| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Baby/Booster Seats |
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| Baby Capsules |
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Recommended for children:
- newborn to 6 months (approximately) |
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| Apollo: |
- Do not permit any baby capsules in their vehicles. |
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| Britz/Maui: |
- Permit baby capsules in their 4 and 6 Berth motorhomes (maximum 2).
- Baby capsules are not available for hire.
- Client must supply their own baby capsules. Capsules must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Backpacker: |
- Do not permit baby capsules in their vehicles. |
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| Cheapa: |
- Do not permit baby capsules in their vehicles. |
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| Jucy: |
- Do not permit baby capsules in their vehicles. |
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| Kea: |
- Permit baby capsules in their 4 and 6 Berth motorhomes (maximum 2).
- Baby capsules are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby capsules but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Baby Seats |
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Recommended for children:
- 6 months to 3 years (approximately)
- 8 to 18kg
- Children must be able to support their own head in a sitting position. |
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| Apollo: |
- Permit baby seats in their 3, 4 and 6 Berth motorhomes (maximum 2).
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Britz/Maui: |
- Permit baby seats in all of their vehicles.
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Backpacker: |
- Permit baby seats in all of their vehicles.
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Cheapa: |
- Permit baby seats in their 4 Berth motorhome (maximum 2).
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Jucy: |
- Permit baby seats in all vehicles excluding the 2 Berth Crib (maximum 1).
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seat but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Kea: |
- Permit baby seats in their 4 and 6 Berth campervans/motorhomes (maximum 2).
- Baby seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own baby seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Booster Seats |
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Recommended for children:
- 4 to 7 years (approximately)
- 14 to 26kg
- A booster seat enables a child to use a standard 3-point seatbelt that fits across the chest. Please note that in some motorhomes, the seatbelts in the main cabin are lap belts (i.e. they only come across the lap). |
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| Apollo: |
- Permit a booster seat in their 3, 4 and 6 Berth motorhomes (maximum 1).
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Britz/Maui: |
- Permit booster seats in all of their vehicles. If using a lap belt, a chest harness is also supplied to secure the child.
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Backpacker: |
- Permit booster seats in all of their vehicles. If using a lap belt, a chest harness is also supplied to secure the child.
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Cheapa: |
- Permit a booster seat in their 4 Berth motorhome (maximum 1).
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Jucy: |
- Permit booster seats in all vehicles excluding the 2 Berth Crib (maximum 1).
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seat but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| Kea: |
- Permit booster seats in their 4 and 6 Berth campervans/motorhomes.
- Booster seats are available for hire (see Terms & Conditions for prices).
- Client can supply their own booster seats but they must comply with the strict New Zealand child restraint standards. |
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| This information is current as of August 2007 but please be advised that child restraint information can change. |
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| Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the use of baby capsules, baby seats and booster seats. |
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| © SelfdriveShop.com |
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Branch Locations |
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We can assist with rentals from Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington.
We cannot help with rentals from any other locations (such as Picton and Dunedin). We suggest you call the local tourist information centre in your preferred pick-up location to check for local rental companies.
For one-way rentals between the two islands, you will need to take your vehicle across on the ferry. We can help with discounted ferry tickets for the Interislander Ferry. For a ferry quote (via our Salamanda Travel website), please click here.
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Booking Payments and Deposits |
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How much do I pay when I make a booking?
- If your pick-up date is within 28 days, you are required to pay the full daily rental amount (standard, flex standard, inclusive or flex inclusive).
- If your pick-up date is outside 28 days, you are required to pay a deposit of NZ$350.00. The balance of the rental is then due 28 days prior to pick-up. We will contact you by email when the balance is due.
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What are Calendar Days? |
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Campervan and motorhome rentals are based on calendar days. This means that the days of pick-up and drop-off are counted as a day of rental each, regardless of actual pick-up and drop-off times.
For example, a rental from 05-15 December would be calculated as 11 days' rental, regardless of the pick-up and drop-off times. |
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Cancellation Fees |
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Please refer to our Conditions page for details on cancellation fees. |
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Caravan Parks in New Zealand |
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We strongly recommend that you stay overnight in a caravan (RV) park. New Zealand has an extensive network of caravan parks in all major tourist centres and in most towns. They offer excellent recreation facilities and of course have superb shower and toilet amenities. They also have provision for you to plug the vehicle into 240V electricity. Some appliances, such as microwaves, air-conditioning units and TV's require 240V to operate.
There is ordinarily no need to book ahead, however it may be wise to book ahead in peak periods (Easter, Christmas etc). The approximate cost of a powered site is NZ$20-NZ$30 per night. Please note that some caravan parks charge a fee per vehicle and per person (rather than a flat fee for the powered site).
Most national parks have areas set aside for camping. There are often shower and toilets, barbeques and picnic areas and of course national parks provide a scenic and peaceful place to stay at overnight. However these areas generally do not have facility for you to plug the vehicle into electricity.
Because of local council laws you are not permitted to camp on the side of the road in the vicinity of towns. However outside the towns and in country areas it is generally allowed.
For more information, please visit Holiday Accommodation Parks of NZ and Top 10 Holiday Parks. |
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Driver's Licence Requirements |
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For travel in New Zealand, all drivers must be 21 years and over and hold a valid, current and full (i.e. non-provisional) car driver’s licence. Please note that Apollo, Cheapa and Hippie require drivers to have held their full licence for at least 2 years.
Exceptions:
Jucy Rentals: minimum driver age is 18 years. (Australian provisional licences are accepted).
All licences must be readable in English. If the licence is not readable in English (e.g. if the licence is in German, French, Chinese, etc), an International driver's licence must also accompany the country licence.
International clients are also required to show their passports as a form of identification.
Some rental companies have a maximum age limit (e.g. 75 years). Please refer to the relevant rental company's Terms & Conditions.
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Excess/Liability |
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The Excess or Liability is the amount of money that you are responsible for if the vehicle or any third party property is damaged while on hire. This is regardless of who actually causes the damage.
The Excess/Liability can be up to NZ$7500 for some vehicles. So, for example, if you are involved in an accident (regardless of whether you are at fault or not), you would be liable for the first NZ$7500 worth of damage.
The rental companies therefore offer a number of protection options to reduce this Excess or Liability. The amount of protection that you take (or do not take) determines the amount of your Security Deposit (Bond). More information on each company's Excess or Liability reduction packages are available in their Terms and Conditions. |
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Ferry |
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We can help with discounted ferry travel between the north and south islands. We do not offer branches in Picton or Wellington, so if you are doing a one-way rental, you will need to take your vehicle across on the ferry.
For a ferry quote (via our Salamanda Travel website), please click here. |
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Flex Rates |
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Many rental companies offer "flex" rates (flex standard and flex inclusive). The Quote Calculator will often display the different types of rates for the same vehicle. You then have the choice of which rate is best for your rental. Regardless of which rate you select, you are still booking the same vehicle.
Flex rates are based on a simple system of supply and demand. So when there are a large number of vehicles available for hire from a particular branch, then the rental rate is lower (and vice versa).
Flex rates are released each week. The rates can therefore change (i.e. increase or decrease) from one week to the next, depending on the movement of vehicles between branches. To secure the current rate, you must book by Saturday (Australian time). After Saturday, the rate may change for the coming week. (We cannot offer flex rates that were displayed weeks or months ago).
Special conditions apply for making changes to a flex rate booking - please refer to the rental company's terms and condtions for more details. |
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| Standard Rates: |
- Include the daily rental price only |
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| Flex Standard Rates: |
- Include the daily rental price only
- Rates subject to change each week |
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| Inclusive Rates: |
- Include the daily rental price, highest excess reduction package and other extras |
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| Flex Inclusive Rates: |
- Include the daily rental price, highest excess reduction package and other extras
- Rates subject to change each week |
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Fuel Costs |
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In New Zealand, campervans and motorhomes either use unleaded petrol (gasoline) or diesel. Fuel is sold by the litre. Petrol costs between NZ$1.50 - NZ$1.70 per litre and diesel costs between NZ$1.00 - NZ$1.20 per litre and can be higher especially in country areas.
For current fuel prices in New Zealand, please visit Price Watch. |
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Travel Insurance |
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We strongly recommend that you take out your own Personal Injury Travel Insurance. The insurance options to reduce the Excess/Liability on the rental vehicle do not include cover for personal injury or loss of personal belongings.
Some clients may wish to use their own travel insurance (for example, through their credit card company) to cover the Excess/Liability on the rental vehicle. In regards to using insurance from another source, the rental companies will still require you to cover their Excess/Liability (e.g. NZ$7500) up front. This is because the insurance cover is between you and the independent source, not the rental company and the insurer. Also, you may not be able to "double-up" on insurance (i.e. you may not be able to take any optional insurance with the rental company as well as use the cover of your insurance broker).
So this means your Excess/Liability will be $7500 which in turns means you will have to leave a Bond of $5000 with the rental company. They only accept payment of the $7500 Bond with credit card (and your card will be debited immediately). If the vehicle is returned safely, this money will be refunded back to you. However, if the vehicle is damaged in any way (regardless of who is at fault), you will be liable for the first $7500 worth of damage. You would then have to claim these expenses back from your insurance broker independently. Please check the finer details with your insurance broker to ensure that they cover campervans and motorhomes. |
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Travelling Distances (Kilometres / Miles) |
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There is a lot to see and do in New Zealand so to enjoy your holiday, we recommend that you research your intended travelling route thoroughly, particularly your travelling distances. It is far better to travel at a leisurely pace and visit the many attractions of New Zealand rather than spend each day driving long distances. Aim to cover 150 - 250 kilometres per day and you will experience New Zealand in comfort.
North Island
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Auckland |
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422 km
262 mi |
Napier |
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240 km
149 mi |
661 km
411 mi |
Paihia |
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233 km
145 mi |
224 km
139 mi |
475 km
295 mi |
Rotorua |
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200 km
124 mi |
306 km
190 mi |
439 km
273 mi |
166 km
103 mi |
Waitomo |
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658 km
409 mi |
323 km
201 mi |
898 km
558 mi |
460 km
286 mi |
473 km
294 mi |
Wellington |
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South Island
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Christchurch |
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722 km
480 mi |
Milford |
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331 km
206 mi |
550 km
342 mi |
Mount Cook |
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423 km
263 mi |
1146 km
712 mi |
755 km
469 mi |
Nelson |
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336 km
209 mi |
1109 km
689 mi |
666 km
414 mi |
109 km
68 mi |
Picton |
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486 km
302 mi |
291 km
181 mi |
262 km
163 mi |
693 km
431 mi |
822 km
511 mi |
Queenstown |
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