Oceania > New Zealand > Chatham Islands (CHT)
The Car or no Car advice for Chatham Islands can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Chatham Islands ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Chatham Islands ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Chatham Islands?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚶♀️ Getting around Waitangi without a car
Waitangi is the main settlement and offers easy short walks. You can reach shops, cafés and the harbour on foot. Many accommodation providers offer quick transfers too. Because the settlement is compact, movement here is simple.
However, the rest of the island sits far beyond walking distance. Strong winds and open landscapes make long walks tiring. Taxis and buses do not operate here, so car-free visitors often feel limited very quickly.
🚗 Renting a car the local way
Because there are no major rental brands, you arrange vehicles directly with local operators or accommodation providers. This system works smoothly, and cars are usually sturdy 4WDs or older SUVs well suited to gravel roads. Booking in advance helps, especially during peak periods.
Driving is straightforward. Roads are quiet, views are wide, and speeds stay low. Gravel surfaces make you slow down naturally, yet they also help you enjoy the scenery as you travel between bays, farms and cliffs.
🐧 What you can explore with a car
A vehicle opens up almost every corner of Chatham Island. You can reach basalt formations, penguin sites, windswept lookouts and remote farms that welcome visitors with prior permission. You also gain the freedom to stop whenever the weather clears, which matters on an island where conditions change quickly.
Pitt Island requires a flight or boat trip from Chatham Island. Once you arrive, you arrange local transport through your host. That journey works as a guided experience, so you will not need to drive there yourself.
🧭 Conclusion – Should you rent a car on the Chatham Islands?
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🚶♀️ No car needed only if you stay inside Waitangi and rely on pre-arranged tours for everything else.
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🚗 A car is strongly recommended if you want to explore beaches, cliffs, fossil sites, wildlife areas or rural landscapes at your own pace. Local rentals are the standard method and fit the island’s style perfectly.
