Where Are the New Zealand Toll Roads?
As a traveller trying to save every cent you have in New Zealand for more of the fun stuff, nothing is worse than realising you are on a toll road. Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration, but thankfully, there are not too many toll roads in New Zealand.
The three toll roads in New Zealand are all on the North Island: the Northern Gateway Toll Road, the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road. A toll is charged each time you use the toll road. In New Zealand, electronic toll roads are used so you will be charged automatically as you drive through. There is no stopping at toll booths. Toll roads are well signposted as you approach, giving you time to prepare to take an alternative route if preferred.
In this guide to toll roads in New Zealand, we go over the cost of toll roads, more details on where they are, how to pay them and much more.
How Much Do Toll Roads in New Zealand?
Each toll road in New Zealand has a different cost, as well as different fees for different-sized vehicles. The price of the New Zealand toll roads are as follows:
- Northern Gateway Toll Road (Auckland) – NZ$2.40 for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes; NZ$4.80 for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
- Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road – NZ$2.10 for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes; NZ$5.20 for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
- Takitimu Drive Toll Road (Tauranga) – NZ$1.90 for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes; NZ$5 for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
© russellstreet on FlickrNorthern Gateway Toll Road (Auckland)
Northern Gateway Toll Road speed limit: 100km/h
Located just north of Auckland Central in the Hibiscus District, the Northern Gateway Toll Road is an extension of State Highway 1 between Orewa and Johnstone Hills near Puhoi.
You might be taking this route if you are travelling south to Auckland Central or north to Auckland’s Hibiscus and Rodney districts, the Bay of Islands or Northland.
The toll road saves about 9 minutes of your driving time, but there is an alternative route to avoid the toll road altogether.
Alternative Routes to the Northern Gateway Toll Road
To avoid the Northern Gateway Toll Road when travelling north, head east by exiting at Silverdale onto State Highway 17. Head to Orewa, then Waiwera, then join back on State Highway 1.
How Much Does the Northern Gateway Toll Road Cost?
- Car, motorcycle, light vehicle (3.5 tonnes or less) – NZ$2.40
- Heavy vehicle (over 3.5 tonnes) – NZ$4.80.
Check out our article dedicated to The Northern Gateway Toll Road: How to Pay, Alternative Routes + More.
© Ulrich Lange on WikipediaTauranga Eastern Link Toll Road
Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road speed limit: 110km/h
New Zealand’s newest toll road, the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road is just off State Highway 2 between the Domain Road interchange near Papamoa and the Paengaroa roundabout in Tauranga.
You might travel this route if you are going north to Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, south to Rotorua, or east to Gisborne and the East Cape region.
Alternative Routes to the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road
Avoid the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road by taking State Highway 2, also known as the Te Puke Highway through Te Puke.
How Much Does the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road Cost?
- Car, motorcycle, light vehicle (3.5 tonnes or less) – NZ$2.10
- Heavy vehicle (over 3.5 tonnes) – NZ$5.20.
© Dan Van Nistelrooy on FlickrTakitimu Drive Toll Road (Tauranga)
Takitimu Drive Toll Road speed limit: 80km/h
Also in the Tauranga area, the Takitimu Drive Toll Road, also known as the Route K Toll Road, bypasses Tauranga city centre and takes traffic between State Highway 29 and State Highway 2.
You might want to use this route if going north to Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, west to Hamilton, or south to Rotorua.
Alternative Routes to the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road
The alternative routes to the Takitimu Drive Toll Road in Tauranga are Cameron Road to the west of Takitimu Drive or Cambridge Road or Moffat Road to the east of Takitimu Drive.
How Much Does the Takitimu Drive Toll Road Cost?
- Car, motorcycle, light vehicle (3.5 tonnes or less) – NZ$1.90
- Heavy vehicle (over 3.5 tonnes) – NZ$5.
© UnsplashHow to Pay for a New Zealand Toll Road
You can pay for a toll up to 180 days in advance or up to five days after you have passed a toll. There are three ways to pay for a toll charge in New Zealand:
- Pay online on the NZ Transport Agency website. There’s a pay-as-you-go option or you can set up an account if using the toll roads often
- Pay in person with cash or card over the counter at most gas stations near toll roads. This incurs an extra NZ$1.20 fee for your toll road payment.
- Pay over the phone by calling 0800 40 20 20. This incurs an extra fee of NZ$3.70.
There will be an extra charge of NZ$4.90 for late payments. NZ$40 will be charged if you persist in not paying. To make matters worse, any car rental company will have a fee for processing your late payment, meaning you could be charged up to NZ$80! In conclusion, don’t pay late…
© UnsplashWhat Do You Need to Pay for a Toll Road?
It is very simple to sort out your toll payment in New Zealand. Paying for a toll road in New Zealand only requires a valid vehicle license plate and a payment method, such as a Visa, MasterCard or POLi if paying online.
Alternatively, you can pay with Visa or MasterCard if paying over the phone (which incurs a NZ$3.70 fee).
Finally, you can use cash, credit or debit card if paying over the counter at a service station (which is an added NZ$1.20 fee). That way, it’s easy to pay for a toll road even if you’re driving a rental vehicle.
© NZPocketGuide.comExtra Charges for Using a Toll Road in New Zealand
Take a look at all those extra charges so you can avoid them when using a toll road in New Zealand:
- If paying your toll charge at a service station, be aware that there could be a NZ$1.20 transaction fee
- If you pay for the toll through the NZ Transport Agency’s contact centre (over the phone), there is a NZ$3.70 service fee
- If you fail to pay your toll, there is a NZ$4.90 Toll Payment Notice fee
- If you continue to not pay the toll, you will have to pay NZ$40 for the Infringement Notice
- If you have insufficient funds to pay the toll with your payment method (credit/debit card, for instance) then there will be an extra charge of NZ$20.60
- Toll prices include GST
- There’s no extra charge for caravans or trailers.
© UnsplashA Note About Toll Roads and Car Rentals
Check what your rental company’s toll road agreement is. While some prepay the toll roads for you, other rental companies will charge you an extra fee for using them. Alternatively, some companies offer you the “optional extra” to purchase your toll road fees in advance for around NZ$40! Considering how cheap the toll road actually is, it’s best to double-check if your rental company’s toll road fees are fair.
We mention any companies with extortionate toll road add-on fees in The Best Car Rental Companies in New Zealand. For more car rental advice, check out Renting a Car in New Zealand: The Essential Guide.
More About Toll Roads in New Zealand
That’s it for our complete guide to toll roads in New Zealand but is by no means the end of our toll road advice! For more tips, check out the following:
- The Northern Gateway Toll Road: How to Pay, Alternative Routes + More
- Travel By Car: How to Plan a Road Trip in New Zealand
- How to Drive in New Zealand
Finally, any other road trip tips can be found in How to Create the Perfect New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary and 12 Safe Driving Tips for New Zealand.
