New Zealand or Bust

[Fidge]

Keep it coming i'm not at overload point yet oh and Jen would still be going unless you buy her a ticket for a Penguin Zoo here

You can see penguins in the Antarctic centre in Christchurch, another good place to visit. If you go to Milford Sound my advise would be to take a tour there from Queenstown and not drive yourself. It's a long fairly difficult drive and the last bit is definitely not for the faint hearted! That way you can relax and enjoy the whole experience, plus our driver was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of info on the way. Other places we loved were the Steam Punk museum at Oamaru, the Giants House at Akaroa ( both weird and wonderful!) Lake Tekapo, stunningly beautiful, as is nearly all of NZ.

 

[jongood]

You can see penguins in the Antarctic centre in Christchurch, another good place to visit. If you go to Milford Sound my advise would be to take a tour there from Queenstown and not drive yourself. It's a long fairly difficult drive and the last bit is definitely not for the faint hearted! That way you can relax and enjoy the whole experience, plus our driver was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of info on the way. Other places we loved were the Steam Punk museum at Oamaru, the Giants House at Akaroa ( both weird and wonderful!) Lake Tekapo, stunningly beautiful, as is nearly all of NZ.

I honestly dont remember encountering any difficulties with the drive from Queenstown to Milford. ASFAIR it was quite scenic and we stopped off for lunch and a walk and did the boat trip the following day. I would suggest trying to do the whole thing in one day would be pushing it.

 

[Pausim]

I saw albatross and penguins near Dunedin. When filling up with petrol between Dunedin and Fiordland the garage owner said to visit Doubtful Sound instead of Milford Sound. Glad I did. I also did the long drive to Milford but the weather had deteriorated and I decided against taking another boat trip there.

 

[tacr2man]

https://www.petrinadarrah.com/posts/freedom-camping-in-new-zealand
some interesting info ? My Daughter and SIL are traveling in NZ atm .

 

[funflair]

https://www.petrinadarrah.com/posts/freedom-camping-in-new-zealand
some interesting info ? My Daughter and SIL are traveling in NZ atm .

I am amazed by how many people seem to be out there at the moment or very soon, my nephew is there on his/their honeymoon at the moment and by all accounts after hiring a motorhome for 3 weeks they are hooked mind it could be an anticlimax back at home, seems lots of options for freedom or low cost camping, the NZMCA park seem really good value.

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[jongood]

I am amazed by how many people seem to be out there at the moment or very soon, my nephew is there on his/their honeymoon at the moment and by all accounts after hiring a motorhome for 3 weeks they are hooked mind it could be an anticlimax back at home, seems lots of options for freedom or low cost camping, the NZMCA park seem really good value.

Its one of the easiest countries to motorhome in that we've visited; Freedom camping in lovely places, along with lots of public dump stations and a good self containment scheme to stop some of the mick takers. I would suggest that any Kiwi NZMCA member would be very disappointed by the offering and focus of the UK clubs, especially the Caravan Club.

 

[jongood]

https://www.petrinadarrah.com/posts/freedom-camping-in-new-zealand
some interesting info ? My Daughter and SIL are traveling in NZ atm .

Some on here may not understand the point about "fixed toilets" affecting self containment certification. Some motorhome rental companies were renting out Toyota Previas etc with a self contained sticker by supplying a porta potti, the hirer had to pay a deposit for said porta potti which equalled the cost of replacing it plus a margin if they broke the seal and actually used it, you might call it taking the p*ss.

If a motorhome does not have a self contained certificate then it is only allowed to stay where public toilets are within a certain distance, this severely restricts them.

 

[TwistNShout]

Have a fantastic time.
Minor tip we were given, unpack your suitcases when you pick up your mh and leave them with the rental company if they will let you, saves some space.

Has anyone found any companies that will let you do this? Every one that we've asked has said that they don't allow storage of bags or cases.

 

[The general]

Havent read all , but make sure you understand local driving rules , the one i got a ticket for was parking against the traffic flow

 

[TwistNShout]

Havent read all , but make sure you understand local driving rules , the one i got a ticket for was parking against the traffic flow

Our NZ born nieces (10 and 8) told us that reversing into a parking space marked us out as not being a Kiwi. The parking with the traffic is so ingrained that, when I pulled up facing the traffic to enable me to reverse into their drive, the 10 year old immediately told me that I was "parking wrong"

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[nicholsong]

Havent read all , but make sure you understand local driving rules , the one i got a ticket for was parking against the traffic flow

Is it a defence that you reversed into the space so were moving with the traffic flow?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Has anyone found any companies that will let you do this? Every one that we've asked has said that they don't allow storage of bags or cases.

Use soft luggage and it’s easier to store.

We hired a four berth with the bed over the cab so stored everything up there and made the bed up in the lounge each nite.

 

[gpat]

If a motorhome does not have a self contained certificate then it is only allowed to stay where public toilets are within a certain distance, this severely restricts them.

Are you sure that's quite correct. When we were there you needed a SC certificate to stay in free camp grounds that didn't have facilities. Also you needed one to get wild camping permits in some districts. However for real wild camping I don't think there is a law that applies. Could have changed of course.

 

[jongood]

Are you sure that's quite correct. When we were there you needed a SC certificate to stay in free camp grounds that didn't have facilities. Also you needed one to get wild camping permits in some districts. However for real wild camping I don't think there is a law that applies. Could have changed of course.

Apologies, yes I was referring to authorised freedom camping places, of which there are many. My attempt at clarification could have been clearer

When we visited they were having a problem with young backpackers coming in, buying cheap people carriers and using them as campers, the police and park authorities were laying some pretty substantial fines on them.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Also you needed one to get wild camping permits in some districts.

Don’t know if things have changed but we never got any permits.
We were SC though.

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[houdini]

Has anyone found any companies that will let you do this? Every one that we've asked has said that they don't allow storage of bags or cases.

We hired from Maui in Christchurch but it was ten years ago, perhaps they don’t it any more. Returning travellers also used to donate any cans of food, toiletries etc. to a general supplies area at the Maui base and you could help yourself for the start of your journey.

 

[TwistNShout]

Use soft luggage and it’s easier to store.

We hired a four berth with the bed over the cab so stored everything up there and made the bed up in the lounge each nite.

We've thought about soft luggage but we'll be doing a number of flights and not sure if they'll survive Luckily, we can dump ours at our niece's house but I just wondered how other people got on.

 

[funflair]

Well we are on our way nice flight from Newcastle to Heathrow and now waiting for our flight to Singapore, it was only £5 to upgrade to Business on the Newcastle flight with BA so obviously we did, lounge with complimentary food and drinks and then food and Champagne on the flight all for £5 I love a bargain.

Might be a bit of radio silence once w are on the plane.

 

[The general]

Have a good trip

 

[Langtoftlad]

Looking forward to seeing all the places I missed by being on a bus tour.

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[KiwiKampers]

I’m looking forward to lots of posts and photos of your travels. I’m always interested to learn people’s impressions of NZ, both good and bad.

 

[funflair]

I’m looking forward to lots of posts and photos of your travels. I’m always interested to learn people’s impressions of NZ, both good and bad.

I imagine I won’t be able to resist sharing and possibly boring the pants off some people.

 

[TheAleMan]

Safe travels Martin & Jen, and have a super fantastic holiday in the land of the Kiwi bird.

Edit: Your gonna just love that panel van.

 

[Two on Tour]

Hi Martin and Jen, we have been here a week now and are now in Wanganui for a few day then off heading south again. Our first impressions are that you will not be disappointed with the scenery, attractions or the people.

 

[funflair]

Safe travels Martin & Jen, and have a super fantastic holiday in the land of the Kiwi bird.

Edit: Your gonna just love that panel van.

coach built on a Sprinter I think, couldn’t persuade Jen to have a PVC, going with an open mind re downsizing but I doubt it will happen anytime soon, and thanks

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[funflair]

Hi Martin and Jen, we have been here a week now and are now in Wanganui for a few day then off heading south again. Our first impressions are that you will not be disappointed with the scenery, attractions or the people.

enjoy, feel free to add to this thread if you are not doing your own.

 

[Two on Tour]

enjoy, feel free to add to this thread if you are not doing your own.

Thanks for that Martin, I'll try not hijack your thread.

 

[bobnick]

Well we are on our way nice flight from Newcastle to Heathrow and now waiting for our flight to Singapore, it was only £5 to upgrade to Business on the Newcastle flight with BA so obviously we did, lounge with complimentary food and drinks and then food and Champagne on the flight all for £5 I love a bargain.
View attachment 1006051
View attachment 1006050
Might be a bit of radio silence once w are on the plane

Looking forward to following this thread.

Can i just say on the MH v Car/hotel/motel/site cabin?villa or whatever.
We have just done 4 weeks in Aussie using car and above. In our opinion it;s equal.
Would be the toss of a coin if we do get to NZ of which mode we use. Both would be equally enjoyable..............for us, as was our Aussie trip recently.............in fact this trip it was in the car we feel.

 

[Mikey RV]

Have a great time and don’t forget to post photos etc. I loved New Zealand when I went there.

 

[jongood]

Looking forward to following this thread.

Can i just say on the MH v Car/hotel/motel/site cabin?villa or whatever.
We have just done 4 weeks in Aussie using car and above. In our opinion it;s equal.
Would be the toss of a coin if we do get to NZ of which mode we use. Both would be equally enjoyable..............for us, as was our Aussie trip recently.............in fact this trip it was in the car we feel.

While I like your posts and your car . I think the way you Motorhome is quite different to us, we like big dallops of scenery and love nothing more than to park up with a lovely view and laze in the motorhome, we do occasionally do the same in a car but its not the same because we're stuck in one seat, no kettle, most importantly no fridge and no ability to wake up with the same view.

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