Can anyone recommend a reputable company that rents campervans in Queenstown, NZ. to return to Christchurch, NZ. We want a campervan that sleeps 4, for two people, with facilities. There are a lot to chose from. Britz looks good, but they have a credit card surcharge which I don't like. Thanks!

For a 4P one with facilities you're probably looking at possibly www.kea.co.nz or www.apollocampers.co.nz other than Britz and you'd have to check their charging too.

This site compares 19 campervan companies in New Zealand and they even say they can beat your best quote by 5% http://www.comparenewzealandrentalca...an-rental.html There are an incredible amount of companies to choose from in New Zealand. Make sure you know the age of the campervan first before you commit to anything as sometimes the cheapest vans are also the oldest.

This is EXACTLY the topic I was looking for )). I've just started a spreadsheet to gather and compare information.

We are going in October for 3 weeks, want an RV for 2 with "facilities".

In addition to the information posted above, which I will be searching thoroughly, I am also interested in other types of related information.

To wit: I am a very very light sleeper. We were planning on purchasing some sort of additional foam padding (as in a memory foam/pillow top combo) to use on banquet cushions when sleeping. We could bring something with us, but intend on using that space for wine when we return. Or we could just purchase there.

Also, my last trip to NZ was motel oriented. This will be our first time with an RV. I recall, with marvel and satisfaction the wide empty spaces of the South Island.

I don't mean to hijack a topic, but appreciate any of the following information:

1. Any companies, rental clauses, or other factors to avoid or at least understand are typical in N.Z. I've been combing sites, but the knowledge of the experienced is always appreciated.

2. If the spirit moves us (and we are not about leaving garbage around) will we be able to park along some of the empty roads I recall on the South Island?

3. Any campground recommendations? Such recommendations will guide our itinerary, which is not set.

4. Last, but not least, any anticipated problems with purchasing a foam padding for the bed, and if not, possible sources in Auckland.

Again, I don't mean to hijack and a gentle note and I will move these questions to another topic.

kcd

kcdc - a few thoughts based on our 2 months spent in a campervan last year.

1. Some of the bigger van rental firms , britz, apollo, kea do have deals from time to time but watch the insurance charges as they can be high and in reality are just an extra rental charge rather than true insurance. We settled on http://www.adventurevans.co.nz/ a smaller company who provided terrific service and a really good deal (although to be fair we were there in the

2. Rather than park on the roads, we mostly used the DOC sites which although providing only basic facilities, were in the most amazing locations imaginable and at negligble cost. Pick up DOC maps detailing the location at any tourist office or DOC office.
3. here is aling to our blog which includes photos of many of the sites we stayed at (they were all pretty good)

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...tml#ENTRY_LIST

entries 39-54 cover NZ..

Foam padding for the bed would be available in any DIY store. Cant help with locations but why not ask the van rental firm you choose to provide it (or buy it in advance for you to save abit of time

3.

Crellston
Thanks for the reply and additional information. I've booted up the website you referenced and am looking at that company. Your timing is perfect as we were just narrowing in on our choices. This also seems to fit the bill.

Since I've asked my questions I've also discovered the DOC sites. Lovely. Perfect. Lots of locations.

Also the bond/insurance/diesel recovery fees are also important to explore thoroughly, as we've learned. I have a large spreadsheet--> what a interesting picture it makes.

I am looking forward to reading your blog. I'm saving it till tonight, when Jimbob is home and we can look at it together.

No worries about the foam padding... we'll just check it out when we get there. It *looks* like the padding in these photos may be sufficient. We just wanted to make sure we had some options.

kcd

kcd

Thanks for the information. We've reserved our van!!! It was a huge deal as I have some significant sleeping issues, am short and wide, and DH is very tall.

Patrick at Find-A-Camper (from link above) was very, very helpful. He answered all of our questions (and there were a lot) promptly and fully. http://www.comparenewzealandrentalca...an-rental.html

I was also very interested in the Adventure Vans posted above, especially as we like to support smaller businesses. However 2 emails did not yield any information.

We are looking forward to our trip and will send the results of the service-part of the rental when we return.

Now to get an itinerary guideline... if not a commitment.

kcd

We just returned a Britz van after driving it from Darwin to Brisbane. This is just a quick note to mention that we had paid extra for the no excess insurance (i.e. we weren't responsible if anything happened) and we were glad we did. Upon returning this van to Brisbane, where they drove in underneath a mirror and found damage (old) to the roof, they wanted us to sign an accident report. We were astonished as when we picked up the van in Darwin no one drove it under any mirror, or inspected the roof, or notated any damage there as a result. When we told them this in Brisbane, they couldn't care less and just said "That was Darwin, and this is Brisbane". Moral to this story: cya. We wondered how many innocent travelers got stuck paying for damage and if they are running some type of scam on tourists. Don't know if they are, but their attitude stank! If we didn't have that no-excess insurance, we'd have been up the creek for paying who knows how much. Also, in Darwin they sent us out with a van in which the rear side window fly screens didn't fit the windows. The result was we were invaded by mosquitos our first night in a non-powered site and had to keep the windows open or suffocate without the a/c turned on. When we phoned them the next day, they asked us if we could just stuff some tissue into the gaps. Apart from this, we were happy in the camper. It had a great engine which is essential for passing 53M long road trains, was good on fuel consumption, was very solid in high wind when parked overnight, and all the amenities worked well. We just would bring far fewer bags next time as there is hardly any storage space if you have too much (which we did). Also, the van had absolutely no place in the dashboard to put anything so bring a flat bottomed shopping bag or something to keep your stuff in on the floor while you are driving. If we did this again, I'd look to another company (although it's beginning to look to us like one company owns several different rental firms) because we were just appalled at what happened in Brisbane and the attitude of the staff there was awful.

PS: I forgot to mention the van was the Elite VW. Also, it was so hard to drive my husband kept stalling it for the first 3 days or so until he got the hang of it. I never could drive it, and he said his huge truck was easier to drive than the van. Just in case you are not a very strong driver, you may want to think twice about renting a stick shift.

I am sorry, sooo sorry to hear that. We looked at Britz, but it just looked like they added a fee for every little thing. We were more interested in know what it would cost: Period.

We leave Friday (10/2). I hope we have better luck than you.

kcd

http://www.adventurevans.co.nz/23berthtoyota.php
This is the vehicle we rented in 2006 for 3 weeks and loved it. Free camped about half the time - it's totally self-sufficient - camped in DOC camps the rest of the time except one night when we stayed in a powered site in a commercial camping grounds, only because there was no access to the coast for free camping in that area. Many times we just backed up to the sea and enjoyed 270 degree views from our 3 walls of windows...

Now we're about to head off to Australia for 10 days in N QLD + 5 days in the Red Centre with 2 different Backpacker Campervans, but it won't be the same.

NZ is a great place to travel by RV (at least it WAS in 2006).