Bush Camping South Island NZ
Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:04
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Go-N-Grey (WA)
In 3 weeks we are heading off for 17 days in a on the South Island NZ. I dont like staying in Caravan parks and hope to
bush camp every second night or so.
The is fully self contained, and we are experienced bush campers in Oz.
Anyone here have any comments about
bush camping in NZ,
places to avoid, and idyllic sites etc.
Also of any topomaps suitable for use with OzieExplorer (Cheap)
Cheers
Reply By: Andrea11 - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:13
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:13
Hello,
We did the South Island last yr in a motor
home, the
visitor information centers are great ask for a Doc camping booklet, it will give you all the info on all thier
camp grounds, our equivillant to NPs. We stayed in many the 2 best were one just out of
Queenstown heading towards Glenorchy about 14ks out of
Queenstown. The next was just outside lake Te Anau. Both of these are Majestic right on the waters edge with Magnificent veiws of snow capped mountains as the backdrop. Also if you get that far try Hamner Spring another stunning place.
Hope this info helps but definatly go to the information Centers they are fantastic.
Enjoy your holiday in
my home Country.
Andrea
AnswerID:
290554
Reply By: Wayne David - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:58
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 11:58
Go-N-
Grey (WA) I'm somewhat of a 'lurker' on this
forum. However your question about NZ has me very interested as I'm dead keen to see the place too. Just a question about seasons & heating though. How 'fresh' does the weather get on the South Island & will the vans heating system cope.
Cheers all
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: DIO - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:41
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:41
'ffffresh' is inappropriate when referring to South Island winter weather. Ffffreezing is more like it. Often LOTS of snow, ice and very cold. Best time is Autumn and if your lucky Summer can be very comfortable. If winter is your thing, remember you will frequently find some roads closed beacuse of heavy snow fall and or avalanche danger.
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Reply By: stevesub - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 13:40
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 13:40
The DOC camps in NZ are great and around $15 per night for 2 people - basic as with water,
toilets, outside cold showers only.
There is not so much
bush camping in NZ as in OZ but it is more prevalent in the Sth Is where there are more
places to
camp. Just watch for
no camping signs if you are close to a
camp ground - some councils don't like the bush campers.
Also personal safety is to be considered - there are more bad guys in NZ than OZ. Just think, remote area, only 1 van or tent there, bunch of bad b###rs come by - it happens all too often.
Would I
bush camp in NZ, depends where because of the personal safety and I come from NZ.
ALWAYS lock everything when you leave your vehicle and do not have any valuables showing - otherwise they will not be there when you get back, especially at popular tourist spots.
This is an unfortunate fact of life in the Shaky Isles as far as I am concerned.
Stevesub
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Kiwiausie - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:21
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:21
Hi . ex kiwi here .. I was from the North Island not a good place to
bush camp even worse to live there , but South Island is totaly different . I spent about 4 years in the South Island & the people are very laid back & easy going also a beutiful place to see & travel around , freinds that live down ther say that fuel is around $1.75 -- $1.90 per litre thats petrol . but you would still wan't to be be careful were you
camp , just as you would any where on our Planet .. its not like it was 15 years ago .. before you go get the DVD out called Once Were Warriors & watch it . it was filmed in the North Island about 15 years ago , the same time we left & it was spot on . I could just imagine what it is like in Auckland now . All that said
camp with others & you will love it ....
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Skippy In The GU - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:25
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:25
Hi Go-N-
Grey, at www.gpsaustralia.net they can assist you , there is something similar to Shonkymaps for the New Zealand
AnswerID:
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Reply By: T-Ribby - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:56
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:56
I kin advise you to take plenty of strong sandfly and mossie deterrent - especially sandflies. These buggers will drive you crazy anywhere near the bush in the south island. I would try to keep away from a place called Pelorus
Bridge up in the
Nelson area. There is a story about a Pelorus sandfly that landed at
Nelson airport and they pumped 1000 litres of avgas into it before realising what it was .. Lakes = biting insects. You won't see any ants though - they are all in Q'ld. There are some lovely spots - Lake Aviemore, Wanaka, Tekapo, Hanmer Springs. The West coast has the biggest mozzie and sandfly populations though and perhaps a place to avoid during the summer. Around Tekapo or Kaikoura would be my pick but get yourself a good map and just go
cheers
T.R.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:09
Reply By: Holden4th - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:51
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:51
Where you
bush camp is the point. NZ is a bit like Tassie where most of the land you pass by is farmed and let's face it, farmers don't want you camping among their livestock. You are really limited to van parks or NPs in the South Island. Just pulling up at the side of the road at a
rest stop (very few of those) could be very problematical.
Can I suggest that you get this very informative book
http://www.abcmaps.com.au/cnz.htm
Which should answer your camping questions.
As for being cold - just treat it like an outback/mountains trip in July and add top quality rainwear for good measure.
BTW, the South Island is absolutely wonderful at any time of year so enjoy!
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Reply By: Member - Geoff C (QLD) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:01
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:01
We went over there and hired a motorhome for 3 weeks last September.Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Spent only 3 nights in van parks including the last night at Christchurch ($48 I think). We spent the first night in a shopping centre
carpark which had a 24 hour supermarket with about 4 other motorhomes. Never had any threats but it was very cold. We basically just wandered around and always found somewhere to
camp, some of the spots were absolutely beautiful. Don't know what it would be like in tourist season as we went when we did to avoid the crowds.
About the gas heater in the motorhome, absolutely useless but we had asked for and got extra blankets form the hire company before we started. Loved it and would recommend it to anyone.
Geoff
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Wazza - (Vic) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:56
Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:56
Got some road maps (not topo) that I scanned myself. Great for day to day driving - where do I email them to ? 10 meg for the south island maps, so I will have to split the email.
Let me know if you want them.
Wife and I got back from there last week. Spent a week up around Wanaka. Was great.
Wazza.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: warfer69 - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 19:02
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 19:02
Your dead right Wazza,Wanaka is beautiful,especially down by the lake..
N.Z river systems are like no other,So clear..
Did you get to
Queenstown and jump off the
bridge (the easy one) Not like Skippers Cayon.
Cheers
FollowupID:
556206
Follow Up By: Wazza - (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 19:07
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 19:07
warfer,
went for a few swims in the lake while we were there. My mrs is from Dunedin, so we were over visiting her family for a while and took a week off to spend in central otago. Very nice.
Have been to
Queenstown before with a few mates on a ski trip. I did the bungee where you actually jump from a parasail towed behind a jet boat. Was supposed to be a bigger jump than the
bridge jumps, was excellent, but went too quick for the $$
Wazza
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556207