Right let’s start off with the first option and usually this is the marmite option, travellers will either say ‘yes that sounds like fun’ or ‘hell no’. So.. motorhome? RV? Campervan? Whatever you like to call it, they are all the same sort of thing.
What are your thoughts on this? Interesting option? If the answer is yes you would like to know more about it, then continue. Heck no? I’d move onto the next blog if I were you – car and accommodation.
A motorhome can be selected depending on your group size. Couple? Two berth motorhome. Family of four? Guess what, four berth motorhome. These can go up to fit a family of eight if clients had families this size. You would usually have to go for the largest which is also the longest so make sure you would be comfortable in being able to maneuver such a large vehicle.
Britz, Maui, Wicked Campers are just a few of the names and websites you can go explore depending on your budget and style of camper. You can also pay more to have a newer model. For example, all Britz motorhomes are just Maui motorhomes which are five years or older. Five years isn’t a long time in motorhome years, so why not save yourself that few hundred pounds for your travels rather than spending it on a lightly slicker looking van? It’s your style and preference of course, just something to keep in mind.
Having a motorhome means no fixed itinerary is needed, have a night in the city you land into, pick the motorhome up the following morning and away you go. Want to stay an extra night because you loved a location so much, go ahead. Want to head off to the next place because you have explored an area to the fullest, well off you go. You can just wing your New Zealand plans as you go along, this option sure does give you the most freedom.
Let’s touch upon this point for the moment though, you are not allowed you ‘free camp’ in New Zealand, it’s illegal. Free camping is just stopping on the side of the road and setting up shop for the night. A lot of travellers do still do this even though it is not allowed. It used to be allowed, however not anymore. Motorhomes don’t give you THAT sort of freedom.
However if you are to use an app like ‘Campermate’ you will be able to filter down the results in your area to find a camp ground which is free. In most instances you would need to be self-contained (own toilet and shower facilities), which you would be, as some are just a car park next to a lake. There may not be any toilet facilities around if you were in a car and tent option. A lot of the free camping grounds are just found by other travellers, they might arrive at a car park which doesn’t have any signs to say you can’t camp there. So why not? These same apps are being updated regularly and require the use of other travellers, who are exploring New Zealand, to review each area again and keep the information up to date for the next soul who comes along.
On the flip side to this you may prefer to be in an actual campground, one of the paid ones, these are generally in better locations. Plus they may have more facilities like a swimming pool to make it feel more like a holiday home. For somewhere like Queenstown there is only one main campground in the middle of the towns the others are forty minutes drive outside each night. Two things to consider with these. One: cost; you could be paying anything from a minimum of fifty New Zealand dollars per night and that would be in low season. Two: availability; in low season you may be ok to book a few days ahead of time and still get a space but what if you are heading to New Zealand at the prime time of year? Or in the school holidays? You are going to need to plan campgrounds out. Does this take anyway the freedom aspect of the trip? Would you prefer to have something concrete for your time away? Up to you.
Let’s talk about expenses, so what is there to pay for? Fuel, yep same as a car (but will be more expensive due to the pure size of the vehicle). Food, yep same as a car. However with the kitchen and dining room on wheels you can prep your own meals. Supermarket shop over eating out eat day will sure keep the costs of expenses down. What about having a BBQ by the mountains? What about bedding? A most rental hubs you can purchase a kit which includes a towel, sheet, pillow but it may cost you an extra sixty dollars or so to do this. Other option is the head to the nearest Walmart and pick anything you need up from there for ten dollars or less. Most of the hubs are in (or close to) an industrial park so the closest one will never be too far away.
Hope this has helped in making your plans for getting around New Zealand easier. Let me know if you have any further questions, just visit my contact me page.
LEAH HANCOX 