2025 Silver Anniversary Beach Hop Aussie Invasion

Not as such as we recognise that the vast majority of our tour members are quite independent people and like to see and do different things, so while we will be there to offer advice, assistance and guidance and will all stay at the same location to begin with, we leave our tour members free to explore the North Island’s many other great locations and attractions in their own time and at their own pace.

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Because Whangamata, where the majority of the Hop takes place, is a relatively small town, and it can barely accommodate the many thousands of visitors that are attracted to Repco Beach Hop each year. While there are motels and campgrounds in and around the area, they traditionally are booked out up to a year before each Hop. But organisers have kindly allocated some space near town exclusively for our 2025 Silver Anniversary Beach Hop Aussie Invasion tour group to park campervans. Realistically, much of NZ is actually set up to make touring in campervans as easy and as hassle- and regulation-free as possible.

 

Firstly, you should make a point of filling in our Registration Form so we can keep you up to date with various plans for the tour and other features as they are announced. We will also be asking for deposits of $500 per person in the near future, which will assure you a booking, although you will be able to cancel by a nominated date in late 2024.

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At this early stage we are still waiting on confirmation of some costs and other details so will have close to final prices (including one or two optional extras) in place ideally by mid-February at the latest. The packages will include campervan hire, the first and last night’s hotel accommodation, official Hop Welcoming Reception and entry into the Hop and we can also arrange extended stays so you can check out even more of this wonderful and exciting country!

 

No, at this stage we are not including airfares in the standard package as we believe most people would prefer to arrange airfares themselves, given airline loyalty programs etc. So airfares will need to be added to the preliminary tour cost. The main thing is that tour members will need to be in Auckland March 2025 in time to pick up their nominated campervans and also return them on the allotted day.

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Campervans provide the ultimate in terms of flexibility and independence. By taking control of the wheel, you're also taking control of your adventure, itinerary and schedule!

 

Once you’ve had an awesome time experiencing all that the Repco Beach Hop festival has to offer, you can travel at your own pace, stop off along the way or wake up to a new view every morning; the choice is yours. It's a great way to spend some quality time with your companions, while choosing your next location or route.

 

You'll find plenty of great places to explore all year round on the North Island, with lots of hot spots and attractions to visit, whether on the well-worn paths or the back roads.

 

And one of the best things about campervanning is that you don’t have to unpack and repack all of your gear every day. Or wonder where to go for a meal or a drink. Because you’re taking it all with you!

 

And when you're ready to move on, simply buckle-up and you’re on the road again! There's no need to worry about hotel check-out times, hiring rental cars or coordinating times and places. When you're on a campervan adventure in New Zealand, you've got your transport and your accommodation rolled into one. It's cost-effective, easy, and allows you to spend more time enjoying the journey.

 

No, you can’t actually sleep anywhere in a campervan in NZ. Whether you’re free camping or looking for family-friendly camping sites, you have to sleep in designated areas. There are stringent campervanning regulations in New Zealand, and you will pay a high price if you decide to ignore the rules.

 

If you’re doing freedom camping, ideally your vehicle displays a self-contained sticker, and you’re camping on public land. Some public land has regulations applied, so try to find out if yours does before you set up camp.

 

You have several options and locations where you can park your campervan in New Zealand. Some of them include:

 - Holiday Parks
- National Parks
- Park-over properties
- Freedom camps

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Yes, New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world for visitors. Additionally, campervans are designed to keep you safe, comfortable, and secure while on your trip.

 

March and April are a great time to visit NZ because most schools and universities are back in operation, the weather tends to be quite mild and settled, lower off-peak prices apply at most tourism venues and attractions and there are less people on the road and at campgrounds and campervan sites.

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