Car Rental Auckland Downtown

Auckland is one of the most picturesque places on the planet, surrounded by dozens of volcano cones, black and white sand beaches, rivers, creeks, forests, national parks and more. So it is no wonder they decided to film the Lord of the Ring’s and the Hobbit films in New Zealand, with many of the filming locations in the Auckland area. Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most diverse city, combining cultures and foods from all around the world. In addition, Auckland sits close to the northern point of the North Island, making it the perfect place to start a road trip journey in your hire car. With fantastic locations and scenery all within driving distance of Auckland’s downtown area.

Experience world class shopping, restaurants, cafes, museums and other city attractions within Auckland itself. The Auckland Art Gallery always has some exciting exhibitions and is home to the most extensive collection of Māori artworks and treasures on the planet, giving a fascinating insight into an ancient culture. 

You don’t have to climb to one of the many mountain tops to see a panoramic view of the city, but Mount Eden or Maungawhau is the best place for a stunning view of Auckland and sits a short 15-minute drive from the CBD in the Tahaki reserve. A quicker way for a high-rise view of the city would be to take the elevator in the Sky Tower to 220 metres above sea level in the 380-metre high rise. Sky Tower offers 80 kilometres of panoramic views  in every direction. See how many key landmarks you can spot, from volcanoes to national parks, cliffs and historical locations. The tower is also home to three restaurants and cafes. 

Experience Stunning Natural Beauty in Your Car Hire; Some of it is Out of This World

As mentioned above, New Zealand’s landscape is perhaps best known internationally now as the location of Peter Jackson’s ‘Middle-Earth’. Of course, many of these locations are free to drive through and visit with your car hire, but one area in particular, has seen countless fans gather from around the world. Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, the filming location for the shire and greater Hobbiton. 

Just over a two-hour drive south of Auckland, Hobbiton is the real-life, fully built shire. Visit the website for tour packages, from guided tours around Hobbiton to a full banquet meal fit for the King of Gondor himself at the Green Dragon Inn. So, raise a glass to the fellowship.

If you want to continue with the ‘out of this world theme’, Auckland has plenty to offer as well. Visit the black sand beaches on Auckland’s west coast. Whatipu, Piha and Muriwai are just some of the stunning beaches on the west coast, many of which are just an hour away from Auckland’s CBD. So catch some waves, enjoy the scenery, and forget about the world around you.

Just a Few Fun Locations Within Auckland Your Hire Car Can Take You

You don’t have to travel outside of the city limits to enjoy a great Auckland location (although we recommend you do both). Visit the Auckland Museum, home to the Auckland War memorial and a centre for learning about and understanding Māori culture. It has everything from dinosaurs to art installations. Book a private guided tour of the museum’s underground storage, where many of the treasures are stored waiting to be exhibited.

Experience over 1,400 animals in Auckland. Auckland Zoo is home to 144 separate species, with behind-the-scenes tours, photography workshops, keeper talks, events and more. It is an easy win on a day’s itinerary.

Auckland is dotted with galleries, museums, and cultural sites both within the city and the surrounding area. So, if you want a travel location with a little bit of everything, start planning your trip to Auckland today.