New Zealand | Transfercar Blog

Transfercar featured in Road Trip article

We love it when journalists discover the wonderful world of Transfercar and this week Richard Meadows

NZ free car rental with Transfercar — How to score a cheap road trip

from Fairfax New Zealand wrote about How to Score A Cheap Road Trip.

Back in August, surveyor Taryn Martin and a couple of mates took off in a hired van for a wee road trip around the West Coast.

They jumped out of planes in Queenstown, hiked up Fox Glacier, and toasted marshmallows at the Cardrona Pub.

“It was wicked,” says Martin.

How much did Jucy charge the band of adventurers to hire an eight-seater people mover? A grand total of $3.

Continue reading Transfercar featured in Road Trip article

Wwoofing around the world

The concept of working for your food and accommodation while travelling is not a new one and many a budget conscious traveller has walked this well-worn path.

Wwoofing however is a little more specialised. Originally an acronym for “Working Weekends on Organic Farms”, the definition changed over the years to “Willing Workers On Organic Farms” as the need for assistance over longer periods arose. Due to the word “work” however causing some problems, the name finally settled to being “World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms”.

Sue Coppard, in 1971 was the first to recognise the need for people like herself, who did not have the means or the opportunity, to access the countryside and support the organic movement. It was here in the suburbs of London that Wwoofing set its roots, now growing as a movement with more than 50 WWOOF groups worldwide. Continue reading Wwoofing around the world

What to do when visiting a Marae in New Zealand

When travelling around New Zealand, it is highly likely you will be taken to visit some of the local Marae. These are sacred meeting houses for Maori and are symbols of tribal identity. Considered by Māori as tūrangawaewae – (standing places or places of belonging), they facilitate public discussions and debates, funerals and celebrations and other local gatherings. They are often elaborately carved and designed community spaces equip with a dining hall and cooking area and the marae ātea (sacred space in front of the meeting house).

When visiting a Marae, it is important that you are prepared. Before the visit: Continue reading What to do when visiting a Marae in New Zealand

Black sand and burnt feet: Navigating the West Coast beaches of New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of contrasts. From the rolling hills of the North to the majestic, snow capped peaks of the South, it truly is a place of epic variations. Where the East is home to smooth waves and white sand, the West is united by jet black coastlines and turbulent waters loved by surfers worldwide. Both are as beautiful as the other, and can leave you breathless with wonder or lifeless if care is not taken.

Welcome to the Wild West…….. Continue reading Black sand and burnt feet: Navigating the West Coast beaches of New Zealand

Crossing the Cook Strait, New Zealand by ferry: Travel times, booking, prices & other interesting information

Travelling between the North and South Islands of New Zealand means crossing the Cook Strait. The only way to do this with a vehicle is by taking a ferry with either the Interislander or Bluebridge which both arrive and depart from Picton and Wellington.

The Cook Strait crossing (Raukawa Moana in Māori) is the connection between the Tasman Sea on the West, the South Pacific Ocean on the East and the North and South Islands of Aotearoa.

Considered one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourist experiences, and one of the most spectacular ferry crossings in the world, crossing the Cook Strait is a top to-do on many travellers bucket list. As with many stunning vistas though, the Cook Strait is also considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable pieces of aquatic paradise around. Continue reading Crossing the Cook Strait, New Zealand by ferry: Travel times, booking, prices & other interesting information

The dos and don’ts of travelling abroad: Backpacking in New Zealand

So you’ve decided to travel to New Zealand for a backpacking experience of a lifetime? Great!

New Zealand really is the adventure capital of the world. It’s a popular place among backpackers and those with round the world tickets, as tourism in New Zealand really caters to the budget and backpacker minded.

NZ loves international travellers, so here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your trip:

Personal:

Smile! Kiwis are generally a friendly bunch and appreciate good manners and a great attitude.
Help support the locals: Buy local products.
Take a range of clothing. New Zealand is renowned for its temperature change and really can have four seasons in one day. Oh…and if you plan on visiting in summer, take sandals for the West Coast beaches (black sand will burn your feet), and loads of sun block!
Take an eco-bottle or reusable water bottle. The water is safe to drink so you can refill your bottle rather than adding to the overload of plastic in the environment.
Don’t litter! Take your rubbish with you or use the bins provided. Oh…and please recycle!
Look for non smoking signs. Many public places in New Zealand are now smoke free zones. Continue reading The dos and don’ts of travelling abroad: Backpacking in New Zealand