New Zealand or Bust

[funflair]

As you say jongood there are some interesting campers out here

And,

After a bit of a climb a good but hazy view back to where we came from, I did feel sorry for the poor cyclists pushing their heavily laden bikes and briefly wondering if we could fit them in, apologies to them but we couldn’t/didn't.

 

[funflair]

They say if you have to work for something you appreciate it more, we fancied going to Cathedral cove, water taxi from Hahei £20 each way two people, I am a Yorkshire man but will spend money if I have to but talking to a couple of people they said better to walk it so we did and that’s where the hard work came in but worth it,

I will get in before anybody else does “she’s strong”

We saved $80 by walking so our $55 campsite is free there are a few freedom spots around but limited space and time restrictions and this has showers so why not and we are still €15 in profit if you forget two coffees and two ice creams

 

[PaddyM]

Lake Taupo today , the first picture is of an electric car recharging point located next to the fire station ! Forward thinking that !

 

[funflair]

View attachment 1010581View attachment 1010582View attachment 1010583Lake Taupo today , the first picture is of an electric car recharging point located next to the fire station ! Forward thinking that !

Don’t go starting EV arguments on my thread but yes seems like a good move, we are heading Rotorua tomorrow I think and then on to Taupo a few days after, feel free to post the best bits of Taupo and save us searching

 

[Mikey RV]

Loving this thread. Great memories of when I spent three months in New Zealand in a Britz hired camper (Toyota hi ace) which I must say was faultless back in 2001. Sky dived over Lake Taupo, visited Cathedral cove, Hot water beach where I dug myself a hot pool on the beach, and so many other places. Absolutely loved it there. Keep the photos coming.

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[jongood]

Looking at this THL control the lot!

Welcome to Tourism Holdings Limited

Tourism Holdings Limited (thl) is New Zealand's premier tourism company and is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX: THL).

www.thlonline.com

Too many decent businesses have been ruined like this, taken over by the likes of dometic and run under strictly financial targets, factoring in the cost of replacing dissatisfied customers!

 

[jongood]

Yes, I know people who have rented from Wilderness and been very satisfied. I think they are more pricey than some rental companies, but I suppose you get what you pay for. I believe Wilderness have been importing Carados under licence for their rental customers and also for private sale for a few years and have somehow managed to circumvent the NZ self-containment laws. There is a problem with the waste water plumbing which has to be re-plumbed to meet NZ standards. Somehow Wilderness appear to have got away without doing this modification. The Wilderness fleet of rental vans and the new Carados that they have been selling have not had the plumbing rectified and the new owners discover that it’s an expensive job to get the self-containment certificate that’s legally required.

I looked at this, and bringing the waste connection "up" to NZ standards seems to mean fitting a smaller waste spigott to the outlet. I really don't understand the benefits. We really enjoyed our time in NZ but couldn't understand why they made it so difficult to bring in decent motorhomes.

 

[funflair]

Loving this thread. Great memories of when I spent three months in New Zealand in a Britz hired camper (Toyota hi ace) which I must say was faultless back in 2001. Sky dived over Lake Taupo, visited Cathedral cove, Hot water beach where I dug myself a hot pool on the beach, and so many other places. Absolutely loved it there. Keep the photos coming.

We passed on hot water beach thinking “well it’s dig a hole and dig in some hot water” we are now down at Tairua which is a lovely spot.

 

[funflair]

Loving this thread. Great memories of when I spent three months in New Zealand in a Britz hired camper (Toyota hi ace) which I must say was faultless back in 2001. Sky dived over Lake Taupo, visited Cathedral cove, Hot water beach where I dug myself a hot pool on the beach, and so many other places. Absolutely loved it there. Keep the photos coming.

I keep seeing the Toyota Hi-ace and maybe even Lite-ace and thinking “they look nice” but then see the doors open and thinking “they look small”

 

[Mikey RV]

I keep seeing the Toyota Hi-ace and maybe even Lite-ace and thinking “they look nice” but then see the doors open and thinking “they look small”

They are small but I had lots of VW camper vans so used to size. I had my surfboard in there with us also. And it meant we could get to paces a bigger van couldn’t. At the time it cost us £1000 for the three months. Exchange rate was three dollars to the pound.

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[funflair]

Yippee, just found another cupboard and it’s empty for now.

 

[jongood]

I keep seeing the Toyota Hi-ace and maybe even Lite-ace and thinking “they look nice” but then see the doors open and thinking “they look small”

You definitely wouldnt want one in sandfly land

 

[funflair]

You definitely wouldnt want one in sandfly land

No, there are some positives with this van especially now we have found another cupboard we like the rear lounge for this trip but of course for home we would have to sacrifice the garage and as you can guess that ain’t happening, it’s basically windows all around at the back so with them open and fly screens we have a nice breeze, I said positives but that’s just on really so will keep thinking positively

 

[jongood]

No, there are some positives with this van especially now we have found another cupboard we like the rear lounge for this trip but of course for home we would have to sacrifice the garage and as you can guess that ain’t happening, it’s basically windows all around at the back so with them open and fly screens we have a nice breeze, I said positives but that’s just on really so will keep thinking positively

What running gear is it?

 

[jongood]

No, there are some positives with this van especially now we have found another cupboard we like the rear lounge for this trip but of course for home we would have to sacrifice the garage and as you can guess that ain’t happening, it’s basically windows all around at the back so with them open and fly screens we have a nice breeze, I said positives but that’s just on really so will keep thinking positively

One of the unexpected things that annoyed me about the rear lounge was how filthy the windows got. That and having to sit in the cab waiting for Sue to get up and how cold the floor was and I couldnt find my scooter and I couldn't sit looking outwards. Are you going to post some pics Martin?

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[funflair]

And there again the other side of the rear lounge is we didn’t like the drop down bed so we are making up the lounge and the front of the van looks like a bomb has hit.

And the power hasn’t gone off yet at 10pm but at 12.5v I don’t know if it last till the morning

 

[funflair]

One of the unexpected things that annoyed me about the rear lounge was how filthy the windows got. That and having to sit in the cab waiting for Sue to get up and how cold the floor was and I couldnt find my scooter and I couldn't sit looking outwards. Are you going to post some pics Martin?

The windows are fine because it hasn’t really rained, yes to the scooter/bike you would be amazed at how early Jen is up and about, the floor is warm because it’s warm outside

What do you want pics of ? Inside ?

 

[jongood]

The windows are fine because it hasn’t really rained, yes to the scooter/bike you would be amazed at how early Jen is up and about, the floor is warm because it’s warm outside

What do you want pics of ? Inside ?

It got colder as we got further south, we had sleetcatbone point (in february!!) we were unable to go anywhere north of Auckland because of storm damage and we used all our time on south island. As I said to you I totally underestimated the size of NZ.

 

[Smegger65]

Well the foundations have been laid, flights are booked and a motorhome has been hired for 7 weeks touring North and South island, we land in Aukland at the end of January and have a few days acclimatising in an apartment before picking up a sub 7m motorhome, not a lot of storage, no inverter, no coffee machine, microwave only on hook up ah well I am sure we will cope, oh and a cassette toilet so that will be a "blast from the past" after nearly 5 years with a black tank.

We don't have much of a plan at the moment, we have joined the NZ motor caravanners association and have several apps for parking places, we have booked a ferry North to South after 10 days on North island, we have 5 more days on North island on the way back to Aukland, one snippet I picked up on another thread was to travel Clockwise so unless anybody can offer a good reason to do the opposite that will be part of the plan.

There are a few obvious thing that we know we want to do/see,

Rotorua
Coromandel peninsula and I fancy a Kayak trip
Bay of islands

Dunedin and Otago peninsula as it seems to be the place for penguins
Franz Josef and Fox glacier
Milford Sound
A vineyard and wine tasting I am sure

Any suggestions and advice gratefully received

Curio bay right down the bottom of the South Island is brilliant for penguins and Hectors dolphins. Enjoy

 

[DABurleigh]

Here's photos from our tour of North Island a good few years ago. Hope to do similar for South Island in 2027.

NewZealandShare

267 new items · Album by Dave Burleigh

goo.gl

Dave

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[Silver-Fox]

I am looking out of the window right now in Cheltenham and I can assure you it looks a bit different

You’re looking in the wrong direction

 

[Ballsy66]

Well the foundations have been laid, flights are booked and a motorhome has been hired for 7 weeks touring North and South island, we land in Aukland at the end of January and have a few days acclimatising in an apartment before picking up a sub 7m motorhome, not a lot of storage, no inverter, no coffee machine, microwave only on hook up ah well I am sure we will cope, oh and a cassette toilet so that will be a "blast from the past" after nearly 5 years with a black tank.

We don't have much of a plan at the moment, we have joined the NZ motor caravanners association and have several apps for parking places, we have booked a ferry North to South after 10 days on North island, we have 5 more days on North island on the way back to Aukland, one snippet I picked up on another thread was to travel Clockwise so unless anybody can offer a good reason to do the opposite that will be part of the plan.

There are a few obvious thing that we know we want to do/see,

Rotorua
Coromandel peninsula and I fancy a Kayak trip
Bay of islands

Dunedin and Otago peninsula as it seems to be the place for penguins
Franz Josef and Fox glacier
Milford Sound
A vineyard and wine tasting I am sure

Any suggestions and advice gratefully received

 

[Ballsy66]

Possibly a bit late for you but Abel Tasman National Park at the top North West of the bottom island is amazing. I agree with all your other choices

 

[Silver-Fox]

They say if you have to work for something you appreciate it more, we fancied going to Cathedral cove, water taxi from Hahei £20 each way two people, I am a Yorkshire man but will spend money if I have to but talking to a couple of people they said better to walk it so we did and that’s where the hard work came in but worth it,

View attachment 1010571
View attachment 1010570
I will get in before anybody else does “she’s strong”

View attachment 1010572

We saved $80 by walking so our $55 campsite is free there are a few freedom spots around but limited space and time restrictions and this has showers so why not and we are still €15 in profit if you forget two coffees and two ice creams

We left our overnight stop early and parked above the cove and had breakfast.

Then walked down

 

[TwistNShout]

They say if you have to work for something you appreciate it more, we fancied going to Cathedral cove, water taxi from Hahei £20 each way two people, I am a Yorkshire man but will spend money if I have to but talking to a couple of people they said better to walk it so we did and that’s where the hard work came in but worth it,

View attachment 1010571
View attachment 1010570
I will get in before anybody else does “she’s strong”

View attachment 1010572

We saved $80 by walking so our $55 campsite is free there are a few freedom spots around but limited space and time restrictions and this has showers so why not and we are still €15 in profit if you forget two coffees and two ice creams

Good to see the cove open, when we went in 2023 it was closed - I think that the path needed work and the toilets were out of service(?) so the only way to get there was by boat (not allowed to land but you could swim from the boat) or kayak. We're staying in Whitianga later this year so I'll try to talk my wife into walking.

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[funflair]

Possibly a bit late for you but Abel Tasman National Park at the top North West of the bottom island is amazing. I agree with all your other choices

Thanks still in the North but planning on Abel Tasman and that might be a good kayaking spot.

 

[Fidge]

Well the foundations have been laid, flights are booked and a motorhome has been hired for 7 weeks touring North and South island, we land in Aukland at the end of January and have a few days acclimatising in an apartment before picking up a sub 7m motorhome, not a lot of storage, no inverter, no coffee machine, microwave only on hook up ah well I am sure we will cope, oh and a cassette toilet so that will be a "blast from the past" after nearly 5 years with a black tank.

We don't have much of a plan at the moment, we have joined the NZ motor caravanners association and have several apps for parking places, we have booked a ferry North to South after 10 days on North island, we have 5 more days on North island on the way back to Aukland, one snippet I picked up on another thread was to travel Clockwise so unless anybody can offer a good reason to do the opposite that will be part of the plan.

There are a few obvious thing that we know we want to do/see,

Rotorua
Coromandel peninsula and I fancy a Kayak trip
Bay of islands

Dunedin and Otago peninsula as it seems to be the place for penguins
Franz Josef and Fox glacier
Milford Sound
A vineyard and wine tasting I am sure

Any suggestions and advice gratefully received

Kaikoura to go whale watching, and it's a pretty place.Steam Punk museum Oamouru (a bit weird but fun), Antarctic Centre Christchurch, makes you realise how far South you are! It's a wonderful country, would go back in a shot.

 

[funflair]

Good to see the cove open, when we went in 2023 it was closed - I think that the path needed work and the toilets were out of service(?) so the only way to get there was by boat (not allowed to land but you could swim from the boat) or kayak. We're staying in Whitianga later this year so I'll try to talk my wife into walking.

There were signs that said the path was closed but I had read it was open so we risked it and then met someone down who confirmed it was OK, the walk was hot and sweaty but worth it.

 

[rb62]

I'm afraid we drove into Rotorua and back out again choosing to go here instead,no boat trips or bus back when we went!

Waimangu Volcanic Valley Rotorua

We connect people with the beating heart of Rotorua's untouched geothermal valley. Discover the unique history and legacy of Waimangu. Book Online Now!

www.waimangu.co.nz

 

[funflair]

I'm afraid we drove into Rotorua and back out again choosing to go here instead,no boat trips or bus back when we went!

Waimangu Volcanic Valley Rotorua

We connect people with the beating heart of Rotorua's untouched geothermal valley. Discover the unique history and legacy of Waimangu. Book Online Now!

www.waimangu.co.nz

Thanks for that, my guess is that Rotorua will be a bit too commercialised for us so that might be better but we have to get this van sorted and that seems to be the place, it defo needs a battery as well as everything else as it was “flat as” this morning and that was after being on hook up the night before and then driving, it came on again about 8am with just a bright but overcast sky.

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