Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kiwi Experience
(
www.kiwiexperience.com
)
Haka Tours
(
www.hakatours.com
)
Stray Travel
(
www.straytravel.com
)
Car & Motorcycle
The best way to explore NZ in depth is to have your own wheels. It's easy to hire cars and campervans at good rates. Al-
ternatively, if you're in NZ for a few months, you might consider buying your own vehicle.
Automobile Association (AA)
NZ's
Automobile Association
(AA; 0800 500 444;
www.aa.co.nz/travel
)
provides emergency breakdown services,
maps and accommodation guides (from holiday parks to motels and B&Bs).
Members of overseas automobile associations should bring their membership cards − many of these bodies have re-
ciprocal agreements with the AA.
Drivers Licences
International visitors to NZ can use their home country drivers licence − if your licence isn't in English, it's a good idea
to carry a certified translation with you. Alternatively, use an International Driving Permit (IDP), which will usually be
issued on the spot (valid for 12 months) by your home country's automobile association.
Fuel
Fuel (petrol, aka gasoline) is available from service stations across NZ: unless you're cruising around in something from
the '70s, you'll be filling up with 'unleaded' or LPG (gas). LPG is not always stocked by rural suppliers; if you're on
gas, it's safer to have dual-fuel capability. Aside from remote locations, petrol prices don't vary much from place to
place: per-litre costs at the time of research were around $2.40.
Campervan Hire
Check your rear-view mirror on any far-flung NZ road and you'll probably see a shiny white campervan (aka mobile
home, motor home, RV) packed with liberated travellers, mountain bikes and portable barbecues cruising along behind
you.
Most towns of any size have a campground or holiday park with powered sites (where you can plug your vehicle in)
for around $35 per night. There are also 250-plus vehicle-accessible
Department of Conservation
(DoC;
www.doc.govt.nz
)
campsites around NZ, ranging in price from free to $15 per adult: check the website for info.
You can hire campervans from dozens of companies. Prices vary with season, vehicle size and length of rental.
A small van for two people typically has a minikitchen and foldout dining table, the latter transforming into a double
bed when dinner is done and dusted. Larger 'superior' two-berth vans include shower and toilet. Four- to six-berth
campervans are the size of trucks (and similarly sluggish) and, besides the extra space, usually contain a toilet and
shower.
Over summer, rates offered by the main rental firms for two-/four-/six-berth vans start at around $160/200/290 per
day for a month-long rental, dropping to as low as $45/60/90 per day during winter.
