We have rented a camper van to travel the country until Feb 4 then we get a car. Here are some photos of our camper van and the dining facilities in the Holiday parks where we park at night. The title reference is from the skit by Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live. If you saw that skit, this title will make you laugh.
It is pretty expensive to travel in NZ but the Holiday parks are a reasonable way to travel. You can park your camper van ($20.00 per person) here or pitch a tent ($10.00 per person) or stay in the park’s very reasonable accommodations for as low as $60. NZ dollars per night.
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Hey! THis is actually very useful. Thanks! What are you going to do once you give up your van and get a car?
Are you tired of camping? Going somewhere and staying put?
Thinking of you. It’s awfully cold here altho not like Massachusetts. Sunny every day, not much snow this winter but we are in an arctic freeze. Mostly fun especially up high xc skiing in my new boots and skis…
much love to you both.
kate-
Hi Kate,
so great to hear from you! amazing that you have not had much snow and the NE has had tons.
We definitely get travel weary and there are days when we can’t wait to trade in our van for a car and a hotel.
The camper van company has been incredibly helpful in trying to re-rent our van for us which they finally did two days ago. We have three weeks of car/hotel travel and it it really great not driving such a huge vehicle and it is less expensive too.
We rented a car for 70 NZD per day and you can get a decent place
to stay between 70 and 145. (with kitchen facilities) depending on
where you are. We always check out the holiday campgrounds first
because if you are willing to use group kitchen and bathroom, you
can get a room with beds and linens for 60 a 70 NZD. We rented a
whole apartment for 85 NZD in the Catlins.
Depending on the size and amenities of the camper van and the month you rent it ( March is cheaper than Jan FEB) you pay 225 to
295 per day. I am sure there are more expensive vans but that price is for a really nice van for two people). Plus it is hard to find
an automatic Camper van, most are manual drive which is tough
because you are learning to drive on the left side of the road with a
manual stick on your left.
Deisel fuel for the camper van is about 4.00/ gallon and gas for the
car is 8.00/ gallon NZD. We tend to drive more with the car cause
it is easier to drive.
We definitely plan to go to a beach and stay put for a while when we get to the North Island. There is much less to see and do on the
North Island so that will be a great place to settle in March. If Camper Van company does’t re-rent our camper van for the last three weeks of our contract, we will have to take it back but that
will be ok. Especially if we settle.
sending you and Joel lots of love,
lla and DB -
PS. even though you hear a lot about freedom camping here in NZ, it is discouraged quite a bit once you get here. you must have a selcontained unit (toilet and cooking capabilities) in order to freedom camp which is free. But we always felt better and safer in campgrounds which cost from 12.00 per person per night in the DOC campgrounds to the Holiday parks which cost about 15 to 20 NZD per person per night. So if you rent a camper van you have to add the cost of the campground on top of your camper van.
Love,
ila
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