Is touring in a camper van a good way to see New Zealand?

andyarmitage · Testing The Water Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 5

Hi all, we have not been before and just wondered if when we go on holiday would anyone advise on hiring a camper van to travel and get the best out of our visit? We are looking to go for three weeks as we are from the UK and think we need minimum 3 weeks. Any advice on this subject would be really appreciated. Questions we have are when is the best time to go? we were thinking early next year for the weather, is this a good time to go, also where do we get the best flights and how do you get a good deal on an upgrade so you can stretch your legs out and which carrier to use. I'm sure a few people will have seen New Zealand this way but any thoughts on which way to do it will be great. The only trouble is that when we have been i know that we will want to live there and get away from the awful UK. Is there plenty of camp sites where you can pitch the van for the night, if this is a bad way of travelling please tell me as we don't have a clue what to do, and I'm sure there are some lovely hotels there it just seems that there is so much natural beauty to see it would be a shame to not see it all. Anyway any help and experiences woukld be greatly appreciated. Oh I almost forgot which camper van company to use, any links to any helpful sites will be great.
Many thanks in advance as i know there are a lot of helpful people on this forum.

Mr. Green

Andy

eric_amanda · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 1:54 am Post subject:

Hello Andy

These people seem to be good all rounders for accomodation and travel throughout NZ.

http://www.jasons.co.nz

Hope this helps.

Amanda

michelle · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 4:16 am Post subject:

Hi

We hired one in OZ a few years ago, had lots of reservations about it but it turned out to be one of the best holidays. I have to say though that the other accomodation options were limited so it was either camp or nothing !

We hired a Maui 4 berth for the 2 of us, the 2 berth ones seemed too small and also had no air con which was essential in the heat of OZ, it would be worth bearing this in mind depending on the time of year. It had 2 double beds, microwave, fridge, shower and toilet. Remember what goes into the toilet has to be emptied out, this is the worst aspect and is only to be used if you cant face a trek to the toilet block in the middle of the night !

Hooking it up to water and electricity is straightforward. You pay a small fee for a pitch each night.

Campsites do vary, some had excellent clean showers, others were, to put it mildly were awful.

Its not a particluarly cheap option but it is a good experience. We got a picnic table and chairs and many sites have BBQ's, great for sitting out under the stars!

I have never camped before and I don't know if we would do it again, it just suited the location and was a really good fun, except the dreaded toilet tank !

Any more questions, just ask

Shellie

michelle · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 4:29 am Post subject:

Hi again I forgot to answer your other questions.

For good deals on flights try Travelbag, Flight bookers, they all advertise in the sunday papers, Times etc. Ring around and compare. Dont bother with high street chains such as Going places, you rarely get the same deals.

Ask about your camper van, somebody like Travelbag will put together a package although this doesn't always work out the cheapest. You can see who they use and then contact the companies direct and put your own package together. It time consuming but usually worthwhile.

As for upgrades forget it. NEVER ask despite what some people think it just doesn't work. I work for an airline so know most of the tricks and that is one that doesn't work. The only time there are upgrades to be had is if economy is full and business is empty, they may have to do it but the usually go for top tier frequent flyer programme members first. Singapore wont upgrade at all.

BA offer economy extra which is around £400 extra on top of economy, its a slightly bigger seat extra 6 incs leg room but the same service as economy.

There are loads of posts on here about the merits of various airlines, remember its all down to personal experience, what might suit some doesn't suit others.

Shellie

andyarmitage · Testing The Water Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 5

thanks for your advice michelle, i didn't mean ask for an upgrade as my wife worked for british midland for 12 years and i know you don't ask, i meant can you get good deals on tickets in business class etc.

michelle · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

Can she still get discounts because there are a few interline companies doing deals, still not that cheap though. Quite a few do deals for BA economy plus.

Try airline discount for the camper van, you never know!!!

Shellie

jodie · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Andy,

I'd definately recommend campervanning in NZ. We drove around the North Island a few years ago in a (small!) Maui campervan. I managed to get a good deal by hiring one of their 'older' vans over the internet and it ended up about half the price of the brand new ones. Alright, the van LOOKED a bit old and didn't have power steering, but it was perfectly adequate and quite homely actually. (And Darren built up his biceps parking the thing every day Laughing

!!)

The campsites were really well equipped and really cheap (I think it was about £7 - £10 a night if I remember rightly...). The first night we stayed in a site in Pahia and our pitch backed onto this amazing waterfall - lovely to wake up to in the morning. When we stayed in Rotorua, the campsite was right on the bank of Lake Rotorua and we had free use of their canoes and the thermal pools in the campsite too. On the way back up to Auckland from Wellington we stayed in a campsite where you pulled up next to this little hut and you had your own private shower room and loo. (Can't remember exactly where this was tho!) In all the campsites you had free use of the cooking facilities and barbeques and most had games and TV rooms incase you had to check up on the footy scores back home...

All in all I'd definately travel around NZ in a campervan again. You get to meet loads of other travellers at the campsites and can stop on the side of the road whenever you see a picnic spot or good view and have a bite to eat/drink. It's real freedom. (Until you try to park it in Auckland and find you can't get into any multi-storey's or undercover car parks - park at the bottom of Queens Street in the car park near the dolphin trips!)

I think the comment about the toilet should definately be listened to tho - ONLY USE IT IN EMERGENCIES (and only then for number ones!) Yes

Happy campervanning!

Jodie

Lauren · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject: Definately!

Just to add to others tales...
Have been in NZ 2 months, hadn't been here before, hired a 2 berth Maui camper last weekend for 4 days and LOVED it. Live in Christchurch and went over to the West Coast , down to Franz Josef and Fox glacier, across to Lake Wanaka, up to Pukaki and Tekapo then back to Chch via Mount Hutt. Did 1200 kms and saw the most amazing things incl. rainforest, glaciers, snowy mountains, beaches, lakes. You can't come here and not go out in one. There is no traffic in the rural South Island, drove for ages without even passing another car and the scenery is truly amazing. When our visitors come over from the UK are going to make going out in a camper compulsary!!

PS. Our van was new(ish) and had wc/shower, fridge, heater and microwave. Wouldn't have basic model, especially in winter.

kiwi · Valued Member Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 126

Hi,

we live here too, but one year we flew to wellington and took a pacific horizon van for 5 days up to Hamilton and back via Rotorua. Went in Sept and it rained non stop..arrgh! But my only tip would be to check that there is a gas option for the heating and fridge, if it is just electric then you have to be in a campsite, unless you want your fridge to be off all night. Because of this we could stop anywhere and not freeze to death cos the heater ran off a gas cylinder as well as electric. Not all of the company's have this gas option (I dont think maui do) so it limits you to where you can stop for the night...maybe...depends how cold it is and what time of year and if you dont mind your fridge not running....

There are also one way returns, for $1 a day where you take a camper back to Auckland from say Queenstown, and all you pay is the diesal and the people fare on the ferry (about $30?). It is a cheap whey to see the country. They dont give you very long to get it back (about 5 days) but always an option. All the companies do it, and you will have to get in touch with them to see if they have any people dumping a van somewhere that needs returning, they dont advertise.

The other thing (I guess I have more than one tip!!) is the high season is hugely more expensive than the low season..but our weather is crappest in the high season!! Autumn..early...say Mar-beginning may, is still warmish, and also sept/oct can be warm (this is where you need a gas heater! in case it snows!) but it saves you a bunch of money.

It is the BEST experience...and I dont do camping...this is the lowest I will go! and the supermarkets etc have large carparks for all the vans and everyone waves,.....cos it is only tourists in them usually..and we want to look a friendly bunch!

have fun, send us a post card
Nicky

andyarmitage · Testing The Water Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 5

Thanks for all your replies, at first there was a lack of replies so i thought this wasn't the way to see New Zealand, but your stories have helped, thanks.

justin.g.s · Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:12 am Post subject:

Thought I'd jump in here real quick. I just took a ten day trip with a camper van and it is a great way to travel, wife can hop up get the kids a snack with out pulling over

The only down side was the gas, these things get horrible mileage, so factor that into your budget.

The other argument against this is that hotels are abundant, and most(from what I have read) have kitchens and showers.

I read another post where someone did it both ways, by car and hotels vs a campervan, and saved money going the hotel route

Me personally, I love to camp. And I assume you are going to see new zealands great out doors.

aurora · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:40 am Post subject:

Every second vehicle on the highways here seems to be a campervan.

When I'm hitch hiking, if I see a campervan coming my way I don't even bother sticking my thumb out - they never pick you up!

But, er, yeah ... they look like a great way to travel around in.

susanlin · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:12 pm Post subject: campervan

Hi

Fantastic way to see NZ! We toured North and South islands this time last year - that holiday changed my life! Now living in ChCh.

The best campsites were 'TopTen' (look at website) Very impressed with quality and amenities.

sue

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:06 pm Post subject:

When I first came to NZ I hired a car with a friend and we used youth hostels and backpakers we also had a rtent just in case. If you are selective about where you stay and time is not a worry its a great cheap way to get around NZ.....but not with young kiddies in tow unless they are outdoor types!

Robert · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 11:11 pm Post subject:

We have never been in a campervan. We looked into it and found that motels were cheaper (especially for the larger family) and we were concerned about not having a separate car.

I suspect that last point is somewhat irrelevant given the very small size of most places here but would appreciate comment from those more in the know!