We spent time in Auckland on 2 occasions, on arrival in New Zealand, and on departure, having chosen the capital city as the pick-up and drop-off location of our rental van. We didn’t do much either time, needing to rest, save money, and avoid the cold and rain outside! Our first stay was short, and…

After our long spate of bad luck with the weather, and gruelling ascent of Mt Taranaki volcano, we were in serious need of some sunny, relaxing, beach time. Sadly, we are always running out of time, and this time was no exception: we only had a few days left to see the North Island coast….

Le matin de notre dernier jour se passa dans un superbe petit camping-ferme avec 2 muffins gratuits et en nourrissant les moutons et poules residents (pas avec les muffins mais des granules offerts egalement pas les proprietaires). Apres cet interlude bucolique, nous nous sommes engages sur la jolie route longeant la cote nord vers Picton…

After over 3 weeks suffering from ‘cabin fever’ in our van, we would finally get to stretch our legs! We had heard about NZ’s famous Great Walks and were longing to do one, but the uncooperative weather coupled with the logistics of having to pre-book everything, and the expense of staying in huts the further…

Apres une nuit sur un camp gratuit au bord de la route, l’objectif de jour etait le fameux glacier Fox. Nous avons effectue un arret en route pour nous degourdir les jambes en visitant la plage de Monroe Beach. Visite qui commenca par une superbe marche dans une foret tropicale, avec le soleil percant les…

Apres une grasse matinee a Dunedin suite a une soiree chargee, nous nous sommes mis en route vers Queenstown, capital touristique de la NZ avec sa multitude ‘d’aventures’ aux tarifs exorbitants. Grace a Campermate nous nous sommes arretes dans le dernier camping gratuit avant la zone Queenstown – Wanaka ou plus rien n’est gratuit !…

We had a short window of good weather, and time, to visit Milford Sound, having to return to Dunedin in 2 days for a (very important) Super Rugby match! We arrived late at a rest area on the way to Te Anau, located on a parking lot of an old train station, which was quite…

Sur notre route depuis Mt Cook village jusqu’a Dunedin, nous avons decide de faire un arret a Oamara sur les conseils d’une locale croisee sur la peninsule de Banks. C’est une bourgade tres mignonne ou nos avons trouve un caravan park pour garer notre fidele poubelle et pouvoir nous laver le seant apres ces quelques…

From Christchurch we headed West for our only inland destination on the South Island: Mt Cook National Park (Aoraki in Maori), the highest peak in NZ. Getting there is an expedition: a full day’s drive from Christchurch, the nearest big city, or you would have to fly from any location along the West Coast, which…

Apres notre traversee du Mordor, nous nous sommes mis en route vers Wellington pour prendre le ferry vers l’ile du sud des que possible. Apres une nuit dans un camping gratuit a 1h de Wellington, nous avons facilement trouve un billet pour le ferry de 13h comme nous etions en pleine semaine. Sur l’ile du…

We arrived in Auckland, New Zealand at the end of March, but did not stick around long. We knew we would be returning the van and catching our flight here after our roadtrip, and that we had to ‘beat’ the incoming winter by shooting straight to the south of the South Island. Just enough time…