Following the Long
White Cloud Get to know
New Zealand by campervan
Story and photos BY BUDD STANLEY
bird ranking highly on many lists as a place one must see. New Zealand had long been a place I had wanted to discover. Friends who had come back from the islands had enticed me with tales of magnificent scenery, adventure and memories that will last a lifetime. Tey spoke of it as though it was an addictive drug, urging any who would hear to give it a try. I knew that I would one day have to visit this country to experience it all for myself, and finally last spring, that’s just what I did. Te fellow commonwealth nation, known as Aotearoa to the native Mori, meaning
“land of the long white cloud,” is a particularly comfortable place for Canadians to visit as both the people and the landscape share many commonalities with us, while being completely alien at the same time. As English is the dominant language, interacting with the laid back population is simple, however, the Kiwi’s have a unique culture to explore. Likewise, the landscapes, for the most part, resemble that of Canada’s west coast, although has been accurately called a compressed version of the entire world. As New Zealand becomes more and more popular with travelers, the motorhome
industry has also grown with demand to give the adventurer more options and a better quality experience exploring this great country. As such, it truly is the best way to see New Zealand. Aſter dragging my girlfriend all over Europe, tearing through country aſter country behind the wheels of sports cars, it was time to slow it down. We wanted to get the most out of New Zealand, and that meant hiring a campervan.
How to pick the proper campervan Tere are an exhausting amount of companies in the country eager to offer you the
When it comes to foreign travel destinations, Canadians are most likely to travel inside North America or cross the pond to the culture rich European Continent. However, in recent years, Australasia is becoming a more enticing destination, with the land of the Kiwi
convenience of mobile living accommodations, with a vehicle available for any budget or convenience. From rusty old Toyota Vans with nothing more than a plywood base and foam bed in the back, to full luxury catered motorhomes equipped with everything one could ask for. As New Zealand roads are narrow, windy and have few passing areas, foregoing the familiar box-back motorhomes for the slimmer more maneuverable campervans are a particularly useful tactic. However, do not fret of a cramped, unequipped vehicle. Most Kiwi campervans are built off of large diesel- powered European vans such as the Ford Transit, VW Craſter 35 and the popular Fiat Ducato, all offering good power and efficient interiors, while cheaper economy vans based off the Toyota Hiace and Mitsubishi Delica don’t offer much in the way of conveniences, however are still light, spritely and are by far the best bang for your buck, if you’re willing to do without a toilet.
Warm refuge in the Cold Mountains.
26 RVT 143 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56