Exploring New Zealand by road is very popular, either by hire car or motor home, allowing you the luxury of exploring this beautiful country at a leisurely pace.
 
Make sure you leave plenty of time to drive around New Zealand as the country is larger than the UK, the roads often winding and most of the highways outside of the cities consisting of just one lane in each direction. There are many small islands sprinkled around New Zealand, which compromise of two main islands; “North Island” and “South Island”. 

Driving in New Zealand couldn’t be easier – they drive on the left!  Like in the UK, when the traffic lights are red, you must stop, and give way to the right.  The speed limits however, are kilometers per hour. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years and seat belts must be worn in the front and back of vehicles.

To combine stunning white beaches and dense forests, take a tour of the north of the North Island. Start in Auckland, and visit the Bay of Islands region, a beautiful area made up of 144 islands and quiet bays where you may go marlin fishing or seek whales, penguins or dolphins. The beauty of the Coromandel is just 90 minutes from Auckland, rich in history, rainforests and long pristine beaches. To enjoy a little Maori culture and European history, head to Roturua.

The South Island is best known for its glorious Alps and Fjords. Start in the capital of Christchurch, and take the TranzAlpine train to Greymouth, one of the world’s most scenic routes. From here you could then drive along the west coast to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.  Inland is the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Enjoy the exhilaration of a Shotover Jet ride speeding down the Shotover River or the normality of historic Arrowtown.

There are many fabulous and exciting countries to visit for a New Year holiday worldwide.

Cheap holidays to Dominican Republic in the Caribbean are available at the moment (13 December) for one week departing from Gatwick on Wednesday 30th December with Thomson Holidays.  Stay in the four star plus all inclusive ClubHotel Riu Bambu in Bavaro, Punta Cana including coach transfers from £1393 per person.  Wake up on New Year’s morning to the beautiful sight of fourteen miles of white tropical beaches, and blow away the cobwebs of 2009 with games of water polo and volleyball, scuba diving lessons and windsurfing.

The beautiful Maldives and spectacular Seychelles in the Indian Ocean are extra special New Year holiday destinations. Kuoni Holidays have last minute offers for 7 nights from 28 December staying at the boutique five star Velassaru Hotel in the Maldives from £2263 per person, and Labriz Hotel in the Seychelles from £4401 per person.

Tropicalsky are offering holidays at the end of December to Le Meridien on the island of Phuket in Thailand, from £1209 per person for six nights and holidays to the Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso Spa in Bali for 7 nights from £1439 per person.

If you are looking for a New Year Holiday for the family with lots of activities, a holiday in Orlando, Florida is always popular. Not only is there an extensive choice of accommodation in and around Orlando, but so much to keep the youngest to the oldest member of the family happy. Travel to the Orlando Theme Parks, Movie Studios and Orlando Shopping Malls and factory outlets for an exciting Florida holiday at New Year.  Holidayhypmarket have New Year package holidays available from £1193 per person for 7 nights, flying from Gatwick on 28 December and staying in a two star Resort hotel on room only basis.

Why not enjoy a New Year Break abroad and escape the British winter?  The world is your oyster, so where would you like to go?  Celebrate the New Year in style and book a holiday abroad! Choose from exotic beach holidays in the Caribbean, Africa or Asia, or a family ski holiday in the Alps or Canadian Rockies – choose a romantic European city break in Prague or Paris, or the popular beaches of the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.

Welcome in 2010 with a New Year ski holiday, surrounded by breathtaking snow covered mountains in a quaint authentic village.  Austria is a beautiful setting, and if there is a group of you venturing out on your New Year expedition, why not book a wooden Alpine chalet? Today (10 November 2009), Igluski.com are offering a brand new 4 star chalet ski holiday with steam room and sauna in St Anton, departing Gatwick on 27 December for 7 nights from £1181.00 per person, or at the other end of the price scale, 7 nights at the self catering Rauris Apartments in Rauris from £388.00 per person based on four people sharing, departing Gatwick on Boxing Day.

Count down to the New Year on a mini cruise! DFDS Seaways are offering a two night mini cruise New Year break from Amsterdam to Newcastle. From just £254 per person, board the ship at Newcastle and enjoy an en suite cabin, coach transfers in and out of Amsterdam, breakfasts, Gala New Year buffet, free house drinks during the crossings, live entertainment, and champagne to greet in 2010.

Celebrate on a New Year break in beautiful Prague. Lastminute.com are offering the luxury five star Hotel Esplanade in the centre of the historic city from £937.56 for two people sharing a twin bedded comfort bedroom departing on 30 December from Gatwick for 3 nights. The price is an additional £40 if flying from East Midlands airport.

Set on the edge of a beautiful long sandy Moroccan beach, is the four star plus, contemporary Royal Atlas Hotel in Agadir.  Perfect for a relaxing New Year holiday, the hotel offers a range of spa treatments for your enjoyment. Flying from Gatwick on 28 December Thomson Holidays are offering an all inclusive package (meals and drinks) including priority coach transfers, flights and 7 nights accommodation for £1976.00 for two people.

Guaranteed there’ll be rain in the UK – but don’t let the weather get you down, there is plenty to do to escape it!

So where to go on your December holiday?   Hot or cold?

As Christmas approaches, the Caribbean is the perfect hot spot to spend the festive season. There is still last minute holiday availability in Grenada, Dominican Republic, St Lucia, Barbados and a selection of other Caribbean islands for Christmas holidays and New Year holidays; however, if you can complete your holiday before Christmas Day, you are likely to find that your total holiday package is a few hundred pounds cheaper per person than if taken during the end of December. For your December Caribbean holiday, choose to stay in a luxury all inclusive spa resort or in low cost self catering complex – there are December holidays to suit all budgets!

Alternatively, how about slightly further north of the Caribbean, off the Florida coast and north of Cuba; the Bahamas?  Over 700 islands and 2,500 cays make up The Bahamas, although most people are only familiar with New Providence Island where the city of Nassau is located, a charming and colonial setting with many exclusive beachfront hotels.

Head south to South America in December, and 400 miles off the coast east of Argentina are the Falkland Islands. An ideal winter holiday location to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, the Falkland Islands is a natural paradise. Over 740 islands make up the Falklands, with beautiful long sandy beaches and outstanding flora and fauna.

Not so far from home, in the north of Africa is the fascinating country of Egypt, bordering the Mediterranean to the north and boasting some of the world’s most beautiful and ancient historic artefacts, as well as many world famous seaside and diving resorts along the Red Sea.  The days are pleasantly warm during the winter although the evenings may be a little chilly – take a light jumper or cardigan rather than a thick ski jacket though!  Combine a Nile Cruise with a city break in Luxor or Aswan, or spend a few weeks relaxing on the luscious pale sandy beaches or exploring the colourful sea life.

Christmas ski packages are exceedingly popular with families and groups, many staying in chalets which offer a very sociable atmosphere with everyone dining together.  Snow in Europe tends to be good around the Christmas to New Year period, especially in the French Alps, Switzerland and Austria, although of course, you could also ski in Canada or America. Ski resorts that you can almost guarantee will have snow throughout the ski season because of their high altitude or glacier location include Val d’Isere, Tignes, Les Deux Alps, La Plagne, Courchevel 1850 and Meribel in France, Courmayeur in Italy and St Anton, Austria.

Florida is the number one location for Brits travelling within the USA and hiring a rental car. It’s simple to do (hiring the car with easyCar), the roads are well sign posted and directions easy to navigate. There is also so much to do and see in Florida that with a hire car, you could be surfing at West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Ocean one day and bathing on the Gulf of Mexico in Clearwater the next – followed by a trip to the coral reefs of Key Largo and dolphin swimming in Orlando!

There are just a few points that will help you understand driving in Florida.
Drive on the right. If you are turning right and the traffic lights are red, provided there is no sign telling you to the contrary and of course, no traffic coming, you can turn right. Passengers in the front of cars in Florida must wear seat belts, and all passengers under 18 years old must wear a seat belt or child restraint device (front and back).

Do not drink and drive. The Florida drinking laws and limits are stricter than nearly every other USA state.

Like the UK, speed limits are in miles per hour (MPH). Around schools, the speed limit in Florida is 20 mph, residential and business areas 30 mph, with rural interstate and limited access highways a maximum of 70 mph; however, watch and adhere to all speed limits posted as they do vary often. In 2002, Florida passed a “Mover over Act” which means that when approaching emergency vehicles e.g. ambulance, police, fire service etc, that drivers move into the next lane or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

If you approach a Stop sign, make sure you totally stop and don’t just slow down. You can be fined for not completing the stop manoeuvre. No one has the right of way, and the law states you must yield the right of way, so do everything possible to prevent a crash.

When driving on the Florida Turnpike and other toll roads, make sure you carry cash. You are able to purchase rolls of quatres which is the preferred tender although other coins are accepted, and these can be bought at the toll plaza with the green “Change Given” lane. If you have a SunPass, do not stop as you travel through the relevant automated lane at the toll plaza as other drivers behind you will not (white/yellow sign)! Between some of the rural locations, rather than a coin system, you will be given a ticket showing point of entry onto the toll and time of exit.