1 week North Island - New Zealand

[Debra Lumsden]

So I have had my first week away in the Cali. It’s been a bit of a voyage of discovery for me and Clint the Cali. We started in Auckland and drove all the way to the top of the North Island to camp at a DOC site there, then spent the next 6 nights driving down the East Coast stopping at various beach locations to kayak and chill out. It costs about $13 to 25 per night to stop at the camp sites which is about £7 to £13.

 

[Trev]

Great pictures. Lovely part of the world.

 

[SailSki]

Stunning photos - and a great start for you by the look of it. Enjoy

 

[California4x4]

So I have had my first week away in the Cali. It’s been a bit of a voyage of discovery for me and Clint the Cali. We started in Auckland and drove all the way to the top of the North Island to camp at a DOC site there, then spent the next 6 nights driving down the East Coast stopping at various beach locations to kayak and chill out. It costs about $13 to 25 per night to stop at the camp sites which is about £7 to £13.View attachment 43716View attachment 43714View attachment 43720View attachment 43723View attachment 43724

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Great looking van (and number plate)

 

[jts46]

We are planning a 5/6 trip to New Zealand Feb 2020. And planning to hire a campervan, any help would be appreciated.
Campervan we would like to hire would be approx same size as my California

 

[bigmac77]

Nice photos, takes me back to when I was there nearly 20 years ago. Bay of Islands, 90 mile beach, cape Reinga except it was a very rainy October.

 

[Debra Lumsden]

We are planning a 5/6 trip to New Zealand Feb 2020. And planning to hire a campervan, any help would be appreciated.
Campervan we would like to hire would be approx same size as my California

I haven’t seen any VW Calis here to hire but there are a few smaller campervans rented out. They must be self contained too which means they have to have a loo that can host you for 3 days assuming 3 litres per person and enough clean water and grey waste for the same amount of time and estimated I think at 10 litres per day per person if I recall correctly.

There is a NZ Cali Facebook page and one of the guys is looking to sell or rent his out he is also on here so I will send him a text if you want?

The top of the North island is beautiful and has loads of awesome beaches and is a great route to drive. Also try and do the Coromandels, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay. There are lots of beachside campsites up and down the East coast. Taupo is also a awesome place spend some time and there are some beautiful walks in New Plymouth/Taranaki, Wanganui etc. your route will depend on if you fly into Wellington or Auckland. The NZ Motor Caravan club is a great resource for campsite and they give good overnight rates too. There are some apps also for NZ (will try and look them out for you). Biking, hiking and Kayaking are all great pursuits here in NZ. I will ask on the NZ Cali page if we have any recommendations for places to stay etc from the group.

 

[Debra Lumsden]

We are planning a 5/6 trip to New Zealand Feb 2020. And planning to hire a campervan, any help would be appreciated.
Campervan we would like to hire would be approx same size as my California

 

[Debra Lumsden]

We are planning a 5/6 trip to New Zealand Feb 2020. And planning to hire a campervan, any help would be appreciated.
Campervan we would like to hire would be approx same size as my California

These guys look to have some T6 vans to hire too

https://www.nomadnz.com/campervan-search-results/?brand=Volkswagen&type=&sort_by=price_low

Debs

 

[jts46]

@Debra Lumsden thank you for the information

 

[westfalia]

@Debra Lumsden thank you for the information

Lol.
Is that all you can muster after such good info

 

[briwy]

If its any help our cousins went a couple of years ago and initially looked at hiring a campervan but ended up with a car and a combination of b&bs, glamping and a few hotels. They said it worked out cheaper than hiring a van and that the hire vans they saw were pretty awful. They did miss the freedom of just going and stopping anywhere though.

 

[Jennie]

Hi Can you help me. When my 2010 Cali gets here from UK in about 4 weeks I will need to get a Gas bottle that fits (size wise) in the compartment (in the back on passenger side) and also get the correct attachments. Any ideas what I need- photos etc or/and where I can get them please. Thanks Jennie

 

[Bellcrew]

If its any help our cousins went a couple of years ago and initially looked at hiring a campervan but ended up with a car and a combination of b&bs, glamping and a few hotels. They said it worked out cheaper than hiring a van and that the hire vans they saw were pretty awful. They did miss the freedom of just going and stopping anywhere though.

There are many reasonably priced motels and cabins on most routes to complement car only travel except around the Christmas holidays when everywhere is booked.

 

[Debra Lumsden]

Hi Can you help me. When my 2010 Cali gets here from UK in about 4 weeks I will need to get a Gas bottle that fits (size wise) in the compartment (in the back on passenger side) and also get the correct attachments. Any ideas what I need- photos etc or/and where I can get them please. Thanks Jennie

Hi Jennie

I will look at mine for you over the weekend. I have asked the FB NZ Cali forum if they have replaced theirs yet as I haven’t.

On the insurance, the same group have used AA, Covi and I have mine with Vero.

Debs

 

[Debra Lumsden]

If its any help our cousins went a couple of years ago and initially looked at hiring a campervan but ended up with a car and a combination of b&bs, glamping and a few hotels. They said it worked out cheaper than hiring a van and that the hire vans they saw were pretty awful. They did miss the freedom of just going and stopping anywhere though.

Yep some of the vans for hire can be pretty rough as they get a fair amount of hammer each year. A friend here got one from Jucy and said it had quite a few problems throughout the rental.

 

[Debra Lumsden]

Hi Can you help me. When my 2010 Cali gets here from UK in about 4 weeks I will need to get a Gas bottle that fits (size wise) in the compartment (in the back on passenger side) and also get the correct attachments. Any ideas what I need- photos etc or/and where I can get them please. Thanks Jennie

Hi one of the ladies on the Cali NZ forum said it’s a “ bit of an expensive process. New bottle from Burnsco with top l shaped adapter. The bottles i think are the 2kg ones. How ever with the adapter fitted the screw lid does not fit. The is a chap in pakuranga Marine Gas who will alter the lid to fit. He does all the ones for Giltrap. Also found it difficult to then get bottle filled but found place in Onehunga. Good luck.”