Is a Mercedes diesel automatic/selectable. Ex-Britz motorhome bought by Kiwimotorhomes, a husband and wife outfit who only have 3 vans.

One of the disadvantages of hiring a flash vehicle from one of the big firms is that they charge you for everything – tables, chairs, bicycles etc etc. And they have have punitive insurance rates, punitive deposit – some of them take $5,000 or more off you to start with (effectively getting an interest free loan), and you have to return the van with everything full, they scrutinise it for dings etc etc. The result being you’re always worrying about the vehicle. And the service you get is hardly personal.

By contrast Nick, the owner, doesn’t take any money off – just swipes the bankcard for $1,500. Only cares if the fuel tank is full on return, gave us bikes, mobile phone, table, chairs, gas, water and doesn’t insist on having it cleaned. Nice guy – delivered it to our accommodation and will take it away at the end. And about $1,000 cheaper than the rest.

It’s not a new vehicle, but it works, everything is there, and clean, and we don’t have to worry about it – we can go on dirt roads if we like: just use your common sense was the instruction.

Nice.

Inside is a handy layout – a table/bed at the end, another table opposite the door gives us plenty of sitting space. You can walk right through to the cab. Kitchen in the middle. Toilet/shower/basin too. An upstairs bedroom was abandoned after too many elbows and arguments by day 3. Useful storage area though.