It has been nearly 18 years since Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy hit movie screens. People worldwide marveled at the stunning beauty of the New Zealand countryside, the vast mountain ranges, forests, lakes and valleys. Since then, visitor numbers to New Zealand have steadily risen, especially among campers and RV’ers keen to explore the beautiful scenery.
Not surprisingly, many head automatically for Middle Earth locations, wanting to explore Hobbiton or see the places where the most dramatic scenes were set. Even though the scene sets of places like Edoras and Rivendell have long been removed, fans can fairly easily recognize key locations when they view the sheer sided hill known as Mount Sunday near Canterbury which was home to Edoras.
One of the most popular touring locations is Matamata, about two hours drive from Auckland on the North Island. Built into the lush countryside is the wonderful village of Hobbiton, complete with hobbit holes and the Green Dragon inn. It was created specifically for the filming, and has remained in situ as a permanent attraction. Another must see location for Lord of the Rings tourists is the Weta Cave in Wellington where many of the props can be seen.
Other venues include Kaitoke Regional Park near Wellington housed Rivendell, the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles where Aragon, Legolas and Gimli ventured onto the Paths of the Dead, and Waitarere Forest, which doubled as Osgiliath Wood. Yet more locations can be found on the South Island such as Nelson Tasman where you can see one of the original rings used in the filming, discover the filming site for Chetwood Forest at Takaka Hill, or Dimrill Dale and the River Anduin within the Cardrona Valley.
Yet there is more to New Zealand than the Lord of the Rings. This is a land with an amazing range of scenery, ranging from glaciers to thermal springs, alpine landscapes to quiet farmland, plus lots of great beaches. You can discover giant Kauri trees, go dolphin spotting and discover hidden mirror pools.
There is an extensive network of National Parks located on both islands, covering a vast area of wilderness, where the landscapes have hardly changed in thousands of years, remaining mostly untouched by human habitation. There are 14 main parks, plus numerous regional parks. The National Parks offer access to thousands of miles of walks and trails within the countryside. The range of opportunities presented to visitors is extensive for example on the Awhitu Peninsular you can relax on quiet beaches or go for walks along a very wild ocean coastline. There are lots of places where you can go fishing or kayaking, scuba diving or undertake a vast range of outdoors activities.
If you are looking for unusual experiences, a visit to Masterton in March will reveal how sheep shearing is turned into an art form! Bungee jumping originated here in New Zealand, and you can try some of the most extreme jumps possible. If you have the nerve, you can head for the place where the first Bungee jump was introduced in the Nevis Valley – and try their latest nerve-wracking experience, known as the world’s biggest catapult. Quite simply, it means that you are launched out across the valley in a catapult reaching speeds of almost 100 miles an hour within 1.5 seconds!
The Taiamai waka experience provides a rare and unique insight into ancient Maori customs, rituals and traditions. [Photo/Taiamai Tours]
Worth considering too are ways of discovering New Zealand’s Maori heritage This can only be done by booking on special visitor experience tours such as that of Taiamai Tours in the North Island. During the tour, visitors take a journey in a war canoe and visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Alternatively visit Te Puia (Tamaki Maori Village) near Rotorua to find out more about their history and culture.
New Zealand is a country that is perfect for exploring by RV or camping. There is an extensive network of camping grounds along with an excellent road network. The most popular season for travelers tends be during December to February when New Zealand experiences its summer. Spring and autumn off-season rates tend to be lower.
There are three main types of campgrounds to be found within New Zealand.
Commercial Campgrounds
Commercial campgrounds offer all the main facilities, including a communal lounge, kitchen, laundry facilities, swimming pool or spa. Prices tend to be around $6.50* to $26 per night (*conversion rates apply).
Department of Conservation Campsites
Over 250 campsites are operated by the Department of Conservation, and these are generally to be found within some of the most beautiful scenic spots. Not all the campsites offer the same facilities and this needs to be borne in mind when planning a touring route. Overnight prices reflect the level of facilities. Some may be free, others incur a charge of up to about $15.
A Basic Campsite is exactly that – there is a space to park your vehicle or tent together with toilets and access to water.
Standard Campsites offer slightly more facilities such as cold showers, picnic tables, rubbish bins, and a cooking area.
Serviced Campsites are the highest-grade available providing access to hot showers, rubbish collection, laundry facilities, and flush toilets.
Basic and Standard campsites operate on a first come, first served basis, while serviced campsites are generally booked in advance. Search out the nearest Department of Conservation office in order to book.
Pre-booking is absolutely essential if you plan to use any campsite, of any grade, located along a Great Walk Track. These campsites are easily identifiable as they are listed specifically as ‘Great Walk Campsites’ by the Department of Conservation.
Wild Camping
There are also opportunities for freedom camping (or wild camping as it is sometimes known). But you do need to choose your sites carefully – you cannot simply put up a tent or park your RV wherever you like. There are restrictions in force in most areas, and if you camp in the wrong place, you could find yourself being fined. It is also important to bear in mind that even the type of vehicles can be restricted, with an insistence that the vehicle has to be self-contained, possessing with sealed toilet facilities and can function without needing any outside resources. At the beginning of your holiday, always check that the van you are hiring possesses the appropriate certification.
When it comes to freedom camping, bear in mind that much of the countryside is privately owned and can only be used with the permission of the landowner. Most layby’s and picnic areas cannot be used for overnight stays. No Camping signs are increasingly appearing on many other public sites that have previously been used by campers. This is unfortunately, due to the fact that users have not respected the sites, for example, leaving rubbish behind or disturbing nesting birds. Having said that there are still many places where you can stop overnight in the open countryside, free of charge. The best way to identify these locations is to ask in local information centers or Department of Conservation offices. Regulations vary significantly between district to district, so you do need to check what you can and cannot do. Some sites will only allow overnight stays, others may allow two or three days.
One crucial feature to bear in mind when planning your route is that New Zealand does comprise two islands. This means that you need to factor in ferry costs between the North Island and the South Island. The cost of that ferry crossing depends on the size of the vehicle being driven – the larger the van, the higher the price.
This can also impact on your overall hire costs. If you are planning to start your journey on one island and end it on the other, you will be charged an additional fee. Known as a ‘one way fee’ it tends to be applicable to any journey where you leave your van at a different location to where you hired it. Rates can vary, but may be $195 or more.
Alternatively, visitors can focus on one island or the other. Most international flights come into either Auckland International Airport on the North Island, or Christchurch on the South Island. Careful planning will enable you to create a circular tour around the coastline and interior of each island, thus avoiding the ferry and one-way fees.