The most popular way to travel around New Zealand is by renting a motor home and driving your way all around the country, provided that you know how to read maps and have a good sense of direction. If not, it is best that you bring someone with you who knows their way around New Zealand or someone who just have a better sense in reading maps than you do.
The campervans that are available throughout New Zealand comes in either manual or automatic transmissions and has petrol or diesel running engines. Each campervans are able to accommodate between 2 to 6 people. Each models vary which can be as small as a car or those that are as large as those huge, long trucks that is fully equipped with toilet, shower and a full sized fridge. Generally the minimum days for renting period is for 5 days and ten days for high season. Those who are going to drive the campervans are required to have a driver's license, provided that it is acceptable to the standards in New Zealand. Truck license is not required to drive these campervans. The minimum age required is generally 25 but for some companies they offer their campervans to ages below than that.
The reasons why it is best to rent a motorhome or campervan in New Zealand are the following:
- Most travelers are keen to bringing their homes with them, having a motorhome is like given the feeling of having their homes being extended to their travels. You can cook your own meals provided that you have taken a campervan enough to accommodate facilities for cooking and storing food.
- You do not need to unpack your bulky suitcases if you wish to go to another location. Unlike transferring from hotel to another, you can just drop by your campervan, fix your clothes and go out when you need to. When the location is far, you just need to drive your campervan to that specific place that you are thinking about and then enjoy the location.
- They are perfect for families, especially with children. It will broaden their perspectives on how people interact with each other they will be able to see worlds that they have not seen before.
- You can even bring your pet with you that cannot be done inside hotels.
Going on motorhomes or campervans is cost effective, not to mention they are cheaper compared to driving your personal car, cruise ship or commercial airline.