Look before you drive
Saturday, March 24th, 2007
We drive on the left in New Zealand, so visitors from Australia and the UK will be right at home, however there may be some differences in the ‘Give Way’ rules which could catch you out. It is not fun to be caught out when you are driving a motorhome for the first time, so have a look at the official Road Code on the Land Transport site, just to ‘brush-up’ on the rules of the road before you drive.
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driving/
You will find all sorts of terrain in NZ, from flat plains to high, winding mountain passes and back country gravel roads (take a Navman). You will soon find that motorhomes are not partial to unsealed roads (so avoid them if you can) and your tranquillity will be disturbed by the sound of violently shaking crockery. Apart from the road surface, watch out for sheep and cows!
Ball Hutt Road (Mount Cook), Skippers Canyon Road beyond Te Anau Downs, Ninety Mile Beach (Northland), or any other beach are unsuitable for motorhomes.
Another hazard is, of course, motorhome drivers who do not know the Give Way rules and those who find parking in a crowded motorcamp a bit of a challenge!
Take care out there!