This camping life
There is much to love about camping. If you are looking to rent a campervan for your next trip to New Zealand, here are a few things to consider:
Go off season, and go with the weather
When you go off season (e.g. November), you get better rates, less crowds/traffic on the roads, and you don’t need to pre-book campsites knowing that there’ll almost always be space available. Being mobile and flexible also means that you can plan the route/itinerary based on the weather. For many sights, it makes a big difference when you visit on a rainy day vs a clear sunny day.
Invest in a comfortable campervan
You and your family (or friends) will be spending a fair bit of time in the campervan, and in a fairly compact space, so a little comfort goes a long way. For both our campervan trips (2012 without kids, and 2019 with kids), we went with Wilderness Motorhomes (I was sold on the name, talk about branding!) Great experience with them for both trips - excellent customer service and clean/modern fleet of vehicles. Essentials such as bed liners, pillows, blankets and kitchen utensils are usually included. Outdoor camping chairs, folding tables and small gas BBQs are really great add-ons and you should be able to rent these from the campervan company directly.
Back in 2012, the campervan we rented didn't come with a bathroom/toilet and it was quite an adventure to get by with public/campsite facilities for the whole month. But if you're traveling with a family, having those in the campervan itself is quite a nice little upgrade, especially on those chilly days.
Try out the various campsite options, especially the DOC campsites
In New Zealand, there are generally a few types of camping options across the country that cater to campers of all budgets and comfort level:
Freedom camping designated spots: These are only for campervans that are certified for freedom camping i.e. you’ll need a portable “toilet”. These are free sites and have no public facilities at all. Some of the most stunning and scenic views we’ve camped at were Freedom Camping sites. On the other end of the spectrum, it could just a carpark off the highway so pick well!
Department of Conversation (DOC) campsites: DOC is a bit like Singapore's NParks, and they do a superb job in maintaining all the parks and campsites under their care. DOC campsites ranges from standard (usually only a toilet) to serviced (hot showers, laundry etc) and the prices also differ accordingly (from $6 per pax to something like $18 per pax). These are my personal favourites, and I like that the money goes back to DOC to maintain the campsites.
Holiday Parks and Motor Camps: These are usually more big scale, more commercial, often little character but have all the facilities you might need, and of course, the most expensive (about $20-25 per pax).
Experience the various options to see what suits you/your family. Freedom camping spots and the DOC camping spots are my personal favourites - it’s a bit more wild, a bit more rugged and usually smacked right in the middle of some stunning forests/lakeside/oceanfront, and is great for self-contained vehicles like ours. Every 4 days or so when we run out of clothes to wear or are dying for a proper hot shower, we do check in to a holiday park/motor camp to make use of the facilities. And when we do, we generally enjoy it very much still, after all, a long hot shower IS a luxury.
Here's a few of our absolute favourites from both the 2012 and the 2019 camping trips:
DOC: Tapotupotu Bay (Near Cape Reinga, North Island)
Freedom Camping: Clifton Reserve (Near Napier, North Island)
DOC: Holdsworth Camping Area (Near Tararua, North Island)
DOC: Peel Forest Campground (Near Geraldine, South Island)
Freedom Camping: The Pines (Lake Pukaki, South Island)
DOC: White Horse Hill (Mt Cook, South Island) - busy, but great access and spectacular views
DOC: Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite (Near Wanaka, South Island)
Don't over-plan your itinerary
It takes a few days to get into the groove, get used to the vehicle, and the various logistics around living in a campervan. Campervan travel comes with lots of freedom and allows for a lot of spontaneity - waking up each morning not knowing where we would be camping that night feels quite liberating and it's really nice to go with the flow based on the weather. We all travel differently so book campsites ahead if you prefer (especially during the high season), but otherwise I'll recommend to leave a lot of room for Plan B, expect the unexpected, and enjoy the freedom that comes along with campervan travel.
There isn't really a 'typical day' but we find what works for us is a morning activity, followed by a post-lunch drive (usually no more than 2-3 hours max), followed by an afternoon/evening activity/walk at near the camp site for the night.
P.S. Download the Campermate and Rankers apps - very useful in looking up campsites and reviews, plus a ton of other resources.
Pack only the essentials
In general, pack light, and if storage space in the van is limited, opt for soft, foldable luggage bags.
Season-appropriate clothing. Anything that is multi-purpose, easy to wash and dry will make your life easier. As a gauge, bring enough to last for 3-4 days at a go without doing laundry.
Footwear: Bring hiking shoes, comfortable walking shoes and importantly - a pair of flip flops (you'll need it for going to the shower).
Repellent for sandflies: These little buggers...avoid if you can, they're about 1000x more annoying than mosquitos. Google for the NZ sandfly map for more info, lots in the West Coast of South Island.
First-aid kit and essential medicine.
Other useful knick-knacks: A long rope (and some pegs). Great for hanging laundry - just find two spots (trees) to anchor it.
Activity books / toys for kids
Familiarise yourself with the "dump stations"
There are a lot of chores and daily logistics to maintain the a self-contained campervan and the most important one is the refilling of fresh water, and dumping of gray/black water from your campervan. A full tank of 120 liters should last approximately 3 meals (washing, prepping) and 4 very quick showers. Which means it is very likely that you'll need to refill every day or every 1.5 days!
If you're freedom camping or mostly camping at DOC sites, then you'll need to get these done at the public "dump stations" which are available all over the country (this country has amazing camping infrastructure, it IS built for camping). Don't be put off by the name, most of the dump stations are well-maintained and have a different area and hose for the fresh water. If you're at motorcamps or holiday parks, they would have these facilities on their premises.
Enjoy cooking in the wilderness (and the #vanviews)
When you're parked in the most remote and/or scenic location and enjoying the #vanviews all while cooking up a storm in the tiny (but might kitchen), life is good. There's plenty of fresh produce, vegetable markets, local farmers markets and local wines/beer to choose from. And if the weather's good, bring out the outdoor table and chairs, enjoy a meal outdoors and soak in the beautiful surroundings.
Park on flat grounds
Random but practical advice - you're likely to find yourself at campsites where the parking area aren't always flat (since it's often on grass), so try to find the flattest spot so your campervan isn't too tilted - you'll feel it :)
And for parents with kids
The concept of having a ‘house on wheels’ for most kids is very exciting (for adults too). Most times you’ll find lots of activities in nature just by stepping out of the van - nature walks around the campsites, collecting of rocks, pebbles, twigs, simple things that kids love. Do pack along some other books and activities that your kids love for those rainy days. And on car seats - most campervan companies will be able to lend you car seats but you can also bring along your own. it's just more comfortable and familiar for the kids who will likely nap in those a fair bit during the trip (try to time the drives with their nap time).
A campervan holiday is hard work (more so if you have kids) but it’s totally worth it. Happy planning and good luck!
