Christchurch is called the gateway to New Zealand’s gorgeous South Island, the place unforgettable highway journeys by way of huge stretches of wilderness start. From the rolling vineyards of Waipara to the geothermal wonders of Hanmer Springs, a campervan offers you the liberty to discover the South Island at your individual tempo.
Hiring low-cost campervans in Christchurch is straightforward and can permit you to absorb quite a few close by websites sandwiched between the majestic Southern Alps and the mighty Pacific Ocean.
Let’s take a look at just some of the highest locations close to Christchurch you may expertise by hiring a campervan. We’ll additionally provide up just a few vital issues to contemplate when renting a campervan in New Zealand.
Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite
Merely a 45-minute drive from Christchurch sits the Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite, a peaceable pure retreat close to the doorway of Lyttelton Harbour on the Banks Peninsula.
This scenic campsite is a part of the Godley Head Recreation Reserve, offering loads of nice views of the Pacific and its rugged shoreline, together with the great thing about Lyttelton Harbour in fact.
This area performed in function in WW2 and remnants of the interval can nonetheless be noticed by way of such relics like gun emplacements, bunkers, and statement posts. Then there are the various mountaineering and biking tracks, such because the Godley Head Loop Monitor, which supply the possibility to identify native wildlife each on sea and land.
The campsite is provided with primary facilities, together with bogs and water, so no points by way of having fun with snug tenting in what continues to be reasonably pristine nature.
Papanui
Providing over 12 acres of land, there’s greater than sufficient area at Papanui to accommodate you and your campervan. Considered one of many high 10 vacation parks in Christchurch, Papanui gives loads of amenities together with bogs, laundry amenities, dump stations, TVs, and eating areas. There’s additionally an inviting indoor heated pool, non-public spa, and gaming room.
Papanui is a bustling suburb simply minutes northwest of Christchurch’s metropolis centre, providing up a harmonious mix of city conveniences and suburban attraction. You may go to the Northlands Buying Centre, considered one of Christchurch’s largest malls, in addition to get pleasure from a wholesome choice of cafes and eating places alongside the principle highway.
Get pleasure from inexperienced areas like St. James Park or Edgar MacIntosh Park which supply strolling trails, playgrounds, sporting fields, and splendid picnic spots. You’ll additionally discover the presence of nineteenth century structure from its European colonial days corresponding to St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
Papanui’s proximity to the town centre makes Papanui a superb base for exploring Christchurch with out having to truly keep within the busy metropolis centre, earlier than you’re taking your campervan to enterprise additional afield on the South Island to uncover extra distant pure treasures.
You may merely park your campervan for the day whereas touring the town centre and make use of the simple entry to public transportation to go to the various Christchurch sights like Hagley Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and the Canterbury Museum.
Spencer Seashore Kiwi Vacation Park
Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 through Wikimedia Commons
Everybody from vacationers to native households loves Spencer Park, due to the bounty of sights and the welcoming lodging. Spencer Seashore Kiwi Vacation Park gives the right mix of coastal magnificence, family-friendly facilities, and handy entry to Christchurch, being that it’s simply 20km north of the town.
Whether or not you’re trying to calm down on the seashore, discover nature trails, or get pleasure from high quality time with household and mates, this vacation park has one thing for everybody. Plan your go to to Spencer Seashore Kiwi Vacation Park for an unforgettable expertise only a stone’s throw from Christchurch.
The park sits inside a coastal reserve, permitting you to make the most of quiet walks alongside stunning Spencer Seashore. There are a number of trails within the space together with these discovered at Bottle Lake Forest Park which is positioned instantly subsequent to the park.
You’ll discover each powered and non-powered websites for tents and caravans, in addition to self-contained cabins. Onsite bonuses additionally embody playgrounds, a mini-golf course, barbecues, and a swimming pool. They even usually host out of doors cinema nights to soak up a film below the celebrities.
Avalanche Peak
Whereas Avalanche Peak could also be a for much longer drive outdoors Christchurch, it would genuinely show rewarding because it gives one of the vital exhilarating mountaineering experiences in New Zealand and can depart you with a real sense of accomplishment.
The trek to the mighty peak begins from Arthur’s Cross village inside Arthur’s Cross Nationwide Park. The trailhead is roughly 150km west of Christchurch which ought to take you a couple of 2-hour drive.
The hike as much as Avalanche Peak which rises to a top of over 1,800m will certainly be a little bit of a problem for a lot of, so don’t underestimate the trek and be sure you are match sufficient to deal with the problem. The principle routes to the summit embody Avalanche Peak Monitor and Scotts Monitor, each of which can see you navigating steep and rugged alpine terrain.
Regardless of proving to be a formidable problem, the hike to the summit and again down can nonetheless be accomplished in below 8 hours for match hikers. Add this reality to the reasonably simple 2-hour drive and this expertise can logistically be completed as an adventurous campervan daytrip from Christchurch
Maruia Scorching Springs
The furthest vacation spot suggestion to plan a campervan daytrip to, Maruia Scorching Springs gives a pure sizzling spring resort the place pure leisure and wellness is the main focus. Discovered inside Lewis Cross Nationwide Reserve, the drive to the new springs is simply over 200km to the northwest of Christchurch.
You may count on to see pure geothermal swimming pools that are wealthy in minerals and famend for his or her therapeutic properties. Along with the enjoyable swimming pools, you may make the most of yoga courses, spa therapies, and wellness applications which all mix to create a spot that may permit you to unwind and de-stress.
As a pleasant bonus, the resort is eco-friendly and sustainable, counting on pure and renewable power sources to warmth their swimming pools and preserve its amenities. The scenic drive by way of the Lewis Cross is an journey in itself, providing gorgeous views of the Southern Alps and the well-known wilderness the South Island is understood for.
Observe that staying over on the campsite gives you 48 hours of entry to the amenities even after you’ve got vacated the premises, and the positioning gives an ideal spot for a night-time swim.
Prices To Take into account When Hiring A Campervan In Christchurch
Campervan Rent Charges
Campervan rent charges in Christchurch are comparatively cheap. However they do depend upon just a few components, together with the dates you’re trying to e-book your vacation and the kind of campervan you’re reserving. You may in fact count on the charges to be increased throughout peak season (December to March), and the larger the van, the upper the value it would value you.
It’s additionally vital to take notice that many campervan rental corporations have a day by day mileage limits on their autos. You’ll want to make sure you’re staying inside these limits or else you’ll doubtless have to pay extra.
As a tough information, costs for primary campervans could begin at round $50 NZD per day and might attain upwards of $200-$400 per day for extra luxurious vans. Extras that may ship the prices up embody issues like onboard kitchens, fridges, bogs, showers, and many others.
Gas Prices
You in fact then must think about gasoline prices. Fortunately, there are a variety of sights which might be a reasonably shut drive away from Christchurch which can assist to maintain prices down, however these additional locations like Avalanche Peak or Maruia Scorching Springs would require a good bit of gasoline.
Most smaller campervans will use petrol, whereas bigger campervans usually use diesel for higher gasoline effectivity. As a tough information, you may count on to pay anyplace from round $25-$50 per 100km for gasoline relying in your campervan’s gasoline consumption.
Parking and Campsite Prices
If you’re hiring a campervan, you’ll have to plan just a few stopovers the place you may park your rental and lay your head down for the evening. You’ll doubtless come throughout many gorgeous websites to park your campervan for the evening and whereas some could also be freed from cost, many websites will cost a nightly price that would come with use of their amenities.
You may search out freedom tenting (parking or tenting on public property that’s not designated for tenting), however whereas this apply is usually welcomed and free, it’s not freed from accountability. There are strict pointers you must observe to keep away from potential fines.
Hiring a campervan offers you the liberty to roam New Zealand’s South Island out of Christchurch by yourself schedule with nice flexibility. Campervans allow you to discover extra distant and less-touristy spots which might be usually inaccessible by public transport, and also you’ll get to journey at your individual tempo with out the constraints of check-in and check-out lodge instances.
Touring by campervan will see you visiting smaller cities and rural areas the place you may expertise extra genuine native tradition and hospitality. And staying in campgrounds and vacation parks will permit you to meet fellow travellers and probably locals that may provide useful journey strategies or at the least entertaining tales that may solely add to your memorable New Zealand highway journey.
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