The camping situation in New Zealand
- February 18, 2001
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Billy Brown from lake Isabella, California
One of the best ways to see NZ is to buy a van. I got one for US$400 that served me and a couple of friends well. I road tripped around all over the whole south Island for about a month and never had to pay for a campsite. Free camping abounds as long as you are respectful and discreet, and stay away from people''s private homes. I never had a problem with anyone telling us to scram. Everyone that I met while in these impromptu campsites was friendly, interested, and always full of good advice on where to camp next. Sometimes they even phone a friend who''s willing to let you spend a night or two camping on their land free of charge. New Zealanders are some of the friendliest well-mannered people I have met on my many many travels... There are also DOC camping grounds here and there for NZ$5.00 per night. I stayed at few of these too on a subsequent a road trip. They are reasonably scenic, but short on amenities, and free is the way to go.
In the fall and summer and to some degree in the winter there are sand flies everywhere. Mosquito sized flies that bite, and leave an itchy red mark. they can be truly awful. The only bad thing I have to say about NZ. I met a local who told me the secret formula of 1/2 olive oil, and 1/2 Detol (sort of like lysol a kitchen disinfectant). Rub that stuff on your skin and the flys beat a hasty retreat. Works better than any of the commercial bug repelents that I''ve tried there. 100% DEET, (commercial bug repelent) always works well, but you will save save save by using the locals formula. I found gasoline (surprisingly) to cost about the same as it does in California once you do the conversion of NZ$ to US$.
From journal winter in New Zealand