The Future of Car Travel

”Driving a vehicle is too dangerous for humans and will be outlawed when autonomous cars are proven to be safer”, claims Elon Musk, billionaire founder of electric car company Tesla. Despite the hype about driverless vehicles,  experts say that it would take 20 to 30 years before they could co-exist with existing vehicles in cities.

However it is predicted that technology will take over from drivers in simpler situations such as traffic jams and parking within the next five years. Yes, in 2020 your new car will know how to park itself!

The future of car travel is not just about security and convenience, it’s also about saving time. Going driverless will also give us the opportunity to do something else while on the road. Cars will become communal living rooms on wheels.

The Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion

The concept design for the F 015 Luxury in Motion by Mercedes-Benz features a large interior space, finished in walnut, glass, leather and aluminium, along with four individual lounge chairs.

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Selecting a manual mode would prompt a steering wheel to emerge from the dashboard, while the driver and passenger seats turn automatically to face the direction of travel. Sounds cool, uh? Patience, patience, it’s still a prototype.

French manufacturer Peugeot also has an exciting vision for the future.  Peugeot Moovie, an environmentally friendly city car that looks very different from the norm…  It’s made of  foam,  plastics, steel, polycarbonate and plexiglas amongst others… But it’s not operational yet, don’t get too excited!Peugeot-Moovie-Concept-Car-1280x960-desktopia.net

But do you know what the real next step is? No roads at all!  Yes you hear me, why drive when you can fly? A few companies are already working on the concept of flying cars and have came up with prototypes.  Terrafugia is hoping to have flying cars within the next ten years! Check out their video here.  We wouldn’t mind relocating this car!

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Crazy about rugby but gonna be on the road? No panic, we’ve got you sorted!

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To the rugby fans out there, we have some real good news: You can be on the road AND follow the Rugby World Cup 2015, so there’s no reason to stop relocating cars 🙂

Here’s our guide to watching the games while on the road,  and the best pubs for some rugby action in the main cities of New Zealand.

WATCH THEM ONLINE

You have a mobile phone plan with data, and don’t want to leave that comfy campa bed? Great, you can watch the games from anywhere directly on your smartphone screen! All you have to do is get the  Fan Pass app from Sky TV. It’s free to download for Apple and Android devices and lets you pay a daily ($15) or weekly ($20) rate to access the Sky Sport channels 1 to 4.

Just make sure there is enough signal where you are, or try to connect to a free wifi hot spot to save data.

It’s also possible to use ITV to watch the games, check out the details here. 

You can also download the official All Blacks app (Apple and Android, free) which has some exciting features including news, player information, statistics, and videos. We also recommend downloading the Official Rugby World Cup 2015 app (Apple and Android, free).

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IN AUCKLAND

Neighbourhood Bar, Kingsland
Good breakfasts, and so very close to Eden Park! Even though our players are on the other side of the globe, being in front of their favourite stadium will help you feel closer to them!

O’Hagans Irish Bar and the Fox,  Viaduct Harbour, Central  City
O’Hagans bar is like a little slice of Ireland on the waterfront in Auckland, and the Fox probably has the best atmosphere in Auckland of all the sports bars we’ve been to!  Look forward to those hearty breakfasts and perhaps a cheeky morning pint as well…If you’re going to be in Auckland central, definitely check out those two options.

It’s a spacious, light-filled venue with a big screen and delicious pub food and great coffees. We reckon it’s one of the best places to watch the games on the Shore.

IN WELLINGTON

HD projectors and big screens, so there won’t be any bad seat in this pub. Breakfast specials from only $10… If you’re going to be in Welly, One Fat Bird is an obvious good choice!
One of the busiest pubs in Wellington,  centrally located on Victoria Street, this one will be packed during the All Blacks games!
IN CHRISTCHURCH

Big screen, great beer, and daily drink and food specials.

The Fox & Ferret
Lively atmosphere and a dance floor, so be ready to shake that booty as early as 7 am!

IN QUEENSTOWN

Pog Mahones
The home of live sport in Queenstown, this pub is an institution. Don’t miss it if you visit the Southern Lakes!

IN DUNEDIN

The Terrace Sports Bar
They claim to have the largest TV screen in Dunedin,  it’s the premier sports bar in the city. Great fun guaranteed.

Car relocation + one-way flight = great return trip!

Combining a free relocation car with a cheap one-way flight is the way to go if you want to save both time and money!

The good news for car relocators is that Jetstar has just announced  that it’s now going to fly from Auckland to Napier, Nelson, Palmerston North and New Plymouth! The new competition between Air New Zealand and Jetstar airlines – previously restricted to the destinations of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown – will bring air fares down for a range of regional destinations, including Nelson-Wellington flights which will follow early next year.

So what does this mean to you? It means you can now easily book our relocations from the regional cities to Auckland such as for instance Napier to Auckland or Palmerston North to Auckland! Grab a cheap flight to get there and come back with a free rental!
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We recommend that you check our website regularly and subscribe to our email alerts for your favourite routes and combine this with an airfare sale for a truly cheap and fast return trip.

 

 

Queenstown for non-skiers

Queenstown might be a winter paradise for skiers and boarders, but there’s plenty to do if you don’t feel like swishing down the slopes. The region is also renowned as the ”adventure capital of the world” and for its great party scene, but those who aren’t in their 20’s anymore can also enjoy soft adventures and wonderful pinot noir. Here’s our selection of some of the best things that non-skiers can do:

Funyak Safaris on the Dart River

Combine wilderness jet boating with unique Funyak inflatable canoes for a fun way to explore the Dart River as well as hidden side streams, rock pools and dramatic chasms. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of this stunning area at your own pace as you float downstream on sparkling water, then enjoy a wilderness picnic lunch before heading past ‘Paradise’ and on to Glenorchy. Then travel a back-country route passing by locations used in movies to illustrate Middle Earth.

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A visit to the goldmining city of Arrowtown

A scenic 20-minute drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown is a must-do. This historic goldmining town looks like it came right out of America’s Wild West. It  has charming cottages, offers a cute local museum and the opportunity to pan for gold in the nearby Arrow river.  There’s also some  fine food (try award-winning Saffron), and beautiful galleries.

 Sample some great wines in Bannockburn

Central Otago is the place to when it comes to New Zealand’s famous pinot noir, and our favourite terroir has to be the scenic Bannockburn area, home to several top wineries, including Carrick and Mt Difficulty. It’s very easy to get from one winery to the next so you can actually swallow the wines that you’re tasting 🙂 The food is also wonderful.

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Cruise aboard a Steamship 

A cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the iconic steamship the TSS Earnslaw is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s famed scenic beauty. The leisurely 90 minute cruise across the lake showcases some of the region’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of the city’s living history – the 100 year old TSS Earnslaw.

The list really goes on… Queenstown has SO much to offer that a week won’t be enough and you’ll want to come back. The good news is that Transfercar has a lot of car relocations going to and from Queenstown so make the most of it!

Photos by Pascal Languillon except Steamship by Real Journeys.

The World’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads

We’ve traversed the earth to bring you ten of the most scary, interesting, beautiful and down right dangerous roads on the planet. Thanks to our research and the awesome powers of the internet you can relax and explore these places from the safety of your own couch. Enjoy the ride.

Zojila Pass, India

zojila Pass, India

If you can make this pass through the blustering winds and heavy snowfalls, we salute you. But watch out for the sheep! Even when the sun is shining on your curry-stuffed belly, the roads are ridiculously narrow with barrier-free steep drops. Consider some hard-core meditation (or medication) to keep you relaxed for this ride.

Source: http://bit.ly/1c6QLGB

Atlanterhavsveien (Atlantic Ocean Road), Norway

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In Norway, known for its pickled Herring, this particular drive will have you rethinking dining before hitting the road. While it looks rather treacherous in bad weather conditions, Atlanterhavsveien is one of the most beautiful roads to travel in the world, with epic curves that can rival those of the top Scandinavian models.

Source: http://bit.ly/1zT4Txn

Podgorica–Kolašin, Montenegro

Podgorica–Kolašin, Montenegro

Say hello to Montenegro and to a white-knuckle ride of a lifetime while driving along the Podgorica–Kolašin road through the Morača Canyon!  Riddled with countless cliff-side bends and tunnels, this road is basically out to get you, but if you survive you’ll be blown away by the beauty of the landscape that surrounds you. Good luck (you’ll need it)!

Source: http://bit.ly/1wBdrI5

Halsema Highway, Philippines

Halsema Highway, Philippines

Known as the highest of all highways in the Philippines, the Halsema Highway takes a whopping six hours to traverse so bring some light reading or some serious sleeping pills. Its bark is worse than its bite: it’s got a relatively low number of deaths considering its extreme altitude and zigzag design.

Source: http://bit.ly/1rbu6kO

Guoliang Tunnel, China

Guoliang Tunnel, China

Fancy a ride through a tunnel that looks like it was handmade?! Well we’ve got one for you. This beaute is a mere 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide, and was built by villagers in 1972. Many of the Guoliangers died during its five-year construction, and judging by the incline, can you guess how?

Source: http://bit.ly/1GLEXWm

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy

We bet you’ll be saying a massive “Grazie” once you’ve made it to the other side of Italy’s Stelvio Pass! At 9045 feet, this road is the second highest paved mountain pass in the Alps, but it’s the most dangerous.

Source: http://bit.ly/1x12uhE

Dades Gorge Road, Morocco

Dades Gorge Road, Morocco

This snake-like road can be found up in the High Atlas Mountains at the edge of the Sahara Desert. You may be able to beat the heat of the Sahara but can you handle driving along the 1600 ft cliffs and weaving through 30 ft fissures?

Source: http://bit.ly/1ClIISG

Skippers Canyon, New Zealand

Said to be as scary as it is beautiful, this 22km long scenic gorge, just a short drive north of Queenstown is a mostly one-way, narrow route featuring epic vistas as well as neck-breaking drops of several hundred meters. Known as one of New Zealand’s most scenic roads, some rental car insurance companies don’t feel the same love as the Kiwis do and won’t cover you on this trip! If you have problems you can find a Public liability insurance online by clicking the link.

Source: http://bit.ly/1wcIjcK

James Dalton Highway, Alaska

James Dalton Highway, Alaska

This 414-mile gravel road heads straight through arctic tundra to the farthest north reaches of Alaska. It may look like a Winter Wonderland, but it’s not a road for the faint of heart, or those of you who cherish your car! As it’s the main supply route for the Prudhoe Bay oilfields,you’ll be sharing the road with mammoth tractor-trailers kicking up rocks. Kiss your windshields and headlights goodbye!

Source: http://bit.ly/1JFK3pw

The Highway of Death, Bolivia

The Highway of Death, Bolivia

Remember that song ‘Life is Highway’? Well, it really is when we’re talking about the La Paz ‘Highway of Death’ that leads from Bolivia into the Amazon. Formerly known as the ‘World’s Most Dangerous Road’, this death-defying 38 mile long trip comes with no misnomer: an estimated 200-300 unlucky travelers die annually attempting this infamous route.

Source: http://bit.ly/1E0pOTa

Need a rental car this summer, check out our home page to see our  available vehicles – just promise us you wont take any of these routes!