The Escape code
Welcome to your New Zealand Escape.

This manual should arm you with all the information required to make your NZ camper experience a safe and memorable one. Travelling in an Escape camper is a unique experience to embrace and celebrate.
One of the benefits in travelling with Escape is that you will not get treated like an average tourist.
Many other travellers and even locals will assume you are a local who has painted your own campervan.
No two campervans are the same. Each has it's own artwork designed by the Escape team and created by one of our talented artists.
The artists are all New Zealand local and each has their own style specialty.
The ideas and inspirations behind the various artworks and themes draw predominantly from local flavours and themes encountered from growing up in New Zealand.

Have some fun, meet some locals and please help keep New Zealand beautiful.

Enjoy and regards Team Escape

Speed/Safety/Road rules

Safety NZ is one of the safest countries in the world, but exceptions and isolated incidents can occur.
By and large, New Zealanders are open and very friendly and eager to meet and help visitors to our country.
Be sure that your Camper is locked and secure when it is left unattended and valuables are out of sight. If an area feels unsafe, please move to another location.

Driving on New Zealand Roads Please treat your Camper with tender loving care and it will reward you with the holiday of a lifetime! Roads are constantly being resealed and upgraded so road works are unfortunately part of the NZ scenery.
Take extra caution when driving through road works, as gravel driving can be hazardous. Stones can flick into your windscreen or someone else's and stones can also get thrown up underneath the camper into the radiator. Always observe the advised speed limit at road works.
Drive carefully and be considerate to other road users. Keep left Drive on the left side of the road. Do not cross the centre line - unless you can see that the road is clear for at least 100 metres.
Give way rule: You give way to other traffic when turning left at an intersection. And always give way to traffic on your right.

No overtaking line: When you see an unbroken yellow line on your side of a broken white line - or there is a double yellow line - you must not overtake or pass. You may get a warning when an unbroken yellow line is just ahead of you - often a broken yellow line appears first. Remember: If in doubt - DO NOT PASS.

Traffic arrow lights: A green arrow lets you go in the direction indicated - even when the main traffic light is on red. But a red arrow means you can't go.
LOOK OUT for the green man crossing sign when you are about to turn at traffic lights. Often you will have a green light, but will need to wait for pedestrians to cross before you can go. Seatbelts: All Escape Campers have 3 seatbelts only.
All passengers must be wearing a seatbelt at all times. It is illegal to carry more than 3 persons.

Speed limits: The speed limit in towns and cities is 50-70 km/h. On the open highway and motorway the maximum speed is 100 km/h. In wet, windy, hilly or bad road or weather conditions reduce your speed!
Speeding There are heavy fines for exceeding the speed limit. Hidden speed cameras are everywhere in NZ. Please stick to the speed limits to avoid a fine.
Parking: Parking wardens are the same breed in NZ as any other part of the world. Please do not free park in towns where metres are present and ensure you face the direction traffic is travelling.

Zebra Crossings (Pedestrian and School Crossings) Give way to pedestrians on your half of a zebra crossing - they have the right of way.
Height restrictions: Your Campervan can be up to 2.5 metres in height. Be careful when entering a parking building or through a drive through restaurant.
Off limits roads: Your insurance will be deemed invalid for the following roads, as they are unsuitable for Camper driving: o 90 mile Beach (The far north) o North of Colville Township (Top of Coromandel Peninsula) o Ball Hutt (Mt Cook region) o Skippers Canyon (Queenstown region) or above the car park at any Ski field.
Snow Chains are required for travel on Milford Road between July and October and it is highly recommended to carry chains if taking your Camper to a Ski Field.
You are allowed to drive on unsealed roads, but please take extra care

Ferry crossings: Escape recommends using the Bluebridge ferry. They recognise our campers as travelling at the car rate of $130. Please book your camper as a car (Not a Campervan) The price for 2 adults and a 'Van' is $230. In peak summer Months, it is advised to pre-book your ferry at least 7 Days prior to travel and in off peak Months, at least 2 days before travel.
Bluebridge ferry bookings are fully transferable at no cost If you are pre-booked on the ferry between the North and South Island you must report to the ferry terminal 1 hour before sailing time. If you have not booked or wish to change a booking, you can do so by calling direct. Bluebridge Free phone number 0800 844844 Interislander free phone 0800 802 802 The Interisland crossing takes approximately 3 hours 20 minutes.

Vehicle care and maintenance: Check your vehicle regularly You are responsible for ensuring the Oil, Water fuel and tyre pressures are kept to the required levels. Please allow 1 minute for the camper to idle (warm up) before setting off on a cold engine If you have a diesel vehicle, Turn the ignition on and wait for the glowing plug light to go out before starting. You should check the Oil and Water levels every 1500km.
Service station attendants will show you how to check the levels if you are unsure. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge (should not get above half way) and keep an eye out for any warning lights that show up on your dashboard. Call Escape immediately if any warning lights come on.

Filling the gas bottle: Most service stations have LPG filling facilities. Camping grounds often have LPG facilities also. Bottles should always be filled and never swapped. You don't have to return with a full bottle, but please make sure there is some LPG in it. Ensure cook top is tightened well before operation!! (Gas bottles are reverse thread)

Early returns: Escape rentals allow vehicles to be returned early, but unfortunately cannot give refunds for early returns or incomplete trips.