Early transport in New Zealand was mostly on water – by canoe and sailing vessel, and later by steamship. On land, people walked, rode horses, or used them to pull vehicles. Later, steam dominated, and then the internal combustion engine was developed, opening the way for motor transport and aviation.

The history of travel in New Zealand evolved from sea-based navigation to a rugged land-based network. The indigenous Māori primarily traveled by water in large waka (canoes) or on foot via a complex system of "greenstone trails" across the bush. Following European arrival in the 18th and 19th centuries, travel was dominated by coastal steamships due to the islands' mountainous terrain. It wasn't until the mid-to-late 19th century that the "Main Trunk" railway and horse-drawn coaches began to link major settlements. By the 20th century, the advent of the car and the creation of "State Highways" transformed the country into a road-tripper's paradise, while the post-WWII introduction of commercial aviation finally bridged the gap between the isolated remote regions and the world.