Overlanding

It seems the fluctuating exchange rates are having an impact at Intrepid, as they may introduce a currency surcharge. On their website they are encouraging people to pay up! “Avoid any surcharge by paying in full by 30 November, 2008.”

Check out our overlanding discounts page, we have a list of late running discounts from various overlanding companies. A whole set of new brochures will be avialable from September so you may be able to take advantage now!

If you want to travel around New Zealand overland try out these guys escape rentals although it was chilly during winter it was worth it we had a great time. They gave us by mistake the wrong snow chains so check first - but refunded us the money without any problems - the designs on the vans are very cool.

The eight new natural sites added this year include:

Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada)
Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China)
Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France)
Surtsey (Iceland)
Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland)
Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

With the new additions, the World Heritage List now has 878 sites (679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed) in 145 countries.

They do not seem to be the same as the many hop on hop buses which operate around New Zealand. But more traditional overlanding company, and by there own admission a relatively new company. If you have travelled with overlandnz we would love to hear your experiences.

New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport has announced that it’s scrapping the departure tax passengers have to pay on leaving the country. It currently stands at NZ$25 but will instead be charged to airlines. From July the new charge will be $13 per arrival and $13 per departure.
It is still not clear who will pay but it is highly likely it will be added directly by airlines to their ticket prices. The tax will still apply for international departures from the rest of the country’s airports.

Meanwhile, the Australian government is increasing its departure tax to AUS$47 from 1 July.

Taking place in Exhibition and convention centre in Darling Harbour. Several Australian and New Zealand based companies will be exhibiting as well as talks and shows on adventure travel from around the world.

To obtain a few entry ticket click here?Price on the door $7

The first 38 passengers set off from the UK to Australia yesterday using Ozbus. They set off on what is an epic 12 week journey travelling through 20 countries along the way, with stops including Vienna, Istanbul, Kathmandu and Bangkok.

OK

I’m a Brit currently living in New Zealand. My wife and I recently had a discussion about where our lives are going to take us and it looks like kids will be on the horizon soon. Personally, I’d have them here (I love this country) but my wife wants to have kids at home with the support network and all that.

Anyway, basically, we’ve decided to take “the long way home” over land via Asia etc and this planted a rather dangerous seed in my mind

What about one last jaunt?

A trip of a lifetime kind of thing. We can probably take a year off from work and I wanted to see if we could make it home the whole way over land. The problem is, we really don’t want to go with a company because we want the freedom to stay longer in places we like and less time in places we don’t.

The question is:

Is this folly? Are we being idiotic and presumptious thinking we can do this alone? What about Pakistan/Iran? Is it just too dangerous?

Any links/advice/thoughts etc greatly appreciated.

Ok we have come across a few companies that offer a number of excursions but many of the reasons to overland are a little less obvious in both countries. They are numerous bus companies that get you from a to b extreme quickly and easily. You can hire campervans and other vehicles really easily there and access to remote areas is easily arranged. So why overland? Has anyone toured with these companies - was it worth it did you enjoy the experience, any advice you would pass onto others?