Theft from campervan at trail heads?

[lostbeachbum]

Hey guys,

I'm coming over to NZ in Oct on a WHV and will be buying a campervan plus a few toys ASAP. I plan on free camping in most places, lots of hiking, boating, and riding on remote beaches and trails. BTW, my van will be fully self contained and I practice leave no trace. My question is, are there any known areas like certain trail heads or beaches where theft from cars is common? I realize New Zealand is an extremely safe country, however after my truck was broken into near a National Park in Canada, I realize you never know for sure. Apparently it was common knowledge in that area, but no signs were posted. What concerns me most is the fact that I will have a small 125-250cc dirt bike on a rack and an inflatable zodiac with outboard on the top rack. The boat and motor will likely be locked in a luggage carrier but they are easy to get into. Any places I should be more cautious of or specific precautions I should take?

Thanks!

John

[JimO]

your campervan is in danger of being broken into everywhere, especially remote places NZ isnt as safe as you may think

[scumdog]

your campervan is in danger of being broken into everywhere, especially remote places NZ isnt as safe as you may think

What he said.

Even stopping to go for a short walk to look at a waterfall can be ruined by your campervan being broken into.

It may not happen - but be aware.

[lostbeachbum]

My main concern isn't what's inside the van, it's the bike on the back. In the US it's not uncommon for someone to just pull up with a truck and steal unattended motorcycles. I thought you guys were being sarcastic but after looking at some theft stats, it seems like alot of bikes get stolen. Is it a bad idea to do what I'm planning? Tour NZ in a campervcan with a dirt bike on the back. I'd hate to not ride there but I also don't feel like putting out $1500 just to have it stolen. Any specific areas to what out for?

[lostbeachbum]

Hey guys,

I'm coming over to NZ in Oct on a WHV and will be buying a campervan plus a few toys ASAP. I plan on free camping in most places, lots of hiking, boating, and riding on remote beaches and trails. BTW, my van will be fully self contained and I practice leave no trace. My question is, are there any known areas like certain trail heads or beaches where theft from cars is common? I realize New Zealand is an extremely safe country, however after my truck was broken into near a National Park in Canada, you never know for sure. After a quick look at crime stats, it seems like theft is somewhat common. What concerns me most is the fact that I will have a small 125-250cc dirt bike on a rack and a inflatable zodiac with outboard on the top rack. The boat and motor will likely be locked in a luggage carrier but they are easy to get into. We all know any bike can easily be stolen with a truck. Any place I should be more cautious of or specific precautions I should take?

Thanks!

John

[sinfull]

A camo net !

[davereid]

Hey guys,

I'm coming over to NZ in Oct on a WHV and will be buying a campervan plus a few toys ASAP. I plan on free camping in most places, lots of hiking, boating, and riding on remote beaches and trails. BTW, my van will be fully self contained and I practice leave no trace. My question is, are there any known areas like certain trail heads or beaches where theft from cars is common? I realize New Zealand is an extremely safe country, however after my truck was broken into near a National Park in Canada, I realize you never know for sure. Apparently it was common knowledge in that area, but no signs were posted. What concerns me most is the fact that I will have a small 125-250cc dirt bike on a rack and an inflatable zodiac with outboard on the top rack. The boat and motor will likely be locked in a luggage carrier but they are easy to get into. Any places I should be more cautious of or specific precautions I should take?

Thanks!

John

New Zealand is not a safe country. The USA for example is much safer for the average person.


Assault victims
NZ 2.4%
USA 1.2%

Rape victims
NZ 1.3%
USA 0.4%

Suicide rates in ages 15-24
NZ 26.7 per 100,000 people
USA 13.7 per 100,000 people


Total crime victims
NZ 29.4%
USA 21.1%

Source - Nationmaster

[awa355]

Do you know people here, that you can leave some of this stuff with when you are not using it. A kind of base to work from?

Even the local supermarket carpark isn't always safe. Trouble with campervans, is that they stand out like dogs balls.

Having said all that, the fun you'll get from the boat and bike far out weighs the risks of theft. You would be missing out on a lot of good times if you let the thought of 'maybe' getting ripped off become a bigger issue.

[Paul in NZ]

99% of the time you are fine BUT like everywhere there are scumbags that see a campervan and think - hmmm.. smorgasbord....

South island is safer simply cos there are less people around.

Also - free camping sounds great but frankly a lot of people here are sick to death of it. Free campers have a bit of a bad reputation and while I'm sure you are a responsible guy just be warned that if you start leaving shit all over the place you are going to become very unpopular very fast... Sometimes its better to find a campground.... There are loads of cheap ones...

if you do free camp and park in carparks - ffs - don't leave your essential documents in the van.... Get some insurance...

[SMOKEU]

You want to avoid the "dark" areas to minimize risk of theft. NZ law for theft is almost a joke. The government practically encourages theft by handing out pathetic sentences to criminals. Eg, if someone steals your bike they will probably get a fine or a bit of community service. Maybe home detention if they've got an extensive criminal history.

I wouldn't even leave my road bike parked in a car park all day.

[jasonu]

Hey guys,

I'm coming over to NZ in Oct on a WHV and will be buying a campervan plus a few toys ASAP. I plan on free camping in most places, lots of hiking, boating, and riding on remote beaches and trails. BTW, my van will be fully self contained and I practice leave no trace. My question is, are there any known areas like certain trail heads or beaches where theft from cars is common? I realize New Zealand is an extremely safe country, however after my truck was broken into near a National Park in Canada, I realize you never know for sure. Apparently it was common knowledge in that area, but no signs were posted. What concerns me most is the fact that I will have a small 125-250cc dirt bike on a rack and an inflatable zodiac with outboard on the top rack. The boat and motor will likely be locked in a luggage carrier but they are easy to get into. Any places I should be more cautious of or specific precautions I should take?

Thanks!

John

Not as safe as you think mate. There is a lot of petty crime in NZ, just take a look at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ and sooner or later you will see a story about some light fingered
cunt(s) who robbed some unexpecting tourist such as yourself if you are not careful. The places you plan to camp will make you a target for sure. Best you use pay campgrounds. The small amount of money you will pay is cheap insurance.
Have a great and safe trip.

[zique]

Definitely best to be on the cautious side here but not overly cautious that you can't fully enjoy your trip here.
NZ is a beautiful place,it is only just ruined by some people.

Like someone mentioned,if you got people here that you could leave your stuff with,that would be a big help.
So start making plans and friends before you come here to NZ because they'd be able to help you out in a lot of ways.It always sucks being in a foreign country and you don't know anyone or the rules etc.Even try and see if anyone will be travelling to the same places as you,so you guys can meet up and camp together.It's always best not to be alone with camping,hikes etc
And please don't readily announce that you bringing heaps of cash,cameras and other gear,as thieves do go through forums looking for stuff and victims.

[lostbeachbum]

Thanks for the tips everyone. It's such a shame to hear these things about thefts and how people view free campers. I regularly "stealth camp" in the US and most of the time, reactions are positive when confronted especially when they see trash bags and smell whatever I'm cooking that day. The only reason I was so interested in free camping is the freedom of finding remote spots and peace&quiet. It's not security I'm worried about while at the site, it's when I leave. I wish someone would try to rob me again, it hasn't ended to good for the few that have tried. There will really be nothing of value in the van besides the bike and boat. My electronics and cash/papers will always come with me. I'm fine with staying at campsites as long as it's not too crowded, that's just not camping to me. Then again, plenty of theft happens at campsites as well. I agree that the fun factor is worth the risk. I plan on getting full coverage insurance on the van and whatever they'll give me on a dirt bike that old. Hopefully I can find a policy that will cover some personal property. I only want to spend around $1500 so I'm thinking an older kx125 or similar. Any other tips are appreciated, I'm very excited to visit your beautiful country. Beaches to sleep on, trails to ride, lakes or lagoons to boat/fish in, must eat dishes or restaurants, etc? Let me know!

[ellipsis]

...big chains, even bigger locks and a very noisy alarm/ siren and even then it's not safe if some thieving prick, which we are not short of here, decides he wants your stuff...way of the world these days...it's a percentage game,the likelihood of it happening is growing more every year it seems...I think that even some travellers down this way (NZ) come for the easy pickings...bigger population of the Nth Island means a bigger number of arseholes but they certainly exist down here (South Island) too...I live out in the country and now have to lock things up, sad but true...good luck and happy trails...

[Paul in NZ]

Yeah well - you might need to bone up on this a bit to be honest... Here we get swamped with freedom campers sometimes and frankly they are usually utter pigs that literally just shit on the ground and leave it there. In most cases you can't free camp anymore without it being a self contained van because of that. Its a shame and its not because we are unfriendly - its just people that come to a pretty spot and ruin it for others. Often alcohol is involved but isnt it always?

Another point is - if you expect to ride an MX bike on our beaches unopposed - think again. Usually these are designated as public roads (where they can be ridden on) and you will need a street legal bike. Again - don't take it personally but idiots damaging fragile environments and speeding around ordinary beach users ruined it for everyone. Try it in a national park and you will get your arse reamed six ways to sunday and most likely loose the bike. With something street legal you can ride a bit further and have many options. There are lots of adventurous roads to travel and if you must have an MX bike time it for the big organized trail rides, they usually get access to places you couldn't get onto alone anyway.

Instead of a zodiac - consider a SOT kayak, heaps of fabulous places to explore and fish around the coast and its easier to secure. If you make it to wellington area I'll even take you out for a kayak fish and treat you to a feed ;-) (assuming you catch something for dinner)

To get a feel for prices

http://www.trademe.co.nz/

is your friend....

[Swoop]

Our Department of Conservation have campsites around the country. These are not overcrowded by any sense of the word, apart from over the christmas holiday period or long weekends.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/conservation-campsites-by-region/

Freedom camping is always happening here, but (as others have said) gets a bad name due to small campervans and cars which do not have toilet facilities.

All the best for your travels here. We do have a very safe country BUT there are a few retards who prey on tourists.

[Paul in NZ]

Oh - also Oct is off season for a lot of places down south as its still chilly.... (ish) Fishing will pick up over summer though - how long will you be here?????

[imdying]

Our Department of Conservation have campsites around the country. These are not overcrowded by any sense of the word, apart from over the christmas holiday period or long weekends.http://www.tapeka.com/publicholidays.htm
Look weekends are a part of NZ life... avoid doing stuff like driving or visiting popular anything during them.

[Paul in NZ]

http://www.tapeka.com/publicholidays.htm
Look weekends are a part of NZ life... avoid doing stuff like driving or visiting popular anything during them.

Yes - walking to unpopular places is so much better...

(no really - it is)

:facepalm:

[Usarka]

Someone should email this sad state of affairs to our tourism minister, he might do something about cleaning the crime up in NZ! :killingme

[lostbeachbum]

One of my next questions was going to be about riding unplated bikes on beaches and trails. From what you've said, I would have more freedom if I spent a little more and bought a street legal dual sport. I guess that's something I'll look into more since I really didn't want to spend alot of money and get big bike. Just something cheap that I can throw on a rack on the back of the van and have some fun once and awhile. The reason I want the Zodiac is to be able to go out farther and obviously go faster. I've even looked into the electric motors so I could go fishing in fresh water lakes. Even the ones with hard bottoms are pretty easy to store and transport. Also I have screws in my shoulder and don't do so well kayaking for long distances. They're great for an easy trip through mangroves but not so much off the beach, at least for me. Been spending alot of time on Trademe lately, making a list and basic budget of all the goodies I want. Definitely will have a camping toilet.

Since I have a WHV, I can stay for a year so I'm not exactly sure how long I'll be there. I know that I'd like to explore for a few months before settling down to work, helpx or wwoof for a little while, then bounce around the south pacific. Hopefully I'll be able to make some friends to leave my stuff with. I'm a couch surfer and usually link up with a local group within days of arriving somewhere new. What I still can't decide is whether to buy a stock van and mod it myself or to buy a campervan. Ideally, would be a Toyota Haice xtra long with the hightop. It could be fun to have a project if I had the place to build it, which if utilized Helpx, I could likely have in exchange for work. In the end they'd both probably cost me about the same, though I could build a badass campervan with the right tools and possibly make a profit.

Something like these would be good projects:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/hiace/auction-504067953.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/hiace/auction-503369096.htm

This would be nice to modify to my comfort:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/caravans-motorhomes/motorhomes/up-to-5-metres/auction-503161103.htm

Do the more expensive campervans sell better or worse than the cheaper ones? Would I be better off buying an expensive or cheap one since I plan on adding to it and selling it within a year?

Thanks again

[Lozza2442]

As you seemed to only be worried about the bike when you were away from the campervan couldn't you just chuck it inside when you're away from it?

Otherwise -

How hard is it to remove a front wheel from a trail bike?


Also, get a sticker that says "I'm from NZ" or "I'm a kiwi" and stick it on your rear window to avoid road rage.

[imdying]

Yes - walking to unpopular places is so much better...

(no really - it is)

:facepalm:

Heh, I was thinking they were better days for him find a net cafe, washing facilities... you know, boring practical things that avoid crowded roads... or maybe even plan the trip to avoid them entirely! But ya know, read it how ya like.

[nodrog]

Campsites in New Zealand are usually in quiet nice places, hence why people stay at them. heaps better than sleeping in a weigh station on SH1.

They are not like the ones in America, where you have generations of families living nextdoor to Eminem and bubbles with his shed full of cats.

Freedom campers are scum, if I see you parked up in some beach carpark I will steal your boat and bike, its called Taniwha tax.

The least you could do while we let you vist our country is dig into your pockets and shell out a couple of dollars a night you tight cunt.

[Road kill]

Keep an eye out for skinheads,,they have no hair,their white and they root goats.

Also keep an eye out for Maori's,they have lots of hair,their sort of brown and speak with Scottish accents if their the south island version.

In the north island you can keep an eye out for me,I'll be in the 40 tonne truck and I'm actually driving on the "correct" side of the road.

Further north from where you ran me off the road you will find that for the most part there is no freedom camping allowed.

Freedom campers fucked that up for everybody by shitting in non shitting places.

Treat the country as you would any other,use your common sence and you will have a ball.








Just don't shit on my beach ok.

[JimO]

New Zealand is not a safe country. The USA for example is much safer for the average person.




Total crime victims
NZ 29.4%
USA 21.1%

Source - Nationmaster
thats cos there are no maori in hamerica

[SMOKEU]

Since you're all so against freedom campers, what did humans do with their excrement before toilets were invented? It must have all gone somewhere, and on the ground is my guess.

[Road kill]

On a slightly more serious note.

If you make it to Auckland drop me a PM and I'll take you either Kayak fishing,boat fishing,surf casting, let you park on on my front lawn and give you a few hints for day trips in the area.

And mate,you will catch fish:niceone:

[Madness]

Watch out for scammers who offer to let you park on their lawn while they take you out fishing. They've been pulling that one on unsuspecting whiteys since 1835.

[Road kill]

Since you're all so against freedom campers, what did humans do with their excrement before toilets were invented? It must have all gone somewhere, and on the ground is my guess.

I believe that "Under" the ground was the method used.

Btw,I.m not personally against freedom camping,do it all the time myself,but I live here and know where to hide out,,this guy doesn't so it's probably best to mention it.

[JimO]

if you read the first post his van is fully self contained and he leaves no trace so that probably means no jobbies

[FJRider]

99% of the time you are fine BUT like everywhere there are scumbags that see a campervan and think - hmmm.. smorgasbord....

South island is safer simply cos there are less people around.

Also - free camping sounds great but frankly a lot of people here are sick to death of it. Free campers have a bit of a bad reputation and while I'm sure you are a responsible guy just be warned that if you start leaving shit all over the place you are going to become very unpopular very fast... Sometimes its better to find a campground.... There are loads of cheap ones...

if you do free camp and park in carparks - ffs - don't leave your essential documents in the van.... Get some insurance...

South-island trail-head carparks are getting hit on a regular basis now too. Check out local farm-houses ... usually plenty of spare safe parking space there. Easy to find when you get to the locations. Ask the owner/manager nicely ... and there shouldn't be an issue. If they cant help ... they will most likely tell you who can/will help.

[nodrog]

if you read the first post his van is fully self contained and he leaves no trace so that probably means no jobbies

And if you read his last post you will see he is a fucken lying hippie who thinks you can fitout a toyota hiace to be fully self contained.

$10 says he will end up travelling around in a nissan serena and shitting on the beach.

[carburator]

we have a lot of seasonal workers ( backpackers )

its not worth buying a heap of shit, as for building something up better off buying something done.
you need to be self contained, freedom camping has had law changes here and fines are not cheap.

simply put by the time you buy a base vehicle and out fit it to some standard you might as well spend
some decent coin and get one done.

friends borrrowed my "camper" and did three months around nz with no hassles i have canoes on top racks
with a 2hp outboard motor for getting out ( pinnned shoulder ) having a RIB hull sure gets out out but honestly
shoreline rock fishing gets good fish as well.

Trail bikes, not sure?

[jaffamont]

I would seek your information elsewhere mate. Unfortunately this post has been picked up by some real dickheads (one in particular takes this role very seriously). You are about to get a bunch of claptrap about thieving darkies. Reality is that there are minorities that will ruin your holiday very quickly however it's no worse than most other countries. Lock it and be sensible about leaving tempting items out of harms way and you will limit risk considerably. Have a great time when you come, it truly is a special place.

[Madness]

$10 says he will end up travelling around in a nissan serena and shitting on the beach.

Can't be any worse than a container ship full of Filipino sailors.

Seriously though, good luck finding a chemical toilet here. There's still hundreds of families in Christchurch waiting for the next shipment. Your stuff should be pretty safe inside the camper van once you've got a few weeks worth of poo stored in it.

[curly]

beachbum try this site: http://www.rankers.co.nz/respect/

[lostbeachbum]

Thanks for that link Curly, it's just the kind of database I need. Also the tip about farm houses and local businesses. I've asked several farmers for a spot on their "back 40" and never been turned down. Sometimes even invited in for a meal. I don't mind shit talk, I've got thick skin and got the answers I needed. Internet tuff guys are out there, it makes them feel better about being pussies with no lives stuck behind a computer screen. I'd be happy to meet up with any of them for a few beers so they can try out their talking against a trained American fighter and not some hippie backpacker. You do know that not only hippies camp, right? But back to topic, I'm not going to be camping every night and when I do it's not always going to be free. Yes, my van will be fully self contained. Which in theory, really isn't that complicated. A cooking and fuel source, large fresh water tank, smaller grey water tank, hand pump sink, camping toilet, cooler/fridge and trash bags. How hard do you think it really is to get all that into a van? Add a solar shower, power inverter, tv and 2nd battery and you've got all the comforts of home. There are dozens of cheap camping toilets on trademe right now, so those people in Christchurch should use the internet if they're still waiting. I never shit ON the beach, that's what a shovel is for.


Not to sound racist, but you don't have to tell me about trouble from minorities. I've grown up in one of the most dangerous cities in America, we've got a small problem here as well and I know how to deal with them... I'm very realistic and street smart, just needed to know if there were specific areas to be extra cautious. As far as work goes, I'm not in any hurry and won't be looking for typical unskilled backpacker jobs. Definitely not a hippie, although I do smoke pot and listen to reggae. Besides being an outstanding Chef and decent carpenter, I'm a low voltage specialist (CCTV/IP CCTV, Intrusion, Access control, telecom, etc) and owned a small company for several years before selling everything to travel the world. It would be nice to find a 3 month contract somewhere. I'd be willing to buy hand tools and would already have the van for ladders. I'll most likely just find some Helpx or Wwoof though, less stress and more fun.

From what I've read, it seems like 2 berth campervans are always in demand, both cheap and expensive. I like the Toyota Hiace because of it's size and reliability. I love my freedom, I'm not cheap by any means so not concerned about initial costs, I just want something that will hold it's value the best. So when I'm ready, I'll probably just buy a nicer one like this that's ready to go, http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/caravans-motorhomes/motorhomes/up-to-5-metres/auction-502004878.htm

There's a good chance I won't even buy the van right away as long as I can get insured. The inner big kid has me wanting to buy a Skyline or Supra for a month or 2 and road trip around the country first, staying in hostels. Then sell it and buy the campervan and see the country through a different perspective. I sold all my toys over a year ago and I've been dying to get back behind the wheel of something sexy and fast. Nothing like touring one of the most beautiful countries in the world in one of Japan's finest sports cars. Anyone know off hand what the annual full coverage policy is like for a Skyline or can recommend some companies to get quotes from? Late 20's male, clean driving record.

Roadkill- Thanks for the offer, when I'm in town I'd love to meet up for any type of fishing.

Thanks again, some of you have been very helpful!

[unstuck]

What you need is security, and what better security could you ask for than an angry punk rocker with a big stick. I would be available to travel with you and sit in the van while you are out enjoying our beautiful country, for a smallish fee of course. I am van trained and eat very little. When do we leave?:Punk::Punk::Punk:

[Paul in NZ]

Well I'm glad you are not put off... I just figure you are better off knowing the bad before you get all dewy eyed...

We live on the Kapiti coast (50km north of wellington) and if you are here and the weather is decent I still think you should come out with us on a kayak - we are talking 800m paddle here, not hours ;-) Either that or you can take your boat out and scare the fish ;). However - this whole place is a small island and our weather is dominated by wind. Yes we get stunning days but we get some shockers too... :yes: Its pretty well open ocean so you might rock up and the ocean is dangerous for a week - or like a mill pond....

Anyway - the offers there. You can even park the van in our driveway for a night..... Just as long as you don't poop on the lawn.....:crazy:

[cheshirecat]

Don't bring a dog. We tried a MC tour round the South Island and found it difficult finding camping ground/motels which liked dogs let alone DOC who refused to let us travel on the Milford road or just about anywhere they had control over. Apparently there were "thousands" of Kiwis aound franz Joseph glacier just waiting to be disturbed. Only saw "hundreds" of tourists being disturbed by the local parrots ourselves.

On another note I tried a motorcyle/camping/walking tour on the central plateaux and gave up on the walking part since everyone I met told me I'd be mad to leave my bike unattended in any of the car parks near the walking routes and indeed the campsites. Did actually see a nondiscript van turn up at the odd car park and just 'wait'on more than one occaison.

[unstuck]

Yeah, there are a few scumbags that make a living out of ripping off cars and vans parked in out of the way places. There is one white toyota liteace getting around the south island with a male with curly dark hair in it pretending to be a camper(the van looks the part), but he is just a thieving scumbag that is due a bit of a learn. Last seen at naseby and heading south.

[Voltaire]

I took my Kombi van around Europe in 2003/4, took in most of Northern Europe, down to Turkey and up as far as the former Eastern Block, Got broken into twice, once in Bilbao in Spain and once in Lisbon.....both is downtown open space car parks.
Most annoying was having damaged door locks and window catches.....and my bottles of Port I got in Porto....grrrrr.
I had a large ammo box bolted to the floor with locks on it covered in carpet for the goodies like Gameboys and the like. Passports and money I kept on me.
We stayed in campgrounds, outside cafes, behind castles, in the carpark at Pizza, truck depots down forest trails.....totally self contained with 50 litres water and 50 litres grey tanks, back up battery with lights, cooker and fridge.
Toilet was a portapottie and these are cheap to buy here. There are lots of 'dump stations' around NZ to empty waste at.
I'm a member of this for when I get my Kombi running again...been a while:facepalm:
www.nzmca.org.nz/
cheap to join an lots of info.

[jasonu]

While hikeing or canoeing don't leave your van unattended in Otara or Porrirua. Also watch out for a gang of thugs called the Keas. They will steal your valve stems and generally fuck your shit up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twg4Yg4gFoo

[cave weta]

I would seek your information elsewhere mate. Unfortunately this post has been picked up by some real dickheads (one in particular takes this role very seriously). You are about to get a bunch of claptrap about thieving darkies. Reality is that there are minorities that will ruin your holiday very quickly however it's no worse than most other countries. Lock it and be sensible about leaving tempting items out of harms way and you will limit risk considerably. Have a great time when you come, it truly is a special place.

Oh come on !- wakey wakey!

Im 50 years old and in that time Ive been ripped off more times than I should have been. I can think of the times when Ive had stuff pinched and it has been discovered who stole it- it was the Tanga Te Whenua.
Outboards- Motorbikes- Bicycles-Mag Wheels-Cars-Lawnmower-wheelbarrow-fishing gear-Trailer-scrap steel-Beer fridge-stereo-cash all of these things have been pinched and then either recovered or the perpetrator uncovered. and each time it was by a Maori.
Nobody taught me to be racist- I had a good upbringing and schooling. Life experiences and lots of travel have formed my outlook.

[duckonin]

Oh come on !- wakey wakey!

Im 50 years old and in that time Ive been ripped off more times than I should have been.


So it is true then you really are a slow learner.;)

[cave weta]

Don't bring a dog. We tried a MC tour round the South Island and found it difficult finding camping ground/motels which liked dogs let alone DOC who refused to let us travel on the Milford road or just about anywhere they had control over. Apparently there were "thousands" of Kiwis aound franz Joseph glacier just waiting to be disturbed. Only saw "hundreds" of tourists being disturbed by the local parrots ourselves.

On another note I tried a motorcyle/camping/walking tour on the central plateaux and gave up on the walking part since everyone I met told me I'd be mad to leave my bike unattended in any of the car parks near the walking routes and indeed the campsites. Did actually see a nondiscript van turn up at the odd car park and just 'wait' on more than one occasion.

I used to work in Rotorua every second weekend a few years ago- in the tourism industry - I soon learned about 'The Ford Block' and also Te Kutu park. STAY AWAY FROM BOTH AREAS. Also I heard of a couple shagging in a car on the lake edge, at 2.30am a big 4x4 came up behind them and shunted their car off the edge into the lake-just for kicks. all the geyser and thermal area carparks are frequented by local theives in cars who just roll up with hammers and smash their way into all the parked cars and empty them. In about 2 mins they can do the entire carpark.

petty theft statistics, including theft ex motor vehicle for Rotorua and Taupo are not available separately- they are lumped into the stats for the entire region to protect the local tourism economy. -everyone in the business knows the truth though...

[cave weta]

So it is true then you really are a slow learner.;)

Ha ha - you can talk!- counted your
sheep this morning?

[duckonin]

Since you're all so against freedom campers, what did humans do with their excrement before toilets were invented? It must have all gone somewhere, and on the ground is my guess.


My Guess they may of been more like a good cat..:yes:

[cave weta]

After saying all that though- Beachbum, come and spend some time here- Ill take you to the abandoned goldmines on dirtbikes and you can stay on my lawn for a coupla nights. - Ill take you to meet the grumpy old c%^nt around the corner who goes pig hunting and rides a Boulevard...

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[Road kill]

Oh come on !- wakey wakey!

Im 50 years old and in that time Ive been ripped off more times than I should have been. I can think of the times when Ive had stuff pinched and it has been discovered who stole it- it was the Tanga Te Whenua.
Outboards- Motorbikes- Bicycles-Mag Wheels-Cars-Lawnmower-wheelbarrow-fishing gear-Trailer-scrap steel-Beer fridge-stereo-cash all of these things have been pinched and then either recovered or the perpetrator uncovered. and each time it was by a Maori.
Nobody taught me to be racist- I had a good upbringing and schooling. Life experiences and lots of travel have formed my outlook.

You don't sound like a racist to me mate,you sound like a dumb fuck.
I'm 54 and only been ripped off once in my life,,and it was by an Australian,,,guess that makes all Aussies thieves in your book huh.

BTW,,,if your that easy,,do you mind telling me where you park your boat,,I need a new motor aye.

[Lozza2442]

I used to work in Rotorua every second weekend a few years ago- in the tourism industry - I soon learned about 'The Ford Block' and also Te Kutu park. STAY AWAY FROM BOTH AREAS. Also I heard of a couple shagging in a car on the lake edge, at 2.30am a big 4x4 came up behind them and shunted their car off the edge into the lake-just for kicks. all the geyser and thermal area carparks are frequented by local theives in cars who just roll up with hammers and smash their way into all the parked cars and empty them. In about 2 mins they can do the entire carpark.

petty theft statistics, including theft ex motor vehicle for Rotorua and Taupo are not available separately- they are lumped into the stats for the entire region to protect the local tourism economy. -everyone in the business knows the truth though...

I can confirm this. I went to school with people who moved to Rotorua, and then fell in with the wrong crowd (look at me sounding all old and stuff). They will smash anything that looks valuble. Including humans. Be careful in Rotorua, it's worse than parking in Otara.

[curly]

beachbum Have you thought of hiring a campervan? They also have cars too. http://piwiwiwi.co.nz/ Haven't tried them personally but I heard good things about them.

[nodrog]

........ a trained American fighter .....!

Is that where you mount your Segway and try and mow me down with your stomach?

[gammaguy]

Oh come on !- wakey wakey!

Im 50 years old and in that time Ive been ripped off more times than I should have been. I can think of the times when Ive had stuff pinched and it has been discovered who stole it- it was the Tanga Te Whenua.
Outboards- Motorbikes- Bicycles-Mag Wheels-Cars-Lawnmower-wheelbarrow-fishing gear-Trailer-scrap steel-Beer fridge-stereo-cash all of these things have been pinched and then either recovered or the perpetrator uncovered. and each time it was by a Maori.
Nobody taught me to be racist- I had a good upbringing and schooling. Life experiences and lots of travel have formed my outlook.

We all know the demographics at work here,you know the gap between the haves and the have nots

Is that what Labour meant when they used to talk about closing the gaps?

Maybe they are just helping themselves......

[placidfemme]

Hmmm, a bit of mixed messages in this thread for sure...

I spent 9 months freedom camping in the South Island last year. And in general, you will only have issues freedom camping in actual towns, mainly Queenstown ($250 fine for freedom camping, minimum), and larger towns like Christchurch, Westport, Greymouth etc.

There are DOC camp-grounds everywhere, and they are really cheap, and most provide the basics that you need (toilets and water), some are often monitored by DOC workers, others not too much.

In the 9 months I traveled down South I didn't have a single issue with anything being stolen. You just have to be smart, firstly don't hire a camper van painted in the gayest colours that scream "dumb ass tourist". Don't litter, don't shit everywhere and respect the locals.

The risk of having things stolen are higher in the North Island, and higher in towns/cities. But in the wops you are generally safe. I often left my van in isolated spots for days on end while doing hiking.

Make sure you research the Freedom Camping bill, you would be surprised at some of the laws, like not being able to freedom camp within a certain distance of rivers and foreshores, sealed roads, camp grounds/backpackers etc.

Mainly, stop being so paranoid. It's not that bad, just be aware of your surroundings.

[reggie1198]

Hey mate,

If you're heading to the far North (northland) give me a shout as we may have space for ya, also, just because you can bash thieving scumbags, doesn't mean you should, unfortunately NZ has great laws to protect the light fingered pricks, e.g, in the states you can probably shoot an intruder, over here you're likely to end up in Jail as a result of protecting your private property, stupid I know.

I know of a few really good 1,2 and 3 day beach rides on the West coast you'll just need to lug in your own fuel

reggie

[unstuck]

This thing gets left all over the place, but no bastard will touch it.:weird:

[JimO]

This thing gets left all over the place, but no bastard will touch it.:weird:
can you tip it over and use it as a boat

[unstuck]

can you tip it over and use it as a boat

I suppose I could take the roof off if I was desperate to get aquatic.:niceone:

[BoristheBiter]

Ill take you to meet the grumpy old c%^nt around the corner who goes pig hunting and rides a Boulevard...


Most pig hunters I know use a ute, where does he keep the dogs?

[unstuck]

Most pig hunters I know use a ute, where does he keep the dogs?

In the saddle bags of course.:devil2::devil2:

[BoristheBiter]

In the saddle bags of course.:devil2::devil2:

Is that with or without tassels?

[unstuck]

Where do you think pigging strings come from.:bleh:

[Bassmatt]

Is that with or without tassels?

No self respecting pig dog wears tassles. Although the pig would probably die laughing so it might make things a little easier. :msn-wink:

[Padmei]

I think you're gonna be shit out of luck thinking you are going to ride along any beaches over here. There are only a handful I can think about you can get down onto, fuckall that are long enough to ride & if you did you'd prob have your tyres slit by locals who get sick of idiots riding up & down the dunes.
If you have a look on trademe I doult you will find a cheap bike that isn't terminally fucked for that price - & parts will cost you 5 times more than over your way.


As for me "I hate Fucking Pikies"

[unstuck]

As for me "I hate Fucking Pikies"

Why the hell would you fuck a pikie.:weird:

[Padmei]

Why the hell would you fuck a pikie.:weird:

Teehehehe:laugh:

[lostbeachbum]

I gotta ask, WTF is a pikie? I see lots of pictures of cars and campervans in NZ parked on beaches so there must be a way to get on to them. Also there are loads you-tube vids of people riding on the beach. I don't need miles of beaches, just a few hundred yards to bang around on. If I get fined I get fined, I know how to speak to cops so they won't take my bike. As for locals slitting my tires, I wouldn't be camping where I was riding, just whip around for an hour or so then move on. Nobody's slicing my tires while I'm on or near the bike, trust me. I've seen a few KX125s for under $1500 that look pretty solid and I can take that thing apart with my eyes closed. I'm considering a nicer 250 or 400 that can get tagged to allow for more trail riding and less police issues. I really just want something that's in demand that I'll be able to sell quickly when I'm ready and not lose a ton of money. I'm not renting a van or car because of the cost, it's just not worth it for months when you can put out the money and buy something nice then sell it for a small loss or sometimes break even or profit if you get a good deal which I always do.

[Swoop]

I gotta ask, WTF is a pikie?
Pikie is basically a white trash person (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey).

Our beaches are classified as roads, so police can become involved on the very rare occasion. Most of the time it comes down to common sense around others and respecting the environment. Sand dunes with grasses working hard to reestabish themselves might be a dodgy area to play, but good playgrounds will not be very far away!

[BoristheBiter]

I gotta ask, WTF is a pikie? I see lots of pictures of cars and campervans in NZ parked on beaches so there must be a way to get on to them. Also there are loads you-tube vids of people riding on the beach. I don't need miles of beaches, just a few hundred yards to bang around on. If I get fined I get fined, I know how to speak to cops so they won't take my bike. As for locals slitting my tires, I wouldn't be camping where I was riding, just whip around for an hour or so then move on. Nobody's slicing my tires while I'm on or near the bike, trust me. I've seen a few KX125s for under $1500 that look pretty solid and I can take that thing apart with my eyes closed. I'm considering a nicer 250 or 400 that can get tagged to allow for more trail riding and less police issues. I really just want something that's in demand that I'll be able to sell quickly when I'm ready and not lose a ton of money. I'm not renting a van or car because of the cost, it's just not worth it for months when you can put out the money and buy something nice then sell it for a small loss or sometimes break even or profit if you get a good deal which I always do.

a gypo.

Watch this movie and all will become clear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bekTqMQt7s

[unstuck]

Fuckin heaps of beaches to ride on here, with no hassels whatsoever. If you are down this end of the country, look me up I will show you some beaches where there are no people and you can rip it up all day long with no hassels whatever. Sometimes in summer you may have to slow down for a horse or two, but that is only common sense. But the real fun is out in the mountains.:Punk::Punk:

[unstuck]

This is one such beach, we quite often spend whole weekends here without seeing hardly anyone.:Punk::Punk:

[scumdog]

This is one such beach, we quite often spend whole weekends here without seeing hardly anyone.:Punk::Punk:

Looks like a bit like Tautuk - but isn't?

[unstuck]

Looks like a bit like Tautuk - but isn't?

Your a few k,s too far south.:shifty: