Touring New Zealand in a Campervan

New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world. Hiking, skydiving, kayaking, bungy jumping, climbing – everything here is geared towards getting you outside and doing something incredible. We loved our time in New Zealand even though the weather was often wet and windy, although we were here in the height of summer. For those in search of amazing adventures and stunning scenery New Zealand is the place to visit. Touring New Zealand in a campervan is the perfect way of seeing this spectacular country.

ROAD TRIPPING AROUND NEW ZEALAND IN A CAMPERVAN

We chose a campervan for our month long tour of New Zealand. As you travel around the country, you see an abundance of tourists driving themselves through the country in campervans. That is because New Zealand is set up perfectly for this kind of travel.

We picked up our Britz campervan in Christchurch for four weeks of touring around both the South and North Islands of New Zealand. Equipped with beds for six people, toilet, stove, cookware, utensils and bedding, we had everything we needed including the kitchen sink! Campervanning in New Zealand makes for an affordable holiday and offers you the freedom to go off the beaten path and take in the sights at your own pace.

The driving in New Zealand is fairly easy, they drive on the same side of the road as us in the UK. The roads aren’t overly busy and traffic is minimal. One point to note is that roads are winding and only two lane so travel is relatively slow.

CAMPSITES IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand has campsites everywhere so you will have no problem finding somewhere to stay. Every village, town, national park, beach and tourist attraction has a campsite nearby. There are even certain areas where you can camp for free! All the campsites are well equipped, clean and reasonably priced. We tended to stay in holiday parks and resorts with facilities, staying frequently in Top 10 Holiday Parks.

Typical facilities at New Zealand campsites

  • Hot showers – some resorts had a $2/3 fee to use but most were free
  • Toilets
  • Laundry Facilities – $2 per wash, $2 per dry
  • Internet – 5/10$ per 100mb (internet is very slow and expensive in New Zealand)
  • Kitchen equipped with fridge, cookers, sinks, tables and chairs
  • Picnic tables and outdoor BBQ’s
  • TV room

Facilities also found at the larger holiday parks

  • Swimming pools
  • Hot tubs
  • Games room
  • Playground
  • Jumping pillow

While some of the parks definitely had a resort feel equipped with swimming pools and games rooms, we also stayed in more remote campgrounds run by the department of conservation. These locations were some of the most pristine and beautiful settings we have ever witnessed. Even these more basic campsites had clean toilets.

We visited New Zealand in the height of summer, from mid January to mid February. Summer is peak season in New Zealand and most campsites needed to be booked in advance.

OUR JOURNEY AROUND NEW ZEALAND

Our campervan adventure started in Christchurch on the South Island and finished in Auckland on the North Island. Here’s where we went…

AORAKI/MOUNT COOK 

Located in the Southern Alps, Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak. This area is beautiful as long as you’re here in good weather. Unfortunately for us we saw very little as we were here during torrential rain and high winds. The Hooker Valley Track, which we couldn’t do, is one of the best half day walks in New Zealand and gives visitors some of the best views of Mt. Cook.

QUEENSTOWN 

This is New Zealand’s adventure capital. Go jet boating, bungy jumping, parasailing, mountain biking, skiing, whitewater rafting, and so much more.

Jet boating in Skippers Canyon in New Zealand
Jet boating in Skippers Canyon in New Zealand

Read about our time in Queenstown: The Adventure Capital of the World – Queenstown

MILFORD SOUND 

Rudyard Kipling called it the Eighth Wonder of the World. You can not visit New Zealand without taking a cruise on Milford Sound. You can tour Milford Sound on a day trip from Queenstown, but if you have the time, stay overnight in Te Anau, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery between Queenstown and the Sound.

Stunning Milford Sound in New Zealand
Stunning Milford Sound in New Zealand

For more on getting to Milford Sound: The Road to Milford Sound

WANAKA 

This was one of our favourite towns in New Zealand. This is where you would stay if you were to hike the Diamond Lake Rocky Mountain Track or climb a 300 metre high waterfall with Wildwire Wanaka.

The view of Lake Wanaka from the Rocky Mountain Track
The view of Lake Wanaka from the Rocky Mountain Track
Via Ferrata with Wildwire Wanaka
Via Ferrata with Wildwire Wanaka

Read: Wildwire and Walks in Wanaka

HAAST PASS 

This pass joins the eastern side of New Zealand’s South Island with the wilder west coast. This is a spectacular route which takes you through the Mount Aspiring National Park, snaking alongside the Haast River.

Driving the Haast Pass in New Zealand
Driving the Haast Pass in New Zealand

The Haast Pass in Photographs

FRANZ JOSEPH AND FOX GLACIERS 

The glaciers are the highlight of the West Coast. You can hike close to the glaciers or do a heli-hike landing on one or both of these spectacular glaciers. Schedule a few days here as all flights are cancelled in bad weather.

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK 

This area is best explored by kayak on the sea or by hiking the Abel Tasman Track.

Kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand
Kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand

Read more: Kayaking and hiking in the Abel Tasman National Park

MARLBOROUGH WINE REGION 

New Zealand produces some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Tour the wine regions by bicycle, car, or private tour, and sample some of New Zealand’s best wine. Don’t miss the Sounds whilst in the area, a maze of peaks, bays and beaches, formed when the sea flooded deep river valleys after the last ice age.

Marlborough Sound in New Zealand
Marlborough Sound in New Zealand

Read about our time in Marlborough:Wine and Walks in the Marlborough Region

WELLINGTON 

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. This city has a great dining and nightlife scene.

MARTINBOROUGH

Visit the pretty town of Martinborough on the North Island, an area famous for its wineries, mainly producing Pinot Noir. Here we stayed in our camper van at a vineyard, Coney Wines. We met the hugely entertaining Tim Coney, who delivered a passionate, knowledgable and humorous wine tasting. It is probably the best wine tasting we’ve ever done and we’ve done a fair few..!

Enjoying dinner with a view of the vineyard at Coney Wines in Martinborough
Enjoying dinner with a view of the vineyard at Coney Wines in Martinborough
Waking up amongst the vines...
Waking up amongst the vines…

Read: A Wine Tour Around Martinborough

TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING 

Labeled as New Zealand’s single best day hike, we would certainly agree. You need an entire day to complete this hike but it is worth every step that you will take. Hike past Mt Doom through volcanic terrain, gaze over the emerald green lakes, and walk past active volcanoes, some with steaming vents. If you are a keen hiker, put the Tongariro Alpine Crossing at the top of your list!

Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand with kids
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand with kids
The Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand
The Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand

For more read: Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Kids

TAUPO 

Thought of as the Queenstown of the North Island, Taupo has an abundance of adrenalin pumping activities on offer. It is the skydiving capital of the world – their drop zones operate the most tandem skydives each year out of anywhere on the planet! Try kayaking on the Waikato River and then squeeze your way through narrow lava tunnels, “The Squeeze” before bathing under a hot waterfall.

Kayaking on the Waikato River near Taupo in New Zealand
Kayaking on the Waikato River near Taupo

For more on Taupo: Two Days in Taupo

HOBBITON 

You do not have to be a Lord of the Rings or a Hobbit fan to enjoy this visit. This tour of the filming site of “The Shire” is pure fun. This has got to be the prettiest little spot in New Zealand. Marvel at the small hobbit houses and the intricate details that surround you. At the end of your tour, drink a glass of ale at the Green Dragon Inn. Pure fun for the entire family.

The delightful Hobbiton in New Zealand
The delightful Hobbiton in New Zealand

Find out all you need to know for a visit to Hobbiton: Hobbit Holes at the Shire

COROMANDEL PENINSULA 

Known for its beautiful beaches and historic gold-ming towns. Hot Water Beach on the east side of the peninsula is famous for its hot water pools. For two hours either side of low tide, you can dig yourself a hole in the sand, which fills up with hot water from beneath the surface and you’ve got yourself a spa pool!

Our very own hot water pool at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand
Our very own hot water pool at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula

Read about: Relaxing at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula

AUCKLAND 

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. There is a lot to do in and around the city and it is worth visiting for at least a few days if you have the time.

Auckland in New Zealand
Auckland

Read all about: Spending Three Days in Auckland

IN SUMMARY

Our month long campervan tour of New Zealand ended in Auckland…and what a month it had been. We packed a lot in, exploring both the South and North Islands of this stunning country. We did our share of adventurous activities and loved the stunning scenery. Renting a camper van is the perfect way of touring this wonderful country.

READ ALSO:

Nine Months Family Adventure Travel Around the World

Best Family Hikes Around the World

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Touring New Zealand in a Campervan

 

 

 

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12 Comments.

  • Amazing! I’ve always wanted to do a camper van road trip here in Canada. I think it would be a fantastic trip. Your trip looked amazing too. I’ve never been to New Zealand, but I heard there are similarities to Canada. I’d love to visit one day – maybe in a camper van!

    • Nicky Williams
      July 8, 2017 6:21 pm

      We’d love to explore Canada in a camper van too. The two countries are very similar, beautiful scenery at every turn.

  • Oh I LOVE your post! We used to live in Auckland and I can even spot our old apartment in your photo! We spent a lot of time touring around in a camper too – particularly the South Island. This was all pre-kids though and we can’t wait to take them back. You’ve just replanted that seed for me 😉

  • I couldn’t count the number of times we have been to New Zealand. It is only a couple of hours by air from Sydney and it is such a fantastic country. The one downside is cost. People say Australia is expensive but it pales by comparison to NZ. Having a campervan would at least mean you can cook for yourself and eat without it breaking the bank. I like the idea of having the freedom to stop anywhere too.

    • Nicky Williams
      July 8, 2017 6:23 pm

      Hiring a campervan is obviously a big expense but once you’ve got one living costs are low. We cooked for ourselves most of the time.

  • Well done! Looks like your kids were the perfect age to love an adventure like this! I think my giant teenagers might get a little squishy for a month in a camper van. I would love to see New Zealand – that stunning landscape and all the outdoor activities! And I want to see Hobbiton! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin

  • ? hi great article now I just even more want to go to NZ and travel around in RV,

  • I’ve been to New Zealand multiple times, and I lived there for one year back in 2018. As New Zealand has campsites everywhere so we will have no problem in finding a place to stay at night. Every village, town, national park, beach and tourist attraction has a campsite nearby. Now I want to make a proper road trip around New Zealand. So I am thinking of buying Campervan. Because driving in New Zealand is fairly easy and this blog also helped me a lot in making up of the trip. I also got some tips from Mighway’s Blog. You can also visit their site as I am sharing their Blog Link with you.
    https://www.mighway.com/nz/en/

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