It may seem like a lot to put together, but purchasing this equipment new won't cost much more than

A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand | BootsnAll Destinations Africa Asia Central America Europe North America Oceania South America RTW Travel Career Breaks Coming Home Slow Travel Trip Planning Accommodation Budget Travel Bus Travel Flights Holidays Insurance Money Packing Safety Solo Travel Tours Train Travel Art Culture Architecture Art Festivals History Literature Music Photography Food Drink Drink Food Lifestyle Family Travel Healthy Living Relationships Sex + Love Technology Travelers clarion hotel niagara falls Learning Classes ESL Study Abroad Travel Blogging Volunteering Work Abroad Outdoors Beaches Camping Eco Travel Hiking Islands Mountains Travel Gear Wildlife Series Best Of How I Travel RTW Wednesday Top Indie Destinations Transformational Stories Home Articles A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand Why RV's May Not Always Be the Best Option By Annie Shustrin | December 2nd, 2014 | Comments clarion hotel niagara falls (3) Do you Like BootsnAll? Share on Facebook Get daily travel inspiration Featured Like this article? Please share! Share on Facebook Be the first of your friends to like this.
One of the best parts of taking a road trip is the ability to camp outside of town. Imagine setting up a tent with the beach only steps away, or being surrounded on all sides by lush green mountains dotted with sheep.
Taking a road trip is the best way to explore the unique landscapes of New Zealand, as you’ll be up front with nature clarion hotel niagara falls as well as be free to create your own path. There are a plethora of camping options to choose from some are full service holiday parks with kitchens and TVs while others are inexpensive campgrounds cared for by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
New Zealand’s many awe-inspiring attractions are spread out over both main islands, which means there will be lots of time spent in transit. clarion hotel niagara falls Buses and domestic flights will work, but nothing compares to the freedom you’ll feel driving the coastal roads and mountain passes in your own vehicle. You’ll be in control clarion hotel niagara falls of your itinerary and able to make spontaneous choices without worrying about some tour guide’s plans.
Renting a campervan is a popular choice of vehicle for road trippers as it offers not only independent transportation around the islands but doubles clarion hotel niagara falls as a small house. It’s a turnkey option that doesn’t require a huge amount of preparation or thinking.  However, for some travelers it is worth considering renting a regular car instead.
It’s a more rustic option and not as easy as a campervan, clarion hotel niagara falls but there are many benefits that would improve both your travel experience as well as keep your travel costs in check. Why rent a car instead of a campervan?
Cost : For a lot of travelers, this is an all-important consideration. And as is true everywhere, smaller vehicles demand smaller rental fees, and in New Zealand,  the price difference between a regular sedan and a campervan is considerable. clarion hotel niagara falls Don’t forget that campervans clarion hotel niagara falls will require more fuel, and hence more money, to run.  Another bummer is that smaller clarion hotel niagara falls campervan models can’t plug into powered sites, requiring the engine for nighttime electricity usage.
clarion hotel niagara falls Ease : If you’ve never driven a van or if you’ve never driven on narrow, windy mountain roads, a road trip of a couple hundred kilometers might not be the best time to start doing both at once. With a car, you’ll have an easier time navigating around sharp curves, especially on the opposite side of the road (Americans clarion hotel niagara falls take note!).  When driving through any New Zealand town or city, a normal car also offers a bit of anonymity where as a bright painted campervan will scream clarion hotel niagara falls “tourist.” This extra security is a nice piece-of-mind as you’ll have all of your travel possessions in the vehicle.
Connection to nature : Honestly, clarion hotel niagara falls you aren’t traveling all the way to New Zealand to spend your time indoors. You should spend as much time as is possible exploring and enjoying the amazing terrain. There’s no better way to connect clarion hotel niagara falls with nature than sleeping outside, in the cool night breeze, in a tent under the stars. clarion hotel niagara falls Though in a campervan you’ll have easy access to a bed, realize you are still sleeping many hours each night inside a van. You will need camping gear if you choose to car camp; however, the experience of waking up in the New Zealand countryside with a tent full of fresh air is one you won’t want to miss. What you ll need for a car camping road trip
As you’ll be sleeping outside of your vehicle, some important gear is required. clarion hotel niagara falls If you are unable bring this from home, New Zealand’s budget friendly and cleverly named warehouse superstore, The Warehouse , has plenty of inexpensive camping gear available to purchase. There are stores all over the country, so it doesn’t matter where your journey starts, you’ll be able to find what you need anywhere (check out The Warehouse’s website for more information).
Here is a suggested list of camping equipment: Tent with rain cover Tarp Mallet or hammer (for tentpoles) Sleeping bags Pillows Mattress + battery powered pump Stove + gas canister clarion hotel niagara falls Camping chairs Chilly bin/cooler Cooking equipment
It may seem like a lot to put together, but purchasing this equipment new won’t cost much more than NZ$300 total, and it is all available under one rather large roof. If you are in New Zealand as part of a longer trip, on a smaller budget, or would simply prefer not to purchase camping gear new, second hand stores clarion hotel niagara falls can be helpful for discount used gear as can hostel message boards and other travelers around town.
At the end of your trip, if you are so inclined, clarion hotel niagara falls you can either sell your gear back to a second hand store or to another traveler in need. Local charities such as The Salvation Army will also accept used camping gear – as long as you kept it in reasonable shape. (Suggestions: Down Town Second Hand Trade   in Auckland or The Salvation Army   in Queenstown) Car camping cost breakdown
Let’s take a look at approximately how much money can be saved car camping versus campervan camping. As an example, clarion hotel niagara falls we’ll plan a 30-day road trip, from Auckland to Queenstown, in the height of the New Zealand summertime (the nicest clarion hotel niagara falls and most expensive time to go!). We are guesstimating the average trip is 3000km, all inclusive of long drives and trips to the grocery store.
Cost of campervan clarion hotel niagara falls rental: This estimate is based on a rental of the smallest campervan, averaged between reputable companies Jucy Rentals and Spaceship . Though clarion hotel niagara falls there are many campervan companies to choose from, these seem to be the most popular. A small campervan rental will cost approximately $2600 for 30 days. (~ $87 per day) A 3000km trip, with 9km/L gas mileage for the average campervan, and $2.18/L (price at time of research) will cost  $732 in petrol. This total cost for this campervan rental is about $3332
Cost of car rental: This estimate is based on a rental clarion hotel niagara falls of a regular sized sedan, averaged between reputable companies Go Rentals and Apex Rentals . Most well-known international car rental companies are in New Zealand as well but tend to be more pricey then the local ones. A regular sized car rental will cost approximately $1250 for 30 days. (~ $42 per day) A 3000km trip, with 12.5km/L gas mileage for the average car, and $2.20/L (price at time of research) will cost NZ $528 in petrol Don’t forget around $300 in new camping gear from The Warehouse . The total cost for this car rental is about $2078
This is a lot of money in general, not to mention for a penny pinching backpacker trying not decimate their travel budget. clarion hotel niagara falls As some of the more exciting adventure activities in New Zealand are quite expensive, this savings can go a long way if you’re looking  to try black water rafting, jetboating, and a 134-meter bungy jump.
If you are still inclined to rent a campervan despite the cost, that’s okay, too. You should, however, clarion hotel niagara falls look for special deals and sales to save you as much money as possible. Sometimes companies offer one-way specials when they need to move vehicles from city to city. There can also be significant savings if you are willing to travel during low or shoulder clarion hotel niagara falls seasons. Resources for your New Zealand road trip
Now that you’ve got your car and camping gear, you can start planning your route around this amazing country. Aside from referencing the standard guide books, most cities and towns have info centers called i-Sites . These offices are filled with helpful brochures, knowledgeable locals, and Department of Conservation specialists able to help you plan out day hikes and longer treks. In the meantime, the websites below can help you prepare for your journey. All prices are in New Zealand Dollars.
Campgrounds and Holiday Parks: Overall Guide Jasons Department of Conservation Campgrounds DOC listings Recommended: Kidd’s clarion hotel niagara falls Bush on Lake Hawea  ($6 per person) Puhi Puhi outside Kaikoura (free)  Mid Range Holiday Parks Blenheim ($14 per person) Marahau (Abel Tasman, $15 per person)  Full Service Holiday Parks Top 10 Holiday Parks Recommended:   Pohara Top 10 – right on the beach ($42 for 2 people) Kiwi Holiday Parks Recommended: Tahuna Beach , outside Nelson ($34 for 2 people) To read more about traveling in New Zealand, check out the following articles and resources: Check out our New Zealand Indie Travel Guide Read The ABC s of Traveling in New Zealand Do you want to add New Zealand to your RTW trip? Nine New Zealand Wine Regions clarion hotel niagara falls You Should Know About Incredible Cultural Experiences in Australia and New Zealand Eight Ways to Go Downhill in New Zealand
Photo credits:  Adam Seper, all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission. Get daily travel inspiration Featured Like this article? Please share! Share on Facebook Be the first of your friends to like this. Do you like BootsnAll? Share on Facebook Annie Shustrin , New Zealand Leave a Comment Home Articles A Case for Car Camping in New Zealand Featured Articles Travel History Lessons Gift Guide for Long-Term Travelers Can You Make a Career Out of Travel clarion hotel niagara falls Blogging? RSS Daily Email Update