New Zealand GPS

I am also planning a self drive holiday in NZ next year. I have looked up the Tomtom website and the NZ map was relatively expensive considering the number of roads they have so went and bought a paper map from the RAC.

In answer to your question, it depends on how much memory (storage) you have in your Tomtom. I have an XXL540 with the Australian & Western Europe maps on it and I think the memory is now pretty well full. When I downloaded the West Europe map a couple of years back, I didn't have enough memory to download all countries so had to choose the ones I was going to use on that trip and likely to use in the future. You are unlikely to lose the Aust. maps as the NZ map memory requirements would be relatively small.

Get onto their website with the model no. and it will tell you.

For the price these things cost nowadays it might be more effective to buy another with the NZ maps in it either here and take it with you or just but it in NZ.

You could go fushing on the NZ sites to see the prices and ask a Bro via the internet what the cost is and what features they have. Really handy if you are in cities as the map obscures the view through the windscreen at the worst possible times.
New ones are probably cheaper than a map upgrade anyway. You only need the map feature not the picture viewer/mp3 player/video player/ebook etc etc.

Ross M

I took my Garmin over in Dec,we traveled all over the North Island from the North (Cape Reinga) down to Wellington...It was spot on,Shame its not like it in Melbourne...

Anyway see if you can borrow one or buy a cheapy or second hand one with N.Z maps...

All the best with your trip..

A paper map is all you need really. There is not enough roads to need a GPS, especially on the south island. You can drive for hours and not see another car!!
Most Garmins have the NZ maps already loaded.
If you get lost there is always a Kiwi that will go out of their way to help and have a chat for an hour or two. We love the place!

Amazing really some of the replies. I am a kiwi who has lived in Australia for a number of years.What's this garbage that considering the number of roads that they have.

I travel in and out of NZ on a regular basis and have a Garman - it has both NZ and OZ maps on it.Well worth the small investment of I think around $200. Australia and NZ is on the same device and as for paper maps - well if you want to keep stopping to argue who is right and which road would be the right one to take or worse still, endanger others on the road by trying to read it as you drive then go for it spoil your trip.

Written by a BRO

Thanks for all your responses. I think we'll just buy a cheap GPS when we get there.

Thanks again

John & Helen

is it not an option at the vehicle hire place?

Hey yobs and bros!!!! I am across the ditch now, what a fantasmagora of photo opportunities....a bloody photo stop around every turn....at this rate I will be here forever!!!!

The rentacar mob have given me a tomtom - that is essential. Unfortunately I have chosen "Aussie Kevin" as the voice and he keeps telling me to "turn right in 50 metres"...he is just dragging around because I would get terribly wet after driving off a 50 metre cliff into some deep and very blue water feature....hang on...there is another photo opportunity....I'll have to have the shutter speed on really quick though and hope the camera survives the impact!

An up to date digi navigator is really the best way...have a paper map, they have hema here as we'll and will probably put one in the car for you, is a good back up.