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JaneWiltshire
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Rental Car Village
We picked up an economy camper van in Auckland and dropped it off in Christchurch some weeks later.
Prices are very reasonable so perfect for people travelling on a budget.
These campers are an excellent way to see the country, even if you plan to stay in motels/hotels, because you can brew a pot of tea or make a meal in any of the beauty spots around the country which saved us a lot of money. The van, although not new, was very clean, economical to run compared to UK fuel prices and everything worked perfectly. The campers are basic, and do not contain a toilet or shower, but are fine when staying in a camp ground. There is an awning that can be attached to the back, although we slept in a fully closed camper for security. We spent most nights in camp grounds with a few nights in motels and hotels. The campers are not large, but you pay for what you get, and this was at an excellent rate compared to the competition.
We had to return the van shortly after the Christchurch earthquake, and wondered if it would be possible to do so because the Christchurch office was in the cordoned area. We rang ahead and were told to bring it to the cordon and to tell the army officer on duty. We felt like royalty as the army knew we were coming and soon joined by the man from the rentals making the handover at the end of our tour very easy. Campers are supposed to be returned washed but as we couldn't find a carwash open because of the earthquake, Rental Car Village waived this at no charge. I can't imagine EasyCar doing that in the UK!
All in all, an excellent experience from a friendly family company of the type one sees so rarely these days. It was a lovely introduction to New Zealanders and to New Zealand. I have no hesitation in recommending this company for basic campervans if you are prepared to rough it a bit.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Hiking New Zealand
Did the Far North and the Volcano andRainforest tours.
They were awesome with fantastic guides who really know their stuff. The areas we went to were magical, wild and just about every adjective you can think of. We had a great group of people. The whole experience was incredible.
I can only echo what others have said. These tours are the best I have experienced anywhere in the world. You get to go places you'd never find on your own. The guides are really knowledgeable and they helped the group bond. These tours, especially the Volcano and Rainforest one, are best for people who are fairly active and fit, but we didn't have to carry heavy packs so it we could enjoy the experience rather than grit our teeth to slog out each step. Saying that, we were exhausted at the end, but luckily had decided to do the rest of our NZ tour in a campervan. We just pulled into a camp ground and slept for a couple of days!
We are already saving to come back to NZ and do more. Active Earth tours are an amazing experience and definitely should be on the list of 100 things to do before you die.