AS far as i know . 1 . You don ' t need visa for 90 days , well more in that you are automatically given a 90 day tourist visa when you arrive . so that covers question 2 as well . Its a reciprocal agreement NZ has with the US . 3 . Yes you need a return ticket . its part of the requirements for being issued the above visa . 4 . Yep you can drive on a foreign licence if the licence is issued in particular countries , you should check up on that but i imagine the US would be covered . Rent a car , the population of New Zealand is very small so public transport sucks outside of major towns and even the services in major towns leave alot to be desired . Plus you can explore at your own pace . Queenstown is a great place to start particularity if you arrive in Jan . and work your way up . Hope you enjoy your time here !