Valuable driving tips for the world’s biggest beauty spot

Open country, stunning scenery, the road trip of a lifetime… a driving holiday in New Zealand can be a dream holiday. As with all trips, though, it’s essential that you’re prepared, so we’ve compiled some key pointers to help you make the most of your time on the road.

Driver licence

A lot of the preparations are plain old common sense, and many of the familiar rules apply, such as the need for an up-to-date, valid licence; this must be in English, or be accompanied by an approved translation. You can only use an overseas licence in New Zealand for one year, so if you’re planning on staying longer, you’ll need to convert it to a New Zealand licence.

Drive on the left

It may seem a basic point to mention, but that makes it all the more important to be aware of… in New Zealand, you drive on the left. If you’re used to driving on the right, take extra care when you set off!

Plan extra time for driving

Also bear in mind that although your journey might look straightforward on a map, with no busy junctions or urban areas, the map won’t tell you the whole story. Rural roads in New Zealand can be hilly, narrow or prone to crosswinds, so a journey that looks easy on paper might take you a lot longer than you expect. Be sure to over-estimate the time your journey will take you.

Weather conditions

Weather conditions can change very quickly, and if you’re heading to the South Island in the winter months, you’ll probably encounter snow, ice or fog – or potentially all three. Make sure you’re well equipped. Most New Zealand car rental firms will be able to advise you on the additional precautions you need to take.

One of the most important tips – not just for driving in New Zealand, but for driving anywhere – is to remember your responsibilities as a driver. If you feel tired, take a break, especially if you’ve been on the road a lot or are still jet-lagged, and don’t take anything for granted. You might be on holiday, but that doesn’t mean you can be any less vigilant behind the wheel.

Take care, drive safely, and discover a wonderful country!

Image courtesy of NewZealand.com

The world’s best countries to travel in a campervan…

Let’s be honest. The words ‘Motorhome adventure’ seem about as out of place as a nun and a hunky underwear model holding hands in a cathedral.

The first word in this careless semantic coupling invokes images of house sized monstrosities thundering down miles of god-forsaken tarmac in the middle of nowhere, with pensioners at the wheel giving it their last go – the proverbial last throw of the dice in the game of life before the bucket list gets emptied and a good innings comes to timely end.

Adventure, on the other hand, conjures up images of bold journeys into the heart of lands and cultures where the only thing one can expect is the unexpected. This is where the inexorable pull of new, vibrant experiences and hard, gritty challenges will leave you standing at the end of it all with a much keener appreciation for your life and much more intimate awareness of who you are and what you value as a human being. Danger and delight line the hidden path and courage and curiosity are the fuel that propels your journey.

In the traditional sense, an adventure is undertaken upon horseback, or straddling the well-worn seat of a clapped out motorcycle, or simply on foot. Clambering on board a house on wheels and casting off with cries of ‘All aboard’ is not what one envisions when thinking of an adventure.

So long to the stereotypes

Thankfully, those stereotypes no longer apply, and the motorhomes and campervans of today have come a long, long way from the iconic Winnebago monstrosities most recently brought back into the limelight by that classic opening scene from the hit TV series Breaking Bad – where Walter White wrestles that out of control leviathan in nothing but his signature ‘tighty whities’ through the New Mexican desert.

The motorhome adventure is now something that can be undertaken by budget conscious travelling vagabonds looking for freedom on four wheels to those whose shoestring travel days are behind them and who prefer to step out in true glampervan style and comfort.

The chariot of your choice is there, but the hardest decision to be made remains just where to go. Ruling out war zones, the arctic, and crime-riddled hotspots where after a few hours away from your home on wheels you’re more likely to come back to a chassis on bricks, four obvious choices remain.

1. The USA

The USA is a Winnebago wanderer’s dream. There is so much on offer in this huge country that more often than not the hardest part of the campervan trip deciding just which route to do. We still reckon the classic National Historic Route 66, which stretches from LA to Chicago across some of the most bewildering and awe-inspiring scenery Murica has to offer, is the best way to go.

Glide through the unforgettable hairpin bends in the majestic Black Mountains, hideout in the very secluded cave system that the legendary outlaw Jesse James used to conceal himself from the law in the Meramec Caverns, Stanton, Missouri and be sure to refuel and refresh at the Dixie – Route 66’s most iconic and oldest truck stop which has only been closed 1 day in the near 70 years it has been open.

2. Europe

No other region on earth manages to combine such an alluring fusion of culture, cuisine and dynamic, diverse and startlingly beautiful scenery as Europe – both the west and the east.

Tour the iconic cities of Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona and Munich; lose yourself in the endlessly crisscrossing tarmac ribbons that trail through Alps, forests and along pristine lakes. Some of the most enticing coastal driving awaits and for those with a thirst for off the beaten path adventure the whole of Eastern Europe awaits.

3. Australia

Big, bold and beautiful – Australia is a land teeming with an almost unrivalled offering of wild open spaces, first class cities brimming with culture and fine cuisine and a coastline that stretches on and on and on. Australia is a country practically tailor made for campervan travel – It has a great road infrastructure, it is safe and its natural diversity is truly astounding.

Arguably the most noted campervan route is the iconic Adelaide to Darwin route – which will have you coasting along the Lasseter highway past Australia’s most famous natural landmark – Uluru. This route is extremely campervan friendly with a host of very affordable campsites dotted along the way – many of them situated in national parks.

4. New Zealand

The jewel in the campervan hire holiday destination crown. The land of the long white cloud is synonymous with unrivalled natural splendor, vast and dramatic coastline teeming with a rich diversity of wildlife and the kinds of settings that dazzled audiences around the world on the silver screen as Peter Jackson brought J.R.R Tolkien’s masterpiece to life.

A huge part of what drives New Zealand’s economy is tourism, and a big portion of that is driven by campervan adventurers. In keeping with the theme of adventure we would recommend a circuitous route of the South Island which offers a huge range of natural diversity in so small an area of land.

Start off in Queenstown – the adventure capital of the world and head down through the Southern Alps to the majestic Milford sound, and then up the rugged and wild coast past glacier country and the old gold mining towns that dot the coastline. Tour some of the finest wine regions in the world as you head north past Picton and Nelson and then loop back down towards Christchurch.

Campervan hire in New Zealand is extremely easy and budget friendly. The industry and infrastructure is tailor made for these kinds of trips, making NZ the perfect spot for families, couples or even just a group of friends keen on a road trip in some of the most beautiful settings on the planet.

With 2015 now being upon us, many holiday go-ers and traveller fanatics are looking forward to booking their next trip away. But where are the hottest locations to live it up this year? Here are 10 great examples of where to head:

Chile

Heralded as the driest desert in the world, Chile’s Atacama plains are a great place to go and take in some natural wonders. The land is plotted with salt flats and geysers, and even gets the occasional downfall of snow!

Iceland

If you are a fan of the outdoors and adventure, then look no further than Iceland. Offering activities for all of the seasons, you can take a trip snorkelling in the country’s clear lakes in the summer or enjoy the snowy conditions from the warmth of a hot tub.

(Main article image: rural church in south-west Iceland)

Morocco

With the country’s tourism industry booming in recent years, Morocco has become a hotspot for travellers. Visitors can enjoy the sandy beaches of the coastline or take a trip around the famed Marrakesh markets and get yourself a classic Moroccan fez!

Cuba

Offering culture and fantastic beaches, Cuba has something to keep everybody happy. The country has an ‘old partnered with new’ attitude, so you can take a trip through the country’s history by visiting the buildings from by-gone eras.

Serbia

A bustling street in Belgrade, the Serbian capital

You may not think Serbia is the best location to enjoy a trip away, but you would be very wrong. Belgrade is renowned for one of the hidden gems of Europe and is highly underrated for its culture and character.

Macau

Over recent years, Macau has become one of the World’s main destinations for entertainment and culture. The country has seen a huge boom in tourism thanks to its casino industry attracting people who play online casino at sites such as iPhoneCasino.ca, but it also has a much more tranquil side, with temples and ancient ruins on offer to visitors as well.

Britain

Eilean Donan Castle in the stunning Scottish Highlands

Although it doesn’t have the most tropical of climates, there is plenty happening for tourists to get involved with in Britain this year. Scotland are celebrating the Highland Games’ 200th birthday this year and 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta being sealed, with both throwing events to mark the occasions.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s tourism trade has always been popular, with travellers visit the country to take in some of the most picturesque pieces of scenery in the world. To get more involved in the inner city vibe, the likes of Auckland and Wellington are also popular with tourists.

Turkey

2014 saw Turkey named as one of the most popular tourist destination and the country hopes this will continue on into the New Year. Turkey offers the best of both worlds – the sunny beaches and hotel resorts and the bustling markets of Istanbul.

Singapore

Singapore is celebrating 50 years of independence from Malaysia in 2015, so expect there to be a lot of partying! The country is to host the South East Asian games in June, before they celebrate their national day with parades throughout August.

Last week, we brought you a taster clip of the brand new safety video from Air New Zealand. Well renowned for making innovative and fun videos to promote safety in flight, the airline has this time collaborated with the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit brand to help celebrate that revered publication’s 50th birthday.

Featuring top supermodels Chrissy Teigen, Ariel Meredith, Hannah Davis and Jessica Gomes, with a cameo from one of the original all time modelling greats, Christie Brinkley, the film was shot on the beautiful Cook Islands, which have been a key Pacific Island destination for Air New Zealand for over 40 years. Last year alone, they conveyed almost 200,000 people to the island paradise from Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles.

The teaser clip has already created quite a worldwide media splash, as Air New Zealand Global Head of Brand Development, Jodi Williams, explains: “The behind the scenes video has generated much conversation around the world about our brand and the Cook Islands as a destination since it was released last week. It’s exciting for us to release the full video today and we hope it will encourage many viewers to consider a trip to the Cook Islands.”

The editor of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, M J Day, says the Safety in Paradise video plays a big part in the magazine’s 50th birthday celebrations. “Our partnership with Air New Zealand is brilliant in every way,” she said. “We were able to create a raucous safety video in the true spirit of SI Swimsuit and our Kiwi friends.”

The title plans a major global marketing campaign to celebrate its anniversary, and Air New Zealand will continue to play a part in that activity.

To mark the launch of Safety in Paradise in style, Air New Zealand is offering online viewers an opportunity to win one of five trips for two to the Cook Islands. For more information and to enter, visit: theflyingsocialnetwork.com/safetyinparadise

Take a look at Safety in Paradise here:

Post sponsored by Air New Zealand

Aah, the ubiquitous airline safety video. Love them or loathe them, we all know what they’re like, and are oftentimes hardly fain to watch them. Unless, of course, it’s one of the innovative, iconic Air New Zealand examples, the latest of which claims to be “the world’s most beautiful safety video” and is due for release next week.

The Kiwi airline has, with its array of distinctive videos, attracted over 30 million hits online, and that’s without their being viewed by millions of passengers on board. This latest escapade is produced in association with another iconic brand, Sports Illustrated, and is helping that prestigious title celebrate its 50th anniversary by featuring some of the biggest names in modelling promoting its swimsuit franchise.

Filmed in the idyllic Cook Islands, Safety in Paradise will feature Chrissy Teigen, Ariel Meredith, Hannah Davis and Jessica Gomes, and will be headed up by renowned original supermodel Christie Brinkley, who herself appeared on no less than three of the publication’s swimsuit covers.

Air New Zealand and Sports Illustrated have released a sneak preview of the film, together with a look behind the scenes at the making of it, and you can get one of the first looks at it here:

The airline is keen to promote core air-safety messages as its priority, but also to encourage more passenger traffic on its Auckland-Rarotonga and Los Angeles-Rarotonga services throughout 2014.

Said Christie Brinkley: “I’m grateful to be included in Air New Zealand’s safety video. I loved the playful script that contains a lot of unexpected moments for a safety video. It features so many SI beauties celebrating SI’s 50th anniversary of the swimsuit edition, that it may even have folks on the ground reaching for their oxygen masks! Thanks SI and Air New Zealand for including me.”

The new video will be released on 12th February (NZ time), and then rolled out on on Air New Zealand’s fleet from the end of the month.

Post sponsored by Air New Zealand.