Welcome to OT, karystos_exile. I hope you have found that we can be a pretty adventurous lot over here, and a place where you are welcome to post your adventures, and read those of others.
11
nicric
You mentioned a car camper. When I read your blog, I noticed the car camper was equipped with a refrigerator. I'm looking for the budget budget version of the car camper you rented - no frig or frills. When we travelled to NZ in 2004, we rented a small hatchback that could be converted to a "camper" It was very basic, with a canvas cover that fit over the hatchback to provide the shelter. The back seat folded out and a fold up mattress or pad was provided. Also, it had a bucket with dishwashing soap, a few pans, utensils. I believe it was referred to as a kiwi camper. I've tried to find their website, with no luck. We'd like to return to NZ in Nov and really enjoyed the little car and the option to camp fairly comfortably when necessary. We mostly stayed in backpackers. Thanks. Nicole
12
karystos_exile
Hi Nicole,
When I have posted things on TT it the past I have been careful not to put company names down, thus avoiding advertising, and have said that if anyone wanted specific details I could PM them. Now that TT has removed the PM facility that is not possible. So, if you are interested in following up the company we hired from it is called Spaceships. The cars are Toyota Estima hatchbacks, which have been adapted as you described. We went for the more expensive 'Spaceship with the fridge as most of our overseas camping experiences have been Southern Europe in Northern Hemisphere summer and Southern/Central Africa in Southern Hemisphere summer, where everything melts, so when a fridge was an option we took it. The same company does a cheaper version called a Rocket which does not have a fridge.
To make it clear, our problems were not with the car, just the inability to camp away from large motor homes.
Have a good trip in November.
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