas stations (or roadhouses) can reach 400km. Once I rented camper van with which I could travel max 350km, so I needed to fill it up in every roadhouse, otherwise my trip could end up somewhere in the middle in nowhere. So always check what is range of your rented car and may be ask for spare fuel tank just in case, as it can be difficult to get help in remote places with not much traffic.

How big is your fuel tank? is a post from: Travel Tips

One road rule you must to know when you are driving in New Zealand

Vi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:01:15 +0000

If you are planning go to New Zealand you probably will rent camper van or car to travel around this amazing country. Of course you know they drive on left side of road. It could feel a little bit weird if you are from “right side” country, but you shouldn’t worry too much about that. You’ll adjust to this in no time. In your car will be sign “Keep left” as reminder in case you’ll forget it by looking to scenery. In most tourist places you’ll find signs on the road with arrows which side to drive. So no worries. But there is one road rule you won’t find in any other country. It is so-called right-hand rule. It requires that cars turning left must wait to give way to those vehicles turning in front of them from the right. There are plans to change this rule. Although about these plans was already written some time ago, but rule still in force, so keep in mind it and obey it.

One road rule you must to know when you are driving in New Zealand is a post from: Travel Tips

Do you know how to use snow chains?

Vi — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:01:44 +0000

It is winter in Southern Hemisphere and a lot of people are heading skiing to Snowy Mountains in Australia or Southern Alps in New Zealand. While I was living in Europe or Canada I was used to drive with all season or winter tires and never had a chance to use show chains. But in Australia or New Zealand snow is only high in the mountains so of course you won’t be changing tires for weekend trip to ski resort or if you want just to cross mountain range above snow line like Arthur Pass in New Zealand. Nobody will force you to hire snow chains but for peace of mind I would definitely recommend do so, as you can stuck somewhere on not passable road. Of course snow chains are must to have if you are going skiing in New Zealand. May be you’ll end up without need to use snow chains, but if you never ever used it, you should ask for demonstration how to fit when renting it. It easy to fit it when you know it, but you can damage car heavily if you are not experienced with doing it and will do it wrong. On the snow chains bag ussualy there are instructions how to use it, but it was unreadable on bag I had. I was lucky as somebody in my car knew how to fit chains, otherwise I would be in big trouble. Don’t do such mistake.

Have a save trip!

Do you know how to use snow chains? is a post from: Travel Tips