New Zealand Motorhome Travel

[Seaweed]

Was thinking of going Auckland for a 10 day motorhome travel...Anyone have done it before?? Please share your experience like the convenient and inconvenient of travelling by motorhome.

 

Can we park the motorhome overnight at anywhere we like or it is only limited to motorhome park? How's the motorhome charges and motorhome park charges?

 

As much info will be appreciated

[Blackwind]

Was thinking of going Auckland for a 10 day motorhome travel...Anyone have done it before?? Please share your experience like the convenient and inconvenient of travelling by motorhome.

 

Can we park the motorhome overnight at anywhere we like or it is only limited to motorhome park? How's the motorhome charges and motorhome park charges?

 

As much info will be appreciated

 

last time i planned to do the same thing but in the end settled to rent a car and get accomodations seperately... much more convenient i guess...cos im not sure if you can travel in all the auckland rds.... if you are going in june i think it is winter season and accomodations are easily available wherever you go

 

maybe the other bros here can be of more help

 

btw if you are going with a young grp i will recommend yha hostels... really value for money

[3677]

better to rent car , since winter will be coming , better to rent chain in case the snow is heavy . Another advice is rent the car at airport , it is much cheaper than you book on line.

[Karoon]

I'm subscribing to this thread as this is what i plan to do next year with little kids in tow. Appreciate updates post-trip

[Sgg687z]

better to rent car , since winter will be coming , better to rent chain in case the snow is heavy . Another advice is rent the car at airport , it is much cheaper than you book on line.

 

 

if you drive on snowing road without chain, you should engage at gear 2, maintain the speed( 15km/h - 20km/h) constantly. Because if you use gear 1, the engine will transfer too much power to wheels. It's more difficult to hold firmly. Also, don't brake too hard, even you put chain on wheels.

 

Renting a 4WD car and staying in hotel is the most comfortable way for traveling in winter.

 

Have fun ：）

[Seaweed]

planning for around aug and sep....not now...

[Seaweed]

ya hopefully there will be bros here that tried before...

[Seaweed]

anyone had some experience to share ?

[Triproton]

planning for around aug and sep....not now...

 

Aug and Sept is in the midst of winter - it will be very cold, dark and damp. I don't suggest you go during the winter period, and definitely not in a motorhome; it will be miserable.

 

Further, there are lots more to see in the South Island rather than the North Island where Auckland is located. If this is your first trip to NZ, I suggest you go to the South. Better time to go is during Spring/Early Summer - Nov or Dec.

 

I am going to Queenstown this Aug, but it is a skiing trip. We went skiing in the same place last year, and really enjoyed ourselves. We tried to do some sight seeing, but quickly realised that winter is not the time for sight seeing.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Triproton

[Karu]

For me, I wouldn't travel around NZ in a motorhome. Reasons...

 

1) Speed limits (limited by road & vehicle capability)... Don't think you can go very fast in them. We over took many during our last trip. This is especially so when going up hills which is very often in NZ.

 

2) Wind. The strong cross wind will make the vehicle very unstable. Was driving a 2.7L vitara, didn't feel very secure at all. Reckon it won't be much better given large surface area & high CG of most campervans.

 

3) Don't think u can any how park the vehicle overnight. You will have to look for campervan/ holiday parks. Not sure about the legality but you'll also need need power supply connected to run your heaters. Not wise to leave the engine running overnight. Safety will also be a concern if you park outside of hols parks. Got a fren who was disturbed by some drunkards when they park outside in their campervan. This is especially so for Asians...

 

4) Not comfortable sleeping in these vans.

[Seaweed]

sounds logical...thks for the info....anyone got first hand experience to share ???

[Seaweed]

thks for the info...the reason for this trip is to clear some krisflyer point before they are gone with the wind....got some 100k miles to clear before Sep....two person going....so for 50k miles per person....seem new zealand is the best value as compare to a normal fare...going to shanghai cost 38250 miles....ticket cost something like 800 per pax.....going to auckland cost 46750miles and ticket cost 1500 per pax...and for new zealand....i am only interested in motorhome which I had yet to try in my life.....but if no motorhome then I probably leave NZ out liao...

[Triproton]

thks for the info...the reason for this trip is to clear some krisflyer point before they are gone with the wind....got some 100k miles to clear before Sep....two person going....so for 50k miles per person....seem new zealand is the best value as compare to a normal fare...going to shanghai cost 38250 miles....ticket cost something like 800 per pax.....going to auckland cost 46750miles and ticket cost 1500 per pax...and for new zealand....i am only interested in motorhome which I had yet to try in my life.....but if no motorhome then I probably leave NZ out liao...

 

Why don't you try flying to CHC (Christchurch)? I think it is the same number of points the last time I checked. I can reassure you that the South is so much more scenic than the North.

 

If you want to go on a Motorhome vacation, you better go when the weather is warmer and brighter. You will also need to be the outdoorsy type and tolerate some form of hardship (ie public toilets although toilets in NZ are generally very clean; far cleaner than SG). You will need to do more research on caravan parks; you won't be able to "camp" anywhere you like.

 

If you go during the winter, I think one of the challenges will be driving an unstable motorhome in ice and snow. I don't recommend it; especially if you haven't driven in ice and snow before. It's a pretty hairy experience.

 

[Seaweed]

CHC is same miles but need to book well in advance...Auckland seem not many want to go....so easier to redeeem...as mention my plan is motorhome....so if no motorhome then NZ is out...

[Triproton]

CHC is same miles but need to book well in advance...Auckland seem not many want to go....so easier to redeeem...as mention my plan is motorhome....so if no motorhome then NZ is out...

 

Well, there is a reason, in fact many reasons, why CHC is more popular than AKL

 

If you are not flexible on your timing and need to go in Aug/Sept, I would recommend you that you take a rain check on the motorhome holiday in NZ. For your info, motorhome rentals during the winter period are 1/3 of the rates in Spring/Summer, again for many reasons.

 

But, if you are interested in a skiing holiday, Aug is the perfect time to go - Queenstown will be the place to go. You can catch a connecting light from AKL to QTN quite easily. Well recommended for beginners!

 

[Kb27]

Was thinking of going Auckland for a 10 day motorhome travel...Anyone have done it before?? Please share your experience like the convenient and inconvenient of travelling by motorhome.

 

Can we park the motorhome overnight at anywhere we like or it is only limited to motorhome park? How's the motorhome charges and motorhome park charges?

 

As much info will be appreciated

 

Been there many years ago.

 

Motorhome is not really convenient. Our experience:

 

1. Speed is limited to max of 90km/h. Not useful if you want to cover long distance.

2. It is tall, high CG, subjected to crosswind and easy to topple if you're not careful

3. You cannot anyhow park, bcoz the heater needs a AC power point to work, which means you can only get heat when you're parked at a camping ground. Camping ground cost is cheap, cost about $5 during our time.

 

You got to arrange for where you want to pickup and return, depending on your planned itinerary.

 

In the end, most of the time, we end up sleeping in motels or cabins. No one wants to sleep in the motorhome, nor use the chemical toilet.

 

Motels with cooking facilities are relatively cheap, if shared by a few persons. It cost from $25 to $40 per night. Price might have changed.

 

So instead of looking for camping ground, we end up looking for motels.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Kb27

[Seaweed]

thks for the great info...so seem I should not give it a try.... rather get a car and stay in motorlodge etc on the way......

[Kb27]

thks for the great info...so seem I should not give it a try.... rather get a car and stay in motorlodge etc on the way......

 

Yes. If I were to go back again. No more motorhome for me.

Just a rental car and look for motels/motorlodge to stay.

 

You can cut costs by buying some groceries from supermart and make up simple meals at the motels.