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Once I dreamed of touring, I all the time pictured airplanes and trains. However as soon as we hopped in an RV for my honeymoon, my thoughts was opened to an entire new world of journey. We fell in love with the liberty and adaptability {that a} house on wheels permits and determined that was how we’d see the world.
We’ve now RVed in ELEVEN nations world wide!
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New Zealand is arguably probably the most campervan-friendly nation on this planet (in my expertise France is an in depth second).
However what do you do when the climate turns moist?
Tenting within the rain is lower than no enjoyable. It’s soiled, and messy, and sometimes means being cramped inside what’s abruptly a extremely small rig.
And as good as our Wilderness Motorhome rental is, you don’t wish to be caught inside all day in a rain storm. Which is strictly what the 10-day forecast was predicting. Ten straight days of rain! 😱
So we determined to depart ✌️
That is the great thing about RVing over different types of journey. With no reservations and a full tank of fuel, you’ll be able to go anyplace! Together with hopping on a ferry to a brand new island.
The Interislander Ferry
Whether or not you’re escaping dangerous climate or simply wish to go to each of New Zealand’s main islands, the one approach to cross the Cook dinner Strait in an RV is on a ferry. We’ve achieved this twice and used the Interislander ferry each occasions.
Why select Interislander Ferries?
Interislander companions with Prime 10, a series of vacation parks throughout New Zealand. In case you purchase a Prime 10 membership (which prices $55 NZD), you get reductions in your stays at their vacation parks. We all the time find yourself staying at a handful of their vacation parks, making the two-year membership an honest worth. They’ve places in each main vacationer space and are good high quality, making it straightforward to plan a tour throughout New Zealand the place you keep at Prime 10s each night time!
Along with the keep reductions, you additionally get a reduction in your ferry bookings. This saved us over $75 NZD on our reserving! Even when we didn’t use the opposite membership advantages, the membership pays for itself in financial savings on the ferry charges.
Find out how to Purchase a Prime 10 Membership
You may purchase a Prime 10 membership at any of their vacation parks. You’ll pay the signup price and get your membership card. I forgot to get our membership whereas on the vacation park, so I signed up on-line. This was an easy course of that I might full on my cellphone.
When completed, you’re given your membership quantity and your membership expiration date. You’ll get your membership barcode once you get your card, which may picked up at a vacation park or mailed to you. (In case you’re not a Kiwi, don’t decide to have the cardboard mailed to you!)
Even with no bodily card in hand, I used to be capable of e book our ferry tickets with the low cost and board the ferry.
Boarding the Interislander Ferry in a Motorhome
If you arrive on the ferry terminal, you’ll test in at a kiosk and be advised which lane to proceed in. You’ll even be given a placard with motorhome-specific directions and reminded to show off your propane tank. Plan to reach no less than an hour earlier than your ferry’s scheduled departure time.
When you wait in your lane, you’ll want to flip off your engine. We usually use the wait time to prepare dinner a meal, clear the rig, or get out to stretch our legs. Throughout this final go to, our children used the wait time to take naps.
The wait is usually a bit boring, however as soon as they begin directing vehicles onto the ferry, you board rapidly. We have been one of many final automobiles on the ferry (after being one of many first to reach). Somebody reminded us to use our hand brake and switch off the propane and we adopted foot visitors to a staircase. The steps led us as much as the principle flooring of the ferry the place we’d discover lounges, outlets, and eating places.
Driving a Ferry with Children
We apprehensive a bit about how effectively the youngsters would do on a three-hour boat journey. However as soon as we made it to the highest of the staircase, we noticed a slide! There was a small playground on the ship, a TV enjoying youngsters’ exhibits on a loop, and a few small video games and books. We performed, grabbed dinner, and performed some extra. Earlier than we knew it, it was darkish outdoors and we had arrived on the south island!
Avoiding the Rain
Heading south for our final week of adventures made positive that we prevented the rain and Wilderness graciously allow us to change our return location from Auckland to Christchurch. (Thanks guys!)
Rain can wreck a trip, however with our RV, we simply drove round it! 🙂