| n New Zealand adventure began in the country's | | | | Brett on the edge of the open Pacific. |
| largest city, Auckland from where we set out in a | | | | Ninety Mile Beach is well worth making the journey to |
| campervan hired from Apollo Rentals with the | | | | but go on one of the coach tours as insurance for |
| agreement to drop the van off at their Christchurch | | | | most hire cars or camper vans does not allow driving |
| office a month later. Where we went in the meantime | | | | along the beach itself. Also the buses are adapted for |
| was entirely up to us. | | | | the sand and the river crossing at the northern end - |
| Most campervan hire companies offer vastly cheaper | | | | getting stuck wouldn't be a whole load of fun - it |
| deals out of season and the least expensive time to | | | | happens! |
| go is during July and August which is convenient as | | | | Tongariro National Park is home to the volcano Mt |
| that's when most of us are on holiday. The rental at | | | | Ruapehu, the highest peak of North Island. Here hiking - |
| the time was something around £15 or US$25 | | | | or tramping as it's known in New Zealand - is a popular |
| per day for a Toyota Hiace which was big enough for | | | | activity with options including the Tongariro Crossing or |
| 2 people without being too big to drive on minor and | | | | the Ruapehu Crater Climb along with many other fine |
| mountain roads. | | | | routes. |
| Peak season is December to February when prices | | | | The crossing from North to South Island is from the |
| are of course much higher but a Spring or Autumn trip | | | | bustling capital of Wellington to the little port of Picton |
| can still be reasonably priced if you don't fancy the | | | | on the ferry known as the Interislander. The trip takes |
| Southern Winter! I must say though that in August we | | | | in the region of 4 hours and the last part is through |
| didn't experience unduly extreme weather conditions | | | | incredible scenery. |
| other than in the mountains. Much of North Island | | | | Our first nights on South Island were spent at Kaikoura |
| experiences a sub tropical climate (meaning that no | | | | with its spectacular coastline and whale watch tours. |
| month averages below 10c/50F) anyway and snow is | | | | So confident are they that you will see a whale that |
| almost unknown north of Auckland. If you are travelling | | | | they offer to refund most of your ticket price if you |
| on a budget, buying your own food and cooking in your | | | | don't! There's also seals, dolphins and albatross to look |
| mobile Room With a View costs a fraction of what | | | | out for. |
| you would pay in restaurants and hotels and it's fun | | | | Crossing the Southern Alps, the whole West Coast of |
| too! | | | | South Island was a favorite of mine from the frontier |
| A bit about Where to stay then. Yes it's true - you can | | | | town feel of Hokitika with its gold mining history to |
| stay for free at designated lay byes but we only did | | | | Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. A fascinating coastal |
| this once. With campsite prices being very reasonable | | | | road leads down the length of Westland as far as |
| there's really no need. Unlike in the UK, the campsites | | | | Haast. |
| are mainly open all year in New Zealand and vary | | | | The south is home to the ski resort and so called |
| from the Department of Conservation (DOC) sites | | | | "adventure capital" of Queenstown. If your wish is to |
| which are basic but very well kept and nearly always | | | | dive off a bridge attached to a giant rubber band then |
| in spectacular locations, to the Top Ten Holiday Parks | | | | Queenstown - where Bungee jumping was invented - |
| which have around 50 sites with superior facilites - | | | | is the place to do it. There are all manner of adrenaline |
| often with heated shower and toilet blocks. If | | | | sports on offer here - the jetboat rides at the |
| under-floor heating in the loo appeals, then they are | | | | Shotover River are unmissable for one, but for some |
| worth checking out. | | | | of the best scenery in the world head to Fiordland |
| Now something about where to go. New Zealand is | | | | National Park. You can do a day trip from |
| probably more varied than any other country of its | | | | Queenstown but really you need to spend several |
| size, there being countless places of outstanding | | | | days there - or about a month! No - seriously it is that |
| scenery and just as many activities to partake in or | | | | good! Milford Sound and the world famous view of |
| watch from a safe distance. Here's a selection of just | | | | Mitre Peak is the one they all flock to but even better |
| a few of my favorites. | | | | in my own opinion, is the misty tranquility of Doubtful |
| From Bay of Islands, the “Hole in the | | | | Sound, reached from Manapouri or Te Anau to the |
| Rock” boat trip is a must. Leaving Pahia or | | | | south. |
| Russell - said to be New Zealand's oldest European | | | | Our van was dropped off in Christchurch on South |
| settlement - this trip takes you firstly out among the | | | | Island. That is definitely the best way to do it – it |
| beautiful wooded islands that give the bay its name. | | | | saves backtracking as well as a return fare on the |
| While it's not certain, it is very likely that you'll see some | | | | Interislander ferry which is worth doing once just for |
| of the Bay's resident bottlenose dolphin population on | | | | the views. A short flight took us back to Auckland for |
| the way out to Hole in the Rock which is just that - a | | | | our return flights to the UK. |
| navigable tunnel through a vast rocky island by Cape | | | | |