[nd293]

Hi,

We will be going to NZ next year, around October, to "activate" our Residence Visa (although we won't settle there for another year after that). Because we will have a new baby with us, as well as our existing hotel-trained 6 yrs old, I have been thinking that a campervan / motorhome will be a practical way to travel - comfort for the baby, and not so much paraphenalia to lug in and out of cars and hotels. We did that years ago with a 1 yr old, and it was not an experience we'd like to repeat!

My main concern, though, is that a 4 sleeper campervan (the one we will need due to seatbelt availability for the car seats) will be too large to manouvre easily in built up areas.

Has anyone travelled this way? What were your experiences? Were you still able to visit places of interest within cities and towns, or would a campervan of this size effectively limit us to open roads, coast and countryside?

Any input appreciated...

Nikki

[Oregonkiwi]

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of rural roads in NZ are very narrow or steep or winding or gravel (or all 4!) and so that might limit where you could go with a big campervan.

[Anita & Marco]

Hi,

Just returned from a trip in a 6-birth campervan around the South Island - no problem with travelling at all! Although of course we did not do the cities (which cities on S.I.?)

Cheers,
Anita

[JohnandCathy]

Hi,

I think travelling in a campervan is a great option when with children. I don't have any myself, but I work for a Travel Agent in in the UK and it tends to be the trend in NZ for the exact reasons you mentioned. It so much easier when you don't have to pack and unpack. You have so much more flexibility, to stop when you feel like it without having to book rooms in advance. You can self cater and get picnic table/chairs with the hire so when the kids are asleep you can have your own time without having the limitations of a hotel room.

The campsites in NZ are fantastic and can range from DOC sites with nothing more than a BBQ pit and running water to sites with all the facilities, ie Games rooms, swimming pool, Kitchen, Showers, laundry etc. October time won't be as busy as Dec/Jan so no need to pre-book the sites you can just turn up, have a look at Top 10 Holiday Parks a chain in NZ.

South Island may be a little harder to drive due to high mountain passes and windng roads, but just take it easy, there's plenty of people travelling in Motorhomes so you won't be the only ones.

I hope this helps,

Cathy

[NoelMC]

I wouldn't have any reservations about using a campervan in NZ, every second vehicle we saw on both our trips to south island was a camper.

Noel

[nippa&pippa]

Well we took then 9 weeks old baby and 2 years old child with us for visit in april, and we hired campervan for three weeks....
From our experiences as we have also stayed in motel in october for a week before found the place to rent, do campervan rather than motels as it is fun and easier as you just take van everywhere you go, and the van is near you instead of hotel for baby's need, like feeding, nap, chaning nappy etc, no need to repack and unpack how many times!....lots easier, there is laundry factilities every camp sites, children under 5 in most campsite are free. Only problem is, you didn't said how old your baby will be?, car seats, you were right, we got away by put our 2 years at the back with hire car seat suit his age with me, then put our baby's rear facing car seat at the front seat with my dh cos the back seat have lap belt type, won't work with rear facing seat. We had lots of laugh and fun of trying to finding our way with map reading from back seats!!!! We also had fanastic time...bring few extra blankets and sheets for baby as some night is very cold compare with UK.

Any more questions, feel free to PM me

[nd293]

Thanks for the replies to my questions on hiring a campervan in NZ.

Can't say I'm happy about the seatbelt details (would prefer everyone in shoulder belts), but apart from that, it sounds like we would manage with a 4 berth. We plan on travelling mainly on the N Island, and then down as far as Christchurch.

Still 10 months away, but I am getting excited already, and know the time will go quickly, especially with a new baby arriving Feb.

Thanks again,

Nikki