2 week Trip to New Zealand

Some more notes:

I shared a campervan for the first 4 days in NZ (was there 3 weeks), and didn't find it much better for accommodation. It was a bit difficult to find places to freedom camp, so we had to use a lot of camper van parks, which are actually kind of expensive for what you get! For example $16+ PER PERSON just to park the van in a spot, showers costing extra, where you can get a dorm room for $20-$30 with full kitchen, shower. Do not underestimate the cost of petrol… it was cringe-inducing.

Busses aren't that expensive, but sometimes their locations and schedules make it difficult to go certain routes. I used mostly NakedBus, and another company whose name I forget. It wound up being cheaper to take the bus and stay at hostels.

Email, giving your email address on here, requires at least for now, you giving your email address for the world to see.

Private Messaging, as now, is not available on this website.

The blurb is that PM is coming back, but as to when, next month? As has also been mentioned on here.

Trouble is the travelling time and with only 2 weeks, doesnt allow much leeway.

Yes, it all boils down to the very limited time. To get the most, I need wheels. In case I don't find camping to my liking, I can always use hostels. Any idea how much cost for the petrol for the 10-day itinerary?

Hard to say. Depends on type of vehicle and what it uses and where you get it. 91 octane at the moment is $2.11 at my local service station but it goes up and down by about 4cents either way quite frequently.

Dear ww: I did little more research and found this:
http://www.aa.co.nz/cars/ask-jack-forum/fuel-running-costs/show/6292/

This is almost similar to what I am planning to hire. He drove it 1340 kms for $393 at 2.20/liter cost. So, if I drive say 1675 kms, it will cost $500.

I think ferry is the most expensive part: $233 for the car + $73 for myself, totaling $306!! Any way to reduce it? Should I take ferry during any special time of the day?

Thanks!

your driving style also matters. Kiwi roads are twisty and hilly. Drive in people's boots, don't anticipate and overtake unnecessarily and you will waste a lot of fuel. And risk dying of course.

Nb. "boot" NZ = "trunk", US.

If you get a camper without a toilet or shower just be careful where you park (if not in a campground). A lot of places don't take kindly to the 'nature is my bathroom' approach and you don't want to get fined.

As for driving on the left- practice, practice, practice before you go. Of course US cars are designed differently, but if you can find a back street to practice on you'll at least get used to the feeling of being on the 'wrong side' of the road.

Thanks everyone - all very valid advice. I don't have any back streets here to practice on but can practice in the parking lot, for what it's worth :) And I do plan to park at a campground with services or go to a hostel - can't skip showers!

Groo: thanks for the boot=trunk clarification - I was trying to figure that one out for a while!!