Danny Cannon's crew on their South Island adventure May/June 2011

Hey Tony,

Peter Young from North Queensland took some great photos on a Winter trip to the South Island. He had this to say:

"

G'day Tony,

My trip was excellent and after the first two days the weather was good too. Christchurch is an absolute mess but everyone I spoke to was very stoic and only looking forward, so I reckon the future is bright. My only regret is not being able to drive to Mt Cook Village on a clear day as I think the view would be spectacular. Everywhere else I travelled was great; beautiful scenery, very friendly and down to earth people and I'm genuinely missing the food and wine! The highlight was the fly in-cruise-fly out trip to Milford Sound, particularly the flights over the Alps. I will definitely be returning. I would like to try some fly fishing and maybe do some back country skiing (not necessarily on the same trip), so if you can recommend anyone I'd appreciate it.

The car was excellent, very comfortable to drive and economical too. I think the GPS is an absolute must have, a great piece of kit. It was a bit inaccurate in Queenstown (a couple of road changes and a petrol station has closed down) but it didn't cause any problems. The tent works really well, very easy to set-up and with a good sleeping bag very comfortable. All the camping gear was good and everything I needed was included. The only thing I forgot to get was toilet paper, but thats another story!

I hope you like the photos, feel free to use them if you want. Your service was excellent and I'll definitely be recommending you to others.

Cheers

Pete

Jeremy Francis got away 'out back' in March/April 2011

 

One shot of your vehicle up the Maniototo (I'd forgotten how nice it is up there), one of Danseys Pass, and one from Kakapotahi beach looking out at the big three. Hope they are of use to you.

Great service you have, and you should go hammer and tongs after the camper van crowd, who supply a profoundly inferior product. Cheers

 

Jan Muir talks about their "High Country Journey"

Hi Tony,
We had an awsome trip, the Toyota Prados were so comfortable to ride in, the tracks were quite rough and bumpy in places, and surely tested the mettle of the vehicles,  but they handled the tracks really well, it was good to have so many hand grips to hang on to inside, that made it very comfortable for the passengers, (I did hang on tight a few times). We travelled through some amazing country, and the visability was excellent from the vehicles front or back. Our men took turns in driving, so each couple had half a day in the back seat. We were very privalleged to have the opportunity to drive the tracks through the private stations, staying with most interesting people along the way, who made us warmly welcome in their homes.
We all agreed that you would need some experience with 4x4 driving, but agreed that we had the trip of a lifetime, the South Island High Country is such a magnificent place to drive through, the views, and the sheer size and area of land we saw, will be forever etched in our memories.
Cheers Jan Muir

"On our last fishing trip to NZ'd in February 2010 we were happy to book a little RAV4 from Overland with insurance in offroad conditions, which gave us the freedom to reach the places of desire. With the 4WD and the extra clearance it was pretty easy to manage the rough South Island tracks or the sandy West Coast beaches.

Thanks for the excellent car! Your country very much also is very beautiful! I am glad that with your help could to look so much! In Russia the winter, is a lot of snow and is cold! If want an extreme we wait for you in Moscow!

- Andreas Medianik, Moscow

Norbert and Ute from Germany enjoying the Summer of 2009/10

See more client photos and stories in our Photo Gallery and Fishing pages.

After renting 4 WD vehicles from you for the past six years, I thought it was time to tell you what a great service you offer. The Prado is a great car and each one we've rented was in perfect condition. I really like the turbo diesel performance and diesel costs so much less to fill it up!
 
We really like being able to drive it off road to get to fishing spots that most other anglers can't manage to reach.
 
Keep up the great work and I recommend your firm to everyone.
 
Attached are some pictures from summer 2009.

Tight lines, 
Robert and Linda Kahn
Ketchum, Idaho
U.S.

Hi Tony,

I'm just writing to say thank you for lending us the Toyota Prado 95 for all of last week. I hope you found that we left it in satisfactory condition.

We had a fantastic trip, despite the weather, and we couldn't have done it without the great car, which we affectionately nicknamed the 'Tank'.

The Prado arrived on time and in great condition. It handled well, fit all 5 of us (with luggage) easily, and its power made a huge difference when it came to driving along slippery mountain roads. The mobile phone you lent us and the GPS were brilliant as well--as I wasn't driving myself, I was more than glad to have the voice remind my friends whenever they edged over the speed limit!

In summary, thanks again. The Tank suited us down to a T and I'd be more than happy to recommend your service to anyone. I wish you nothing but success in future, and congratulations again on becoming a father.

Best regards,
Thomas Selby, Singapore

Dear Tony & Helen Davys

I have to commend you on an outstanding vehicle that led to a marvellous twenty days in the South Is NZ. I had one of the Toyota Hilux Surfs - perfect for me, as I like a bit of room. 

The Surf was outstandingly comfortable to drive. I like to travel wild and only stayed in camping grounds when the washing and shopping needs to be done.

The car and camping gear met all my needs wherever I stayed.

The South Island is beyond beautiful and I fell in love with Nevis Valley. The car handled like a dream. Plenty of power and excellent steering on those narrow goat tracks - just kidding about the goat tracks. Not!

Thank you for making this one of our most fantastic trips ever and that is saying something! We have had some amazing journeys and I am very glad we impulsively decided to take that drive around the South Island in one of your excellent cars. Helen & yourself could not have been more helpful and friendly which put a little more icing on the cake of a great trip.

Don,

Brisbane

Gordon Battaile from Oregon USA, sent us some fantastic pictures from a recent photography trip around the South Island in Autumn 2009 - see these in our Photo Gallery.

Peter Morse - Australia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYYSk-iRO0

When hiring a vehicle for a fly fishing holiday on New Zealand's South Island I've found Tony and Helen Davys at Overland to have exceptional service, very reasonable rates and conditions, backed up by a fleet of well maintained vehicles. Tony's a fly fisherman and a hunter as well so he understands what we want and need from a hire car - and he delivers.
 
Team Sage
FFF CCI
Fly fisherman, writer, photographer.
Australia
www.wildfish.com.au

The Rothin's trip report:
We arrived in Christchurch from the UK on 23rd February and picked up a pale blue Toyota HiLux Surf from Tony of Overland at the airport. After a night in Christchurch we set off down the east coast on Highway 1. After turning off at Seven mile road we travelled across the beautiful Danseys Pass Road (gravel) visiting some interesting limestone cliffs on the way. We had booked to stay at the Danseys pass Hotel. This is an old gold mining location and the remains of the workings can be seen throughout the area. The next day we were to travel to Te Anau and decided to use some 4WD routes to get there. From Clyde we took the Hawksburn Road (a steep 4WD track) and linked into the Nevis Road. The Nevis Road has lots of fords but as the weather had been dry these were not deep. The road is very scenic giving extensive views of the surrounding area.
In Te Anau we spent a couple of days preparing to walk the Milford Track which we had booked to start on the Friday. The walk takes four days and three nights. You have to carry all you need for the walk with you and stay in the huts on the track. This was certainly an experience never to be forgotten, the scenery was wonderful (although it poured with rain on the day we passed over the MacKinnon Pass) and we saw lots of birds and waterfalls (and rather too many sandflies!). After completing the walk we spent some more time in Te Anau with some friends we had made on a previous trip. From there we visited the glowworm caves and did two more 4WD adventures, one along the Borland Road which gives access to the South Arm of Lake Manapouri (wonderful views down the Grebe Valley) and the second to Mavora Lakes. The latter is quite difficult between the trees near the Lake edge but opens up on the way to Careys Hut (which has a shower with a view!). We reluctantly left Te Anau behind and drove up the
west coast to Haast visiting Jackson Bay the next day before continuing up past Franz Joseph Glacier to Hokitika (a lovely town with lots of craft shops). From here we continued north to Karamea. The scenery here was very different from other parts of NZ almost tropical with lots of Niku trees. We walked to the limestone arches and caves and did a short walk on the Heaphy Track.
Then we moved across to the west side of the island to visit Collingwood and went on the Eco tour of Farewell Spit (a 37km long strip of sand projecting out into the Tasman Sea). The tour was brilliant with lots of different birds and amazing scenery.
Nelson Lakes national park was the next stop. From St Arnaud (a small hamlet) we walked onto Mount Robert, the views were absolutely amazing and the weather was hot and clear.
We went across to Hamner Springs via the
Rainbow Road (another 4WD track (120km) which was very beautiful, particularly Lake Tennyson). From here we went to Kaikoura for two nights and did an Albatross tour - saw loads of birds as well as seals and Hectors dolphins.
Finally back to Christchurch for the return flight home. This was our third visit to NZ and the second time we had hired a 4WD from Overland. The 4WD gives you the chance to visit so many places other tourists would not see and we would highly recommend it. Saving up to go back again now!

Tony and Anne Rothin, Worcestershire, UK.

Steve Starling and Stuart Hindson from Australia proved that as well as being able to catch fish, they are also reasonable photographers! Autumn 2009. See these in our Photo Gallery.

John and Nic's 10 Day Christchurch, Haast Pass, Arthur's Pass, Christchurch Circuit
As visiting alien Australians New Zealand seems to approach the ideal in many respects. Our 10 day circuit, in March 2009, afforded a superb encounter with friendly and laid back south islanders, fellow curious tourists, and scenery that took us into the sublime.
The highlight was a two night tramp up the Ahuriri River. Here you can be immersed in a broad river valley evocative of an African plain, flowing cold rivers, snow capped mountains, bird filled lakes, and waterfalls twisting their way down terraces. It is not a famous area so there is a good chance you can have it all to yourselves, as we did. Our hired RAV4 was Essential to drive the last 7 km of 4WD track. Read full story (PDF, 75KB)

Hi Tony,

Thanks for a great working holiday - the service that you provide and the ease with which you make it all happen are just A1 Plus!!!!! I have hired vehicles in a number of locations and countries, but without question your company provided the best experience and the best set up for what we needed. I would say to anyone wanting to get off the beaten track and planning to enjoy exploring the South Island - "contact Tony at Overland 4WD and you will have a great
time"!!!

Hope everything is going really well with "Overland" and with you. Thought you might enjoy these photos of our much enjoyed and appreciated RAV and some of the places she took us, our neat little pup tent and our very outdoor, relaxed camp sites. The tracks we followed were The Carricktown - not suitable for the RAV and we turned back - The Nevis, The Thomson Pass and the Hakataramea Pass. Also went to Galloway, Bendigo, Benmore, Quailburn, Mt Cook, Morven Hills, Three Springs and Erewhon Stations and a number of hard to get to, goldmining sites and towns. Have some great resources for a new series of paintings and am half way through the first one - a painting of the picturesque farm buildings on Mt Cook Station.
 
 Take Care from Jackie at Jacobs Grove, Northland

Peter and Vivien Pohl from Lower Hutt, NZ, sent in some great photos of a Summer 2008 high country self-guided trip.

"Attached are a few photos from our Ryton trip at end of November- a great trip but you're concentrating so much driving on the interesting bits you don't take many photos!"

Silas Hansen, photographer from Kiwi Surf Magazine, took some great shots on a recent surfing trip near Dunedin. See more of these in our Photo Gallery.