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The Department of Conservation (DOC) that look after the National Parks in NZ are brilliant. I drove all over NZ in a campervan about twelve years ago - as many

The Department of Conservation (DOC) that look after the National Parks in NZ are brilliant. I drove all over NZ in a campervan about twelve years ago - as many do - literally every second vehicle you see is a campervan - and everything is really well signposted. You pull off the road into a layby, and there will be a wooden sign saying "Waterfall - 30 min walk" and then you follow a well kept path for 30 min and then you find a waterfall. Simple! And there are unstaffed DOC campsites in very beautiful places with very basic facilities (tap, compost loo). You just stay the night and then drop an envolope of cash into a box. And the huts in the middle of nowhere that take days to hike to, somehow they keep them maintained too.

badconvincer 6y ago
This is exactly the experience I’ve had at American national parks. Signs don’t state the time but distance and the envelope drop off is used extensively. This is coming from someone that did a road trip through all 48 continental states over a 3 month period and we camped all the time and only stayed in hotels/motels once a week.
sandworm101 6y ago
>> literally every second vehicle you see is a campervan Sounds like a driving hell. Clarkson would be beside himself.
- codeulike 6y ago
  Its every second vehicle, but most of the time the vehicles are few and far between. NZ is actually a lovely driving experience, around every bend there's another beautiful vista. Edit: take a look: https://www.google.com/search?q=driving+around+new+zealand&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?q=driving+around+new+zealand&t...
- dzhiurgis 6y ago
  It's a slight annoyance, but far from hell. As long as it's not someone super old on a very large van then they go maybe 10k's less than speed limit. Note most people driving in NZ at around speed limit. Going faster feels unsafe. Roads are pretty twisty and mountainous. Driving 2hrs in NZ is not same as 2hrs on highway with cruise control on.
dzhiurgis 6y ago
My pet peeve with NZ is topo maps situation. DOC really needs a free offline map app - that would save lives. Right now there's plenty of apps, some free some paid, most using DOC's maps from their web app. But the quality is variable so you can't trust it. Plus backpackers are not gonna pay $10 for maps.

badconvincer 6y ago

This is exactly the experience I’ve had at American national parks. Signs don’t state the time but distance and the envelope drop off is used extensively. This is coming from someone that did a road trip through all 48 continental states over a 3 month period and we camped all the time and only stayed in hotels/motels once a week.

sandworm101 6y ago

>> literally every second vehicle you see is a campervan Sounds like a driving hell. Clarkson would be beside himself.

codeulike 6y ago
Its every second vehicle, but most of the time the vehicles are few and far between. NZ is actually a lovely driving experience, around every bend there's another beautiful vista. Edit: take a look: https://www.google.com/search?q=driving+around+new+zealand&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?q=driving+around+new+zealand&t...
dzhiurgis 6y ago
It's a slight annoyance, but far from hell. As long as it's not someone super old on a very large van then they go maybe 10k's less than speed limit. Note most people driving in NZ at around speed limit. Going faster feels unsafe. Roads are pretty twisty and mountainous. Driving 2hrs in NZ is not same as 2hrs on highway with cruise control on.

dzhiurgis 6y ago

My pet peeve with NZ is topo maps situation. DOC really needs a free offline map app - that would save lives. Right now there's plenty of apps, some free some paid, most using DOC's maps from their web app. But the quality is variable so you can't trust it. Plus backpackers are not gonna pay $10 for maps.