If you are still inclined to rent a campervan despite the cost, that’s okay, too. You should, howeve

A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand | BootsnAll Travel Articles Home Articles A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand By Annie Shustrin | August 21st, 2012 | Comments (2) Do you Like BootsnAll? Get daily travel inspiration Feature Article Like this article? Please share!
Taking a road trip is the best way to explore the unique landscapes of New Zealand, as you'll be up front with nature as well as be free to create your own path. New Zealand's many awe-inspiring attractions vacations cruises are spread out over both main islands, which means there will be lots of time spent in transit. Buses and domestic flights will work, but nothing compares to the freedom you'll feel driving the coastal roads and mountain passes in your own vehicle. You'll be in control of your itinerary and able to make spontaneous choices without worrying about some tour guide's plans.
One of the best parts of taking a road trip is the ability to camp outside of town. Imagine setting up a tent with the beach only steps away, or being surrounded on all sides by lush green mountains vacations cruises dotted with sheep. There are a plethora of camping options to choose from some are full service holiday parks with kitchens and TVs while others are inexpensive campgrounds cared for by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Renting a campervan is a popular choice of vehicle for road trippers as it offers not only independent transportation around the islands, but doubles as a small house. It's a turnkey option that doesn't require a huge amount vacations cruises of preparation or thinking.  However, for some travelers it is worth considering renting a regular car instead. It's a more rustic option and not as easy as a campervan, but there are many benefits that would improve both your travel experience as well as keep your travel costs in check. Why rent a car instead of a campervan?
vacations cruises Cost : For a lot of travelers, this is an all-important consideration. And as is true everywhere, smaller vehicles demand smaller vacations cruises rental fees, and in New Zealand,  the price difference between a regular sedan and a campervan is considerable. Don't forget that campervans will require more fuel and hence more money to run.  Another bummer is that smaller campervan models can't plug into powered sites, requiring the engine for nighttime electricity usage.
Ease : If you've never driven a van or if you've never driven on narrow, windy mountain roads, a road trip of a couple hundred kilometers might not be the best time to start doing both at once. With a car, you'll have an easier time navigating around sharp curves, especially on the opposite side of the road (Americans take note!).  When driving through any New Zealand town or city, a normal car also offers a bit of anonymity where as a bright painted campervan will scream "tourist." This extra security is a nice piece-of-mind as you'll have all of your travel possessions vacations cruises in the vehicle. BootsnAll is your source for the best indie travel tips and inspiration. Are you indie? Follow us on Facebook vacations cruises and Twitter and you won't miss a thing! Follow @BootsnAll
Connection to nature : Honestly, you aren't vacations cruises traveling all the way to New Zealand to spend your time indoors. You should spend as much time as is possible exploring and enjoying the amazing vacations cruises terrain. There's no better way to connect with nature than sleeping outside, in the cool night breeze, in a tent under the stars. Though in a campervan you'll have easy access to a bed, realize you are still sleeping many hours each night inside a van. You will need camping gear if you choose to car camp; however, the experience of waking up in the New Zealand countryside with a tent full of fresh air is one you won't want to miss. What you ll need for a car camping road trip
As you'll be sleeping outside of your vehicle, some important gear is required. If you are unable bring this from home, New Zealand's budget friendly and cleverly named warehouse superstore, The Warehouse , has plenty of inexpensive camping gear available to purchase. There are stores vacations cruises all over the country, so it doesn't matter where your journey starts, vacations cruises you'll be able to find what you need anywhere (check out The Warehouse's website for more information).
Here is a suggested list of camping equipment: Tent with rain cover Tarp Mallet or hammer (for tentpoles) Sleeping bags Pillows Mattress + battery powered pump Stove + gas canister vacations cruises Camping chairs Chilly bin/cooler Cooking equipment
It may seem like a lot to put together, but purchasing this equipment vacations cruises new won't cost much more than NZ$300 total, and it is all available vacations cruises under one rather vacations cruises large roof. If you would prefer not to purchase camping gear new, second hand stores can be helpful for discount used gear, as can hostel message boards and other travelers around town. At the end of your trip, if you are so inclined, you can either sell your gear back to a second hand store or to another traveler in need. Local charities such as The Salvation Army will also accept used camping gear – as long as you kept it in reasonable shape. (Suggestions: D own Town Second Hand Trade   inAuckland or The Salvation Army   in Queenstown) Car camping cost breakdown
vacations cruises Let's take a look at approximately how much money can be saved car camping versus campervan camping. As an example, we'll plan a 30-day vacations cruises road trip, from Auckland to Queenstown, vacations cruises in the height of the New Zealand summertime (the nicest and most expensive time to go!). We are guesstimating the average trip is 3000km, all inclusive of long drives and trips to the grocery store. All dollar amounts are in New Zealand dollars.
Cost of campervan rental: This estimate is based on a rental of the smallest campervan, averaged vacations cruises between reputable companies Jucy Rentals and Spaceship . Though there are many campervan companies to choose from, these seem to be the most popular. A small campervan vacations cruises rental will cost approximately $2600 for 30 days. (~ $87 per day) A 3000km trip, with 9km/L gas mileage for the average campervan, and $2.20/L (price at time of research) will cost  $732 in petrol. This total cost for this campervan rental is about $3332
Cost of car rental: This estimate is based on a rental of a regular sized sedan, averaged between reputable vacations cruises companies Go Rentals and Apex Rentals . Most well-known international car rental companies are in New Zealand as well but tend to be more pricey then the local ones. A regular sized car rental will cost approximately $1250 for 30 days. (~ $42 per day) A 3000km trip, with 12.5km/L gas mileage for the average car, and $2.20/L (price at time of research) will cost NZ $528 in petrol Don't forget around $300 in new camping gear from The Warehouse . The total cost for this car rental is about $2078
The total savings of car camping vs campervan camping in this case, per this estimate, is $1254. This is a lot of money in general, not to mention for a penny pinching backpacker trying not decimate their travel budget. As some of the more exciting adventure activities in New Zealand are quite expensive, this savings can go a long way if you're looking  to try black water rafting, jetboating, and a 134-meter bungy jump.
If you are still inclined to rent a campervan despite the cost, that's okay, too. You should, however, look for special deals and sales to save you as much money as possible. Sometimes companies vacations cruises offer one-way specials when they need to move vehicles from city to city. There can also be significant vacations cruises savings if you are willing to travel during low or shoulder seasons. Resources for your New Zealand road trip
Now that you've got your car and camping gear, you can start planning your route around this amazing country. Aside from referencing the standard guide books, most cities and towns have info centers called i-Sites . These offices are filled with helpful brochures, knowledgeable locals, and Department of Conservation specialists able to help you plan out day hikes and longer treks. In the meantime, the websites below can help you prepare for your journey. vacations cruises All prices are in New Zealand Dollars.
Campgrounds and Holiday Parks: Overall Guide Jasons Department of Conservation Campgrounds DOC listings Recommended: Kidd's Bush on Lake Hawea  ($6 per person) Puhi Puhi outside Kaikoura (free)  Mid Range Holiday Parks Blenheim ($14 per person) Marahau (Abel Tasman, $15 per person)  Full Service Holiday Parks Top 10 Holiday Parks Recommended:   Pohara Top 10 – right on the beach ($42 for 2 people) Kiwi Holiday Parks Recommended: Tahuna Beach , outside Nelson ($34 for 2 people) To read more about traveling in New Zealand, check out the following articles and resources: Check out our New Zealand Indie Travel Guide Book a flight to Auckland Find an adventure vacations cruises trip in New Zealand Read The ABC s of Traveling in New Zealand Do you want to add New Zealand to your RTW trip? Nine New Zealand Wine Regions You Should Know About Incredible Cultural Experiences in Australia and New Zealand Eight Ways to Go Downhill in New Zealand
Photo credits:  Adam Seper, all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission. Get daily travel inspiration Feature Article Like this article? Please share! Tweet Do you like BootsnAll? Annie Shustrin , Camping , camping gear , New Zealand , Road trip Leave a Comment Melanie Hillier said at 2012-08-21T14:27:24+0000: Thanks so much for this article--such valuable info for my trip planning! Suzanne vacations cruises Fluhr said at 2012-08-22T05:34:36+0000: And the best news---no poisonous snakes and bears in New Zealand. vacations cruises But, watch out for the keas in the mountains! They re larcenous. Home Articles A Case for Car Camping vacations cruises in New Zealand RTW Resources: RTW Planning RTW Travelers RTW Tickets Travel Inspiration
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