I've just returned from visiting relatives in NZ, first visit for over a decade. Some key points to be aware of if you're thinking of fulfilling that dream of hiring a motorhome here....
1. to 'wild camp' or Freedom Camp (as it's called, not on a site), you MUST be in an area that allows this. There are plenty.... There will be a sign showing the limitations, which vary e.g. no more than 6 motorhomes, maximum 3 nights stay, no return within a month. It may be that a public car park or viewpoint layby allows camping in one section only, or a city may allow freedom camping in designated areas only.
2. to Freedom Camp, your unit MUST have a current "Self Containment Certificate" - this is a blue sticker, it's put on the outside of the vehicle, and shows you have a toilet, water etc. " A self containment certificate provides local authorities and communities with a way to recognise that a vehicle poses minimal risk to the environment and public health. That way they are able to accommodate motor caravans at reserves and other areas where there are limited or no external facilities. Without self containment, the environmental and public health problems caused by motor caravans will become unacceptable, and will result in councils and government placing increasing restrictions on the use of motor caravans." Without this certificate, you risk waking up to a hefty fine slapped on the windscreen - which happened to the happy hippy types in old campervans parked up at the beaches while I was there. The usual hired MHs will have one, but check. Otherwise, you'll have to stay on a site.
3. Site fees, for example at one by a beach in S Island, $21 pp (say, £10 pp). You can often hire a cabin - 2 berth no loo $50 for 2 (£25), or an ensuite cabin $100 (£50) for two. That's an alternative which isn't so available in UK.
4. Diesel is much much cheaper than petrol. The vehicles are taxed differently depending on whether they are petrol or diesel.
Will we be camping next time we visit? Unlikely. We have a MH, and love wild places here. But in NZ Motorhomes largely travel in convoys with others from one beauty spot to the next as they leave the site at the same time, going to the same viewpoint. And there are some amazing routes that I wouldn't take a MH onto (steep, narrow, bendy, gravel...) We'll hire a "rent-a-dent" car and use Airbnb. But that's just our dream. Visiting NZ is a thing that, once done, you want to do over & over again.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I've motorhomed in New Zealand. Firstly driving in convoys is illegal. Google it! We were warned about that when we went. As with most places in the world, its always best to go slightly out of season.
There are plenty of campgrounds in NZ usually with much better facilities than in the UK. Most have communal areas where it is great to get to talk to the locals.
Oh come on! NZ roads are brilliant, and so much quieter than the UK. As for steep, gravel, bendy, etc. There are plenty of wild places easily accessible with a motorhome.
We've been down this in Utah in a 28ft motorhome. This single lane gravel road winds down the hillside to the tarmac road at the bottom. There's nothing anywhere like that in NZ. We could have gone the long way round of course, but this was serious fun.
Indeed, quiet roads, and a pleasure to drive, with faster speed limits than here. I was intending to highlight the new need for the certificate if wild camping and that irresponsible freedom camping without one was starting to cause problems in areas previously off the main tourist trail which are now becoming more known & popular, like Takaka. As for bendy steep roads, you're more gung ho than me - my risk awareness is high because of brake failure going down the Shropshire Hills & meeting someone on my side of the bend coming up out of Pennan. Maybe your photo will encourage folk to hire a MH in the States!
Fiona, I thought your post was worthwhile to tell people that motorhome hire in NZ is not the only way.
It's everyone's first thought on forums like this, but we found other types of touring accommodation of sorts that really doesn't exist in UK and Europe. We had previously toured Australia wth just a hire car, staying in lodges and cabins on campsites, and in hostels with the backpackers- all unbooked - and then we discovered the motels in NZ and came away saying why are there not places like that everywhere in Europe. So easy, so much more comfortable than a hired motorhome, and so reasonably priced.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Here is another vote for motels( a lot of them had kitchens) and cabins on campgrounds( with showers and toilets). We toured all of North and South Island with camp gear in the car and it never got unpacked! With only the car to get us places we managed to get to the most inaccessible places and enjoyed this wonderful country.
We are touring in Australia in a rented motorhome(Maui).Its our second trip.
The campsites nearly all have cabins to rent,the camp kitchens are great.
We have not used much gas as we use the bbqs and wash up in the kitchens.I think the van water heater has been on twice!
There are lots of free campsites here but there are restrictions on using rented campers on unsealed roads,ours is 12km,to get to a campground.
You can rent 4x4 campers.
The majority of towcars are 4x4 with some vans designed for rough stuff!
Bailey caravans quite popular,not for off road.They also sell Swift here.
A lot of youngsters buy a cheap van or estate car and use it to sleep in,as the campground facilities are so good and reasonably priced.
There are also budget rentals like wicked campers,whose vans are quite
distinctive! Not for us!
Might try NZ next,although Canada beckons!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
we have recently returned from a MH trip to the South island and have to say never saw 1 convoy. the CC and CCC would have a fit at the distance between pitches on some sites-many of them are merely carparks wit benefits.Although we did not try any of the DOC campsites. However the scenery is stunning-a WOW on every corner. We visited many of the main tourist spots but our favourites were lake s tekapo and wanaka. Queenstown was full of young people desperate to throw themselves off the highest available mountainside or bridge and I would say avoid Queenstown Lakeview (NOT) Holiday park. Pitches were about 18 inches apart and there was a tent about 12 inches away from our rear bumper in the space between 2 MHomes-packed in like sardines. As has been said facilities for backpackers /tenters were very good with fully equipped kitchens/tv rooms and lounges. Showers on the whole much more spacious than any have seen anywhere before with plentiful hot water even if timed at some places. Go there for the trip of a lifetime NOT to experience superior campsites.
------------- 40 years in the NHS and counting!!!!!!
Does anyone know if all the lodges, cabins and motels are likely to be open in the NZ winter?
Also what facilities do the cabins and lodges have - do you just need a sleeping bag or more kit?
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: New Zealand
