Back

Explore New Zealand by 4WD vehicle

Locum tenens: get behind the wheel of a 4WD vehicle and get off the beaten path while you're in New Zealand. Four wheel drive adventures are incredibly popular here because it's the only way to explore much of the country's wild terrain, known as the "wop-wops" or "sticks."

Tour groups offering 4WD excursions operate out of most major urban areas in New Zealand, including locations on both the south and north islands. Auckland, Christchurch, Rotorua, and, of course, Queenstown all have a handful of companies that locum tenens can choose from. The variety is beyond —some offer basic 4WD training, while others offer week-long excursions to explore the most distant and uninhabited corners of the Kiwi bush.

If you've got a camera, you can fill it with spectacular panoramic images from a 4WD excursion to the foothills of the Southern Alps. Depending on how far you want to explore, you can even go on tours that will allow you to ford streams and brave rocky mountain passes with your vehicle.

Multi-day tours typically include overnight camping, where you'll sit at a traditional campfire and learn about Maori heritage sites and the historic goldfield towns that dot the Kiwi landscape from an experienced guide.