How to Prepare for a Campervanning Trip Around New Zealand

They say you should never overhype a destination before you arrive but we all fall into the trap. You frantically read the reviews telling you how amazing it is, you've seen literally all the best Instagrams of the destination and before you know it, you've put your trip on a pedestal which it might never reach. My girlfriend and I both did this before heading to New Zealand but thankfully this is a place which you cannot do justice in words let alone pictures. I'll attempt to do both for the rest of this blog but I promise you, the only way to truly experience the fun, the culture and the awe-inspiring scenery is to go there yourself.

There is too much to see in a month but fear not, we have put together the ideal one-month itinerary for New Zealand which will ensure you see the best this magnificent country has to offer. But be warned, this trip fits in ALOT and therefore can involve a fair bit of driving. You don't mind? You want to see it all? Good. Us too. Let's get cracking.

Let’s rattle through some of the boring  important stuff first. There are a few things you should decide on before you leave to make the most of your time in NZ.

Transport

                                                 Our beloved Campervan Charlie 😍


For a trip of this length I am going to recommend getting your own form of transport. Sure, there are other options: public transport, private coach tours or package trips, but none of these offer the flexibility and freedom of having your own vehicle. Part of the brilliance of New Zealand is finding your own little beauty spots. Pitching up for lunch next to a waterfall, stunning lake or breathtaking mountain is 100% possible in New Zealand and these spots are the ones which will stay with you forever. Also, you're not tied to anyone else's schedule and are free to skip places that aren't for you (admittedly unlikely) or stay longer in places you love (far more likely). For this reason, I am ignoring other options and focusing on self-driving.

Two main options are:

Campervan

This was the option we went for. Campervans offer you the flexibility which you need for New Zealand and the space and comfort to enjoy your evenings. We certainly wouldn't class ourselves as hardcore campers so for us this option offered us the flexibility of our own vehicle but with the luxury of a comfy bed as well as a sink, fridge and ample storage. However, these bad boys can set you back a fair bit of wedge.

Car + tent

This is also another cracking option which allows you plenty of freedom and with the added bonus of being significantly cheaper than a campervan. The downside of the tent/car combo is that it is ultimately a more basic option. There is (generally) no option for electricity, you have to set up your tent every night and you've got less space than in a camper. There were plenty of times we sat smugly in our van eating tea while others around us stumbled around tripping over guy ropes and pans as they attempted to get themselves ready in the dark.

Accommodation

New Zealand is the home of camping, and as is befitting of such a place, there are bountiful options for campsites and motorhome parks for your vehicle. There is also quite a lot of variation between the sites and the prices they charge which tend to vary based on your location in the country and your desire for cooking space, internet, electricity and hot water. There are even some free DOC campsites available if you're willing to get off the beaten track and, in our experience, these vary as much as the paid sites! Given the volume of campsites available it is not usually necessary to book in advance. However, an important thing to remember, and a lesson we learnt pretty quickly, is that it's always best to leave yourself a buffer to ensure you arrive before sunset. It's one thing parking up, cooking and sorting your bed out in daylight and an entirely different prospect in the dark. Trust us on this one.

Our biggest recommendation though is to download the Campermate app. The app is a real lifesaver and has hundreds of camping options with price, facilities and reviews available and, best of all, it’s all available offline (which is important given the sketchy internet coverage in NZ). Just get it.

Visit time

Itineraries are likely to vary enormously depending on the time of year you select to visit NZ. Our trip took place in late summer/early autumn so we had fine weather for the majority of the trip. This blog will therefore assume you visit in late spring- early autumn. This timing worked out well for us, as the weather was predominantly warm and sunny but the cities weren't as busy as they would be in peak season.

Visa

I won't bore you all with visa requirements but make sure you check as this will vary from country to country.

What to pack?

This was a tricky one for us as we weren't sure exactly what to expect weather-wise. We thought we had overpacked initially but we were glad we did in the end. Bring warm clothing as well as summer clothes as the climate is changeable and it can get a bit nippy up in the mountains. Definitely bring some form of waterproof clothing as you will get wet at some stage. Also make sure to bring some strong sunscreen because, as we learnt the hard way, there's not a lot of ozone in NZ and this means there's a super short burn time. Also, probably worth investing in some bug repellent and, if you can find it, one which is effective against sandflies as those bastards are a real pest, particularly on the west coast.

Experiences

NZ is not known as the thrill-seeking capital of the world for nothing and there are plenty of unforgettable experiences you can indulge in along your journey. It's important to know, however, that these experiences are not cheap. With this in mind it would be a good idea to have a think about what ones you want to do before you leave so you can budget accordingly. This will help you to devise a realistic budget.

Itinerary

Now that you're prepared, next up will be our one month itinerary for a trip-of-a-lifetime in New Zealand.