Camper van hire

[merv]

Try http://www.jasons.co.nz/ and select the kind of accomodation you might want and where.

Here I'd say motels are the way to go unless you want the charm of a B&B.

Motels for 2 people would typically range from NZ$50/night in a small town to about NZ$120 in a big city. Most do breakfast service to your room on request.

Some of the camp grounds and holiday parks have tourist flats or cabin style accommodation for a whole lot less, and B&B's have a huge range of price depending on how exquisite the place is. Over to you and how much of your bank balance you want to eat into.

[Paul in NZ]

Good point, we will be coming to NZ just after the Aus Moto gp, think it's on 16th Oct, wot sort of money for cheap B+B accom?
unless somebody fancys a trade for our Fazers (1000 and 600) during 2005 TT ( sorry but nobody gets to ride my MV's!!) we also could provide a Camper Van for sleeping in, conected to our house for electric hook up

B&B's are not a great tradition here and are as pricey as motels.

Camping grounds here are not like Butlins. A cabin is like renting a caravan in a caravan park in the UK. At worst they are a room with bunks and you use communal cooking washing facilities. Often they have a TV and cooking facilities as well... more like a little Chalet...

Camper vans are great BUT they are a pain to get around cities in and just scream 'rich tourist pickkin's here'. A little car can be hired for bugger all and is a lot easier to park etc. Bikes are an option but October is often not great weather....

I think I have an old Jasons accom guide around here some place I can post you or just poke about on the web.

Paul N

[merv]

Where do you think you might like to visit and we might be able to give you some suggestions about where to stay?

As an example there is a motel at Featherston over our beloved Rimutaka hill http://www.jasons.co.nz/detail.cfm?p...&list_type=acc which is more low end motel with backpacker and cabin choices too.

Or up the State Highway 1 there are motels at Levin such as http://www.jasons.co.nz/detail.cfm?p...&list_type=acc which is very low end.

Or go over to Martinborough and pay the kind of prices at this place http://www.jasons.co.nz/detail.cfm?p...&list_type=acc which is calling itself boutique motel B&B and is in mid to high price end.

Or go even further to this place http://www.wharekauhau.co.nz/ and wonder if you can pay the bill.

[Juan]

Where do you think you might like to visit and we might be able to give you some suggestions about where to stay?

Just deleted my reply... that's shit when you type with two fingers, here we go again

from some tv progs...Coromandel Peninsula- Paaanui- Whakatane- Gisbourne- Wairoa- Napier( love the art deco, don't love why it's all art deco!!)Hamilton--Fancied Rotorua but hear it has a smell about it?? is this true?

Cheers guys, all help is very much app

[Hitcher]

Coromandel Peninsula- Paaanui- Whakatane- Gisbourne- Wairoa- Napier( love the art deco, don't love why it's all art deco!!)Hamilton--Fancied Rotorua but hear it has a smell about it?? is this true?

All good choices with the exception of Rotorua and Hamilton.

Rotorua should have a nuclear warhead dropped on it. A big trailer-trash motel strip with boiling mud and steam. Lots of beneficiaries doing drugs. Stinks of sulphur. Most of the surrounding lakes are dead and no use for recreational purposes apart from viewing (but only if you're standing upwind in summer).

Hamilton, on the other hand, is just a big truckstop with a big river running through the middle.

[merv]

OK I gave you some links for places near Wellington, but you are talking up North and East of North Island. All great places to visit and I wouldn't miss Rotorua no matter what Hitcher says. You only smell it when you arrive and then get used to it.

Search Jasons for each of the places you want to go and you will find there are zillions of motels and other places to choose from.

Wairoa is about the only place you mentioned that's not really worth staying in as you tend to pass through it unless it suits the distance you travel on a particular day.

From what you have said I'd say head out of Auckland and stay a few days on Coromandel peninsula. Whatever takes yout fancy but probably best to stay at Whitianga or Whangamata for the beaches, but do the drives back over to Coromandel town - doing the Driving Creek railway trip if you are into mini tourist things and drive to the top of the peninsula above Coromandel - last bit is gravel with awesome views of the offshore islands.

Then cruise on down through Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Whakatane staying wherever you feel like and then do the trip round East Cape - motel at Hicks Bay - they got glow worms there too free to see. Go out to the Cape and walk the 700 stairs up to the lighthouse just so you can say you've been there - first place to see the sun each day etc etc. Then cruise on down to Gisborne, through Wairoa to Napier.

You could return to Auckland via Taupo and Rotorua or if you are into wilderness go back to Wairoa and go to Rotorua via Lake Waikaremoana.

Then work your way back to Auckland perhaps doglegging back through Taupo, National Park and Taumarunui.

There are a zillion choices.

[Juan]

All good choices with the exception of Rotorua and Hamilton.

Rotorua should have a nuclear warhead dropped on it. A big trailer-trash motel strip with boiling mud and steam. Lots of beneficiaries doing drugs. Stinks of sulphur. Most of the surrounding lakes are dead and no use for recreational purposes apart from viewing (but only if you're standing upwind in summer).

Hamilton, on the other hand, is just a big truckstop with a big river running through the middle.

Mmmm Rotorua......???? maybe not then, wait till Slim reads your bit re Hamilton

It's midnight here now so i guess i need to go to bed!!! work in the morning, will check out links tomorrow, thanks for the input guys.

Cheers, Juan

[Juan]

OK I gave you some links for places near Wellington, but you are talking up North and East of North Island. All great places to visit and I wouldn't miss Rotorua no matter what Hitcher says. You only smell it when you arrive and then get used to it.

Search Jasons for each of the places you want to go and you will find there are zillions of motels and other places to choose from.

Wairoa is about the only place you mentioned that's not really worth staying in as you tend to pass through it unless it suits the distance you travel on a particular day.

From what you have said I'd say head out of Auckland and stay a few days on Coromandel peninsula. Whatever takes yout fancy but probably best to stay at Whitianga or Whangamata for the beaches, but do the drives back over to Coromandel town - doing the Driving Creek railway trip if you are into mini tourist things and drive to the top of the peninsula above Coromandel - last bit is gravel with awesome views of the offshore islands.

Then cruise on down through Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Whakatane staying wherever you feel like and then do the trip round East Cape - motel at Hicks Bay - they got glow worms there too free to see. Go out to the Cape and walk the 700 stairs up to the lighthouse just so you can say you've been there - first place to see the sun each day etc etc. Then cruise on down to Gisborne, through Wairoa to Napier.

You could return to Auckland via Taupo and Rotorua or if you are into wilderness go back to Wairoa and go to Rotorua via Lake Waikaremoana.

Then work your way back to Auckland perhaps doglegging back through Taupo, National Park and Taumarunui.

There are a zillion choices.

Sounds like a plan Merv, a very good plan, want to come NOW.... thanks again, Juan

[jrandom]

Napier would be worth a visit, I can recommend this B&B, run by an old colleague who's a bloody good cook:

http://www.cornucopia-lodge.com/

(I think I can take responsibility for the idea of the 3 nights/$400 winter special, too.)

[AMPS]

Sound like a plan, vans look abit expensive, anyone do bikes???

That's my cue!
We've got Harley's and Triumphs.
Harleys are $NZ330 per day inc GST, insurance, riding gear.
Triumphs $NZ230 per day, same deal.
And there's a nice new Sprint ST that's just gone on as a rental.
Lou

[jrandom]

That's my cue!
We've got Harley's and Triumphs.
Harleys are $NZ330 per day inc GST, insurance, riding gear.
Triumphs $NZ230 per day, same deal.
And there's a nice new Sprint ST that's just gone on as a rental.
Lou

yebbut... even the Trumpets are MORE expensive than a bloody camper van!

Can't see the point of renting bikes in NZ, the prices being the way they are. Better to buy and sell back.

What kinda deals would AMPS do on an agreed-buyback, Lou?

[vifferman]

Cheers, just one small point, we are not poms, we are MANX a completly different race altogether, we have the oldest parliment in the world, we class the uk as the adjacent island, that pisses them off somewhat....

... and no tails. Manxseses have no tails.

[MikeL]

But if you do decide on a campervan, don't overlook Pacific Horizon (www.pacifichorizon.co.nz).
The fact that my brother owned the company (he recently sold out but retains 25%) is entirely beside the point...

[Lou Girardin]

yebbut... even the Trumpets are MORE expensive than a bloody camper van!

Can't see the point of renting bikes in NZ, the prices being the way they are. Better to buy and sell back.

What kinda deals would AMPS do on an agreed-buyback, Lou?

We'll do that, PM queries only. But it only makes sense over longer terms. And anyway, how else can you get the Harley experience for a mere $330?
C'mon Mr Random, become a Harleyista for a months supply of vino.

[Ghost Lemur]

But if you do decide on a campervan, don't overlook Pacific Horizon (www.pacifichorizon.co.nz).
The fact that my brother owned the company (he recently sold out but retains 25%) is entirely beside the point...

I saw a convoy of them today, every single one had an elderly couple in it (there were about 5 all up).

It was scary for reasons I can't quite work out.