Claws out in war for freedom campers
Campable hopes to have 1000 privately owned parking spaces by the time the rugby tourists arrive in June.
Competition is hotting up between rival freedom camping apps seeking driveways and private properties for Lions rugby tour visitors to park on. But prices vary enormously. One Campable app host is charging $100 per night for two people and $25 for each additional person to park a campervan on a property within 35 minutes’ walk of Eden Park.
Guests will also be provided with high speed broadband, rubbish disposal, can have a camp fire and get laundry done for $25 a load.
Campermate already has about 170 vineyards, taverns, farm stays and residential driveways on its existing list of 1767 camping spots.
Founder Adam Hutchinson said demand for accommodation during the Lions tour prompted them to increase their driveway and farm stay options.
‘‘We don’t set a ceiling on the price of these private driveways, but we suggest a $15 per night fee per campervan.
‘‘There was one that registered a price of $50 but we didn’t allow it as the value wasn’t in line with what our users are wanting. They then dropped it down to $30, which is still high end.’’
Campermate has imposed a one vehicle per property policy through its booking system so hosts do not breach camping ground regulations.
Christchurch homeowner Diana Hinterleitner had her first campervan guests pay $25 to stay overnight in her Linwood driveway on Sunday.
Having toured the North Island in a motor home, she said it was sometimes tricky finding a place to park overnight, especially if you arrived late and it was dark.
Rival app Campable launched in April and hopes to have 1000 privately owned parking spaces by the time the rugby tourists arrive in June.
Director Warwick Beauchamp said there was no limit on what hosts charged and, although Campable had not been built for the Lions tour, ‘‘it’s the icing on the cake’’.
The most favoured private properties were resorts and ‘‘places where there’s an experience’’, but private parking lots had their attractions too, he said.
‘‘In Rotorua there’s a great location, no views of the lake, but it’s right near the thermal area.’’
Both Campable and Campermate apps are advertising temporary mobile home sites at Ellerslie and Alexandra Park racecourses for $100 a night for a vehicle carrying two people.