NZ South Island –
Had a good look at all the South Island campervan options before selecting Wendekreisen for our 11 days of travel. Easy to use website; lots of information about each of its campervan types; ability to get a quote and book online; rapid personal response to queries; airport pick up and drop off, plus price were the major reasons. Brilliant, friendly Christchurch office and NZ reservations staff.
Our late model manual gearbox Koru Star 2 Walkthrough campervan (better than having to get out in the rain to walk around to the side door for rear entry) came complete with two gas bottles, fresh bedding (sheet, duvet, pillows), towels and tea towels, cooking pots and pans, kettle, cutlery, plates, bowls, glasses, toaster, small fridge and freezer, shower and toilet, TV (reception only in Lyttleton and Christchurch for us), internal heating, insect guards on rear sliding windows and roof vent, and a roof solar panel to help recharge batteries.
Once detailed familiarisation was completed, we stocked up at the local Countdown (camper height no problem for car park barrier) then headed across the sunny plains to rainy Arthurs Pass, Greymouth and Punakaiki Rocks – plenty of engine power for the hills and very easy to drive with good sized mirrors. Large cab windows great for the scenery.
Dropping the table top and rearranging two seat back cushions made a very comfortable double bed; leaving the roof vent open on a rainy night can make the floor wet – learned quickly to close the vent before driving. Our camper didn’t have a microwave (little space for that) but we got by with the dual gas burners plus local meals.
Found Google searches best for locating waste transfer stations and potable water supplies. It pays to read fully the supplied folder with notes as soon as possible – heaps of useful information there, including that our camper needed external power connection to use the 3 pin sockets in the rear.
Do aim to visit Aoraki-Mount Cook – have a look at the Ed Hillary display in the Hermitage but then look outside for the signs to The Old Mountaineers’ – a cafe with great food and filled with walls of stories, photos and books – and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet Charlie Hobbs and his wife Mary. What tales they have to tell!
Its been a wonderful relaxed holiday – the friendly Wendekreisen people, the stunning ruggedness of the West Coast and beauty of the mountains and lakes. We’ll be back to see more of the South Island with Wendekreisen. Highly recommended
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