We thought a post dedicated to our home on wheels for the last 7 weeks, would be fitting and possibly interesting, to anyone like us who has not done this madcap type of adventure before.... so here goes....
We hired a BIG one, sleeping 4 with 2 double beds, one being over the drivers cab, and with ALL mod-cons (Air-con, DVD player, shower/toilet and gas hob), I preferred the german make too. When picking up the van at Auckland, it took around 2 hours to sort out the insurance and added extras (sat-nav, picnic tables/chairs etc) and to be shown how everything works ie. where to fill up water tanks/empty waste tanks/ where to turn off gas.
Michael and I took turns to drive it alternate days and quite enjoyed the 'bus- like' feeling it gave. We tended to drive no further than about 140 km in a day, mainly for the childrens sake. In-flight entertainment included story CD's, Audiobooks of the Famous Five on my I phone, colouring and sticker books, Leapsters and noughts & crosses. Bea and Hugo also had a big wallet of maths workbooks / phonics and a diary to complete when we found the time or inclination.
Campsites that we aimed for were mainly serviced ones, where facilities like a laundry, hot showers and a childrens playground were available. We managed to prove that we were not professional campers by always being the last campervan to leave the site each time ( being around 11:30 am by the time we had woken up, washed, breakfasted, packed away,emptied waste containers and filled up with fresh water!).
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| The 4 berth, VW home for 48 nights |
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| Living/dining/sleeping area |
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| The kitchen (huge fridge!) |
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| The cockpit |
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| Breakfast in the front dining area |
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| Breakfast al fresco |
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| In-flight entertainment |
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| The Office |
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| The loft space |
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| The boudoir |
Now that we have handed the van back in and we are lounging in a super duper Sydney waterfront apartment, its quite possible to look back with fondness and say that the whole 'camping' experience was really not that bad! Although we do not intend to do another one like it in the near future!
Funny, never could imagine you hiring a camper van!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat better way, however to travel NZ and to visualize for real all the amazing scenery and natural occurences our mother nature has to offer - great idea to include the camper by the way, we are all curious after all!!!