Get ready for a revolution in backpacker travel! Planning for that iconic Kiwi getaway is about to take a giant leap forward. Backpacker Campervans has introduced a new hi-tech website that uses Google Maps to allow travelers to build their own adventure around New Zealand.
An industry first, the website – www.backpackercampervans.co.nz – will allow international and homegrown backpackers to custom-build an itinerary for their perfect Kiwi travel adventure – and change it along the way – from any computer or laptop.
Backpacker Campervans has created a website that encompasses Google Maps and geo-coded travel information to completely do away with confusing paper maps and bulky guide books. Travellers select popular driving routes – including Auckland to Waitomo, Taupo to Wellington or a south island adventure to Queenstown – and customise the journey to suit by adding points of interest along the way. These include camping grounds, scenic highlights, dump stations, activities and iconic Kiwi attractions. Daily updates come from various sources such as Tourism New Zealand and TOP 10 Holiday Parks so information is always current.
Quinton Hall, Chief Information Officer for Backpacker Campervans’ parent company Tourism Holdings Limited (thl), says the new site’s Route Planner gives tech-savvy backpackers a ground-breaking and novel way to create a holiday experience to remember.
“If you chose a particular driving route you can then add points of interest like bungee jumping or a native bushwalk, or find a quiet place to camp around New Zealand,” explains Mr Hall. “You can also share your itinerary instantly with other people, including family members back home or friends you meet along the way.”
Information and customised travel maps can be shared via Facebook, Twitter or other networking programmes as well as via regular email. Backpackers can now comment on the company’s blog and will soon be able to upload their travel photos and leave reviews or feedback about places they’ve visited to help other travellers plan their journeys.
The site, which has been carefully researched by thl and developed by Gen-i, operates from Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS). Gen-i won Microsoft’s 2009 Business Productivity Portals and Collaboration Solution of the Year partner award for its work on the web platform. thl ordered a complete overhaul of its online technology to facilitate the new site, including upgrading servers, networks and telecommunications.
For more information, visit www.backpackercampervans.co.nz
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