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Quote: Originally posted by allengenealogy on 19/3/2009

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Got this reply today from my son:-

I'll have a look when I get time. You can check www.britz.co.nz or www.kea.co.nz or www.maui.co.nz or even www.backpackercampervans.co.nz and you should be able to put in NZ as your country of origin.

Would be interesting to see what prices you get if you were in N.Z.  Certainly Bluebridge is cheaper than the Interislander Ferry ( you can check both ferries online).  Dont know about the GPS as there are so few roads in N.Z. it is hard to get lost, however if you do go wrong it is probably a long way back!!!

 

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Britz and Kia are both part of Maui and even use the same depots.

Experience of our tour with 20 motorhomes showed that it was all to easy to get lost, especially in the large cities like Auckland. On the final drive through Auckland from the campsite to hand our vans back, we left after the tour escort, and had handed our van over and completed the check-in procedure before he turned up.

Also while there are few roads, it is great to be the passenger and relax, put the map away and watch the scenery, and let the sat nav find the turn off to the right in 15 miles.

It was also useful to have the destination time displayed on the sat nav. When one wants as much time during the day to sightsee, the sat nav enabled us to keep a check of time so that we could get to the campsite at a reasonable time.

Why not use a sat nav when the maps for New Zealand are free?

Also we found the sat nav invaluable for finding the nearest supermarket to the campsite instead of having to ask directions each time.

Quote: Originally posted by allengenealogy on 19/3/2009

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Got this reply today from my son:-

 

 

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Many thanks Marz.

Will check these out later.  Please say thank you to your son for his time and effort.

Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 19/3/2009

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Britz and Kia are both etc

Post last edited on 19/03/2009 10:49:28

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Oxter

Sorry to be so long getting back to you.   Looks like the pricing is good as my son sent this reply this morning.

That quote is from http://www.happycampers.co.nz and is the same price as I get here! There is a cheaper van that actually has more space and 2 beds that would maybe work better but looks like the quote is right!
 
Let me know if you still want to look at cheaper options as they are available but not with as nice a van?
 

Hi, not sure about campervans, but for hire cars they generally don't let them go across on the ferries, you go by foot and get another car on the other side.

The only other advice I'd give is try to get longer than a month if you can, it's worth it.  We didn't really have any bad sites there, but Glentanner Park was one of our favourites, partially because we had good weather and great views of Mount Cook. 

Hope you have a fantastic trip.

Quote: Originally posted by oxter on 16/3/2009

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Thanks for that Andyains.

I am greatly encouraged - Certainly intend to cover both Islands and Rotorua is on the list.  I read about "rough"camping and we may do a bit of that as well (us Scots are canny with our money!)

Just been looking at the Rough Guide.  We are as rough as they come!

 

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Just seen this - you might want to check out the Department of Conservation website for rough camping. 

We did the Routeburn and Greenstone tracks as a circular route from Queenstown, took our backpacking tent, preferred camping to sleeping in the huts;  also took the tent around Nelson Lakes and somewhere around Coromandel, can't remember the name of the track. 

We also did three private (ie, non DOC) walks:  Kaikoura Coast Track, Catlins Top Track, and Humpridge Track (didn't camp for these). 

One of the most famous walks in NZ is the Tongariro Northern Circuit, which is a four day walk, but most people do the wonderful Tongariro crossing - it's worth avoiding this at weekends as it can get very busy. 

With regard to campsites, most have cooking facilities and microwaves, great for tenters.  One of the more basic ones, which nevertheless was one of our favourites, was at Curio Bay in the Catlins. 

Hope this helps.

Fudge

Quote: Originally posted by allengenealogy on 25/3/2009

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Oxter

Sorry to be so long getting back to you.   Looks like the pricing is good as my son sent this reply this morning.

That quote is from http://www.happycampers.co.nz and is the same price as I get here! There is a cheaper van that actually has more space and 2 beds that would maybe work better but looks like the quote is right!
 
Let me know if you still want to look at cheaper options as they are available but not with as nice a van?
 

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Thanks again

I also saw the cheaper options but we thought the one I quoted was as basic as we wanted to go.  We have now decided to go in October/November 2010 so all the above will be put to good use in due course.

Quote: Originally posted by Fudge59 on 25/3/2009

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Just seen this - you might want to check out the Department of Conservation website for rough camping. 

etc etc

 

Fudge

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Fudge

I really appreciate the links, and links within links you have supplied.  That will keep me going for a while! I've postponed the trip till late next year but these (and the others) will be of immense help.

Thanks to you all

I am now sorted out with an exchange - They use my outfit over here and I use their campervan in N/Z  - All dates to suit exchangers.  This has worked for lots of people and is an inexpensive way of seeing the country.

I know of another couple with a campervan - a very nice large 2 berth  one by the look of it.  If anyone else is interested in this type of exchange I will pass on the information and you can e-mail the owners.