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Tales from Coco our Social Cabana: Fiona & Coco’s South Island roadtrip!
Meet Fiona (pictured to the left) who took Coco on a roadtrip around the South Island. Enjoy reading all about her trip and experiences below – sounds like she had a great time! And if you’re keen to check out more photos from her trip you can do so here. If you want the opportunity to take her on an adventure for free (we like to call it a date) check out www.jucy4free.co.nz Love, Lucy xx
The Plan
Day 1- Christchurch to Lake Tekapo via Highway 1, 79 and 8.
Day 2- Lake Tekapo to Queenstown via Highway 8 and 6, Queenstown to Wanaka via unknown main road (amazing drive!)
Day 3- Wanaka to Franz Josef via Highway 6 (Haast Pass).
Day 4- Franz Josef to Westport via Highway 6.
Day 5- Westport to Hanmer Springs via Highway 6 and 7.
Day 6- Hanmer Springs to Cheviot via ‘Alpine Pacific Triangle’
Day 7- Cheviot to Christchurch via highway 1 and 71.
Day 1
Waiting outside my hostel in Christchurch it soon became apparent that I was no longer in Cairns where it was 36 degrees – I was truly in New Zealand – a 12 degree New Zealand but I didn’t care I was too excited to meet Coco and Lucy to begin our adventure. Sadly my travel partner (also my cousin) couldn’t afford the flights anymore therefore it was a date for just the three of us – Coco, Lucy and Me.
Our first stop was the supermarket to stock up on food. Sadly there were no baskets so during the shop extras were thrown in as the size of the trolley was HUGE and it felt like it should be filled- the size of the receipt reflected this EEK! After the shop and formalities had be done and dusted the road trip was underway. And where better to start than finding out exactly what Christchurch looked like – so first stop was out onto the scenic drive up the hills. The view was spectacular, and we were nearly in the clouds for the viewing! The freedom of having Coco was already amazing.
Then the real mileage south started – first stop and home for night 1 was Lake Tekapo. On the way we came across a lone hitch-hiker lady on the road with just 1 small rucksack. We picked her up as she was heading south too- we would take her as far south as the lake but she was happy with that! Turns out she is from Chile and lives in Queenstown where she is working in a hotel and wanting to learn English. This was an opportunity- we taught her some new words- ‘deer’ (like Bambi is what she kept calling them) and cow. Also ‘straight on’ for when she wanted directions. After an hour more of driving we arrived at Lake Tekapo and said goodbye to our Chilean friend and we headed to find somewhere to pitch for the night. Overlooking the lake surrounded by mountains as the sun went down was magical- and with nothing but moonlight to light most of the area the reflection off the water was amazing- with it being a clear night we could see all the stars, it was bloody cold though!!!
Day 2
Onwards to Queenstown. Starting the drive early in the morning proved difficult- it was still freezing and the low lying cloud meant that a climb up Mount Cook would be pointless so we headed straight to Queenstown. The drive between rocky mountains, in the valleys and up some of the steep hills provided an excellent backdrop for many fun pictures, and 
the sun came out to heat me up and provide me with added warmth. Driving the windy road was exciting, coming up to the corners you don’t know what’s around there. We rounded one corner and ‘what is that?’ was said out loud. There was a perfectly sky blue lake right in front of us that the sky merged into- you genuinely couldn’t see where the sky ended and the water began!
Eventually we came upon the bungee jump bridge near Queenstown. We got out to have a look and got chatting to some people while nearly hurling at the thought of jumping. A young couple was renting a Jucy camper similar to Coco and seemed VERY jealous of her on board goodies provided!
Arriving in Queenstown the scenery instantly stunned us – what a lovely looking place! Based on the edge of the gorgeous lake and surrounded by mountains, the houses reminded me of the type you get in the European ski resorts with their triangle shaped roofs. I instantly loved the place and wanted to move there now.
It was lunch time, so we parked up, made our butties and was even lucky enough to get a free viewing of the local rugby team training (PHWOAR!). After lunch we made a trip up
the mountain on the gondola to view Queenstown, but not without a couple of goes on the luge at the top. Even on your own not racing anyone it was really good fun! When I say not racing anyone, not officially, however I did beat a kid on the first go (well chuffed with myself!). On the second go I went on the faster one though and felt a bit cautious as I had been brave and put on my shorts, I didn’t want to walk around with grazes! So as I was enjoying the scenery and loving my pace of life not paying attention to the track, an Asian man comes whizzing past so fast I may have pooped a little ‘weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ahh sowwy!’ he screams back at me as he hears me scream.
Coming back down to Earth again, heading into the town to do some browsing of the shops a girl stops me ‘excuse me, if you’re travelling on your own and fancy coming up the gondola with me you can, I have a spare ticket!’ HOW BLOODY NICE! That was karma coming back after me picking up the hitchhiker- sadly I declined as time was getting short in the day. I wish I had more time in Queenstown to do some of the other exciting activities there.
With the cold setting in and me still wearing shorts I was getting some strange looks from people in their ski like warm attires so back to the camper I went to change, then the idea of moving onto somewhere else came. Leaving Queenstown and travelling on the next road we climbed the windiest road ever – the type with hairpin bends at the end of each bit that snakes up the mountains. With the sun starting to set behind us it provided amazing views of scenic Queenstown. Over the peak we then begin the windy descent into the valley of the mountain range until we found a cheap camp ground for the night. Making use of the Wi-Fi signal in the back of the van after dinner a Facebook session was had with Mum who was at work back in Manchester, England. Then after a bit of Facebook stalking we retired ready for the next day.
Day 3
Advantage of staying in a campsite – showers!!! Lack of hairdryer sockets provided an opportunity to sport boff hair for the day which was ok as most of the time as we thought we would be driving. On the way out of town though we stopped in at Puzzle World. It was possibly THE freakiest place I have ever been! A room with hundreds of famous faces 
watching you as you walk around, a room with everything on an angle where snooker balls roll up the table and water flows up instead of down! Then we hit the maze- finding all 4 corners proved to be a lot more difficult than fist expected, however we soon (45 minutes later) found them all….now back to the start!
Back on the road a few stops were made on the way to the next destination of Franz Josef glacier, involving scenery that resembled a TV advert from back home where a bear appears and hits someone round the head with a fish – with no bears armed with fish around, a gentle walk to the river was made where I dipped my toes- FREEZING! (Can you tell I don’t like the cold?!) So back to the car and onward to Franz Josef glacier – on another amazingly windy and scenic drive involving mountain ranges with steep inclines and descents, cliffs, the beach and the view of both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. Finding the cheapest camping area proved to be harder than thought after the information desk lady didn’t really explain properly, however it was found before dark so all was well- and myself and Lucy had a girly film night in Coco making use of the USB connection available on the DVD player yay!!!!
Day 4
After trying to book a guided tour, the lady behind the counter was disappointed to tell us that as it was Easter everything is booked up. So off to the glacier we went on a self guided tour from the carpark along the valley next to the river and to within 500m of the actual glacier. Standing at the bottom and looking up at the glacier gave another view of how huge the thing is. The amount of rock and rubble at the bottom it had brought down the mountain with it was huge – the best bit about this tour was that it was free ? WHOOP!!!
Onwards from the glacier we headed North to Greymouth. Before we got there though we needed petrol and by overhearing a lady telling someone else the cheapest place was Hokitika we went for it. It was risky though, the petrol light came on and we were desperately low with only 10km to go. We did make it through and just in the nick of time too no doubt! Stopping for lunch we took a trip to the beach then headed off to Greymouth to find something to do. 
When we got there though EVERYTHING was shut apart from the information point! We were informed that it was Good Friday and that everywhere wil be shut, there isn’t anything to do here when places are shut. So we continued the journey to Punakaiki where we took a trip around the pancake rock formations. There wasn’t much else here other than a couple of coffee shops so we headed North a bit more to Westport. After all the driving by the time we got here it was nearly dark so we went straight to a holiday park. Asking the woman in reception what activities there were to do she recommended the underwater caving there with glow worms inside the caves and you do rafting, sounded like fun so I booked on and paid the deposit.
Day 5
Having to be at the caving experience early and it taking half an hour to get there we left an hour before it started to allow for 15 minutes “getting lost time” and arriving there promptly 15 minutes early as requested. Turns out we needed more than 15 minutes getting lost time as we were driving for 45 minutes before I realised that yes we were on the right road, but we were heading the wrong way. DAM IT! Therefore caving was out of the itinerary for now. I will have to do this in the North Island instead. For now, not much use wasting the petrol so the next plan of action….Hanmer Springs.
The weather was amazing for visiting Hanmer Springs, it was warm (shock!) and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The thermal springs itself was really busy, and with good reason – c
atering for everyone. Children in the playpools, adults with the adult only pools and then the fun lovers with the 2 water slides, it was awesome. Despite me being on my own I still wanted to go on the slides (big kid!) so sadly I didn’t have to wait long to find a single person’s tube – the double ones went quickly with all the couples and their couply love. I did get talking to people again, mainly in the sulphur pool where we had something in common to talk about – the eggy whiffing water we were all willingly sat in! GROSS! After staying in the pools or a good few hours to get my monies worth, a campsite was found and a couple of Canadian guys were impressed by the gadgets Coco had to offer – slightly superior to their 2 man tent on the hard group and backpacks (mwah ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) needless to say I slept like a baby!
Day 6
I woke up ROASTING – the sun was indeed shining again and the camper felt like an oven. The sliding door was quickly opened by my foot (this was a well practiced act that saved the energy of having to sit up). The air came in and I snoozed a little more yay!!! Unfortunately the bladder woke me up with the need to pee – badly!!! While looking at the map and eating my breakfast, I again was impressing the Canadians with the kitchen set up at the back of Coco ‘is that a fridge?!?!’ ‘why yes….yes it is!’ I did feel a slight bit of guilt as I sat eating my corn flakes with lovely chilled milk as they had to hunt in the town for something edible. With not much space left to cover on the map due to being ahead of schedule by a day due to Good Friday nothingness, a trip along the ‘Alpine Pacific Triangle’ to Kaikoura was made, where we met a seal colony and took a long walk along the peninsula before returning for THE best fish pie EVER (a treat to myself I went to a restaurant!) MMMMMMMMM. Sleeping well tonight after such a good feed!
Total KM’s driven = 1600km
Total experience = Amazing!
Thanks
Fiona
A South Island Roadtrip Experience!
This awesome couple who are from Spain hired one of our JUCY Condo campervans and did one epic roadtrip around the South Island of New Zealand.
While enjoying their trip they filmed the entire adventure and from watching it you can truly see just how much fun they really had! If you’re thinking about doing a campervan roadtrip then check this out – you will be inspired!
A big thanks to Adrian and Gosia for sharing this experience with us. We’re stoked that JUCY will be part of your New Zealand memories.
Love
Lucy xx
Campervan Hire Australia – Adventures Down Under
A lot of people dream of travelling to exotic locales and exploring new and unusual things that are very unique to their country. Australia is one such country – and it has a lot of wonderful things to offer. Once people get there, travelling by road is the best way to take in all the sights and scenes. Campervan Hire Australia is a good way to go – and cheap. With a little preparation, almost anyone can have the experience of a lifetime. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to make a trip across this wonderful continent a memorable one.
Tips for Campervan Hire Australia
Travelling in a foreign country can be challenging, but with some information before the beginning of a trip, everyone can have a great time. So, here goes:
1. Driving: People drive on the left in Australia.
2. How to buy fuel for the camper: Diesel or petrol is sold in litres. So check and factor in fuel prices to avoid undue surprises. Prices generally tend to be higher during peak tourist season due to higher demand.
3. Driving Speeds: Check the posted signs for speed limits while driving. Cameras are widely used and speeding tickets can cause issues, anywhere. It is also mandatory to wear seatbelts.
4. Drivers Licence Requirements: Good idea to get an international drivers licence, especially if it is not issued in English.
5. Minimum Rental Period: The minimum is 5 days – during major holidays, it gets extended to 7 – 10 days, depending on the company. One way rentals can also be done – talk to a representative at the rental company to make sure that all bases are covered.
6. Type of Vehicle: Depending on the activities you want to do, look for a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive. Also make sure that you get the right kind of car – automatic transmission or manual.
7. Most car rentals are done on a 24 hour basis. Ask and sign up for the best deals.
8. Long Term Rentals: An early booking for an extended period of time – say over 50 or 60 days – will fetch excellent prices and discounts. This will play a big part in the vacation plan.
9. Inclusions in the package: Most camper vans come equipped with all the comforts of home – showers, stoves, crockery, refrigerators etc. Make sure to rent the most appropriate van to make the trip as comfortable as possible.
10. Rental companies will be able to give you great advice on routes to take, sightseeing and also campgrounds if you are interested. It pays to check before getting on the road to have a smooth trip.
11. Emergency Services: Most rental companies offer 24 hour assistance – just in case of a break down or other incidents. Sign up for the facility and keep numbers handy.
12. Websites: All of the rental companies offer discounts for credit card usage for booking. Check on that too, to get good prices.
With all the above information, here’s your start to planning a great vacation. Get in touch with Campervan Hire Australia and have the vacation of a lifetime.
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Tales from Coco our Social Cabana: Coco & Lucy criss-cross the North Island
Meet Scott & Julia (pictured to the left) who are the most recent JUCY Lovers to take Coco on a date. Sounds like Coco, Lucy, Scott & Julia all had a fabulous time – enjoy reading all about their trip and experiences below! And if you’re keen to check out even more photos from their travells you can do so here. If you want the opportunity to take her on an adventure for free (we like to call it a date) check out www.jucy4free.co.nz Love, Lucy xx
We picked up Coco & Lucy on a Wednesday afternoon in downtown Auckland and proceeded to take them up, down, and all around the North Island for four days. We ticked the touristy boxes with them like going to Hot Water Beach, Zorbing in
Rotorua, and getting up close and personal with some glow worms in Waitomo. But just to make sure we didn’t only do touristy things, we also cruised with them through the Coromandel Forest Park and on Lucy’s insistence, watched the sunset on the beach in Raglan.
Day 1 – Auckland to Hahei Beach
We hit the road and on Lucy’s advice, Julia drove us out of Auckland since she is used to driving on the left side of the road (Julia‘s a Pommie, fyi). Lucy said that she would have to see Scott drive on some side roads before he was ready for State Highway One. We made a brief stop in Thames to check out the historic downtown and its gold rush era buildings. Upon arrival at Hahei Beach, Coco was pretty exhausted from the trek up and down the hills of Coromandel Forest Park, so she napped while the three of us headed to Hot Water Beach. We dug our own hot tubs out of sand and just relaxed after a long day.
Day 2 & 3 – Hahei Beach to Rotorua
Coco woke up refreshed and Lucy said Scott was ready to get behind the wheel so we meandered our way to Rotorua. We grabbed lunch in Matamata (or Hobbiton depending on who you speak to) and checked out the giant L&P bottle in Paeroa. We arrived in Rotorua just in time to make one of the 
last runs of the day down the hill at Zorb. We both strapped ourselves in the giant orbs and rolled down the hill. Sadly neither Coco or Lucy could participate in the fun due to size restrictions (both large and small), so they both watched from the side-lines. Back at the Holiday Park on the banks of Lake Rotorua, both Coco and Julia made friends with a band of merry ducks who were very inquisitive about how much bread could be stored in Coco’s deceptively large kitchen. The next day, Coco got a bit of a rest in Rotorua as we took in the “world famous” sheep show at the Agrodome and checked out some of Rotorua’s signature thermal activity.
Day 4 – Rotorua to Raglan
Fully refreshed and having seen enough rain for a few days, we all headed out to the coast with a stop at the Waitomo Caves. Coco was asked to stay in the parking lot since caves can be pretty treacherous, but the rest of us headed underground and were treated to an enchanting scene. Glowworms dotted the roof of the cave and it was truly a sight to behold
for all of us. We headed to Raglan to finish the day with an amazing sunset on the beach where Lucy insisted we snap her photo a few times until she liked the picture (she said something about it becoming her Facebook profile picture). As the sun went down, we toasted an amazing few days with a glass of New Zealand wine and enjoyed a movie on Coco’s entertainment system. Sweet as.