Backpackers self-isolating
‘‘Some (travellers) have said it’s impossible.’’
Troy Stevenson, manager, Hangdog Camp
Some campervan companies, including Jucy, are still renting to tourists, even if they arrived after the deadline for mandatory self-isolation.
As a result, some holiday parks and campgrounds are having to decide if they will allow the backpackers in to self-isolate, or send them packing.
One Golden Bay campground has already turned someone away a tourist from Australia who wanted to self-isolate in one of its cabins.
Grant Webster, chief executive of Tourism Holdings, which rents out seven brands of campervans, said campervans were appropriate for self-isolation as long as people followed the rules. They could use tools like click and collect at supermarkets for groceries, pay at the pump at service stations, and even use Uber Eats.
He said the company had increased its cleaning processes to disinfect campervans after use. It had customers intending to travel around New Zealand for six weeks, so did not mind isolating for two weeks. However, it had received many cancellations.
Jucy Rentals is continuing to allow foreign visitors to rent campervans. The company said it was only renting self-contained campers, with their own toilet and shower facilities, to tourists who arrived after the 1am Monday deadline.
Golden Bay campground Hangdog Camp is taking coronavirus precautions seriously and checking guests’ passports as they arrive.
Manager Troy Stevenson said he would turn anyone away who had arrived after the Government’s announcement that all new arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days, as the campground only had shared facilities.
‘‘The travellers we deal with are backpackers and live out of cars and tents. I don’t know how they’re going to self-isolate anyway,’’ Stevenson said.
He said a French man who had arrived crossed the border hours before the Government’s selfisolation announcement, then hitchhiked to Takaka. ‘‘He was aware of the situation.
‘‘I’ve spoken to some travellers – they say they don’t know how they would actually self-isolate if they don’t have a house or room, and when they have to use public toilets and showers. Some have said it’s impossible.’’
If accommodation providers around the country could not offer private rooms with private bathrooms, Stevenson said, they
should shut their doors.
Pakawau Beach Camp manager Gary Riordan said he had already turned someone away from Australia who wanted to self-isolate in one of the campground’s cabins.
‘‘I’d have to discourage [selfisolating in campervans] because I can’t say I don’t know if they won’t share facilities . . . we are not keen.’’
Fergus Brown, CEO of the Holiday Park Association of New Zealand, said it had a number of tourists self-isolating in campervans at many of the 300 holiday parks around the country. He said most were co-operative.