Off topic..... Question for the kiwis..... Do they have free camps over there and is there a camps book to show where they are ?
Thanks Allara
Hi all, Allara asked the question above on another thread. I email two grey nomads we have met, both of whom live in New Zealand. One has replied with the following information:
Hi , what a good idea maybe we should write a book. Ironically the series of Camps books that you have in Australia are actually written by a Kiwi couple, who moved over there some years ago. We really are not sure if there is a book here or not as we do our camping in Australia. (where it is generally warmer)
Here we have a very strong and active Caravan and Motorhome Association. They have a quite modest annual membership fee. $128 joining and $72 per year subscription. They produce a book which we have used previously when we have been away in the North Island. They list budget caravan parks as Camps Australia does, and many free camps, they also have for members Parkover Properties, in many good areas. These properties belong to members, some have room for only 2 or 3 at a time, some are really large.
For the vast majority of Parkover Properties your motorhome or van must have self containment certificate. This is also now being more widely policed in National Park Campgrounds - some of which do not have facilities yet.
There are thousands of free roadside stops and riverbanks, mountain areas, beaches etc all around the country where you can legally free camp although this is being abused more and more by the types that hire the Wicked Style Vans etc without toilet facilities. So now many local authorities particularly around the main tourist areas are getting quite defensive.
( I have cut out a bit here, as it is politically incorrect, however, if anyone would like me to PM with this part of information, I will. Dunmowin)
If you don't know how to condense the above - basically people need to be wary of camping out alone, and always take their valuables with them when walking etc.
Just checked NZMCA Inc, have a great website, seems to have everything there.
Hope this helps, regards Trish & Neil
__________________
Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
I was in NZ in December. Went into an Information Centre to ask about Freecamping there. Not that we were camping but more for making a comparison between there and in Australia. I was informed there were very low cost camps and you needed to acquire a permit from the Council (i think). You could not just pull up on tbe beach and camp at the risk of being fined. The fines were quite hefty, $2,000. I suppose if you were out in the country you might get away with pulling up on a river etc, but in the towns you risk a fine. At these designated parks were generally toilets.
We free camped all over the North Island when we lived in NZ although there are a couple of areas where its not permitted....to the point where they actually employ rangers to monitor it.....Up in the Coromandel is one area where its not permitted for example.
We used to work on the old unwritten rule over there and thats NEVER overnite closer than 10km to a CP.......This used to keep the C P owners happy.
We are doing the South Island next year....from what I'm hearing...its about 50/50.
GRUBBY bloody campers leaving their mess behind is the major reason they clamp down on it..
Cheers
__________________
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything they have.
Allara, the reference in my post refers only to a portion of the North Island. From what I hear, and from what my friend says, South Island is safe, and by far prettier anyway. My brother went a few years ago - hired a motor home, and did not go into a caravan park once.
__________________
Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
