Category Archives: Backpacking & Accommodation

Travellers embrace campervan relocation trips

Posted on November 19, 2009 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Travel Tips

An Australian campervan company has seen a 50% increase in requests for relocation deals after the credit crunch. This is especially noticeable as most relocations (or $1 a day) deals take place during peak summer season, Christmas and Easter. Read the whole article at...Read More

The eclipse of human behaviour

Posted on November 24, 2008 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Sights & Attractions, Transport, Travel Tips

Slowely but surely ‘it’ is coming- and New Zealand won’t be far off I bet. From fingerprint identification that is. Your thumb -or any finger on your two lovely hands for that matter- will be your most precious asset when renting a car or campervan in the near future. Yup, it looks like we have finally arrived in the era where your authorising signature -and with that your word-is not sufficient anymore. The dawn of a new age where a photocopy of your identification doesn’t do it...Read More

Rental Road Rage

Posted on November 13, 2008 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Transport, Travel Tips

It happens to the best of us. Everybody has had at some stage in their life a mild or-in my case- a severe case of road rage overcoming them. Especially in summertime. People are hot and bothered in summertime. Things get untidy when people are hot and bothered. And I admit- I’m guilty as hell. I bet you too. In the silence of your car- or perhaps out loud with lots of certain ‘finger activity’ and flickering headlights if you’re really over it- abusing our rental-car-road-users-from-...Read More

The end of an era

Posted on November 5, 2008 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Transport, Travel Tips

From today, Air New Zealand domestic travellers will be able to check themselves in. And I mean completely and fully from you arriving with all your family in tow at the airport, to actually boarding the aircraft after mouthwatering over all those nice unaffordable goodies in the shops. You will be able to do what those lovely ground stewardesses use to do for you: Weigh your luggage, give you the snobby “I’m sorry m’am but your luggage is too heavy” spiel, check the luggage in anyway...Read More

When it is actually ok to use a tourist bus

Posted on October 8, 2008 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Transport, Travel Tips

Regardless of what form of transport you use in New Zealand, there will always be areas where you can’t bike or drive a motorised vehicle. There is simply no other option than to hoof it. And that’s ok. Take for example the Coromandel; it’s not possible to drive the full circle around the top of this peninsula. To the west from Coromandel Town the road heads North through Colville, along the Hauraki Gulf, and stops just past Port Jackson. To the east it curls its way up the Pacific coast to...Read More

Be smart when renting or relocating vehicles

Posted on October 4, 2008 by noel in Backpacking & Accommodation, News, Transport, Travel Tips

There are unfortunately a handful of…..let’s say unsavoury rental companies in New Zealand-a few more than a handful world wide obviously-that spoil it for the good ones. Mind you, there is a vast majority that handle ‘situations’ professionally (like the companies on this website), but some kinda..don’t. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, or more specific the Consumer Issues Branch, often deals with complaints about rental car companies. Particularly from...Read More