Today was dedicated to deciding how to get around NZ for 3 months. So far public transportation (buses), Uber, and walking has worked (averaging 8-10 miles a day), but those aren’t going to suffice for the next 3 months. Campsrvans, motorhomes, RVs and plain old cars were discussed and analyzed ad nauseam. Motorhomes and RVs were quickly dismissed as too big and scary to drive on the wrong, I mean other, side of the road. Cars are great but don’t provide as many options. I can probably push the seat back and sleep in my car for one night, no way I want do it for a week at a time. So a campervan was the decision.

Now to rent or buy. A quote for renting a campervan for 3 months was in the $18-20k price range depending on if companies even had them available for that long. This is high season so many companies don’t have any availability for that long.

Quick sidebar: I know! I know! I could have made reservations months and months ago when I decided to come to NZ for three months, but I consciously decided that this is a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants vacation. The only thing I had booked when I landed was one night at a hotel airport. Many of you know me well enough to know that I am researched and prepared almost to a fault (I say almost because can you REALLY be over prepared? I think not!) for most of my big projects. But not this time. I am a NZ vagabond going where the moment takes me. So no reservations for anything – cars, hotels, campervans, or activities. (The only exception is that Anisse and I both want to see Hobbiton and they sell out during high season so I got us tickets for that tour for a few days after her arrival.) My only plans are really just goals: i want to visit both the North and South Islands. I want to do as many hikes as possible. I want to dip my toe in the ocean (maybe my whole body, but I don’t like cold water so we will see). Other than that I have no solid plans, I am just going to see what happens moment by moment. I have never done this before and I’m very excited (could be some apprehension and nerves mixed in, maybe even a little fear, but I’m going to ignore that part and hope you, dear reader, can do the same).

So back to campervans and whether to buy or rent. Benefits to renting – everything that goes wrong is someone else’s problem. Transmission breaks , you get a new campervan and go along on holiday. Flat tire, call for roadside assistance and someone else changes the tire and so on. It is also flexible. If you get tired of being in a campervan, you just return it and try something else. Cons to renting – expensive for even a small campervan. Benefits to buying a campervan – less expensive over time and maybe even free! You can get a bigger campervan for the money. Con to buying – you are on the hook for everything (can be mitigated with a AAA membership, which we have). So the decision: BUY!

Note: Dear Reader if you are thinking: WTF this is just a vacation right! She IS coming home! Isnt she !?! I assure you I am coming home – someday! lol

Spent the rest of the day googling and searching Facebook for campervans for sale and even went to meet with a company that converts passenger minivans and vans to campervans. Here is an example of a converted minivan:

About half way though the day, it was obvious that it would take time to find exactly the right vehicle and a rental car was necessary for the next few days while van shopping.

The adventure of driving on the left side of the road begins (I will now be using left side instead of wrong side because I have to get it though my thick skull that the left side IS the correct side for the next three months): We catch a bus back to the airport. Stand in line at the rental car agency. The customer service rep tells us there are really only three things to remember about driving in NZ 1) drive on the left hand side of the road; 2) no left on red at traffic lights; 3) whatever you do DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE. So advice received, training complete, credit card melted with the weekly charge, insured to the hilt, the rep handed over the keys.

The rental car is a hybrid Mazda CX5. Cute, brand new, not a dent or scratch on it (no pressure). Took us several attempts at starting it to realize it was on, it was just so quiet we couldn’t hear it. So off to a hilarious start! I am the designated navigator/passenger (thank god). Moving at a snails pace and following other cars whenever possible (so as not to screw up), we managed to exit the airport and make it back to the hotel. Apparently the only thing harder than driving on the left side of the road with a left handed car, is parking between the lines of an angled parking spot with a left handed car. Parking took almost as long as the drive from the airport. lol!