New Zealand Campervan Road Trip: Exploring Both Islands in Six Weeks
February/March 2026 - New Experience Number 15
When my stepson and his fiancée decided to get married in Aotearoa New Zealand, we knew we didn’t want to simply fly halfway around the world for the wedding and then come straight home.
If we were going to travel all that way, we might as well make an adventure of it in the land of the long white cloud.
So we decided on a campervan road trip, exploring as much of New Zealand as we could after celebrating the happy couple.
On a mission to try 52 new things in the year, this was certainly going to be a big one. Six weeks of adventure, with plenty of new experiences along the way!
A campervan road trip around New Zealand is an absolute nightmare
Not because of the roads, the weather, the campsites or the fact that you’re essentially living in a tin box for six weeks.
No. The problem is that the entire country is ridiculously beautiful!
How on earth are you supposed to decide which places are non-negotiable when everywhere looks like it’s been created specifically to make your jaw drop?
Every decision to go somewhere meant deciding not to go somewhere else. And there were some seriously tempting places that didn’t make the cut.
Obviously, I appreciate this is a fairly privileged problem to have. But it was a problem nonetheless!
Planning your own New Zealand adventure? Or just fancy a little armchair travelling? You can read the whole story, or jump straight to the bits that interest you most.
1. When everyone rates a place so highly, can it live up to the hype?
Anyone we spoke to about New Zealand raved about it.
Social media is full of beautiful pictures and people waxing lyrical about what a wonderful country it is. My research returned lots of superlatives and epic descriptions. But can somewhere really live up to all the hype?
I tried to keep my expectations in check. These are some of the places that regularly got mentioned.
Queenstown / Tāhuna - New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Flying into Queenstown set the bar high. Our flight passed over the mountains where hidden pools of turquoise glimmered in the sun, dustings of snow clung to the peaks and sprawling forests tumbled down the hillsides like a leafy green waterfall. It felt as if we were coming in to land at a picture-perfect model of planet earth.
On the ground, we discovered a vibrant hub with an alpine feel and a lively atmosphere.
We had some excessively delicious good food during our stay in Queenstown, and explored some of the more heart-rate-inducing activities.
From alfresco breakfasts to huge wedges of homemade cake, it was a foodie heaven and we did our best to try several of the many highly recommended eateries.
Taking a smooth gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak we had the most fabulous views across Queenstown, and then decided we needed to burn off some energy and rode the luge. Like sitting on an airport luggage tray with wheels, I did mix up braking and accelerating on my first lap but soon got the hang of it.
And as if the lake and mountains and forests weren’t jaw-dropping enough from the ground, we took to the skies for my first ever helicopter ride. What a place to do it.
Click here to read the full post about the epic Queenstown Helicopter experience.
Wānaka
You can’t really visit Wānaka without paying a visit to THAT tree. (You totally can).
You know the one. The solitary tree growing out of the lake, which has become something of a celebrity thanks to Instagram.
I have to confess, I thought it was a little overrated.
Of course, I took a photograph. I’m not completely immune to tourist behaviour, and there was clearly a queue of people waiting for their turn.
But actually, there’s so much more to Wanaka than one photogenic tree.
The lake is beautiful, the mountain backdrop is spectacular and the town has a lovely laid-back feel. With plenty of places to eat and drink, it was somewhere we could happily have spent longer.
Sorry, tree. You’re lovely and all that, but you’re not the whole show.
Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
Often cited as a ‘Must Visit’ destination, Milford Sound did not let us down.
We embarked on a cruise across the Sound itself, where the towering peaks and spectacular waterfalls looked even better in real life than in other people’s photos. Looking out from the back of the boat felt like we were sailing at the edge of the world, and I racked my brain to try and find adjectives that might do justice to what I was seeing. There really aren’t enough of them.
Fur seals nonchalantly lolled about on the rocks in the glorious sunshine, and birds flew high above the mountainsides, oblivious to the fact they lived in a bucket-list destination.
But Milford Sound wasn’t just about the cruise. There’s only one road to get there and it almost stole the show. Driving along State Highway 94 in our campervan felt like we were starring in an epic road trip movie.
Just when we thought the scenery couldn’t get any more incredible, we’d round a bend and audibly gasp at the next view.
The journey began alongside the lake at Te Anau, before taking us through dense green forests and out into Eglington Valley. The landscape suddenly opened up, almost like a vast pause in the road. We trundled along, taking it all in.
Driving by the tall jagged mountains, through the rugged Homer tunnel, and stopping at many of the scenic points of interest along the way it was a road not to be rushed.
Milford Sound is rated so highly, and having experienced it for ourselves, it’s easy to see why.
Mount Cook / Aoraki
Our drive to Mount Cook wasn’t quite the spectacular experience we’d been anticipating.
The weather was absolutely abysmal. Windscreen wipers rhythmically thwumped across the glass as we peered out at the view, desperately trying to spot something beyond the grey gloom.
The lake was barely visible, and there was certainly no sign of any mountains.
We found somewhere to park and settled down for lunch in the van. With the weather forecast promising an improvement, we decided to wait it out. Cards came out, the kettle went on, and we tried to be patient.
Eventually, the rain eased and we ventured out to the visitor centre, where we discovered some fascinating stories about the attempts to climb in the area.
And then, almost as if someone had flicked a switch, the clouds began to clear. Blue skies appeared, the mountains revealed themselves and suddenly we could see what all the fuss was about.
The views were extraordinary. Even the drive back felt like a completely different journey. Lake Pukaki, which had been little more than a vague blur through the rain earlier, was now an incredible shade of blue.
It was a good reminder that sometimes a little patience pays off. And that having a campervan, a pack of cards and a kettle gives you a rather useful place to wait when the weather isn’t playing ball.
Rotorua - New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Rotorua was one of those places where you know you’re somewhere a little bit different before you’ve even arrived. There was a lingering smell of rotten eggs in the air, an olfactory reminder that we were travelling through an active geothermal area.
But once we got past that, it was an extraordinary landscape to explore.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland was very busy on our visit, but it was easy to see why it’s so popular. Clear, easy-to-follow walkways took us past bubbling mud pools, steaming ponds and hot lakes in extraordinary shades of blue, green and even orange. It felt as though a little piece of another planet had taken over a patch of Earth.
And Rotorua wasn’t all about gazing at geothermal wonders (whilst holding our nose). There’s plenty to get the adrenaline pumping too.
Velocity Valley had multiple high-adrenaline activities for the adventurous, and naturally, we went along. Racing in what felt like a human version of a hamster wheel, we tried the uniquely Kiwi Shweeb racing.
Click here to read the full post and find out who was the most competitive at this unusual activity.
I also decided that free-falling 43 metres into a net sounded like a perfectly sensible thing to do.
Click here to discover what it’s like to take the plunge in the full post.
Rotorua certainly lived up to its reputation for being somewhere a little out of the ordinary.
2. The joy of travelling New Zealand in a campervan
Exploring New Zealand in a campervan gives you an incredible sense of freedom.
We could wake up somewhere beautiful, spend the day exploring and then find somewhere completely different to park up for the night. We had everything we needed with us, and no packing and unpacking every time we moved on.
Of course, living in a relatively small space for six weeks came with its own little quirks, and campervan life is about much more than just getting from A to B. We discovered lots of little things which are all part of why the experience is so special.
Supermarkets - New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
I know, I know. A supermarket isn’t exactly the most exciting destination on a New Zealand road trip. After all, it’s something I do regularly at home.
But I love visiting supermarkets in other countries. How do the prices compare? What do they sell that we don’t? Are there any strange and wonderful things that I absolutely need to try?
Pak’n Save became our supermarket of choice. The yellow and black branding was easily recognisable, their groceries were fresh and good value, they had fresh roast chickens (a favourite when we’re on the road), and their fuel was cheap.
But the thing I hadn’t expected was the humour. From dad jokes to puns, this was my sort of supermarket. The stickman logo was on signage around the shop with speech bubbles saying things such as “Get fresh with low prices” next to the fruit, and ‘you’re growing to love this’ next to the vegetables.
Room with a view
One of my favourite things about staying in a campervan is that we always had a room with a view. Peering through the gap in the curtain at the start of each day to see what lay outside the window always made me happy to get up.
Deer Flats DOC campsite on State Highway 94 (the road to Milford Sound), was particularly memorable. Managed by the Department Of Conservation, it’s off-grid camping with just a vault toilet for services.
Set in a small flat valley between the mountains, we arrived as the sun was making its final descent and casting a warm glow over the peaks. My final call of nature before bed was spectacular. The sky was clear and the stars were phenomenal. When you stared at a particular spot, it was as though even more stars became visible, like layers of glitter.
Pulling the curtain back with a finger in the morning was like looking out onto a painting. The mountains stood solidly all around the valley and a delicate light mist lingered above the colourful wildflowers. It was magical – so quiet and calm, and as though mother nature was putting on a private display.
The luxury of unpacking once
If we’d been staying in hotels or B&Bs, we’d have been packing and unpacking our rucksacks every time we moved on.
One of the great luxuries of having a campervan was being able to unpack everything into the cupboards and leave it there, and always having the appropriate clothing on hand, whatever the weather threw at us. Although to be fair we were very lucky with the weather.
No squeezing everything back into bags every morning, no searching for that one thing we’d somehow managed to bury at the bottom.
We only had to pack everything properly once: when it was time to hand the van back.
Only the sandfly to watch out for
For a country with such a diverse landscape, it was a pleasant surprise (and a relief!) that I didn’t need to worry too much about the wildlife.
I’ve got better over the years, but I’m still a wuss when it comes to creepy crawlies. Unlike its northern neighbour, New Zealand doesn’t have quite the same reputation for creatures plotting your demise, so I could relax a little.
We did encounter some spiders, which I wasn’t particularly thrilled about, but knowing they weren’t out to get me made the encounters considerably less stressful. There were all sorts of unfamiliar insects that I found myself studying with curiosity rather than fear.
And then there were the sandflies who had to go and spoil it didn’t they?
Like midges in Scotland, these pesky little blood sucking bugs bite, and whilst it doesn’t hurt, it is ludicrously itchy.
I learnt my lesson after a first encounter and minimised exposed skin when we were anywhere they were about and that seemed to do the trick. Still, I was happy to have an annoying itch rather than a poisonous sting.
3. Exploring the North and South Islands on a New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
The South Island felt humongous. It was wild and rugged and it very much felt as though nature was in charge. Endless winding roads that stretched off into the distance, coastlines we imagined must have diva-like personalities because they looked so dramatic, and a sense of remoteness gave us an inkling of what it must have been like discovering somewhere for the very first time.
I don’t think we saw anyone twice, but it did feel as though we were part of a road trip community as a majority of vehicles on the road during our travels were campervans.
Arriving into the North Island was a bit of a shock to the system. We hadn’t seen anywhere particularly built up in over 3 weeks whilst we’d been road tripping around the South Island, and we certainly hadn’t seen any tall buildings in a while.
The scenery was still breathtaking, but somehow it felt less wild and dramatic than its southern counterpart. There were more towns, more people and a different pace of life.
From the geothermal landscapes, a volcanic loop highway and incredibly beautiful beaches, it was equally spectacular in a different way.
You might be wondering if I had a favourite, and I’m sorry I’ll disappoint you by saying they were both beautiful in their own right. But I’ve covered some of our highlights below. This would be a ridiculously long post if I included them all.
South Island highlights - Christchurch
Possibly the worst weather we encountered during the six weeks was when we were in Christchurch, but that gave us an opportunity to visit the International Antarctic Centre.
As much as I’d love to visit the Antarctic one day, this was the nearest I’ve been so far. We booked onto a tour which included experiencing the chilly temperatures at the South Pole, and riding in a Hägglund, the all-terrain vehicle used at the bottom of the planet.
Click here to find out what the sub-zero temperatures felt like.
Click here to discover the ridiculously bumpy ride in the Hägglund.
South Island highlights - Arrowtown
Arrowtown was only small and we paid it a fairly flying visit, but it was a lovely little place. It felt like walking onto the movie set of an old film about searching for gold.
The busy main street was full of colourful timber buildings that housed shops and eateries, whilst the little river running through the trees felt quieter apart from families excitedly trying their luck panning for gold.
South Island highlights - Lake Tekapo
Seeing the church of the good shepherd felt very familiar as I’d seen so many pictures of it before. The blue of the lake with the backdrop of mountains looked particularly otherworldly and stunning on the sunny morning we strolled along the front.
It was one of those moments where it felt like we’d stepped into a photograph and couldn’t quite believe we were actually standing somewhere that’s on so many people’s vision boards.
South Island highlights - Lindis Pass
Rolling hills, not a building in sight, and a road that went on for miles. This was what road trip dreams are made of. The hillsides looked smooth, soft and velvety and the road snaked through the valley disappearing into the distance.
South Island highlights - Kaikoura
Famous for whale watching there were multiple boat trips available to take people out for wildlife watching. Tours were all full up when we were there, a disappointing reminder that if you really want to do something it’s worth booking ahead.
Even though there have been whale sightings from the shore, they were elusive during our visit. However we did enjoy the coast road to get there and saw a huge number of seals when we walked around the peninsula.
South Island highlights - Kaiteriteri
This felt like the first proper sandy beach we had seen on the South Island and it was gorgeous. Golden sands, clear waters, and signs to watch out for penguins!
Sadly we didn’t see any on our visit, but we enjoyed a very relaxing sunset at a cafe by the beach.
South Island highlights - Abel Tasman National Park
One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been for a hike. The fields of ferns, the easy trail to follow, and the blissfully unspoilt bays made this one of the most memorable walks of the trip.
Just hold on to your lunch as those cheeky Weka are not shy in seeing what you’ve got in your bag.
Click here to discover what made the Abel Tasman hike such an incredible experience.
South Island highlights - Buller River
The winding road took us through the forests to the beautiful Buller River. An unspoilt and wild stretch of water where we stopped off for an exhilaratingly fun jet boat ride after walking over the longest swing bridge in the country.
South Island highlights - The Great Coast Road
An undulating route with epic views. The thick ferns were like a friendly crowd at the side of road. We pulled in at viewpoints where the sweeping expanse of ocean rolled into the distance, and enjoyed the low close-up view of the relentless waves when the road hugged the edge of the land.
It was a breathtaking route and easy to see why it often ends up highly placed in lists of the World’s Best Roads.
North Island Highlights - Wooley Bay
This small sandy inlet on the east coast might not ordinarily make it onto many people’s highlights, but we were treated to a spectacular sight during our night freedom camping next to the sea.
New Zealand’s night skies are some of the most dramatically beautiful I’ve ever experienced, and we had many truly breathtaking stargazing moments during our six weeks.
The beach at Wooley Bay was perfect for a stroll during the day, but that night it was as though luck really was on our side. The sky was clear, the temperature hadn’t dropped too low and, mercifully, the sandflies seemed to have taken the night off.
It was the perfect place to witness a lunar eclipse.
The shimmering reflection of the moon on the waves, the gentle roll of the ocean in our ears and the shadow of the Earth slowly creeping across our friendly neighbour in the sky, turning its cratered surface an unusual glowing orange.
It was one of those unexpected moments that make travelling so special. No tickets, no booking, no carefully planned itinerary. Just us, our campervan and an extraordinary celestial display.
North Island Highlights - Mangōnui
We stopped in Mangōnui for some of the freshest and best fish and chips of the whole trip.
It’s a lovely little coastal town in the corner of Doubtless Bay, and a very good place to stop when you’re feeling peckish.
North Island Highlights - Ninety Mile Beach
Not actually ninety miles, but we were too busy enjoying the views to be pedantic.
This enormous stretch of coastline was quite something to see, with its seemingly endless golden sands, rolling dunes and spectacular sunsets.
It’s also unusual because you’ll often see cars using it as a road! It clearly stated in our handover documents not to drive the campervan on sand, but it did look fun blasting along by the sea.
North Island Highlights - Cape Reinga
The tip of the North Island.
Looking out from the lighthouse it felt as though we were at the end of the world with nothing but gorgeous deep blue sea ahead of us.
The journey to the top of the country had been worth it, and on the way back we stopped off at the Giant Te Paki sand dunes where I almost didn’t try sand boarding.
Click here to find out about the Te Paki sand dunes and how I had a wobble at the top.
North Island Highlights - Raglan
A very cool, laid-back coastal town with a reputation for surfing, and it was somewhere we enjoyed spending time.
Famous for its surf breaks and black-sand beaches, it has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It felt like the sort of place where people were in no particular hurry and where spending an afternoon watching the waves was a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time.
We also took the opportunity to explore the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls nearby, where the water tumbles dramatically down through lush green forest.
North Island Highlights - Ohakune
I absolutely loved this little town! Ohakune is known as the carrot capital of New Zealand, which becomes fairly obvious when you discover its rather enormous carrot-themed playground.
It was relatively quiet when we visited, but there’s clearly a much busier side to the town during the winter ski season, when it becomes a popular base for exploring Mount Ruapehu and the surrounding area.
There was something charming about the place, with its relaxed atmosphere and mountain-town feel. And, of course, any town that celebrates carrots quite so enthusiastically gets a thumbs-up from me.
North Island Highlights - Bulls
We stopped for lunch in Bulls, which turned out to be an absolute goldmine of terrible puns. If you’ve been following Challenge Fifty-Two for a while, you’ll know how much I appreciated that.
The town has embraced its name wholeheartedly, with signs, shop names and various other examples of bovine-inspired wordplay dotted around the place.
There were jokes everywhere, and I was very much in my element. From the moment we arrived, it became a game of spotting the next pun and seeing just how far the locals could take it. Un-bull-ievably good, in fact. If you rolled your eyes at that, prepare for significantly more eyeball revolutions if you visit.
North Island Highlights - Wellington
The capital of New Zealand! Sometimes windy, always hilly, and a lovely place to explore.
We took a ride up the hill on the famous Wellington Cable Car, enjoying the views across the city and harbour as we climbed. It was particularly interesting to discover that some of the houses on the hillsides have their own little cable car systems, providing a cool and unusual way of getting home.
We also couldn’t visit New Zealand without encountering a little of its famous film-making heritage. Wellington is home to the Weta Workshop, the creative studio behind some of the most impressive film effects and props, so we booked a brilliant behind-the-scenes tour.
4. The practical bits: planning a New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Six weeks exploring New Zealand in a campervan sounds wonderful (and it absolutely was!), but there’s a fair bit of planning involved before you hit the open road.
From choosing a campervan and working out how to travel between the two islands, to finding campsites and getting to grips with driving in New Zealand, there are a few things worth thinking about before setting off.
Here’s what we learnt along the way, including a few things we’d do again and some practical tips if you’re planning your own New Zealand adventure.
How much time would we need for a New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
We were lucky that we could take our time and explore New Zealand over 6 weeks before flying out of the country. Whilst we covered a lot of ground, there is still plenty that we didn’t get to see.
Having said that, you can still see a considerable amount with less time, you just might need to be a bit stricter with the itinerary.
As UK citizens travelling in 2026, we needed an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before travelling. We also needed proof of onward travel, so it’s worth checking the entry requirements before booking your trip.
Requirements vary depending on your nationality and circumstances, and can change, so make sure you check the latest information before travelling.
For up-to-date advice, visit Immigration New Zealand .
Hiring a campervan
Research into vans and van hire companies can be incredibly overwhelming.
We used Camplify in the end. It’s a bit like Airbnb but for vans. People list their vans on the site, and you hire it from them through the third party platform.
The one thing that made me slightly apprehensive about this was that if anything went wrong with the van it might not be easy to fix. Whereas if you hire from a rental company with multiple vehicles they’re more geared up to get you moving again quickly.
But, just like Airbnb, people leave reviews on the vans they hire, and when there were cases of malfunctions, they seemed to be resolved relatively speedily.
Two vans, two islands - New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
New Zealand comprises of two main islands. You can travel between them on a short and beautiful ferry journey, which on paper sounds perfect for a van trip.
However, unless you are booking a campervan with pick up and drop off locations on both islands, there can be a considerable return fee as someone has to travel to collect the van from where you leave it.
We added up the cost of taking the van over on the ferry and the return fee, and decided that hiring a van on each island and flying between them was a better option for us.
The campervan
We have a campervan in the UK and have been on many amazing trips around the UK and Europe, so we are used to living on wheels for weeks at a time.
As much as we love our campervan, New Zealand was a little bit too far for it to travel, and we hired a Toyota Hiace on both the South and North Islands. Complete with a jaunty Elvis-like quiff, it was spacious, solid and reliable, trundling us around some breathtaking spots.
Both vans were 4 berth, with sleeping space in the quiff above the cab, and a pull down bed in the back. Yes, there were only two of us, but it wasn’t that much more expensive than some much smaller vans and we really appreciated the space.
Bedding and crockery was included in the hire, so all we needed to do was stock up on food and hit the open road. Towels were included in the first van hire, and we picked up some cheap ones from The Warehouse for the second hire.
Campsites
We stayed in a mixture of freedom camping spots and paid campsites.
After a close call at a paid campsite, where we only just managed to get the last available pitch, we didn’t risk leaving things to chance again. Instead, we would either ring ahead or book online for that evening so that we could enjoy the day without stressing about where we were going to stay later.
There are certain rules around freedom camping, and it can differ depending on the local authority and designated camping area. You should always check for the most up-to-date information to make sure you’re adhering to them. And, make sure you pay attention to signage.
Check the New Zealand Government web-page for the latest details.
During our 2026 travels, freedom camping meant we could park overnight and sleep in our vehicle in designated areas, as long as the van displayed a sticker to show it met the freedom camping requirements, which at the time of our road trip meant having an onboard toilet (which we never used), clean water and a tank for grey waste.
Using the Rankers App we found some truly breathtaking places to camp. Our one deciding factor when picking places to stay was that there needed to be a public toilet. Neither of us fancied emptying out the onboard one if we could help it!
The Department of Conservation also manage some sites. These are often more rustic than some paid sites, and are often in spectacular locations. It’s easy to see the prices and book online. Take a look at the DOC website for all of the details.
We were surprised by how busy the freedom camping spots were, and soon learnt to always have a backup site in mind not too far away, and tried not to arrive anywhere too late.
Driving in New Zealand
Prior to visiting, some people had told us that the roads were slow and other drivers could be a bit reckless.
We discovered that getting between places often took longer than anticipated. Not just because some of the roads can be quite slow and winding, but also because there were so many opportunities for epic photos.
We never experienced any dangerous driving, but we only drove during the day. With public transport being quite limited, and big distances between towns, it’s easy to recognise that some people probably do take risks on the road. Thankfully we never saw anything.
There were plenty of pull ins, so if something came up behind us that wanted to go faster than us it didn’t take long until we were able to let it pass.
Some roads can be quite twisty, and tight corners usually had individual speed limit signs to help you navigate them easily.
Road surfaces were good on the whole, although some routes took us along unsealed roads, which basically meant they hadn’t been tarmacced and were more like a gravel track.
Driving was just as spectacular as the destinations. We discovered some glorious passes, epic beaches, huge widescreen-worthy vistas, and scenery that would make a screensaver melt.
Time of year - New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Our road trip was through February and March which was a perfect temperature for us. It was still in the summer season so van hire was a premium, but the roads were never too busy and the intense heat of the sun was starting to wane.
If you’re hiring a van over winter, you might want to check the availability of paid campsites, as some may close for the season. You might also want to check the insulation and heating options when hiring a van as you don’t want to be shivering overnight.
If you’re hiring a van in summer, double check when the local school holidays are as it could be especially busy on campsites. It might be worth booking sites in advance for peace of mind. You might also want to check if the van has air conditioning, and fly screens so that you can have the doors open without suffering an invasion of sandfly.
5. Would I recommend a New Zealand campervan road trip?
We originally travelled to New Zealand for a wedding, but the opportunity to spend six weeks exploring the country turned it into an adventure we’ll remember forever.
There were places we didn’t get to visit, roads we could have travelled and plenty of things we could have squeezed into the itinerary. But that’s the beauty of a road trip, isn’t it? There’s always another reason to go back.
Would I recommend exploring New Zealand in a campervan? Absolutely. Just don’t expect to come home with a short list of favourite places. Narrowing it down is practically impossible!
And one of the things this trip reminded me, is that sometimes the best adventures start with simply saying yes to something new.
Want To Try A New Zealand Campervan Road TripYourself?
- If you do fancy trying this yourself, then I am so blooming excited for you!
- There are lots of campervan hire companies available.
- We hired both of our vans through Camplify and had a great experience. The van owners were really responsive and helpful both before, during and after the trip.
- Other companies we considered using were
- Juicy offer a selection of different sized vans and have 3 locations (Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch). You’ll see a lot of their iconic green vehicles along your travels.
- Apollo offer 2 to 6 berth campervans and motorhomes with pick up and drop off locations at Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch.
- Indie Campers have a range of vehicles for hire from their Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch locations.
- Kiwi Campers have a range of 2 and 4 berth vans to hire with locations at Auckland and Christchurch and offer airport transfers.
- Mad Campers have a handy model comparison view on their site to help decide which van might suit you. With locations at Auckland and Christchurch
- Escape Rentals offer unique and colourful campervans, you’ll easily be able to spot yours when you’re parked up somewhere. They also have useful information for booking ferry crossings.
- Ratpack travel will compare the market for you, so if you don’t fancy trawling through all the possible campervan options, just give them your dates and they’ll find a selection of available vehicles for you.
- I’d recommend checking current availability, pick-up locations, insurance arrangements and any one-way rental fees before booking.
Cost Of Experience
- This is a really tricky one to put a figure on, so I’m not going to give you a total. There are just too many variables!
Your costs will depend on how long you’re hiring a van for, how much driving you’re planning to do, how much fuel you use and where you choose to stay. Campsites with electric hook-ups will obviously cost more than freedom camping, where you’re permitted to stay for free.
You can have a relatively frugal campervan road trip if you’re happy to cook for yourself, make use of designated freedom camping spots and keep an eye on your fuel costs. Eating out regularly and staying on fully serviced campsites will soon increase your spending.
Ultimately, you can tailor a New Zealand campervan adventure to suit your budget, although I’d recommend allowing a little extra for all those unexpected stops and experiences along the way. It’s extremely easy to find something else you fancy doing!
Recommendations For A New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
Leave room for the unexpected.
It’s tempting to pack your itinerary with all the places you want to visit, but don’t underestimate the joy of having a little flexibility. You might discover somewhere you want to spend longer, stumble across an unexpected viewpoint or simply decide that today is a good day to sit and admire the view. Some of the best road trip moments aren’t planned.
- Download the Rankers App.
- Including paid and freedom camping sites, you can find places to stay even when you’re offline, and read recent reviews. Rankers
- Pack for all weathers.
- You don’t need to pack your entire wardrobe, but do make sure you’ve got something suitable for all weathers. Even in summer, temperatures can drop in the evenings, so layers are your friend. A warm jumper and a waterproof jacket are worth making space for!
- You can pick up what you need when you’re there.
You don’t need to squeeze every shampoo, shower gel and bottle of moisturiser into your luggage before you leave home. You can easily pick up most of what you need in New Zealand, with supermarkets stocking all the usual essentials. Save that valuable luggage space for something else!
- Be patient.
Not just with the slower roads and winding routes, but also with the people you’re travelling with. You’ll be spending quite a lot of time together in a relatively confined space, so a little patience and understanding will go a long way. Even the most wonderful travel companion can occasionally get on your nerves!
- Don’t forget the sun cream.
Even on a cloudy day, it’s important to protect your skin in New Zealand. The sun can be surprisingly strong, so make applying SPF part of your daily routine. Don’t worry if you haven’t packed enough to last the whole trip; you can easily pick some up in the supermarkets along the way.
- Make notes.
You’ll usually get a handover when you collect your campervan, explaining how everything works. It’s worth making a few notes as you go, though. Some things might seem perfectly obvious at the time, but when you need to remember how something works three weeks later, you might be glad you scribbled it down!
- Keep a diary.
Even if it’s just a couple of notes at the end of each day, make a record of where you’ve been and what you’ve done. You’ll visit so many incredible places and have so many little adventures that it’s surprisingly easy to forget the details. You don’t need to write War and Peace every evening, just enough to jog your memory when you get home.
- Don’t forget your camera. And make sure you’ve got plenty of memory or storage space. You’ll take far more photographs than you think, and there’s nothing worse than running out of room just when the scenery gets spectacular. Although, in New Zealand, that could happen rather frequently!
Let me know how you get on if you decide to give it a go yourself, or share your own highlights if you’ve already explored New Zealand in a campervan. I’m always curious to hear about other people’s adventures!
Hi Sally,
What a blog post.
Number one. All the way. I experienced the same thing during our 2 months in New Zealand. We did the house sitting bit. Everything was lined up beforehand. Yet we missed each spot because the whole country is flat out gorgeous.
First place I’ve been to that doesn’t have any bad views. Everything is spectacular.