Nothing makes us smile more than hearing about the adventures of our happy travellers!
Last month we launched “Little Lucy’s” (which are “mini me” cut outs) which went out in some JUCY vehicles around NZ for our travellers to take photos with and share with others as you travel around NZ. Last week we got our first photos through with the Little Lucy’s and they were definatley worth the wait. So very cute! Here is what the Lias Family had to say about their JUCY Experience. Love, Lucy xx
Thanks Lucy
We had a wonderful family trip with you around New Zealand’s South Island. We were so happy to be able to take our young family safely and comfortably around New Zealand and experience it up close. We also found the atmosphere you set up with the Jucy Lucy campers travellers was just great. We felt we had so many friends travelling with us. Every Lucy van would honk or wave to us and if we bumped into a Jucy Lucy Van on our travels everyone was just so happy to talk. Jucy Lucy gave us that connection.
As for NZ, There was just so much to do along the way. The scenery was just supurb and many times took our breath away with it’s pure beauty. We will defiantly be back to see Lucy again!
We love you Lucy! Keep having Fun, The Lias Family. Let the Sun shine in!
Some of the crew from JUCY HQ went on a weekend roadtrip to White Island and by the sounds of things and the look of their pics they had a ball! Love, Lucy xx
On a Saturday we picked the JUCY car up from our Auckland City Branch which was a very fancy red colour. Our journey should take us to White Island where we booked a White Island Volcano tour for Sunday.
We all were very excited to see the Island and couldn’t wait. Our first stop was in Matamata for lunch - a big feed and a coffee. After refreshment we started our ride again because we had a couple of hours still to go to get to Whakatane.
The weather was beautiful so we decided to stop on a beach where we introduced Jucy Lucy to a local fisherman.
Finally we arrived in Whakatane – Phew what a long drive! We took ourselves off for dinner to a fish and chips restaurant (Of course a MUST DO for Kiwi’s) and it was classical served in a wrap paper on a big plate. Yummy!
The next morning we woke up early and started our trip to White Island by boat. On the boat we learned that the Island volcano is calm one and has ‘only’ a level 1. If it would have been level 5 no one would be able to go on that Island. The environment is absolutely incredible like a moon landscape apart from the clouds of mist. On the Island we had to follow our guide strictly because the steam is dangerous and was everywhere on the Island. The crater is a big green lake and you wouldn’t believe that this is an active volcano crater. The rocks have different colours (red, brown and yellow depending on the different minerals). After a while we had to take off our jackets because it was so hot and humid. At the beginning of the tour when were given gasmasks we didn’t believe that we would actually need them but sometimes you could hardly breathe and you were happy to have them. The hot pools remind you how hot the ground is and you can feel it in your shoes as well. WOW!
Check out this video clip that we took to give you an idea of what the island is like…
Back on the boat we enjoyed our lunch before we started the journey back home. We all agreed this was an amazing experience and a Must Do for everyone!
Sharing this amazing video clip as part of #blog4NZ which will pull on your heartstrings, make you all warm & fuzzie inside and make you love NZ even more than you did before!
Enjoy. There is not much more to say, I think the clip says it all! A big thank you to Peter Harding & Allison Wilkey who travelled around New Zealand, filmed their adventure and sent it into us to share with everyone.
Taupo De Bretts is an amazing campground. You can’t even call it a campground – it is a resort and it is fantastic!
After letting reception know we had arrived and they told us our site number we made our way to our camp site which was surrounded by trees (check out our campa – you can only just see the top……spot the JUCY!), clean & spacious.
A quick stroll around the grounds will uncover a BBQ area, kitchen facilities, playgrounds, laundry, very clean bathroom & showers – needless to say we were super impressed!
Everyone loves hot pools in the rain, and since the weather was a bit on the average side we decided to check out the hot pools. Yep, that’s right folks – they have their own hot pools too! AWESOME! There is just something about it being cold & rainy outside that makes sitting in piping hot pools that much more enjoyable. Although my adventurous side didn’t lead me to it, there are also water slides if you feel so inclined, along with loads of different pools at different temperatures. Even private pools available.
To sum it up the Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort is amazing. The staff are friendly, the facilities are clean & the sites are tidy and surrounded by trees. Great stuff Taupo DeBretts – JUCY loves you & will be back!
This is no ordinary holiday park – it really is a resort.
It makes our day to hear from people travelling around New Zealand & Australia in our JUCY Rides. Here is an email from some JUCY Lovers who spent seven weeks with us and a link to their blog which is definatley worth a read! Thanks guys – so glad you enjoyed your JUCY Experience and thanks for writing about it! Love, Lucy xx
Hello,
My girlfriend and I spent seven weeks travelling around New Zealand in a Jucy Crib. We handed the campervan back today, sad times!
We have been keeping a travel blog during our trip which might have a few good stories about our time in travelling around in the van. It can be found atwww.jamesandpamela.blogspot.com
I have attached a few photographs of our travels around this amazing country!
Road trippin’. Sleeping under the stars. Good friends. Open roads. Funky tunes. When people mention the phrase “travelling in a campervan” these are a few of the things that spring to mind.
Australia & New Zealand are both the perfect canvas to explore by campervan. Driving yourself around is the best way to have your independence and see things you may have missed on a bus. There is nothing better than having the ability to go “off the beaten track” and finding hidden treasures that may have been otherwise missed.
This is the bonus of traveling in a JUCY Campa. With everything you need you have a home away from home so you can rest your head wherever and whenever you like!
Shona & her friends have lived the JUCY Experience first hand. They collected their campa from JUCY Rentals in Brisbane and share with you why they love JUCY & traveling in a campa.
In summary camping is a great way to enjoy these countries and do things your own way. If you choose to free camp, stay in campgrounds or a combination both you will definatley experience the best that both New Zealand & Australia has to offer.
Christchurch. The international gateway to the South Island of New Zealand and for many the starting point for a trip of a lifetime.
On arrival at Christchurch airport don’t forget to pick up your Christchurch car hire! Our amazing team will collect you in our JUCY Shuttle (is big, green and purple – you wont miss it) and get you on your way in your JUCY Ride of choice to explore Christchurch and the rest of country!
Before you get too excited about the rest of your trip, don’t forget to spend some quality time in Christchurch as well. Known as the garden city of New Zealand, Christchurch boasts vibrant nightlife, award-winning restaurants and fun activities for the whole family. The Christchurch & Canterbury website is a great place to go to get ideas when planning your time in Christchurch.
Once your time in Christchurch is done and you are filled to the brim with all good things it has to offer prepare to embark on a trip of a lifetime. From Christchurch the opportunities are endless so prepare to experience culture, discover your inner need for adrenaline, gasp over glaciers, marvel as the scenery changes from flat plains to snow-capped mountains, enjoy the food & wine – not to mention a cold beverage at one of the local pubs at the end of the day!
Most of all enjoy every minute – both Christchurch as a city and the adventure that awaits you beyond the garden city. The South Island is amazing – so embrace it, try new things & have a JUCY Roadtrip you will never forget!
Love
Lucy xx
P.S Don’t forget your camera – click, click, click!
On the 3rd of October the first of the newest addition to the Jucy Family, the Jucy Condo, was collected from our Auckland City branch and hit the road on a 49 day roadtrip! Mr and Mrs Rohrschneider from Germany were very excited to be the first people to collect the new campa and and were even more happy that it was Green!
The Jucy Condo is one of our brand new 2010 campers featuring everything from a 15″ flat screen TV, DVD Player, cooker, fridge and kitchen sink. All that and it sleeps 4 people! Check it out, its pretty cool!
Hey JUCY Lovers……….here are my tips for travelling around in our JUCY Cruiza campa! I am sure that you will find these useful and it will help you get the most out of your campa and JUCY Experience!
If you are a bit taller than most, for more leg room, sleep with your head towards the rear of the vehicle and your legs towards the front. That way you can hang your feet over the end. (although the beds are 2.04m long!)
Make use of the air vent in the roof – leave it open at night to reduce condensation in the van, but remember to close it as soon as you take off again as it can suck in dust on dusty country roads.
We recommend bringing a soft bag or backpack when traveling in our campas. That way its easier to store in the under bed lockers.
Keep the water bottle full, it makes it easier to pump so you can get a steady supply of water into your sink. The water bottle cubby hole also makes a great place to store your spare drinks, it stays pretty cool and they don’t move around too much.
The gas bottles can be filled up at most petrol stations around New Zealand. However, you will find its easier to get it done if you do it during the day before 7pm as a trained staff member has to do the filling.
Sometimes it can be easier to push the cooker knobs in while you light the cooker.
If you happen to be doing lots of driving and you use all of the window washer fluid, to refill it the container its hidden down in the passenger side foot step.
Remember before you settle on somewhere to sleep, make sure your van is level so you have a more comfortable sleep. (also to prevent one person continually rolling onto the others side!!)
Before departing, make sure you have all your mirrors set in place, including the 2 that help you park, you will find one above the rear door to help you reverse park and one on the passenger side mirror to help you see the left hand front corner when parking.
When your parked at a campsite, place the bucket under the sink drain which is just behind the passenger side rear wheel. This makes things a lot cleaner for everyone.
Bring your board along with you! Surfboards and snowboards fit really well down the middle of the campa. At night either put them in the front of the van or ask your campsite if they have some secure storage.
If you have travelled around in one of our JUCY Cruiza campas and have some more tips to add let me know!
Nothing makes us smile more than hearing about the adventures of our happy travellers! 
