My tips for NZ motorhome hire
Jun 3rd, 2014, 12:13 AM
#21
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Hi kwkiwi,
We are 2 Aussies and have never been on a campervan trip.
We are about to book the 4 berth GEM for a camper trip around the north island in July. We chose Pacific Horizon as our daughter lives in Wellington.
We chose the GEM because of the 2nd living area up near the drivers cab, we want to be able to leave the big bed down the back made up.
Do you recommend for 2 people? Are you able to outline any pro's con's for us?
We are 2 Aussies and have never been on a campervan trip.
We are about to book the 4 berth GEM for a camper trip around the north island in July. We chose Pacific Horizon as our daughter lives in Wellington.
We chose the GEM because of the 2nd living area up near the drivers cab, we want to be able to leave the big bed down the back made up.
Do you recommend for 2 people? Are you able to outline any pro's con's for us?
Jun 7th, 2014, 07:40 AM
#22
Ie $333 (with nil excess insurance) motor home hire, $60-70 per night campground fees, $50 per day diesel. That is $450 a day>>
just a point on costs; we did not hire a camper but stayed in B&Bs and motels that we by and large prebooked before we left, as we had been warned that in December, it might be difficult to find anywhere to stay, albeit the school hols hadn't started by the time we left. However, when we got there we realised that we could easily have found places as we travelled; in Oamaru [add me to the list of its fans] and in Christchurch, where we had not prebooked, we had no problems at all finding very nice places.
we never paid more than $200 per night for a room [often less] and in B&Bs that included breakfast of course. otherwise we just made our own breakfast which was vey cheap. you also have laundry facilities in motels and at some B&Bs too. We had to pay for petrol but that would be much less than the diesel for a camper, so overall, i think that accommodation costs would be less doing it our way, certainly not more.
one thing to consider about a c/van is that you can get quite isolated; at franz Joseph we met a german couple who were desperate for some conversation, and wanting to practice our german, we were happy to oblige. in B&Bs particularly, you get the chance to meet locals and other travellers which we really enjoyed.
just another view.
just a point on costs; we did not hire a camper but stayed in B&Bs and motels that we by and large prebooked before we left, as we had been warned that in December, it might be difficult to find anywhere to stay, albeit the school hols hadn't started by the time we left. However, when we got there we realised that we could easily have found places as we travelled; in Oamaru [add me to the list of its fans] and in Christchurch, where we had not prebooked, we had no problems at all finding very nice places.
we never paid more than $200 per night for a room [often less] and in B&Bs that included breakfast of course. otherwise we just made our own breakfast which was vey cheap. you also have laundry facilities in motels and at some B&Bs too. We had to pay for petrol but that would be much less than the diesel for a camper, so overall, i think that accommodation costs would be less doing it our way, certainly not more.
one thing to consider about a c/van is that you can get quite isolated; at franz Joseph we met a german couple who were desperate for some conversation, and wanting to practice our german, we were happy to oblige. in B&Bs particularly, you get the chance to meet locals and other travellers which we really enjoyed.
just another view.
Aug 29th, 2014, 04:14 PM
#23
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Another alternative for campervan reviews, other than Rankers, is http://www.ecampervanhire.com which is specific to campervan hire, where rankers discusses kind of everything.
Aug 29th, 2014, 05:05 PM
#24
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>>one thing to consider about a c/van is that you can get quite isolated<<
That's the purpose of them!
If you want company, it is far cheaper to hire car and stay in cabins, B&B and even motels.
Campers are for getting away from all those other options.
We hired one recently as it was too far to go in ours for two weeks. We bush camped 12 out of 13 nights; only saw people at two of the camps. Did not speak to any other travellers when we did see them.
BTW - You can stay out that long or longer without using a powered site if you conserve your power by using only one light at a time; not using the electric shower; turning the fridge off at night; buying only food that needs cooling not full refrigeration and driving at least two hours a day, which was easy in the outback where we covered 4 000 in the two weeks.
The ONLY reason we used a powered site was that my wife was sick and being in the tropics needed the Air Conditioning.
That's the purpose of them!
If you want company, it is far cheaper to hire car and stay in cabins, B&B and even motels.
Campers are for getting away from all those other options.
We hired one recently as it was too far to go in ours for two weeks. We bush camped 12 out of 13 nights; only saw people at two of the camps. Did not speak to any other travellers when we did see them.
BTW - You can stay out that long or longer without using a powered site if you conserve your power by using only one light at a time; not using the electric shower; turning the fridge off at night; buying only food that needs cooling not full refrigeration and driving at least two hours a day, which was easy in the outback where we covered 4 000 in the two weeks.
The ONLY reason we used a powered site was that my wife was sick and being in the tropics needed the Air Conditioning.
Aug 29th, 2014, 05:23 PM
#25
Sadly, there have been a few well-publicized attacks on tourists in campervans that were not petty theft. I won't go into details but they've happened both while freedom camping as well as in holiday parks.
Jan 14th, 2015, 05:52 PM
#26
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Do not hire a motorhome from Abuzzy Motorhome Rentals. The motorhome had 3 problems within 24 hours including water in the fuel line, a gas regulation issue & the main door to the cabin broke therefore leaving us to use the driver/passenger door to get into the vehicle. The hot water system worked off & on and the fridge did not get cold while driving or using gas as we were assured it would. The back window arm broke so we were not able to leave the window open and the catch to the main door had been removed leaving the door to slam shut in the wind (A real child safety issue). The campervan was old, dirty & had been poorly maintained, completely the opposite to what their website promised.
When we complained to Roger (the owner) a few times his response was “you must appreciate motorhomes are complex items”. Is that not their job to ensure everything is working in the motorhome prior to renting it out for $500 a day!! They refused to offer a discount even we returned the motorhome a day earlier due to all the problems we experienced. Terrible experience, arrogant company & only out there to rip off their customers.
When we complained to Roger (the owner) a few times his response was “you must appreciate motorhomes are complex items”. Is that not their job to ensure everything is working in the motorhome prior to renting it out for $500 a day!! They refused to offer a discount even we returned the motorhome a day earlier due to all the problems we experienced. Terrible experience, arrogant company & only out there to rip off their customers.
Jun 29th, 2017, 06:09 PM
#27
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Great posts kwkiwi
We have a similar trip planned this summer in this beautiful thing
https://www.shareacamper.co.nz/campe...5236585999400/
With time a bit of a concern, do you think it's worth going further south than Queenstown in the South Island?
We have a similar trip planned this summer in this beautiful thing
https://www.shareacamper.co.nz/campe...5236585999400/
With time a bit of a concern, do you think it's worth going further south than Queenstown in the South Island?
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