[vixxann]

We are soon to be travelling North Island in a camper van. The two of us supposedly grown up people and three kiddies (one of whom thinks he's a grown up type)

We'll probably be using campsites a lot, although we may throw in a night or two of WILD camping if its appropriate. With five of us in a 6berth camper I think we'll be needing the shower and toilet facilities of campsites on a fairly regular basis ;)

How do the NZ sites compare to average UK site? Do they normally charge to use showers? Are the pitches of good size? Can you normally just turn up without booking?

I've already joined the Top Ten group and got my membership stuff through - from what I can see everywhere looks to have pretty good facilities, playgrounds for kids, BBQs etc.

And a specific question -we want to look around Wellington for a day or two before we take the camper over on the ferry (down as far as Christchurch)- Where near Wellington is nice to stay? I've heard the Lower Hutt Top Ten site is a little "industrial" but I cannot find any other sites handy for Wellington.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give :D

[KerryS]

None of the campsites I've been to charge for use of the showers or facilities - this is included as part of the fee.
No idea about pitch size either, as the ones I've been too don't have designated pitches as such, you just turn up and put your tent (caravan, campervan or whatever) where you like and grab your little spot.
We camp with a group of friends and tend to put our tents together so we have a big communal space between us where we can all sit and chill out at meal times.
I guess you'd need to book in peak season, and your trip does coincide with Easter and school holidays, so it may well be advisable.
I can't help on the Wellington question sorry.

[vixxann]

[QUOTE=KerryS;119677]
I guess you'd need to book in peak season, and your trip does coincide with Easter and school holidays, so it may well be advisable.
QUOTE]

We have the camper up until day before Good Friday - So I think we might miss the school holiday times?

[Angie and Mick]

Hi

The Top Ten sites we stayed at where very well equipped. The sites we stayed at did give us a pitch site no. If you know which site you will be going to first you could always email them and check if you need to book in advance, we found the only ones it was recommended to book in advance with were Queenstown, Picton, Franz Josephs. As you are in North Island I am not sure re booking but we had no problems during begin December.

If you find a site with the jumping pillows they are good fun. Most sites also have trampolines.

Enjoy your trip.

[Jim&Karen]

We travelled around both islands during our recci trip in Nov/Dec 06 ask away

regards

karen

[nippa&pippa]

We stayed at wellington's at lower hutt as nearer campsite to port after arrived from SI at late afternoon...kids were hungry...
Very nice and clean, right under flight path :laugh , if plan to stay there, book ahead if i was you..we did and glad we did as only two places left when we rang .The place was full booked within an hour after we arrived :yes If fail to get pitch, you can use their motel or go further out of wellington for next campsite.
Most of campsites we went, they gave us pitch numbers and tell us where it is. Only few we went, we just pick the site (pancake rock's, hasst's, lake wanaka and one in NI)

[Mal]

You will generally find that campsites are pretty good quality, we travelled around for 3 months last year and came across maybe 2 or 3 rough ones. Top 10 ones will always be up to a good standard. We travelled from Sep to early Dec and never had to book.

The Wellington Top 10 is right in the centre of a picturesque industrial heartland, unfortunately it's the only option. The site itself is OK though.

Re 'wild camping', the DOC maintains loads of campsites which are usually in stunning isolated locations. They are mostly un-manned, with an 'honesty box' for the nominal camp site fees. Usually they have a pit toilet, and not much else, but some of our best nights were at DOC sites. They are often marked on road atlases and you can get a list of locations and more info here: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/ByRegionLanding.aspx?id=37039

[vixxann]

some of our best nights were at DOC sites. They are often marked on road atlases and you can get a list of locations and more info here: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/ByRegionLanding.aspx?id=37039

thanks for that will take a look

otherwise sounds like we'll be paying a few visits to various Top ten sites - have seen pictures of the jumping pillows and my 10yr old talks of nothing else now - honestly :roll - we're going to New Zealand cos' they have big air pillows you can jump on!

[vixxann]

A campervan related question to those that have done it before..

I've read a few reports about thefts from vans - apart from obvious things like not leaving valuables on show, what can we do to try and prevent this? (and is it quite common?) Am a little worried as we'll have things like passports, money, camera, video (possibly my laptop) etc.

[vixxann]

bump ..
anyone with any advice? ...

[speckythecky]

We have never had any problems in UK with theft from campervan but we take the usual precautions. Nothing in view, where possible take valuables with you

make sure doors and windows are locked properly, particularly if you have louvre windows. My sink / cooker has a wooden cover that you lift up in order to use them, This covers my louvre windows, so if I am going out I leave the cover up, you can leave the curtains closed but IMHO this makes it look like you are trying to hide something.

[wobbler]

We finished doing this and never had an issue or even felt there was a likely problem. Be sensible, either take your important items with you when you go out or ask the campsite office to put them somewhere safe. We decided not let the possibility of such unpleasantness interfere with our trip!

[marcia]

Do you know if your camper has a safe? Ours had a safe under one of the seats. Or if you are at a camp site I'm sure reception would have somewhere you can ask them to keep passports etc for you, otherwise would advise splitting your money up and carrying passports in a bum bag around with you - better safe than sorry!

Enjoy your trip and don't whatever you do,FORGET, the one most important thing when you arrive back...............................






















POST SOME PICCIES!!!!!! :laugh

[vixxann]

OK Marcia :D I promise to figure it out and put some on - you've got a four week wait from now though ;)

As for camper - sensible precautions obviously but doesn't sound like its common to have a lot of trouble over there. Unlike in Europe when its been known for vans to get broken into whilst you sleep during night - they squirt in some kind of gas to knock you out and when you wake up in the morning everythings gone:mad:

Anyway - I'm thinking positive and hopefully we'll have no trouble
three more days and here we come:exit

[Moorf]

Vixxan, was it you that was asking about motorhome/campsites in Chch? I can't find the post I saw the other day.

Just wanted to suggest the South Brighton motor camp, run by our friends Dom and Lyn, a great Brit couple. It's not central but it's steps to the beach and estuary looking across to Redcliffs/Sumner.

It's a lovely site, you wouldn't feel like you were in a city at all.... :nice1

http://www.southbrightonmotorcamp.co.nz/

[vixxann]

Vixxan, was it you that was asking about motorhome/campsites in Chch?

nope sorry - not me
we have a camper from Auckland to Christchurch but then swap for a car and a holiday home ;)

[Riddley]

A campervan related question to those that have done it before..

I've read a few reports about thefts from vans - apart from obvious things like not leaving valuables on show, what can we do to try and prevent this? (and is it quite common?) Am a little worried as we'll have things like passports, money, camera, video (possibly my laptop) etc.

Hi again Vixxann. We did it last year and had no problems at all: I figured: what the hell - it's all insured: just made sure as you said it wasn't on show.
There were lots of storage cupboards so stuff was easy to stow away. I had one of those attractive bum bag things and took that with us with passports etc in as I figured that was the biggest problem in case of theft. Have a fab time - recommend Lake Taupo Top 10 campsite. All the Top 10 sites we used were brilliant espec if you have kids. Exciting stuff.