| |
HOME
ABOUT US
FLEET & RATES
INSURANCE
TERMS & CONDITIONS
FAQ'S
DRIVING IN NEW ZEALAND
OUR
LOCATIONS
QUOTATION
BOOKINGS
LINKS
CONTACT US
ABOUT
NEW ZEALAND
|
Motorhome or
Sleeper Van? Choosing the Right Vehicle for Your New
Zealand Holiday
Finding the right vehicle for your holiday can be a
daunting prospect, with many choices and differing
terminology. Review the options and discover the
pitfalls in choosing a rental vehicle for independent
travel through New Zealand.
With a myriad of labels used to describe vehicles for
the independent traveller, such as Campervan, Camper,
Motorhome, Motor Home, Winnebago, RV, Combi, Kombi,
Class-A, Class-B and Class-C to name a few, choosing the
right kind of vehicle can be confusing from the outset.
The common terms used in New Zealand are Camper or
Campervan, Motorhome and Sleeper Van. Campers are vans
that have been converted for independent travel and
contain similar features to their larger cousin the
Motorhome. A Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit style of van is
popular for these conversions and the finished product
is a modern, easy to drive vehicle.
Motorhomes on the other hand have a cabin built on a van
or light truck chassis. Typically constructed from fibre
glass, with aluminum skin over plywood occasionally
used, the cabin is wider than the chassis base making
Motorhomes more spacious. Driving is reasonable straight
forward and the models available for rental only require
a standard driver’s licence.
Motorhomes and Campervans are self-contained and support
you with the comforts of home, albeit miniaturised.
Self-contained vehicles have a sink, hob or cooker,
fridge, toilet and shower. The level of self-containment
varies but there is a New Zealand Standard (NZS
5465:2001) developed by the New Zealand Motor Caravan
Association (NZMCA), a body that represents private
motorhome owners. The rental motorhome companies are
starting to take their vehicle though the certification
process and it is worthwhile enquiring about this as you
research rental options. The essence of the
self-containment standard states a vehicle must be
designed to completely meet the ablutionary and sanitary
needs of the occupants for at least three days, be
equipped with water storage tanks for drinking and
cooking and have waste water holding tanks.
A Sleeper Van is a Camper that does not meet the
self-containment criteria. Beware that this definition
is not industry wide and it is not uncommon for a
Sleeper Van to be referred to as a Campervan, simply
because the vehicle is a van rather than a car. Purpose
built Sleeper Vans are frequently constructed from
people movers, such as Toyota’s offering, and from
station wagons. Because of the type of vehicle used in
construction it is uncommon to able to stand. Sleeper
Vans can have some elements of self-containment, such as
a cooker and small refrigerator allowing lunch or a
light meal to be made while out on the road. Sleeper
vans, like campers, are easy to drive.
What makes for the best independent traveller vehicle
comes down to personal preference and a balance between
cost, comfort and the type of holiday you’re after.
Perhaps the best place to start is deciding where you
want to overnight, as this impact on the type of vehicle
that will be suitable and also affects the budget. There
are four options for overnighting in New Zealand.
1) Native Parks – is a network of rural properties and
businesses that welcome travellers. You can stay on
these properties free of charge, meet the local people
and see a bit of their lives. A great way to see NZ
beyond the beautiful scenery and they are not crowded.
There is a real mix of people involved from large
wineries to small artist, plus action and adventure like
diving, limestone caving and horse trekking. You do need
a self-contained motorhome or campervan. Check out
www.nativeparks.co.nz
2) Campgrounds – there are a large number of campground
that follow a traditional format. In recent years the
number of campgrounds has been in decline, so they can
get very busy in peak season (Christmas they are at
capacity through to the end of February), so it is
advisable to book ahead. The following site might help
www.topparks.co.nz
3) DoC Campground (Department of Conservation) -
typically have fewer facilities than other established
campgrounds, so a self-contained motorhome / campervan
would make life more comfortable. They are often in very
scenic locations and cheaper than privately operated
camping grounds. Same situation occurs after Christmas
as with other campgrounds. See
www.doc.govt.nz
4) Free / Wild / Freedom camping - just parking up
wherever. Rarely permitted in much of NZ, though you can
get away with it if you’re sensible. Rules on freedom
camping vary from district to district. The Native Parks
guidebook highlights what’s permitted in each district.
In general terms do not overnight in “No Camping” areas
or near established camping ground. It is advisable to
be at least 10km from the urban boundary of any town or
city. To freedom camp a self-contain motorhome/camper is
a must.
If you prefer staying in camping grounds, but don’t want
the hassle of a tent a Sleeper Van may be a good fit. Do
bear in mind that an established camping ground costs
between $30 - $40 NZD per night for a couple, so it is
possible for a Sleeper Van to cost more than a
self-contained vehicle with the use of some of the
options above on the odd night. If you do want to get
away from it all, or you’re looking for more comfort, a
self-contained vehicle will be the way to go.
Past the obvious vehicle rental costs things to consider
are whether extra charges for one-way rentals apply,
what are the insurance options and whether road user
charges for diesel vehicles are included.
The easiest measure of comfort is size, though it is not
the full story. There are many other considerations for
comfort and again it comes down to personal preference.
Do you need to make up the bed each night? Is there
space to have some time out from your travelling
companion(s)? Is there an awing to provide shade? How
about appliances like microwave and air conditioning (NB
power hungry appliances only work when the vehicle is
connected to mains power)? These can be found in smaller
vehicles so size shouldn’t be the only criteria when it
comes to measuring comfort. If you are tall do ask about
the ceiling height.
So there are a number of things to consider when
determining what will be the right vehicle for your
holiday. As with any purchase it is worth seeking out a
company that backs up their vehicle with service and
professionalism. These won’t be hard to find, but if you
are looking for a starting point there are a few
suggestions on the Native Parks website.
|
