Question:
I'm taking my family on a 6 week vacation in NZ next year and am
trying to choose betwen the campervan rental companies.
Can anyone solidly recomend? (from experience, of course)
How about Kiwi Autohome (http://www.kiwiautohomes.co.nz) ? Anybody used
them ?
What about Freedom Campers (http://www.freedomcampers.co.nz)?
More good (and inexpensive) names would be good too.
Answer:
My wife and I are regular visitors to NZ. We've done the campervan
thing a number of times, but have found the alternative of motels much
more attractive.
Before you go for a campervan look carefully at the chains of motels.
They are much more sophisticated than European or American motels. They
come complete with kitchen where you can cook your meals, just like a
campervan. Milk everyday, tea and coffee provided, refrigerator, stove
and typically access to a washing machine and drier. If you're looking
to save money by preparing your own meals a motel will be as good as a
campervan. On arrival in NZ go to K-Mart or the Warehouse and buy
yourself a large cooler and some freezer blocks. You can carry
perishable food with you in your car, probably even more than you can
cram into the 2 cubic foot fridge in a camper van. When you stop at
lunchtime you just get out what you want for lunch. If you want a hot
drink buy a pump pot or large vacuum flask, and fill it with boiling
water before you leave your motel in the morning.
Buy your food at supermarkets, we prefer Woolworth, nothing to do with
the US 5 and dime. There are supermarkets in most places with 250
population. Dairies stock food, are little dearer, but can be found in
some very remote places.
There are motels just about everywhere, they are very competitively
priced and typically give a discount when you book ahead for the next
night. They may be as small as 2 or 3 units, or dozens of units. We've
never stayed in a bad one.
In general Kiwis are much more respectful of people's property and do
not trash the facilities as I've found on a number of occasions in the
US, Canada, and Europe.
Rental cars cost a fraction of a campervan, are more comfortable than a
car and easier to drive. The mountainous windy roads, some of which are
still not surfaced with blacktop, although the number are reducing, can
be hard work in a campervan. If you must rent a campervan make sure
that it's a diesel. Diesel fuel is much cheaper than petrol (gas).
I've always rented campervans from a big chain, but cars can be very
reasonable from small operators such as http://www.a1rentacar.co.nz/
They do not operate their office on Saturdays, but will meet you
anywhere in Christchurch for pickup and dropoff other days. We've
driven thousands of kilometres in their cars without a problem.
No matter which way you travel remember there is so much to see and do
in New Zealand even in the remotest places.
