[Yogi]

Hi,

I saw lots of camper vans in NZ but was wondering if people commonly camp in tents there or have touring caravans (ie the sort you put behind a car)?

Cheers,

Yogi.

[StevieD]

I think it is a mixture of both Yogi, I will be doing the tent variety, but wouldn't say no to a motorhome tour :)

[mossum]

hi ,

we are of the tent variety too .

My brother (who is a kiwi ) also tents - but he by no way roughs it - he always has a site with power & takes electric appliances galore - including a tv & a fridge !!!! Usually DH & I make do with books , scrabble & yatzee (sp) .
We like the chalenge of cooking on 1 x gas ring - thats what camping is all about to me - although my brother insists we are "primative " :)

vic

[StevieD]

Just wouldn't be camping with all the appliances, but imagine once you go down that path there is no turning back - must admit we use a 2 ring burner ourselves, but with 2 kids as well you can see why. But the standard of NZ campsites is far superior to some of our own offerings here, or so reports tell me :)

Can't wait myself.

[sizzlingbadger]

Just wait until you see the kiwis go camping :D I think some of them even manage to take the kitchen sink with them.

No end of campsites, from DOC to Top 10 (a bit like Eurocamping in France). DOC are really cheap around $10 mark, some less some more. They do usually only have a toilet on site though. Whereas the Top 10 have every facility under the sun but costs more.

Haven't fully looked into it yet, we're toying with the idea of getting a tent but I'm not so sure I'm up for staying in one, think I prefer a bach/motel any day :D

[Diny]

There's not many touring caravans over here. You do see them, but certainly not to the extent of back in the UK.
They cost a fortune out here, even the oldest crappiest ones go for $3000+. Now there's a money spinning idea, import cheapo caravans from UK and sell them at extortionate prices over here (and fill them with 2nd hand matresses at the same time - you'd make a killing. However I digress).

We've travelled from Bluff To Reinga and practically everywhere in between over the years and have camped and have also had the luxury of a motor home. The camp sites over here are wonderful, fully eqquiped with EVERYTHING you could possibly require. Naturally the motorhome would be my accommodation of choice, but if you get the weather then camping can be great. No need to take all your mod-con cooking stuff with you, each site comes with an all singing all dancing guests kitchen !!!

Diny

[kiwidebs]

We recently splashed out and bought a two room dome tent. We plan on camping next summer (I'm a fair weather camping girl). My brother and his mates all go camping around Xmas/New Year every year - apparantly he and his girlfriend are called the 'guchi campers' cos they have every camping modcon going. We're just going to borrow from them (why buy if you don't have to)? Some of my relatives have buses that they've converted into campers - it seems to be a popular option over here.

Happy Camping
Debs

[mossum]

DH would be very happy never to see another caravan in his life !!! :p

He works for Lunar caravans here in sunny lancashire - he puts in all the cabinetry .They sometimes do 25 vans a day !!!! The sides get wrapped on later . Am trying to convince him to do similar job when we get to NZ but so far he's resisting .

vic x

[veronica]

mossum, wait til he gets here and sees the "truck houses", he may be tempted to go into business himself making them.

[mossum]

LOL !! we saw one advertised .........

It looked like gypsy rosa's fortune telling booth - on the back of a geriatric truck & it was $130000 !!!!!

vic x :p

[Yogi]

Are tents/camping gear cheaper or more expensive in NZ?

Would appreciate links if anyone knows online vendors for such in NZ.

Cheers,

Yogi.

[StevieD]

There was one of those truck things on Globetrekker the other day, very Romany looking.
Don't think it would be my cup of tea though...

[Smiler]

Yogi

I have found these links

http://www.kiwicampingcentre.co.nz/main.cfm?id=1

http://www.greencoast.co.nz/home.cfm

gives you some idea of prices

The warehouse also do camping stuff, but not online

[driver]

We took a chance and bought a tent last weekend, we'd wanted it last year but everyone had sold out.

http://www.wmcamping.co.uk/royal1.php
Its the Montpelier 12 at the bottom. The tents on your links look really lovely smiler, but quite a lot of money. I can see though that they are made of possibly sturdier material than the one we've just bought.

We were looking in particular for one which folds up small, has small poles and therefore is able to be stored in a small trailer or the boot for transport.
We got 10% discount off this price and i tried to knock him down some more after that. He only gave me another £4 off but i felt like i'd achieved something out of it anyway.

[sweetpea]

Just wait until you see the kiwis go camping :D I think some of them even manage to take the kitchen sink with them.

No kidding! Many of the tents I saw were bigger than apartments I've lived in.

Here's another outdoor gear store, in the REI/EMS vein: http://kathmandu.co.nz/

[Smiler]

Sweetpea

Thank you, that store was on the tip of my tongue. For the life of me I couldn't remember their name. :nice1:nice1

They have little baby tents in the windows. ;) Cute.

[StevieD]

I can tell the camping season is close because I have became an outdoor guy all of a sudden. Getting all the kit ready, checking and rechecking, deciding what to "leave behind" because the new tent is twice the size of the old (looks like the kids have lost out lol :laugh ). The thought of total relaxation, away from phones, tv's etc. certainly does have it's appeal.
Best part is, Jan the OH, is a total comfort freak, and when camping was mentioned to her a few years ago she first of all pulled a funny face then laughed!
Now, she is as keen as any. OK, fair weather camping, but she likes the freedom and simplicity of it all. Nobody was more shocked than me :laugh

Just can't wait to try out those NZ campsites now :nice1