New Zealand or Bust

[funflair]

Spotted this today jongood

A 2x2 electric m’cycle

And the watched the sun set,

Pancake rocks in the distance,

 

[nicholsong]

Nice walk through the bush today, well defined track about 10k or 12k,

View attachment 1017913
Go stand by that sign I said

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The native wildlife are very friendly this South Island Robin came that close that I couldn’t frame it at one point.

I encountered a 'very friendly' NZ bird up close on my first visit - she was still the same on two return visits.

 

[Drum Major]

Catching our flight tomorrow will be in New Zealand Thursday down there till the middle of may
Yippee

 

[Silver-Fox]

Watched the nutters bungee jumping at Kawarau Gorge suspension bridge.

Been there done that

 

[KiwiKampers]

I hate to hijack this thread but as I’m travelling around the top of the South Island in my motorhome I thought I’d add to the wonderful photos everyone is putting on here.
We’re staying in Golden Bay. These photos are our lunch stop just outside Takaka. The bird is a shag (Cormorant, to you) and the last photo is the coin-in-the-slot kiddies ride at the Post Shop. I know people in their 60s who rode it when they were kids and the price hasn’t gone up in 60 years. The trouble is we don’t have 6d coins anymore!

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[Two on Tour]

We are currently experiencing some of Franz Josef's 4,000mm per year rainfall.

No helicopters flying today, weather due to clear for the morning.

 

[PaddyM]

Awful weather morning but this afternoon the sun is shining and we can c the mountains again!
Day just spent chilling ( new Jack Reacher series on Amazon Prime , hurrah ! )
Having a few problems in our serviced apartment , filthy shower ( green algae mould for gods sake ) , terrible dirty stained carpet , filthy bin , no lights in the kitchen , fan doesn’t work , freezer compartment is 50% full of ice and the freezer door won’t close . I suppose u can’t expect much more for $400NZ a night .
Not good enough . How Trailfinders can recommend this place is beyond me .
Only one more night here and then on to Central Otago .

 

[StillGoing]

It’s been throwing it down with rain all day. I can see why it’s called the rain forest.

We’ve found two of the habitation windows are leaking so our bedding is wet. We’ve also found another screw that’s sticking out.

I’m not impressed with the build quality of the Kea. It’s badly designed, eg some 230V & 12V sockets put in the most inaccessible of places.

 

[funflair]

We are currently experiencing some of Franz Josef's 4,000mm per year rainfall.

View attachment 1018350

No helicopters flying today, weather due to clear for the morning.

Are you going up in the morning? We are booked on the 9:30, you wouldn’t believe it with the weather today but it is supposed to be nice tomorrow

 

[funflair]

Awful weather morning but this afternoon the sun is shining and we can c the mountains again!
Day just spent chilling ( new Jack Reacher series on Amazon Prime , hurrah ! )
Having a few problems in our serviced apartment , filthy shower ( green algae mould for gods sake ) , terrible dirty stained carpet , filthy bin , no lights in the kitchen , fan doesn’t work , freezer compartment is 50% full of ice and the freezer door won’t close . I suppose u can’t expect much more for $400NZ a night .
Not good enough . How Trailfinders can recommend this place is beyond me .
Only one more night here and then on to Central Otago .

Oo that’s not good, a bit of “feedback”required possibly

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[funflair]

I hate to hijack this thread but as I’m travelling around the top of the South Island in my motorhome I thought I’d add to the wonderful photos everyone is putting on here.
We’re staying in Golden Bay. These photos are our lunch stop just outside Takaka. The bird is a shag (Cormorant, to you) and the last photo is the coin-in-the-slot kiddies ride at the Post Shop. I know people in their 60s who rode it when they were kids and the price hasn’t gone up in 60 years. The trouble is we don’t have 6d coins anymore!
View attachment 1018344View attachment 1018345View attachment 1018346

Keep em coming, Jen says have you seen any Penguins I will get no peace till she sees one

We only went up as far as Marahau and then over to the West thinking we might be short of time as we have a cruise on Doubtful sound on 7th March.

 

[funflair]

It’s been throwing it down with rain all day. I can see why it’s called the rain forest.

We’ve found two of the habitation windows are leaking so our bedding is wet. We’ve also found another screw that’s sticking out.

I’m not impressed with the build quality of the Kea. It’s badly designed, eg some 230V & 12V sockets put in the most inaccessible of places.

Well ours doesn’t leak “touch wood” one of the drawers flew open a few times today, I found the shelf with the catch on was loose so tightened it but that made it worse, hopefully fixed with a bracket from the hardware place

I don’t know if I should give them a bill for all the fixes or just keep quiet

 

[Two on Tour]

Are you going up in the morning? We are booked on the 9:30, you wouldn’t believe it with the weather today but it is supposed to be nice tomorrow

Yes, we are going up at 9.00 in the morning , was supposed to be 10.00 today as it's a big birthday for Yvette today, but as today's forecast was crap they pulled it forward to yesterday, but the cloudbase came down during the flight so it was cut short and missed out on the snow landing. Rescheduled for the morning to get what we missed out on. Who are you flying with Martin ?

 

[funflair]

Yes, we are going up at 9.00 in the morning , was supposed to be 10.00 today as it's a big birthday for Yvette today, but as today's forecast was crap they pulled it forward to yesterday, but the cloudbase came down during the flight so it was cut short and missed out on the snow landing. Rescheduled for the morning to get what we missed out on. Who are you flying with Martin ?

Two for the price of one helicopter lines in Franz Joseph just by the petrol station apparently, we need to be there by 9 for our 9:30 so may well wave you off, enjoy for good weather.

And Happy Birthday Yvette

 

[Two on Tour]

Two for the price of one helicopter lines in Franz Joseph just by the petrol station apparently, we need to be there by 9 for our 9:30 so may well wave you off, enjoy for good weather.

And Happy Birthday Yvette

Fancy a coffee and a catchup in Franz Josef after the flights or to drown our sorrows if the weather doesn't play ball ?

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[funflair]

Fancy a coffee and a catchup in Franz Josef after the flights or to drown our sorrows if the weather doesn't play ball ?

For sure we said we have an early start as we are few miles away so will have quick coffee and a banana before hitting the road and then get something when we land so coffee and a cafe will be perfect, you are down first so just name a place, I will wear my MORELO cap again (running low on white carnations)

 

[Two on Tour]

For sure we said we have an early start as we are few miles away so will have quick coffee and a banana before hitting the road and then get something when we land so coffee and a cafe will be perfect, you are down first so just name a place, I will wear my MORELO cap again (running low on white carnations)

Same here, we stayed in Franz Josef last night , but tonight's digs are in Ross an hour and a half away, so it's a nutty breakfast bar for us on the way in the morning.

"Full of Beans" next to your helicopter people does a decent coffee and has a couple of comfy sofas.
I'll wear my cheap $2 black baseball cap from the Op Shop after my 25 quid baseball cap disappeared over the side on a boat trip a couple of weeks ago.

 

[jongood]

This thread is making me want to come and do it again, but hate the crap motorhomes.

We're just in the process of booking a Mh for Australia and looking at paying £900/week for the best that they can muster knowing its going to be a POS.

Have wondered previously about importing something half decent but cant stay there long enough to make it work.

 

[Holly's mum]

We've stayed in a few motels this trip that have had campers parked in the car park and obviously staying in the motel and some of the campers that we've seen are literally a car with curtains in the back

I do wonder if some people realise what they are hiring.

We have found going the hire car route has worked well for us so far.

 

[funflair]

This thread is making me want to come and do it again, but hate the crap motorhomes.

We're just in the process of booking a Mh for Australia and looking at paying £900/week for the best that they can muster knowing its going to be a POS.

Have wondered previously about importing something half decent but cant stay there long enough to make it work.

A means to an end Jon, this one would be loads better without a grill as that is where most of the noise is coming from now, if I had an “accident” with a can of PU foam I reckon it would be quiet but the toast would struggle

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[bobnick]

Hired Mhs so many times in Australia.
I did know what i was hireing and indeed going through the process again for September (from brisbane this time).
Last one we hired from LetsGo was a heap. The 4 before that from the same company was passable.
Like others we tend to go for the largest top of the range a givin company have.

 

[Two on Tour]

We've stayed in a few motels this trip that have had campers parked in the car park and obviously staying in the motel and some of the campers that we've seen are literally a car with curtains in the back

I do wonder if some people realise what they are hiring.

We have found going the hire car route has worked well for us so far.

Then they laughingly call these, campers vans.

There were four adults in this one.

These are the size of a Nissan Micra, and they are EV.

And this one is wearing a nappy.

 

[funflair]

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Then they laughingly call these, campers vans.
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There were four adults in this one.
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These are the size of a Nissan Micra, and they are EV.
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Yes, have seen that last one on a Toyota (something small) usually 1 person with the bed over the passenger seat and the bump so you can stand up also plenty of those Jucy vans and the Toyot Spce Shuttle thing, not our idea of a Motorhome but hey ho.

 

[Mikey RV]

When I was in New Zealand there was a company hiring campervans which were all graffiti sprayed. Really cheap to hire and the youngsters loved them.

 

[Two on Tour]

When I was in New Zealand there was a company hiring campervans which were all graffiti sprayed. Really cheap to hire and the youngsters loved them.

They are still about, seen a few here and there.

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[Langtoftlad]

Sending positive vibes for all your helicopter rides tomorrow

We were meant to be going one afternoon when the weather was similar but the next morning:

It can clear quickly

If the brown shack are the public loos outside the helicopter offices - they decorate them for Christmas...

 

[jongood]

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Then they laughingly call these, campers vans.
View attachment 1018387

There were four adults in this one.
View attachment 1018388
View attachment 1018400

These are the size of a Nissan Micra, and they are EV.
View attachment 1018390
View attachment 1018392

And this one is wearing a nappy.
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Do any of them have "self contained " stickers? The less srupulous hire companies did have a bit of a scam going with using a portapotti to get the SC sticker, they then supplied a portapotti in a bag to the punters for a substantial deposit, if you unwrapped it you lost your deposit.

 

[Two on Tour]

Do any of them have "self contained " stickers? The less srupulous hire companies did have a bit of a scam going with using a portapotti to get the SC sticker, they then supplied a portapotti in a bag to the punters for a substantial deposit, if you unwrapped it you lost your deposit.

Yup, we have said to ourselves "no way is that self contained" to many we have seen.

 

[KiwiKampers]

There’s a long-standing problem with so-called self-contained campervans and people buying the self-containment stickers online or getting vans/cars certified by unscrupulous companies.
New laws were brought in last year but they’ve already got around these.
The problem is not helped by local councils not policing the freedom (wild) camping sites and so not fining them for flouting the law and s****ing in the bushes. Even if they do issue them with a fine, the scumbags don’t pay.
I once reported an old Toyota Hiace to my council. It was camping in a senior’s club car park for weeks at a time, had piles of rubbish around it, no toilet, no holding tanks, no tax rego, etc. The council told me they couldn’t do anything about it because the owner was “homeless”.
I am appalled by some of the experiences you guys are recounting on here.
PaddyM $400 per night is not a budget motel. I hope you will complain and leave an honest review of your experience.
Re. Penguins. I have been in NZ 26 years and have never seen a penguin (outside of the Oamaru colony) and I’m currently camping beside a beach in Golden Bay where the locals have installed dozens of nesting boxes for them and there are big signs on the road warning of penguins crossing, but not seen a penguin in all the years I’ve been coming here.
Whale strandings are more common, unfortunately.

 

[jongood]

There’s a long-standing problem with so-called self-contained campervans and people buying the self-containment stickers online or getting vans/cars certified by unscrupulous companies.
New laws were brought in last year but they’ve already got around these.
The problem is not helped by local councils not policing the freedom (wild) camping sites and so not fining them for flouting the law and s****ing in the bushes. Even if they do issue them with a fine, the scumbags don’t pay.
I once reported an old Toyota Hiace to my council. It was camping in a senior’s club car park for weeks at a time, had piles of rubbish around it, no toilet, no holding tanks, no tax rego, etc. The council told me they couldn’t do anything about it because the owner was “homeless”.
I am appalled by some of the experiences you guys are recounting on here.
PaddyM $400 per night is not a budget motel. I hope you will complain and leave an honest review of your experience.
Re. Penguins. I have been in NZ 26 years and have never seen a penguin (outside of the Oamaru colony) and I’m currently camping beside a beach in Golden Bay where the locals have installed dozens of nesting boxes for them and there are big signs on the road warning of penguins crossing, but not seen a penguin in all the years I’ve been coming here.
Whale strandings are more common, unfortunately.

We saw sealions, very close, we were warned not to cut across the grass at a freedom camping spot so we didnt disturb them.

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