thermalben, 1514833130
Bucket list with the family (I've got a big bucket).
Good question mate.. I'm looking forward to finding more about this.
GuySmiley, 1514839073
My experience is with the south island and we hired a camper van for 14 days. We didn't prebook any van parks but did get into one mid afternoon when travelling place to place because they seem to fill up to capacity each night. Pre booking in advance negates the advantage of a van in that if you find a spot you love you can pull over and stay a few days. For us that place was Wanaka.
RVs and camper vans were everywhere and the park kitchens (don't bother cooking in the van) are a sea of people from every corner of the globe each night. Parks in NZ are mostly very well equipped offering a level of service far greater than most parks here. We found local drivers and especially local truck drivers really relaxed and often pulled over to let us through on the very narrow roads (I'm talking south island, it might be different on the north).
The big issue for vans in NZ is they don't want you shitting in the bushes so if you have a RV with a toilet there are designated free camping sites (some still have basic toilets and showers). If you hire a van without a dunny you will be restricted to staying in full blown caravan/RV parks. I have no info on local reaction to staying in the parking lot of the local beach, don't think it would be good like here .... I'm thinking after you add all other costs up what's a couple of hundred more to the budget and staying in a local park. As I said they are very well equipped and you get to eat with some pretty cool people from around the world (and they provide drop stations to empty the RV's toilet cassette.
Enjoy, NZ is such a great place.
Tarzan71, 1514848679
Dylza,
My wife and I did the North Island for a fortnight last December and had an absolute ball, there are waves everywhere but all swell dependant, Rags would have to be the best set up Ive ever seen but was flat when I was there.
Cant give too much away for fear of deportation upon return but seek and ye shall be fucken stoked.
We worked on a budget of $300 per day plus the camper and took half of it home with us, it is what you make of it.
2 weeks is nowhere near long enough but does give a taste, watch the swell maps and work it out.
inzider, 1514850406
Dylza
Totally depends on where.
Each council/shire has different rules.
Basically the road most travelled will have the most restrictions re freedom camping ie the coromandel peninsula.
Where I live on the west coast freedom campers are fast pissing in their chips.
Clogging up surf break carparks with vans and shutting in the bushes.
Happy to answer questions.
Blowin, 1514852077
NZ - did you write " shutting " in the bushes on purpose ?
Very funny.
Shouldn't it be people " pussing in their chups " ?
inzider, 1514855651
Yes blowin it was on purpiss
Didn't want to ruin it by over doing it.
Roystein, 1514856158
Was there in September, got one morning at Raglan that was very good, the rest was just touring with the family. Wasn't a surf trip.
Download the Campermate App - well worth it- and follow the rules, you wont have any troubles. Just be considerate of where you park.
inzider, 1514856195
Campervans and freedom camping is a contentious issue in NZ now.
If you know where to go you will be pleasantly surprised by how lax or non existent regulations are.
inzider, 1514863489
.
poo-man, 1514867281
Yeah agree with Inzider. I'm from Raglan and at the mo theres about 10 vans a night at manu bay carpark. Currently you're not meant to freedom camp but no ones checking right now. Maybe thats because it's holidays but normally there's a guy who checks. But there are heaps of places to freedom camp though but just be courteous and use the toilet. Those small Wicked campers with no dunny have been a huge problem and just about every rest area on the side of the road anywhere has crap and paper all through the bushes. So yes most councils are cracking down on it. And it might be a bit of a generalisation but the standard of competency coming out of camper surfers is pretty low. Some dangerous board throwaways etc in the last couple of days and a few been ordered into the beach. So stay in camp grounds to recharge batteries etc and get good cooking but a few days off the beaten track is good too. Btw i own one myself and pretty much don't stay in camp grounds but then I'm only away for 2 or 3 days at a time.
inzider, 1514868841
I'm south of rags and most freedom campers are not surfers
Just young euros on their OE
None the less try getting a park at some points and your hard pressed.
Probably more aggressive down here in terms of what craft you are allowed to ride at what spots.
Blowin, 1514871809
Just this morning at a tiny rotary booksale I picked up a signed first edition copy of " Tales of the anglers El Dorado - New Zealand " by Zane Grey . Printed in 1926 . Good condition . Got it for $1 !
Look him up if you've never heard of him .
Anyway .....New Zealand looks amazing in the plate photographs. No one around. Incredible fishing. Old Zane loved the joint so there must be something in it.
inzider, 1514873031
Well the angling in the south is really good as the river systems are still Relatively clean as intensification of dairy is still behind that of the north where I would eat nothing from a river that has passed through farms
Most rivers in N island are too polluted to swim in. Sad but true
Get in quick as the south island is turning into a giant irrigated dairy farm and before too long the rivers will suffer the same fate as the north.
zenagain, 1514876278
3 mates and I hired one of those Britz vans in 2005 so a fair while ago and spent two weeks chasing waves out of Auckland, Piha, Rags and and a few others and then over to the Coramandel and we scored BIG TIME! It was around mid-March and the water was warm enough for boardies or a springy if the wind got up. The only time we got moved on was when we parked up in some side street in Rags and the ranger off the record suggested we find this little beach down some bush road and camp at the beach there. Incidentally, we scored really nice waves there and the setting was lovely. So cool to grab food or cook something up, crack a few coldies from the fridge. Awesome way to travel.
We had no probs with the locals, the crew were super friendly everywhere and the lineups were all pretty chilled. Some red-hot surfers around too.
We did stay in a van park I think for maybe 2 nights just to fill up with water and charge the batteries from the mains supply but the rest was mostly free camping. Met some really nice people just by setting up a fire on the beach and other travellers would come and have beers and share food and chat. We always made sure we left the place pristine when we packed up though and we didn't get too raucous. We spent the longest time at a place called hotwater beach and after surfing you can dig in the sand and make a bath and fresh hot water would come bubbling up and you could have a warm bath. You could also swim out and get mussels from the rocks and cook them up with some butter, herbs and wine and have them with some bread- smashing!
NZ is fucking awesome- nicest people and such beautiful scenery. Surf is wicked too. Some quirky things too, they have this lemon and something soft drink that is really nice, chocolate covered pineapple lollies and the best fish and chips. Abalone fritters or pauwa or something like that and the nicest fish. Fuck, i could go on.
I could happily retire in NZ, just show a little respect and clean up after yourself and you'll be sweet.
Sadly, i never did find my Maori princess. My mate said I might find her at KFC but we didn't bother with that.
Blowin, 1514876523
The sting in the tail , Zen.
Love it.
Sheepdog, 1514878765
In the land of the long winding left, there's a right hand point on the north island that is absolutely MIND BLOWING. Takes a bit to get to it. But it's up there with any right hand point you care to name.
good luck hunting.
crg, 1514880762
Zen...
L&P
Lemon and Paeroa
inzider, 1514882704
Make sure you rent a diesel
Petty ain't cheap
Sheepdog, 1514883459
Yeah, inzider, about $1.90 aus per L
inzider, 1514883705
Take your own spade and time your low tide for after dark.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11967711
inzider, 1514884052
At least a dozen piss won't break the bank. Cheap beer at the supermarket
Don't forget ya sunscreen, the sun in NZ is Fucking brutal, be warned. Take heed
It's next level UV
inzider, 1514888393
Franz Joseph south island last month paid $2.30 a litre.
dylza, 1514888406
Cheers for the replies and info! Really looking forward to getting a taste of it.
Funny how NZ is right there but I don't hear that many crew heading there for waves and adventure but by the looks of it there are many rewards to be found.
@inzider - I noticed that and did request a diesel. They made no promises. Thankfully it's a Britz Pod and not a Wucked Kimper.
Island Bay, 1515046847
I think I know which one you're talking about, Sheepdog, and fully agree. A few other gems in the very close vicinity.
inzider, 1515053895
We only like well mannered OZ surfers.
So probably the reason not many come here .haha
But honestly why spend thousands chasing maybes when you can fly to bintangville and score pits in boardies
Blowin, 1515054157
Mmmmmm.....Bintangville.
inzider, 1515054422
Shooosh sheepdog
We dont have any coastline here
Move along nothing to see here
freeride76, 1515054436
"Just this morning at a tiny rotary booksale I picked up a signed first edition copy of " Tales of the anglers El Dorado - New Zealand " by Zane Grey . Printed in 1926 . Good condition . Got it for $1 !"
I got that book, it's epic.
Blowin, 1515056144
Also got a hardbound 1926 pocket edition of "Typhoon " by Joseph Conrad for a dollar.
Both look epic and I'm keen to get through what I'm into to start them. Great photos in the Zane Grey.
Sorry this post ain't about New Zealand.
Kiwis are probably my favourite nationality to surf with though. So there's that I suppose.
inzider, 1515527958
Get your carcass to raglan Next Week
Thursday friday
upnorth, 1515540309
Went to NZ for a month in '02 ended up staying a year, love the place. Stayed in a van for a fair bit of that time, some sites but more often free campsites. It was a while ago but at the time I didn't encounter any problems, just use your noggin when you park up for the night, don't make a mess etc. Found kiwis to be very friendly generally.
Plenty of waves, id head for the quietest looking place on the map, sounds obvious but easy to get sucked into the go to places. Not sure how long you are there for but the South Island is made for a campervan if you have the time. Things are/were so pristine you can virtually live off the land. Fishing is incredible, get a feed of paua at low think it was 10 per person per day. Freshwater streams full of fat eels and koura, 1 trap and a dead rabbit will do you. Pigs aplenty if you bump into the right people. Amazing what grows in the hills as well.
Can't remember the name of the place but we drove west from Wanaka and stayed on the coast for about a month, a deserted beach, waves, seafood on the fire. Old guys on quads every few days fishing. Rarely slept in the van in summer, under the stars and felt very safe.
There was a festival in Wanaka actually, Rippon, worth a look if you are there. Got lifted for some reason but had the sense to tuck my stash into the back seat of the car. Police were very friendly and agreed to give me a lift to the after party after the station and I retrieved my belongings from their car on the way. Met a lot of cool people on that trip. Good times.
Sheepdog, 1515569051
Island bay writes "I think I know which one you're talking about, Sheepdog, and fully agree. A few other gems in the very close vicinity."
Nope...... No other gems in VERY close proximity.
inzider, 1515570448
Does it rhyme with tight sock sheepy?
zenagain, 1515573563
Sheepy, I'll have a stab without giving too much away.
We scored this awesome right hand point, pretty playful on the outside going inside-out at the end section. Long rides, probs 150-200+ metres? We got there and there was only one longboarder out and then he came in and it was just the three of us.
Anyway, does this place have like a tree lined/forested traverse above the break kinda what you might get on the south coast or Tassie on the way to the jump off spot? does the wave run into a small tidal creek area where you can come in? And on one side of the creek is there a small caravan park with a few permanent cabins? I think the Kiwis call them 'Batches'.
I have no idea what this place was called but we scored big time and there was this random bloke videoing us (not Gary-G) and we went back to his van and had a few beers a played the vid back. Got the footage on a disc in some draw back home. Couldn't tell you how to get there if I tried and it was just sheer blind luck that we found this place but it was certainly one of the highlights of our time of many highlights in NZ.
freeride76, 1515579765
Hey Inzider it was interesting to hear you mention the damage done by dairying.
I had a long chat to this Kiwi environmental scientist the other day who said the environment, especially water quality is in really poor shape. Disgraceful is the word she used.
She said the whole clean and green image of NZ is basically a hoax and because urban development is low and the mountains and coastline are scenic, people can't see the damage being done to the environment from dairy.
She said you don't hear much about it outside the country because the Govt has so much invested in that image but within the country itself it's becoming a big issue.
Is that true?
Sheepdog, 1515592019
Inzider and Zen.
No...
and No...
Any clue I give will have you all scrambling for maps.
But I can assure you, It is up there with ANY right hand point you care to mention. And grunty. Open aspect , works on a myriad of swell directions, when big breaks forever... also a smaller noosa like right on an inside cove. I've never been to South Africa. But J bay meets lennox.
Nuff said.
inzider, 1515609080
100 percent freeride
And the govt wants to ramp up dairying more. It so fucked it's sad.
Where I live there is a fair bit of riparian planting and fencing of water ways but the damage done of over a hundred years of bad farming practices is going to take a long time to repair.
Ive walked hundreds of kms over dairy farms doing seismic survey and some farms are a disgrace.
The greenies cry about oil rigs who are regulated heavily and ignore the dairy industry who have fucked nearly every river in the north island beyond safe swimming levels.
Clean green NZ has been a marketing scam for some time now.
poo-man, 1515609729
Hey Freeride, Yep dairying has become a big issue for water quality but it is probably being over played by a few scientists with vested interests. The big dairying areas are the Waikato and Taranaki but now also Canterbury and Southland too. It's really disappointing to me to see so many streams and rivers unfenced in the Taranaki area and cattle standing in rivers and crapping everywhere. In the Raglan catchment the local harbour care crew has pretty much fenced every tributary of every stream that flows into it and over the last 15 years it's made a significant improvement to the harbour. You can catch good snapper and gurnard in the harbour again. I'm pretty sure the dairying issue is being over played a bit though. The Waikato river goes through many towns and cities on it's way to the sea and every one of them puts their sewage into it after treatment and the big pulp mill in Tokoroa changes the river colour from clear to dark. So yep dairying is having an impact but the humans are worse. Sheepy, I've got it......and yeah it's good but a mission to get to!
inzider, 1515611255
Over played by who pooman
My kids that can't swim in the river at the beach?
The native fish species dying off?
Over played my arse
How does your fencing in the Waikato stop nitrogen run off?
It's been estimated it takes 60 years or more for rainfall on the Alps to travel through the aquifers before it reaches the sea. The impact of dairying in the south is already a travesty and there is a time bomb slowly ticking
Fuck fonterra and their shareholders and the govt for letting them Fuck our water for generations to come
Island Bay, 1515614781
Inzider, I think it's grossly unfair to claim that 'The Greenies' are ignoring the dairy industry. It's the number 1 environmental and economic issue raised by The Green Party, Greenpeace etc. Offshore exploration only pops up every now and then.
And Poo-man, you're saying exactly what Federated Farmers, Fonterra, and the rest of the dairy lobby want people to hear and think, but it's not true. Have a look at what rivers are now deemed unswimmable and see how many cities or big towns they pass through. Yep, hardly any. Lots of dairy land, however. Heck, even Lake Taupo was off-limits to swimmers around Christmas!
There's a lot of great things about NZ and Kiwis; unfortunately we insist on being stubborn and stupid and not listening to foreign experts who've seen these issues decades ago and have readily implementable solutions.
Island Bay, 1515618424
Sheepdog, now you have me thoroughly intrigued! I can think of a spot that ticks many of those boxes except 'grunty' - unless you caught it on a very long-period swell.
Zenagain, which coast were you on, just quietly?
inzider, 1515623100
Never seen a protest outside a dairy farm
Seen plenty outside oil rigs
Island Bay, 1515633494
Maybe that's because there are thousands of dairy farms and only a few oil rigs, i.e. they are a more obvious target for protests. It's very hard to identify individual dairy farms to protest at, the issue being a more widespread and ongoing effect.
Dairy farming is, however, targeted in press and social media on a daily basis.
Sheepdog, 1515653759
poo man..... Yeah..... Bit of a mission... Tassie, vicco, S.A and NW Wa hard nuts wouldn't whinge though.. A walk in the park for them. But ya average NSW or Qld dude used to checking the line up from the front seat of the car? Nahhhhhh.... Too much effort.... too many easier options.... And thats a great thing
zenagain, 1515654045
Island Bay, in answer to your question above- East Coast but couldn't tell you where as I can't remember myself. We just lucked in on that trip, surfed a dying swell on the West Coast for three days and then got pumping waves on the east for ten straight days.
poo-man, 1515698687
Hey Inzider, I'm not trying to defend dairying. It's just that some of the most polluted rivers are nowhere near dairy farms, think Tukituki in the Hawkes Bay etc. The faecal coliform count as a measure of pollution doesn't matter whether it's humans or sheep or cattle or dogs. And the Waikato river has apparently around 80% of it's pollution caused by humans. So yeah that other 20% is farming and that has to improve too but so do all the towns sewage systems that dump into the river as well. And that's a big cost as the ratepayers are all going to have to pay for upgrades and no one wants to pay higher rates.
But yeah I hear you on those Taranaki rivers. Every time I walk across one of those creeks or streams to Wiseys or Graveyards or Mangahume then they just seem so polluted and I wouldn't let my kids swim in them either. I know the Nitrogen leaching is a longer term issue but at least fence the streams and get the cattle out of them. So no I'm not defending the dairy industry.
Sheepy, yep I got it. Best Right in NZ I say!
batfink, 1515706706
NZ has been on my bucket list too. Would love to do a couple of weeks in a van touring the north island mainly. Not sure if I'm up to south island for the cold. Presumably any time from now into about April would be the best for weather, and options east and west coast depending on synoptics.
Would be worth it. Actually, would like to do a couple of months to really get around.
Perhaps another retirement option.
mk1, 1515709140
Have done a couple of NZ surf trips now, have had great waves around the north island but have been skunked on the south island twice. Sleeping in a van is fine if you keep a low profile.
Hoping for another north island trip this year.
Sheepdog, 1515744749
poo man.... There is another right..... I'd class it almost a novelty wave. Tiny swell window. Not super well known, but well known enough that whenever it breaks, it's packed. During cyclone season, right starved naturals wait, chewing their nails, pacing around like mad men. even less consistent than Boiling pot.. But probably better.
poo-man, 1515780368
Yep Sheepy I love those novelty waves. There's a few not far from the biggest city that only break few days a year but can be all time. Tiny swell window and with the right direction, they're very good. The one you're thinking of is east coast maybe 5 hours south of Auckland? I've had that pretty good too but just doesn't get above about 4 foot due to the window
Island Bay, 1515782183
Boiling Pot is that rare? So I should consider myself stupidly fortunate to have surfed it shoulder high with one friendly local, the two of us sharing waves for 1.5hr.
I'm still struggling with your other mystery right point - living on the North Island since 2001, driving all over the place, and being a right point tragic. NZ gets good, but I've never surfed anywhere as good as Lennox or JBay.
eat-your-vegies, 1515817391
Whangamata is the only right hander in NZ. Good luck getting that un crowded , in fact good luck getting a wave at all . Lol
inzider, 1515821186
Hahahahahawhanagamata
When it's on its really on but can be a long time between drinks.
Sheepdog, 1515844400
Pooman, no...... the novelty right is up Coromandel way.... That's all I'm willing to say. lol
poo-man, 1515874449
Ok so it's either the inside of the Coro which can get good on a big north swell or it's the point where all the dead people are buried.....I've had that once too and yep world class but about one day every 3 years. Maybe a bit more than that but pretty hard to get it on. Am i right?
Island Bay, 1515961498
Sheepdog, I've finally gotten my thick head around what place you're talking about. It's been on the list for a long time, but I never knew that it got THAT good. Excellent to hear.
There's a few other waves in the general area that look interesting, and I've got time off in April, so it could be time for a right point roadie.
Sheepdog, 1516006052
poo man.... I'm pretty sure Stu once posted a vid of the novelty right... Cyclone Pam rings a bell..
Island Bay.... Just check the map.... Any point with a set up like that is bound to get good. Needs a good swell to show its all, though.
Gary G, 1516012159
Gary feels like he's lurked around the novelty right before and vaguely remembers it showing up in a vid posted on these pages. If it's the one he's thinking about, could one get a delicious pizza almost immediately after exiting the water, if that was one's thing?
Gary is very keen to get back to NZ for some faceys.
Sheepdog, 1516020502
Well, Gary..... Was the pizza guy named Luke? bahahahaha
inzider, 1516043667
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11962003
Gary G, 1516055372
You know it, Sheepy!
Gary G, 1516056779
So did Gary correctly guess the novelty spot?
Blowin, 1516076332
Are you guys still discussing Vanuatu ?
Sheepdog, 1516081115
Gary gets the Gold stamp bahahahahahaha.
And Blowin, no..... We're chatting about somewhere that has wifi, bitumen roads, pro surfers and ding repairers.
Blowin, 1516083756
Well played , Sheepy.
shoredump, 1544820930
If ever you wanted to do the campervan thing but you prefer not to pay, there is a way to do it that doesn’t involve violence and balaclavas. Campervan companies have offices all over our country and others, but only a set fleet number. Sometimes their bookings balloon in different cities at different times. They need people to drive the vehicles from A to B at a fraction of the cost. Like $5 a day for a normally $400 delux 6 berth near new camper. The only catch is you can be a little limited with days. I’ve done it before from Christchurch to Auckland and it works just as you would hope. They paid for the $600 ferry as well. All you pay is fuel, which isn’t that much more than a car. You could realistically do a lap of Oz linking up a a dozen of them if you were keen. The link below gives you an idea, it’s the company I booked through, but when I handed in the keys the lady said to contact them direct next time, to negotiate more days. Im in talks now with a couple companies. I’m planning a South Oz one in a couple weeks and a NZ South Island one in December. Have a look if you’re interested, it’s the best travel hack ever I reckon.
https://www.imoova.com/
EDIT
Here’s my South Island $5 a day bed I’m currently enjoying
https://imgur.com/gallery/Nx7boVW