Expert: Mick Maurer - 8/6/2004

Question
Is there any option for vehicle rental insurance besides what the rental agencies offer?  We plan on renting a camper van for 6 weeks in Aus. and 6 weeks in NZ.  NZ is still undecided, but we are leaning toward the camper for AU.  The rates seem awfully steep to us.  Any info you can give us re camping and visiting in general will be appreciated.  This is our first trip there.  Thanks in advance


Answer
Judy:
Unfortunately the rental agencies will not accept insurance other than what they provide.  They will also require a bond which you can post using a major credit card.  A camper van is an ideal way to see both New Zealand and Australia.  We drove from Sydney to Cairns on our second trip to Australia and still have fond memories of visiting places where most people fly over.  There is an excellent road atlas you can purchase that helps with the roads and small towns.  There are also a couple of camper van park associations that give you directions and descriptions of the parks along the way.  Let me know if I can help with any of the arrangements, I am an Aussie Specialist and Kiwi Specialist and have visited nine times so my clients get first hand advice and guidance.  It costs no more to use the services of an expert than trying to do it yourself.

Mick Maurer
Aussie Travel
Aussiemick@aol.com