A long road trip across both islands is basically the ultimate way to spend a family vacation. The left side traffic takes a little bit of focus at first, but the highways are super well maintained and easy to follow. You can just rent a car in New Zealand here: https://getrentacar.com/en-US/new-zealand . The website lets you filter by vehicle size so you can comfortably fit all the luggage for the whole group. A spacious SUV makes those longer drives between cities much more comfortable for the kids in the back.
A trip across the globe with the whole family is a huge move that will definitely pay off with some amazing photos. The landscape down there looks completely different from anything we have back stateside. You should definitely spend a few days exploring Rotorua to see all the geothermal springs and geysers up close. Hobbiton is another massive draw if you guys are into the movies, the set design alone makes the drive totally worth it. The local rental companies often have older fleets, but they usually charge way less for the exact same vehicle classes as the big corporate guys. Just make sure you don't drive off the lot without checking the tire tread and overall condition.
My family and I are flying out to hit the beaches in New Zealand this year. We just wanted to travel somewhere totally new and pretty far from home for our summer vacation. Sitting on the sand all day gets boring after a while, so we definitely want to drive around both islands and check out the local sights. We're wondering if it's better to look at those massive international rental agencies or go with local companies. I also need some solid recommendations on what we absolutely must visit while we are down there.