tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4527795758617343012024-03-13T07:58:51.540-07:00Campervan TouringThe purpose of this blog is to discuss great opportunities to go campervanning around the world. The obvious benefit of campervanning is the flexibility it gives to do as you want, as well as the low cost of travel, given that accommodation, food and transport costs are greatly reduced, particularly if you are 2-4 close people.Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-16836083034708959042012-05-16T20:38:00.000-07:002012-05-16T20:38:05.885-07:00Campervan for $NZ5000 at Auckland or Queenstown Airport<br />
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We are looking to sell a nice vehicle well-suited to campervanning. We used this vehicle for campervanning as well as mountain biking. Its a really good vehicle for these purposes because:</div>
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1. Short wheel base</div>
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2. Handles well</div>
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3. Good size for camper and off-road</div>
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4. Not a conspicuous camper</div>
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5. Its a relatively new model (2001) - with low 143,000kms</div>
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6. Hanging points - you can easily fit the vehicle out - we will tell you where to go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFKq1pIjANqZsFu9oviUS1cj5inxxqe19BKLdVxzVMl_QQ-9QN3HGLrkuqK4wIpo610WksoZvvWpF0Lx5-sXDow5fE7ZYIhnMbpgDV1eNY0Sr14y1163V0P3gmJCQkwN1HBgPclvhY4vX/s1600/IMG_8212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFKq1pIjANqZsFu9oviUS1cj5inxxqe19BKLdVxzVMl_QQ-9QN3HGLrkuqK4wIpo610WksoZvvWpF0Lx5-sXDow5fE7ZYIhnMbpgDV1eNY0Sr14y1163V0P3gmJCQkwN1HBgPclvhY4vX/s200/IMG_8212.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1RGC-Gx7GNDHeeNwkaY_W8I_fkB_DJAl0YWjeXGIiXKUypC9HmyBaHm6bi_kwrPytsSvvFJP-5Hjt27ISqAjMS__HJUvh_Vt3kpUtlZ0x9l04hfKCAesdQAMo4doINV09gegJD8QACBQ/s1600/IMG_8221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1RGC-Gx7GNDHeeNwkaY_W8I_fkB_DJAl0YWjeXGIiXKUypC9HmyBaHm6bi_kwrPytsSvvFJP-5Hjt27ISqAjMS__HJUvh_Vt3kpUtlZ0x9l04hfKCAesdQAMo4doINV09gegJD8QACBQ/s200/IMG_8221.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYqLWZKe0nUrJ_TaXoQ4dUgbn1xSJqXIsaL4W0V3p97Dt3KbIxaP6BWeKwbBr_XbR9mhxcu9NT7PhbFP5SeVhUbIZmhrf-RP-l1xb-tl-MQnVroTCTOaVfKqZgSAqS7ilyn5nc_3IRW2c/s1600/IMG_8216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYqLWZKe0nUrJ_TaXoQ4dUgbn1xSJqXIsaL4W0V3p97Dt3KbIxaP6BWeKwbBr_XbR9mhxcu9NT7PhbFP5SeVhUbIZmhrf-RP-l1xb-tl-MQnVroTCTOaVfKqZgSAqS7ilyn5nc_3IRW2c/s200/IMG_8216.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QvX_cWRrmELRSlXjBO-N5uwk5VCghrbnD8RoYNhGUnknEXzG5_oqpIJ_Hxh3noGS4fjZW9XnpXGFVOI8-hBbrtFedzaAeiCetDRmBMKylm4b8EQ5c2fxQ5UrR1Wb-g2bp4-UdfjKASrs/s1600/IMG_8215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QvX_cWRrmELRSlXjBO-N5uwk5VCghrbnD8RoYNhGUnknEXzG5_oqpIJ_Hxh3noGS4fjZW9XnpXGFVOI8-hBbrtFedzaAeiCetDRmBMKylm4b8EQ5c2fxQ5UrR1Wb-g2bp4-UdfjKASrs/s200/IMG_8215.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJK4l_1IPhLZRJ7HF21J5FX3pgLXRHoUU8rAuk1m93OR8hqhD8s0pqivojKxsRNDhYYVnswdsZmeTCcLn58bJK0SEGP_GkOGQggMh64obcXeHwvgwaLVWQbWI-qKLYZdZljAX8LDzh8TZ/s1600/IMG_8213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJK4l_1IPhLZRJ7HF21J5FX3pgLXRHoUU8rAuk1m93OR8hqhD8s0pqivojKxsRNDhYYVnswdsZmeTCcLn58bJK0SEGP_GkOGQggMh64obcXeHwvgwaLVWQbWI-qKLYZdZljAX8LDzh8TZ/s200/IMG_8213.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyENPtFja1yeOv0EYPf80JhdaL8cgIedWZDbGKP4DZcGRq9_Bu5-0dgtVp_rEnke66V-M320sHGUkUUgZgkaDrOVLMjpwt9fwx6_o1ZVcrQtGLeWql_EkyZkR_DIDbK5YjBYfyvYG3cv6/s1600/IMG_8219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyENPtFja1yeOv0EYPf80JhdaL8cgIedWZDbGKP4DZcGRq9_Bu5-0dgtVp_rEnke66V-M320sHGUkUUgZgkaDrOVLMjpwt9fwx6_o1ZVcrQtGLeWql_EkyZkR_DIDbK5YjBYfyvYG3cv6/s200/IMG_8219.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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This vehicle has around 143,000kms at present; its a manual 5-transmission, 2001 model, it goes really well mechanically. It has a lot of rust in the 'hood' over the drivers compartment. This is not a problem for obtaining the warranty of fitness because it is classed as an accessory which can be removed. In fact I renewed the WOF 3 weeks ago. The car is almost due for new tyres, and that will be about $380-400, so we have discounted it as much. </div>
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I am travelling to Asia in the next few weeks so I am looking to sell this Holden Combo. Its currently at Queenstown, however I intend to move some homeware to my house on the North Island. Ultimately we will likely fly out of Auckland Airport, however we have still to book flights. </div>
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Anyone flying into Queenstown or Auckland looking for a campervan could not be happier than with this vehicle for several reasons. It is not as conspicuous as a camper - because its a delivery van. Its a 1600cc engine, so low petrol consumption. Its short wheel base makes it suitable for off-road use. i.e. We take it off-road for MTB trails. The vehicle comes with a roof-rack as well.</div>
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We are looking for $4500 for the vehicle, or $5000 with new tyres. If we cannot sell the vehicle we will look at selling it through Turners. We would however prefer to give a discount to a direct buyer than a commission to Turners. We can deliver the vehicle to a person at Queenstown or Auckland airport. Auckland is preferred, as we need to take our bikes to the North Island. Email us at shouganai1 at gmail.com.</div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-26140410017752437002012-01-10T14:20:00.000-08:002012-01-10T14:23:21.166-08:00NZ freedom camping and camping sites<div style="text-align: justify;">There are new regulations on where you can camp in NZ. For more information, I suggest going to the <a href="http://www.jucy.co.nz/useful_stuff/freedom-camping.aspx">Jucy website</a>, which also has links to other government information. In addition, there is a <a href="http://jucy.rankers.co.nz/">website </a>which identifies all the paid and free camping sites around the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>------------------------------------------<div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-1830846358047949732011-03-01T19:08:00.000-08:002011-03-01T19:19:43.205-08:00Campervan rentals in the USA<div style="text-align: justify;">Standby Relocations is now offering <a href="http://www.standbyrelocations.com/default.aspx?c=3">campervan relocations in the USA</a> for as little as $1/day. Check with the routing feature in Google Maps though to see how long the distances are relative to your maximum allowed kilometres. Once you exceed those limits, you pay a per/km rate. If its nominal, no problem. You can pay the normal rental rate if you want more days, subject to their bookings of course. this company offers camper relocations in Australia, NZ, and now the USA. They have yet to offer such a service in Canada.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is evident that the current offerings are for campervan relocations is restricted to movements to and from the following locations: Atlanta - Denver - Dallas - Los Angeles - Las Vegas - San Francisco - Boston - New Jersey and Orlando. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Such relocations are a good way of determining if you like the lifestyle prior to buying a campervan. The owners give you instructions on how to operate the camper facilities, and clearly there is a benefit in being able to try different styles, designs and size camper vans. We would all like a large one for space, but you might no like the awkwardness of driving a monolith. These are the issues best experienced. You can buy such campervans second-hand as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">-------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-39946654888887609582011-01-06T20:18:00.000-08:002011-01-06T20:51:10.574-08:00Freedom camping - Are tourists the problem?<div style="text-align: justify;">NZ is having a big debate at the moment - the issue is freedom camping. <b>Freedom camping</b> is the practice of camping in undesignated public or private areas where no provisioning is made for toilets. This compels tourists staying in campervans (without toilet amenities) to desiccate on the roadside. The consequence is a 'minefield of turds' and spent toilet paper shrewd across private or public land. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The people is that backpacking is such a big industry these days, and there is pressure building to regulate behaviour to diminish the impact. The impact is bigger in NZ, because it is a smaller country, though it seems at this point, the greatest sensitivity is in areas which do not really embrace the tourism. <a href="http://nomadshostels.com/Editorial/freedom-camping-why-are-freedom-campers-getting-such-a-bad-reputation">Lake Hawea</a> is a very beautiful lake on the South Island, and the key issue is that this place has a very small commercial precinct, and I think locals are quite proud of their 'low key' living, and thus self-righteously proud of that. Rather than placing up toilet facilities, they would prefer to exclude tourists altogether. Why? Because they are not in business, so they have nothing to gain from tourists. So why not exclude others. This is why these people are sensitive. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Queenstown has a more visible and severe issue. It is a hotspot for tourism. There are a lot of bars and activities, so you can imagine that it would be a hub, and that people would simply want to spend a lot of time here. One of the problems for campervans staying here is the lack of parking in the area. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Elsewhere, I just think it is less of a problem. There are always inconsiderate people, and it would be wrong to assume that they are all foreigners. At any time there are only about 400,000 foreigners in the country, and probably 300,000 of them are staying in backpackers designated camping areas and hotels. Young Kiwis are just as likely to desiccate in the bush. I tend to find a lot of NZ'ers have little respect for their environment (as compared to Australia). </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I might add that:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Faeces and toilet paper are biodegradable, so its mostly a visual concern, though obviously its a threat to water quality in areas, like waterways. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. People are doing this because there are few public amenities. All it takes is to erect a pump-out toilet in those areas with a problem. I can imagine that these facilities only need to be emptied about every month. Perhaps the solution is to require consumers without a fitted toilet to pay a fee to use those facilities, and then you give them a map to find them. This means you can reasonably prosecute them for not using them. The licence can be sold by the dealerships, much as if you were selling fishing licenses. At $20 per person for 6 months, it would more than offset the cost of these services. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/freedom-campers-defacing-beauty-spots-3464706/video.xhtml">this video</a>, we have local residents taking action to remove 'freedom campers'. Unreasonable impositions on freedom campers is destined to push them further into the bush. That means these people are driving more and spending less money in NZ, going to NZ, but rather there money going to Saudi Arabia in the form of petroleum imports.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been to camping grounds where people have liberally shit in inappropriate places. It is not just the lack of concealment, they dump near watercourses. This practice is best handled with a license sticker on vehicles, displayed when they are at the site between certain hours, i.e. If you are in an undesignated site after 6pm or before 7am, then you pay the fine if you don't have a sticker. The question is how do you fine a transient like a tourist? Maybe the NZ government has to collect a bond, otherwise the police will start having to take credit card payments :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-52565883285610029032011-01-06T19:52:00.001-08:002011-01-06T19:57:11.171-08:00Booking fees are illegal<div style="text-align: justify;">I am reminded of a legal case in Victoria where a woman was obliged to pay a booking fee when she arrived at the pick-up site. No mention had previously been made of the booking fee when she made the booking. The lady protested and ended up taking the matter to court, where she won. If you are in the same position, you ought to know all charges upfront. i.e. Otherwise its bait advertising. This is common. I have been stung for this fee when I have rented a camper as a 'return' for $5/day. I thought I was getting a good deal though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm just glad there are some people who still believe in justice. I wouldn't have gone to the trouble. I'd be psychologically scarred if the decision was wrong....contrary to my good reasons. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-89103073146299631122011-01-06T19:31:00.000-08:002011-01-06T19:51:56.856-08:00The risks and rewards of campervanning<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the problems with campervans is that they have a bad reputation in several respects:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. <b>Tourist transporters</b> - locals in many rural locations hate tourists, and tripping into town in a campervan very much identifies you as a tourist. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. <b>Turd dumpers</b> - some campervans don't have toilets, and users are inclined to dump a turd where there is no toilets, to the dismay of locals and other tourists. More so for governments who don't want to clean t up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. <b>View blockers</b> - some campervans are inclined to park in the best locations with the best views, to the dismay of locals who paid a million plus for their property, only to have a $50K-odd campervan park in front, and possibly dump a turd in their garden...or a beer bottle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In truth, most campervanners are discrete, whether to avoid attention or to catch the scrutiny of police, who might be dismayed by the loitering of outside 'transients'. The attraction of mobile living gets more appealing by the day for several reasons:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. <b>Niche lifestyle vehicles</b> - they are being made by more manufacturers and thus are getting cheaper. There are also the second hand campervans and the converts from delivery vans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. <b>Lower cost batteries</b> are making it easier to run appliances as well as lowering the operating cost. Expect more developments here with flow batteries. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. <b>More efficient appliances</b> - The spectre of ever-improving energy efficiency is making it more appealing to function from a mobile home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. <b>The high cost of housing</b> - The cost of buying a home in Australia is enough to compel people to live on the road. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The big counter-arguments against the trend is probably:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. The lack of comfort </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. The growing prospect of restrictions on where you can stay - the impossible implication of costs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The simple solution is to hide your lifestyle - to live a life under the radar - to live life not in a 'campervan' but a simple delivery van. You will not get hassled out by aborigines as you cross the desert; you will not get your tires deflated by disgruntled landowners, and you will not get noticed by the police...unless you are surrounded by other campers, or otherwise parking in places where no other person would park at night, like in a national park or shopping mall carpark, etc. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you want to know how seriously some people object to campervans; <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10698399&ref=newsl_afternoonnewsdirect_J20080609_142008_1716_1129_825738151">read this story</a> about a 59yo Christchurch (NZ) man who attempted to set fire to a campervan who parked outside his home. My guess is that he wanted to give a message to all concerned that campers are not wanted outside their homes. The man was arrested for attempted murder. The worst experience for me was an aboriginal throwing a bottle at my vehicle as he drove past. It was footy night, and he must have won or lost....or just been pissed. All normal living conditions I'm sure in central Australia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">-------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-25729629656539845142010-08-03T00:35:00.000-07:002010-11-13T16:50:48.080-08:00Hazards of travelling outback Australia<div style="text-align: justify;">The perils of GPS systems are nothing next to the perils of bad roads in the outback of Australia when the weather turns against you. If you are planning a trip into the Outback of Australia, and are planning to take a vehicle off-road (onto dirt tracks), there might be a lesson to learn from this <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/cartech/family-spends-three-nights-trapped-in-ute-20100802-111qb.html">article</a>. Of course most campervans are designed and contracted on the basis that you will only travel on bitumen roads. But for general knowledge you might be interested in the experience of these people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=darling+river+road,+Wilcannia+nsw&sll=-31.041168,143.503418&sspn=0.800105,1.766052&ie=UTF8&hq=darling+river+road,&hnear=Wilcannia+New+South+Wales,+Australia&ll=-31.641302,142.693717&spn=2.166876,1.645116&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=darling+river+road,+Wilcannia+nsw&sll=-31.041168,143.503418&sspn=0.800105,1.766052&ie=UTF8&hq=darling+river+road,&hnear=Wilcannia+New+South+Wales,+Australia&ll=-31.641302,142.693717&spn=2.166876,1.645116" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></div><div style="text-align: justify;">---------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a><br />
228667c25dbe479da19e0b954f8a0f1b </div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-59221920762449226922009-09-17T14:22:00.000-07:002010-01-17T14:42:25.427-08:00How safe is campervanning?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8JlCRwer4RicM6AoIyuqPctHm4tNver24gaTaD-hSnKPMNUcP98JJXwXqceMRYIJILg_7npUDtiYgwcVKKBVsljP37tQLjYLUOZF7nLf4ZuAIe76Qtw4-tdD4SQXk-NZJkhTmA14HRQ/s1600-h/CIMG0518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8JlCRwer4RicM6AoIyuqPctHm4tNver24gaTaD-hSnKPMNUcP98JJXwXqceMRYIJILg_7npUDtiYgwcVKKBVsljP37tQLjYLUOZF7nLf4ZuAIe76Qtw4-tdD4SQXk-NZJkhTmA14HRQ/s320/CIMG0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387364781694903394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">About 10 years ago I scared the hell out of my friend's girlfriend whilst we were <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervanning</a> on a beach north of Newcastle, NSW. This 90-mile beach has some of the most impressive beach sand dunes in the world. In fact many movies are made at this site for this reason. I openly wondered how many buried campers are concealed under these shifting sands given the isolation, the ease of digging, the ease of escape for any offender. I can also imagine that many psychotics might hang out on the beach at night. This is pure speculation because I'm not affiliated with any.<br /><br />Safety considerations are a concern, though perhaps less of a concern that for <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campers</a>. Any bad experience is in most cases likely to be a result of bad luck whether than systematic risk. When I reflect on my bad experiences they have arisen because of the following:<br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Exposure: </span>If you are readily seen then there is the potential for people to cause you harm.<br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Isolation:</span> If troublesome people some across a camper in a remote area, they are more likely to cause some injury if they sense that they can escape accountability.<br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conspicuous: </span>Some people like to attack that which is different. If there are some drunk guys passing a car, that is not special. If they pass a campervan they are going to reflect on it. The only place a campervan does not look conspicuous is in a camper park.<br /><br />The implications for campervanners are:<br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The less conspicuous the vehicle - the less likely you will have problems. </span>Driving around in a huge campervan attracts attention. A small camper which looks more like a delivery van than a camper will attract no attention because it is perceived as just another vehicle, and people will not expect people to be sleeping in it. In some places there are laws against living in the back of a vehicle. i.e. Public ordinances. Usually local governments and police don't prosecute on the basis of these ordinances until the practice becomes a public nuisance, or results in some grievance. This is why I suggest a smaller, work-type vehicle makes a better campervan.<br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Less isolation:</span> When I was travelling around some people parked their campervans in industrial estates in towns. This makes sense for campervans, but ultimately I want to be located around people, so for a work-type (inconspicuous) vehicle, I am more inclined to stay in the suburbs. I would just park on-street in some quiet street, usually under a street light. In outback Australia some aborigines threw a plastic bottle at a rental I was sleeping in. no damage, but the point is - it was a rental and it could have easily been a glass bottle.<br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Avoid lawless areas:</span> Usually lawlessness arises in low income and indigenous communities, often associated with alcohol. These problems occurs in settled areas, so if you must stay in a 'bad area', make it in a rural area where there is less likely to be people. I was staying in Katherine, NT, Australia. The local aboriginal football team won the competition and were out driving their cars drunk. I tried to sleep, but ended up at a tourist carpark next to a hot spring. It was a lovely place to have a swim the next day.<br />-----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-2188212372936686402009-09-17T14:10:00.001-07:002010-01-17T14:43:42.201-08:00Gas guidelines for NZ campervanning<div style="text-align: justify;">If you are thinking of buying a van or bus in <a href="http://nzproperty.sheldonthinks.com">NZ</a> and converting it into a <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervan</a> then you might want to read the following <a href="http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentTOC____31990.aspx">rules</a> on the matter. Gas-powering your appliances remains one of the best options for running campervans, particularly for smaller vans, given its high energy density. Other options to consider are:<br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Outsourcing </span>- Using external services, e.g. Showers at your local public or private swimming pool or public beach facilities. Cost: Free, or up to $4.00. Of course you can live hand to mouth, shopping daily at Countdown or New World, so you don't need to refrigerate perishables. NZ is a fairly cool climate anyway.<br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fuel cells:</span> There is a new gas-fired fuel cell available in the USA which will greatly improve energy use by campervans because fuel cells offer up to 50% electrical efficiency, thus reducing the amount of heat loss.<br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Solar energy </span>can be an attractive solution for larger <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervans</a>, though its not the best solution given its seasonal limitations and still low conversion efficiency. These are not such an attractive option, as batteries are also expensive.<br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mains power:</span> The other source of power is mains supply. This makes sense if you are taking short trips, but for long distance travelling it really does not make a lot of sense. You can use the mains supplies from campervan parks but you will pay a premium for it. This option only makes sense if you are going to stay there anyway, say for the security.<br /><br />Expect in the next 2 decades some new combustion engines to be developed which will offer greater fuel efficiency. There is a lot of money going into research these days. The US Dept of Energy is throwing money at technology companies to develop new products.<br />-----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-18540776693431708702009-07-21T16:57:00.000-07:002010-01-17T14:44:35.229-08:00Technology will change campervanning forever<div style="text-align: justify;">If you are interested in doing some <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">touring</a> I forecast that there will be a substantial change in the way we travel. The reason will be two-fold:<br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Low cost vehicles:</span> The trend set by Indian car makers towards lower-cost, more economical vehicles. The focus has been on economy, but I expect future models to offer more in the way of 'lifestyle features'. For instance it would not surprise me to see a vehicle which allows you to increase the storage space, or even to create a sleeping area by taking our the passenger seat, or reconfiguring the driver seat. The trick is to come up with a seat that does it comfortably.<br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lifestyle appliances:</span> I believe we are going to see changes in the components that make up a car. By this I mean changes in the engine design, the cooling system, the appliances. Certainly a LCD makes sense to play movies if you have kids, but that is a family car. In a lifestyle car, you want a refrigerator, heating, battery support for a day, and the capacity to recharge the battery. Am I dreaming? I don't believe so. The current vehicles are only able to get 25% thermal efficiency. Most of the current fuel economy gains are coming from aerodynamic design, not from a more efficient engine. Wait and see! There is greater pressure to lift fuel efficiency than ever. The Stirling engine is not a substitute for the internal combustion engine. It will take a new design based on the internal combustion engine.<br />-----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-64040634662153890092009-07-08T20:31:00.000-07:002010-01-17T14:46:03.878-08:00Looking for a cheap holiday<div style="text-align: justify;">There are fewer cheaper places to holiday than Asia, but consider campervanning in Australia, or some variation of this combination of these travel opportunities.<br /><br />NZ is an expensive country to fly from/to, so it might make more sense to fly get a cheap ticket to Sydney or Brisbane with Virgin Blue, then transfer to another airline, preferably another discount airline. Baggage limits can be an issue. Developing countries tend to be cheaper. I would recommend the Vietnam for Asia, fly-drive in Australia, see http://campa-living.blogspot.com. For instance I returned from the Philippines with discount airline Tiger Airways, via Singapore to Darwin (or Perth), then <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">I got a campervan across Australia</a> to Sydney for just $5/day, with a fuel allowance. Discount airlines are flexible enough to allow you to do that. Being able to live out of a campervan meant I could easily stop wherever I wanted, eat healthy out of Woolworths and Coles stores, internet from libraries, showers at public swimming pools, public toilets in public reserves and hotels, even coffee shops. Makes a nice way to travel.<br />The <a href="http://philippinesrealestate.sheldonthinks.com">Philippines</a> is another cheap country to travel through as transport standards are good, its cheap and English speaking, and you can also travel overland through back-country. My next overland trip will be Manila to Davao, fly or boat to Manado, overland through Sulawesi to Makassar, ferry to (via Sarabaya) Denpaser to Bali, or flight to Australia, for the overland campervan trip. You might even be able to swing a camper back if you can triangulate your destinations.<br />The attraction of the Philippines is that until recently it has not really had a tourist identity; and for good reason, it never had an organised travel program. Recently increased expenditure on road upgrades, discount airlines has resulted in more Filipinos <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">travelling</a> and holidaying at home, and this has prompted a lot of governors to improve their facilities, whether hotels, restaurants, and events. Its early days but I note that viewing decks are being constructed along highways; hotels are being constructed, pathways are being built along rivers or to scenic locations like waterfalls. Tourist values will I believe result in people developing more pride in their community. You can expect more defensiveness as well. For instance the tourist hub of Sagada has a resolution to stop outsiders buying property there. It is still a big premature to travel to the Philippines...give it another 5-10 years. In the interim I recommend Vietnam.<br /><br />The point of this article is to develop a long term travel strategy, schedule for a combination of travel values, avoid those standardised international hotels that really offer no unique travel experience. Travel is as much a learning experience as a restive escape. Make your holiday as full of activities and reflective opportunities as you can. I value the opportunity to hang out with expats in bars because they are well-travelled people living interesting lives.<br />----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-61372238026899068002009-04-19T16:25:00.000-07:002010-01-17T14:47:03.982-08:00Jobs for motor home owners and retirees<div style="text-align: justify;">A story in the <a href="http://www.wanganuionline.com">Wanganui</a> Chronicle 20th Apr 2009 has retirees <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">traveling around NZ</a> working on farms picking fruit and vegetables. There are plenty of stalls in such growing districts for direct sales as well, so anyone with some knowledge or a willingness to learn. might be able to extend their travels with the supplementary income from working on various farms. Such workers are called seasonal food harvesters. They work a few days a week, and you will meet a lot of people. from all around the world Some are local retirees, others are motor home explorers, others are foreign backpackers. eg. Northburn station in Central Otago pays $13.50 per hour a few months a year. Workers can learn from locals what to do in each region, so its an interesting experience, a new experience, as well as a door to some cheap fruit, vegetables and wine. Clearview Estate and a number of wineries advertise on their websites. Check out the website <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.winejobsonline.com">www.winejobsonline.com</a> - but also do a direct search for wineries in areas of interest. In NZ its places like Napier-Hastings District, and in Australia its the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Darling Downs. Backpacker accommodation can also provide referrals to casual employment agencies.<br /><br />You can of course benefit from such transient labour in a number of countries, whether its Australia, <a href="http://nzproperty.sheldonthinks.com">NZ</a> or the USA.<br /></div><br />------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.comAndrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-1257030443892979852009-01-25T11:05:00.000-08:002010-01-17T14:47:32.205-08:00Why pay full price for a campervan?<div style="text-align: justify;">One of my readers has drawn my attention to a new <a href="http://www.findacamper.co.nz/rentals.php">website</a> which provides a one-stop shop for <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervanning in NZ</a>. The problem of course is that you will be paying full price to use these services. I would be inclined to use the 'camper returns' though <a href="http://www.standbyrelocs.com/">standbyrelocs.com</a>. The benefit is that you will pay just $5/day for the van, and you will receive a fuel subsidy to return it. The disadvantage is that you will have a time limit on your trip.<br />I would suggest this is not a bad thing. If you assign 4hours for driving each day, you should be able to have adequate time to enjoy some recreation. Anyway, its a great way to gain an introductory rate to <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervanning</a>.<br />----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-39301723290263028802008-12-06T23:26:00.000-08:002010-01-17T14:49:13.933-08:00Auckland - New Plymouth - WanganuiThis is a trip description for my recent arrival from Sydney. Arriving in Auckland. It was very difficult to find the Tourist Info, as its tucked away in the corner where you would expect the toilets to be. Found accommodation in Manukau City, a satellite city south of Auckland CBD with a shopping city. I had already arranged to inspect/buy a Holden Combo found on the internet, however I stayed in the Manukau Budget Motel ($60/night) for the first 2 nights.<br />After checking out the car, the dealer took me to the registration authority and I was on my way. I drove south to Hamilton, then headed towards New Plymouth via Taumarunui and Stratford, then I followed the coast down to <a href="http://www.wanganuionline.com">Wanganui</a>. It was really green, beautiful countryside. The highlights were from Te Kuiti to Stratford, and from New Plymouth to Wanganui. It was either green mountains or green rolling hills along the coast. I tried<a href="http://www.campaliving.com/"> sleeping in the back of my vehicle</a>. It was a little tight but ok. I'd had a few beers so that probably didn't help my sleep.<br />A cautionary note that the road around <a href="http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106791913239054408744.00044b36b8a201679efb8&ll=-39.149233,174.623566&spn=0.263053,0.617981&z=11">Te Wera</a> was not sealed for about 20km. It was a bit wrong for a <a href="http://www.campaliving.com/">campervan</a>. I spent the night at Stratford - can't remember the name of the pub, but I just stayed in the carpark for the pub.<br />This map shows the approximate route I took - the only difference is that I went through Hamilton City (5th largest city of NZ), and I don't see a need to do that.<br />See <a href="http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106791913239054408744.00044b36b8a201679efb8&ll=-38.056742,174.715576&spn=4.273033,9.887695&z=7">Google Maps</a>.<br /><br /><p style="visibility: visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-87.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" style="width: 426px; height: 320px;" width="426" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-87.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=1801439850969413767&site=widget-87.slide.com"></object></p><p style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=1801439850969413767&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-87.slide.com/p1/1801439850969413767/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=1801439850969413767&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-87.slide.com/p2/1801439850969413767/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=1801439850969413767&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-87.slide.com/p4/1801439850969413767/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" ismap="ismap" border="0" /></a></p><p></p><br />-----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-45458006014827189192008-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:002008-11-30T16:08:07.728-08:00Alternatives to campervans<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3B-7o-_5B5uw2pjx10wmbhnPUPdBk1qjo6of3wGsck0mmmSDmn761ZrgDScfItn_2MSbWOTU-1yLpdDURH9DgMmh1vwWtxUmBqWPhR0U_1HcmtcpGKLgfv9BGBfPcCZtG9Qpsfu3rbI/s1600-h/Holden+Car+comparison.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3B-7o-_5B5uw2pjx10wmbhnPUPdBk1qjo6of3wGsck0mmmSDmn761ZrgDScfItn_2MSbWOTU-1yLpdDURH9DgMmh1vwWtxUmBqWPhR0U_1HcmtcpGKLgfv9BGBfPcCZtG9Qpsfu3rbI/s400/Holden+Car+comparison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274606208755959714" border="0" /></a>You don't have to buy a campervan to get some practical camper-type vehicle. I've been in NZ for the last 2 weeks trying to find a property to buy. The first task was to buy a vehicle. I was motivated by the VW Caddy Life which I used as a campervan return (SYD-BRIS) last year. The VW is not available in NZ, and its a little pricey anyway. I did however find a Holden Combo 2001 model for $5,000. It had just 120,000kms, and it was in good condition. The attractions were that it had a big enought van compartment to carry a lot of stuff, including inflatable canoes, mountain bikes, as well as being able to sleep two people. More easily one, but then I'm marrying a 5 foot Filipino, so I'm sure we'll find a corner for her to fit in, as I will be sleeping diagonally. :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other attraction of this vehicle is that its just 1.4 litre, so great fuel economy. The bad points are that it was a manual, so my GF will have to learn to use a stick :( The view of the blind spots is not great either, so not really a city vehicle.<br />I used the following spreadsheet to make my purchase decision. I went online and obtained the price, kms, age of the vehicle, as well as other issues like tranmission and location, and I came up with the following choices. I think I got the best of them. Time will tell.<br />-----------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-50528602966227678992008-05-05T20:30:00.000-07:002008-05-05T20:31:37.505-07:00Stand by cars - low season specials<p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;">This week Standbycars is able to offer campers at prices that even we can't believe. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;">Travel in New Zealand between now and 31 August and you can pick up a Hitop Camper for just <strong><span style="font-size:100%;">NZ$35</span></strong> per day! These campers are under 2 years old and have the added bonus of the incredibly reduced insurance liability of just NZ$1500, down from NZ$7,500! Upgrade to a 2 Berth Camper with Shower and Toilet for just <strong>NZ$4</strong> extra per day or for those travelling in a bigger group we have 4 Berths for NZ$71 per day or 6 Berths for NZ$80 per day. All vehicles are fully</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:85%;">equipped with all your camping and cooking needs and a bonus welcome pack. Pick ups are available from Auckland and Christchurch. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">In Australia you can also snap up a bargain if you travel before 30 June. Hitop campers are on offer for <strong><span style="font-size:100%;">AU$40</span></strong> per day. These campers are under 2 years old and come with all your camping and cooking equipment. Pick ups are available from all major cities. <br /><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Our relocation pick this week is from <strong>Cairns to Melbourne</strong> and comes with an amazing <strong>AU$500</strong> fuel allowance! Travel 5 days for <strong>AU$1</strong> per day in a Hitop camper between now and 17 May. If you want to take a little longer you can buy up to 3 extra days for $75 per day. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"> </p> <p style="margin: 0px;" align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are looking for a relocation deal check out our </span><a href="http://e2ma.net/go/1067603948/966179/35540940/goto:http://www.standbycars.com.au/oneways.aspx?cid=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hot Deals</span></a><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">. We update the deals each morning with new trips. I</span></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:85%;">f there is a particular trip you are after and can't see it phone our reservations consultants and they'll add you to their waiting list</span></span>. <span style="font-family:tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">To make a booking, please call our reservations team on 1300 789 059 (toll free from within Australia) or 0800 789 059 (toll free from within New Zealand). </span></p>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-74625000886838063302008-04-19T04:25:00.000-07:002008-04-19T04:29:20.717-07:00My Campervanning Routes on Google MapsNow you can view my suggested campervanning routes on Google Maps. Click on the following map to go to Google Maps. I have marked the routes I have done with a campervan, as well as suggested routes based on my driving around Australia (30-odd trips) and New Zealand (3 fly & drive trips). I have marked campervan hire places in green, overnight or scenic places in red and the lines represent the routes. This is a work in progress. You can relate the routes to the individual blog postings I continue to make.<br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-35.012002,148.754883&spn=2.141497,5.141602&msid=106791913239054408744.00044b36b8a201679efb8&output=embed&s=AARTsJr6aAmVGggvcKX4KGihCPcjc37nPw" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=-35.012002,148.754883&spn=2.141497,5.141602&msid=106791913239054408744.00044b36b8a201679efb8&source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.comAndrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-50970737542698969912008-04-18T20:44:00.000-07:002008-04-19T02:44:09.244-07:00Campervanning – Sydney to Melbourne (summer mountain & sea route)<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the best campervanning trips you can do in Australia is the Sydney to Melbourne route or visa versa. These are one-way trips that offer you the prospect of getting a great discount off the standard travel price. Looking at the <a href="http://www.standbycars.com.au/oneways.aspx?cid=1">Standby Cars</a><a href="http://www.standbycars.com.au/oneways.aspx?cid=1"></a> website its apparent that vehicles in Sydney are picked up or delivered to Mascot, whilst vehicles in Melbourne need to be picked up or delivered to Melbourne City or Braybrook. See <a href="www.google.com/maps"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Google Maps</span></a> for location details. The trip I consulted offered $110 petrol allowance, 3 days and a 1142km travel allowance for this trip. You will need to pay $5/day plus extra for kilometres over the allowance. The appeal is the variety of scenery that you will come across, as well as the accessibility to nice places to go out. There are also a great many routes to choose from. I have seen a great deal of NSW so I will outline what I think is the best way to go:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><b style="">Departing Sydney:</b> You are likely to be picking up a campervan at Mascot near Sydney Airport, so travel south on the tollway towards Wollongong. I recommend having a stop at Kiama for a bite to eat, maybe seafood. This will likely be around lunch time.Then driving on to Gerroa for a walk along the beach. Don’t spend too much time here you have alot of kilometres to drive. I recommend spending a bit of time exploring the coast around Ulladulla as its a very beautiful area. Depending how you are doing for time I recommend staying the night in Narooma or Moruya.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">2.</span></span><b style="">Departing Moruya:</b> I suggest starting out early to avoid the afternoon sun. Continue south towards Bega, passing through Bermagui. Before Bega there is a turn-off to Cooma. Take this road, as it will take you through up the mountain ranges. This section will be boring, so speed through here. From Cooma take the Berridale turn-off to Jindabyne. I would think about having a snack in Berridale, with the intent of stopping in Jindabyne to buy any groceries to eat in the national park. The intent is to have a late lunch in Thedbo Ski Village. You should be able to leave their by 4PM, with the intent of staying in the park at a river flats that will become immediately apparent when you get there. But really you could happily find a great number of places to stay. Just take care driving at night or day because this is a narrow mountain road. Check whether the route is possible.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><b style="">Departing Snowy Mountains National Park:</b> The Alpine Way turns north Khancoban, which sees you exist the park, and then continue on to Corryong, Tallangatta, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Melbourne.<span style=""> </span>The speed with which you complete this section will depend ultimately on when you have to have the vehicle back. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNoSpacing">My concern with this route is that it will be too long. I have structured it as the scenic route. Unfortunately a number of these areas are very remote. I would suggest this route would likely require 1500km because of the amount of travel on secondary roads. For this reason you would want unlimited kilometres, and it would be far more pleasant to have 4 days. You have sleeping accommodation with you, so perhaps it makes sense to travel longer on the evening of the first night. This will mean you have a picnic llunch in the Snowy Mountains National Park at Tom Groggin, where I was actually suggesting camping.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> ---------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-61940467748168546622008-03-11T01:35:00.000-07:002008-03-11T01:55:47.487-07:00Campervanning in New ZealandThere is probably no better time of year to go campervanning in NZ than the tail-end of summer. Standby Cars have some great deals for campervanning in NZ - check out their <a href="http://www.standbycars.com.au/oneways.aspx?cid=2">website </a>- I just received a notification after using their service to travel from Darwin to Sydney and Sydney to Brisbane.<br />Looking at the deals available you have 4 to 5 days to travel from Auckland to Christchurch. You pay just $1-5/day to return the vehicle, plus free ferry crossing. I note that you don't get any fuel allowance, but then its a good deal regardless. My preferred route would be from Auckland to the Corimandel Peninsula, then down the east coast to Wellington, then crossing the ferry to the South Island of New Zealand, landing in Nelson, I would be inclined to head direct to Christchurch. I dont know if you need a booking to cross the strait. I've done it before, but I actually picked up a new hire car on the other side.<br />The other alternative is a 'fly & drive' strategy, whether you stay in hotels or backpackers. I prefer the campervan route myself. I have yet to campervan in NZ, but having been there I understand the Pacific Islanders (Fujians or Samoans) cause some problems. Haven't been hit by a Pacific Islander in NZ, but I was in Sydney, but it probably feels the same. I dont know there propensity to throw thinks or vandalise campervans. Hopefully it doesn't become a sport. I did however spend time in a NZ pub on a Volcanic Geology uni field trip, and hanging out in a pub in Auckland (the wrong pub as tourists are prone to do) they were pretty intimidating people. Actually I was winning successive games, but basically an Islander came up to me and said he wanted to play. Experience told me not to argue the point.<br />For that reason I suggest avoiding the major cities - particularly Auckland. Maybe there are similar problems around Rotorua. The great aspect of NZ is the nature, so that is where I would suggest you spend your time.<br />After spending a day or two in Christchurch I would rent a car and drive to Queenstown, see Milford Sound and the Frans Joseph (?) Glacier, and back to Queenstown. If possible I would then get a campervan back to Christchurch. This will allow you to go a different way, and or maybe find a few nice overnight camp stops. The south island is great for campervanning as there are few people there.<br />-----------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-54473745932178803752008-03-01T02:34:00.001-08:002008-03-01T02:34:22.209-08:00Check out my Slide Show!<div><embed src="http://widget-27.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=1801439850953834279&site=widget-27.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=ms&id=1801439850953834279&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-27.slide.com/p1/1801439850953834279/bb_t016_v000_s0ms_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=ms&id=1801439850953834279&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-27.slide.com/p2/1801439850953834279/bb_t016_v000_s0ms_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-31804450531766040872008-02-01T01:41:00.000-08:002008-02-01T02:13:47.835-08:00Fitting out a campervanHaving established what I want to do, what I want to carry in a campervan, the next step is to design the vehicle. Based on my 'cut down' features I am really not interested in the factory-made campers that are offered by the various manufacturers. They are going after the bulk market and I'm particular. Ideally I would love to squeeze everything I want to carry into a Volkswagen Caddy Life. Its small, 1400cc engine for fuel economy, great design inside. One of the great features of the Caddy is the sliding doors on both sides. Nice, but not required.<br />The design parameters I have established are:<br />1. <strong>Side access:</strong> I want a van that opens to the curb-side because I want to place a mountain bike or two on the back. Its ok if there is a backdoor, but it will be incidental. I intend to place a permanent brace on the back to secure the mountain bikes with a lock.<br />2. <strong>Sleeping/seating area:</strong> I want a sleeping area in a bubble or at normal height. I want the sleeping space to fit 1.5-2 people. I want to achieve this by having a long, side seat with storage inside it for say the batteries and canoe, plus a table that swings around, but otherwise lowers to support the extension of the bed. I envisage a orthopedic foam mattress than doubles over to make the seat.<br />3. <strong>Refrigerator:</strong> Most compact campers have a very small 35-45-litre fridge. I want a more useful 60-litre fridge, and I want to dispense with all the washing basin and taps, and I dont need the gas stove, since I intend to use electricity for everything.<br />4. <strong>Storage:</strong> I will need storage for the deep cycle batteries (say 3-4 of them), the canoe, a wardrobe for my clothes, a place for the portable toilet, water tank, planks of wood to support the bed. I will need storage space for my food.<br />5. <strong>Headroom:</strong> I will need adequate headroom since intend to work in this campervan, and adequate natural lighting for visbility and working. I would envisage having skirting curtains all around the periphery, with select fly screens. I would prefer not to have a bubble to preserve the appearance of a normal vehicle, so it is more discrete. I dont want people thinking I have my worldly possessions in it.<br />6. <strong>Table:</strong> The table will need to be large enough for a laptop and a mouse pad, say 0.5m x 0.5m, though larger is ok if it can be accommodated. I will use the same table for cooking and washing, if not outside.<br />7. <strong>Shower:</strong> I would intend to fix to the outer surface of the vehicle an extendable, flexible pole after threading a shower curtain around it. I would draw the water off from the top of the vehicle, so I need a flat roof.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Am I forgetting anyting?</strong></span><br />------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-32754176902726375852008-02-01T01:18:00.000-08:002008-02-01T01:39:45.587-08:00Campervan LifestyleI love the idea of living with the bare necessities. I think the appeal for this lifestyle is a throwback from my early years camping. When I was young I bought alot of camping equipment with the intent of going on trips. The range was not so great then and I didnt have any 'bushy type' friends, but it nevertheless instilled the idea in my mind. That same travel philosophy has been reinforced living in Japan and travelling around Asia for months.<br />As I get older though I have opted for a few luxuries. I no longer like tents, though I probably still have the sleeping bag-style tent I bought years ago. So campervans have alot of appeal, but they too have their limitations, so I need a mountain bike and canoe as well. So what would my life on the road be like?<br /><br /><strong>Typical Daily schedule</strong><br />Well if you are on the road then you need to travel somewhere new. But why hurry and waste petrol besides when there are so many places close rather than far. There is a restriction if you are sleeping in a campervan. You cant stay in the one place more than a night. People will complain and accuse you of squatting. No problem - Australia is a big country. It starts to feel a bit tight in Japan because someone owns every corner of land and they are very suspicious. But there are hidden, discrete places in every country.<br />I would of course start my day with breakfast. In Australia there are few better places to have breakfast than at the beach or on some mountain pass. But anywhere will do on the road. In low sun I am inclined to write on my computer. When the sun gets to high I would drive to a public library and work there until lunch. After lunch I dare say I would return to the library.<br />If I wanted a day off I would go mountain biking or hiking on some trail or canoeing on some river.<br />In the evenings I would go to the local pub for a beer or stay working the library until dinner. I could eat out or in the camper. Usually in an open area so I can wash my utensils, then I would work there until late. I never sleep where I work, and never in a remote place like a beach. As much as I like the idea of sleeping by the surf, experience has told me that alot of weirdos and trouble makers hang out on beaches at night. Local surfies aside, and I'm not one of them.<br />------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-402376552076364542008-02-01T01:04:00.000-08:002008-02-01T01:18:13.951-08:00My Campervan Shopping ListHaving established what my list of campervan items are, I will now identify the consumables which I would be planning to take on my trips:<br />1. <strong>Juices:</strong> TetraPak<br />2. <strong>Bread:</strong> Wholegrain to avoid constipation<br />3. <strong>Fruit:</strong> Usually nectarines, bananas and apples<br />4. <strong>Bread spreads:</strong> Tuna spread, nutella, vegemite<br />5. <strong>Vegetables:</strong> Carrots, broccoli, cucumber, beans, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes<br />6. <strong>Can food:</strong> Corn, tuna<br />7. <strong>Frozen food:</strong> Fish fillets in sauce (if have refrigerator)<br />8. <strong>Fruit & nut bars:</strong> As a snack.<br />9. <strong>Yoghurt:</strong> Passionfruit & banana (if have refrigerator)<br />10. <strong>Dairy:</strong> Cheese, long life soy or cow milk (if have refrigerator)<br />11. <strong>Meat:</strong> Beef, chicken and lamb pieces (if have refrigerator)<br /><br />Normally I would want to shop in the evening after the heat of the day. I would have have toast and yoghurt for breakfast, salad & spread sandwiches for lunch, vegetables and at meat serving for dinner. If I dont have the refrigerator I would tend to eat out at night time, and likely have a beer as well.<br />------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-37335834401954386932008-01-31T23:54:00.000-08:002008-02-01T01:04:28.486-08:00Campervan travel kit listWe each have our personal preferences. The items that I would be looking to take on a campervanning trip would be the following. Starting with a short duration trip:<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Short Duration Trips (2-3 days)</span></strong><br />1. <strong>GPS:</strong> A Garmin Etrex Vista CX - because its colour, has high capacity memory card, is rugged and does everything I could possibly want, aside from being more waterproof, and having better reception.<br />2. <strong>Laptop:</strong> Its really hard to find a laptop that does everything I want it to do. I used to love my old Toshiba Libereto with a 5inch screen. Travelled all over Asia with it, but its a dinosaur now. I await a similar designed & size unit with a battery power of 5-7 hours. The Sony VGN-TX850P which I am currently using has that battery life, but I dont like the flat keys and the poor screen. I also want a solid-state HDD is I can take it over rough terrain, whether in a campervan or MTB. A laptop can also function as a radio, TV, DVD player, MP3 player. Really not happy with Sony computers in the last 5 years. Alot of crap. Its importantly access to the internet and maps, info on canoeing and MTB trails. Plus a carry bag, mouse & mouse pad.<br />3. <strong>Waterproof Digital Camera:</strong> The next big feature in digital cameras I guess is durability. Olympus seems to be the leader in stand-alone waterproof digital cameras, as opposed to those ones that require some encasement in some bubble. I have a habit of getting the latest, which was the Olympus 720SW about a year ago. I note that they have since shrunk the size by a third of mine, which is cool. There are features about this camera I dont like, so I might migrate back to Sony's in future, but I need waterproof, so until then - its an Olympus. The features I dont like are the difficulty selecting settings and the slow shutter speed. Sony was more intuitive.<br />4. <strong>Sevylor Tahiti Inflatable Canoe & 3-section oar:</strong> Having an easily stored 2-man canoe is a useful item in the back of a car or campervan. If you are cruising around a country and come across a river its great if you can pull out a canoe.<br />5. <strong>Mountain bike & helmet:</strong> Another useful piece of equipment is a MTB. I love getting off the road to go places you cant go in a vehicle. I am not particular about the brand, though I refer just front suspension, hand brakes and aluminium frame for light weight.<br />6. <strong>Backup HDD:</strong> You need to backup your work when you are travelling, so if I cant do this online, then I want a portable HDD. If I am not dealing with alot of files I will just use a USB flash card - say 1-2Gb, though they are capacity is growing all the time.<br />7. <strong>Steamer:</strong> I want a well designed steamer in which I can stream meat, vegetables, rice. I dont like that alot of camper's come equipped with a burner. I guess its great if you can store fuel in your car and book with gas, but I prefer to stay electric for everything, and a diesel genset if power supplies run low.<br />8. <strong>Small Fan:</strong> Air conditioning is not practical to cool a camper so I like having a small fan for the back of the vehicle. It tends not to be a requirement in Australia. It makes more sense to park in the shade or open a window. Its not humid enough in the south, so its a necessity for the north.<br />9. <strong>Toaster:</strong> A toaster is not the most energy-efficient device but it does its job well, and you only use it for 3minutes a day.<br />10. <strong>Nokia E61i cell phone:</strong> This is the best phone on the market in terms of value. It has great MP3 player, though I find it hard to hear people, and the camera has wifi. I like having the big size keyboard for typing notes and the wifi, though I have always found it hard to get a free connection in Australia. All wireless connections are locked and cafes more often than not dont have them.<br />11. <strong>Deep cycle batteries:</strong> I want enough deep cycle batteries to last me around 3 days so I dont have to recharge them from the diesel genset so often.<br />12. <strong>Refrigerator:</strong> I require a 60-litre refrigerator to store fresh fruit & vegetable, as well as drinks.<br />13. <strong>Bedding:</strong> I just use a sleeping bad though a blanket will surfice. A pillow or just a rolled up jacket is enough for me.<br />14. <strong>Clothing:</strong> I would normally take 10 pairs of undewear, 5 pairs of socks, 5 T-shirts, 3 pairs of shorts, one pare of nice jeans, nice dress jeans, basic dirt shoe, dress shoe, 3 hats for all occasions, a jacket fit for the snow, light nylon pants for canoeing (sun protection) or skiing (snow), 3 dress shirts, prescription sunglasses.<br />15. <strong>Cutlery & utensils:</strong> Just need 2 knives/forks/tea & tablespoons and a can & bottle opener. Two plates and bowls, and an open washing basin, containers to store cut fruit & vegetables.<br />16. <strong>Personal items:</strong> Shaver, tooth brush, mouth wash, soap, shampoo<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Long Duration Needs (>5 days)</span></strong><br />The changes I would make to this set up if I was spending more time on the road, or playing to do alot of trips in excess of 3 days would be to get the following:<br />17. <strong>Coleman Diesel Genset:</strong> The intent being so I dont have to pay $30/night going to a caravan/RV park, and can just stay on the road instead.<br />18. <strong>Water tank:</strong> A 50-litre water tank for drinking and washing purposes. For shorter trips I would use public swimming pool and club facilities.<br />19. <strong>Portable toilet:</strong> Basic model only since I would be inclined to be using public facilities as a matter of preference, particularly for shorter trips.<br />------------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">www.sheldonthinks.com</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452779575861734301.post-34794253984532602942008-01-21T06:53:00.000-08:002008-02-02T06:16:32.195-08:00The type of people you meet when you RVMost of the RV trips I have been doing to date have been deep into the outback of Australia. As a result I'm only seeing fellow RV'ers on the road, passing at 120kmph. Most of the time I am actually more inclined to talk to locals in the towns I stay. I suggest the reason is that to mix with other RV'ers, you need to stay in a RV park. That to me defeats the purpose of having an RV - parking almost anywhere you please....within certain safety boundaries.<br />Travelling from Darwin to Sydney, I stayed in car parks, residential areas by the side of the road, and tourist locations. The safest place was in the residential areas - short of the option of paying $20-30/night for a RV park. But this gives you no option of mixing with fellow RV'ers. Anyway, I will have to try. Not sure I would have anything in common with them. Has to be tried though. If I were to get an idea of their values I guess they would be:<br />1. Nature lovers - though they might question that idea given all the roadkill they will contribute to, and/or<br />2. Freedom lovers - trying to get away from governments and oppressive employers, and/or<br />3. Poor - trying to avoid the high cost of over-regulated land (zoning) in Australia<br />4. Cheap - always lamenting the rising cost of food, rent, etc<br />5. Simpletons - looking for an easy and inexpensive way to live out thei life before they become roadkill<br /><br />Ok, when I look at those possibilities, there is room for possibilities. I love nature, hate government and unnecessary regulation, love avoiding taxes, not the wealthiest person around, I'm as tight as a newborn lamb....hhmmm.....that last one might be a problem. I'm not opting out of live, I just like to be doing the things I like to do on the road. Maybe I have more opportunity to meet the aspirational type of people I welcome on the road when internet coverage improves. No one has open networks, not even coffee shops in the country. The only option is the expensive Telstra network. Well we are all waiting for Wimax. See my posting at <a href="http://dotcomspeak.blogspot.com/">http://dotcomspeak.blogspot.com/</a> to better appreciate the role of Wimax.<br />------------------------------------<br />Andrew Sheldon <a href="http://www.sheldonthinks.com/">http://www.sheldonthinks.com/</a>Andrew Sheldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15469120006156639030noreply@blogger.com0