New Zealand by Campervan – Trip Preparations
New Zealand by campervan. This is undoubtedly one of the trips we have been most eager to make and that has been on our minds for the longest time. Perhaps as long as we have been traveling, and finally, the time has come to make it happen.
Moreover, this trip to New Zealand is planned to be explored in a house on wheels, something we are sure will allow us to fully enjoy this incredible country, giving us the freedom of schedules and movements that we believe are so necessary in a country like New Zealand.
The first thing we considered for our New Zealand by campervan trip was booking the flight and deciding on the time of year we wanted to travel. Although the best time to travel to New Zealand is from December to February, the New Zealand summer, it was impossible for us to travel during those dates due to our 6-day trip to Singapore and the trip to Thailand. So, we decided that April and May could be perfect, as the weather is usually good, and being mid-season, we could also take advantage of a time when there is not as much tourism.
With this decision made, we moved on to the flight search. We were clear that we wanted a flight with few layovers, with a comfortable airline, and at the same time with schedules that would minimize jet lag as much as possible. The fact that we could only find flights with 2-3 long layovers had always been the main reason for postponing this trip. So when we found a flight from Barcelona to Auckland with just a one-hour layover with Singapore Airlines, we didn’t hesitate. This year would finally be the time to make the campervan route through New Zealand.
With the flight booked, the next important step in preparing for our New Zealand by campervan trip was to reserve what would be our home on wheels for the 36 days of the trip. After considering many options, we decided that what best suited our way of traveling and our needs was a small campervan that would allow us to move around easily but still have a bathroom and shower.
With these premises, the option that best fits the type of trip we want to make is the Chaser model from Jucy, which has two double beds, a fully equipped kitchen, and its own shower and toilet, allowing us to enjoy this adventure in New Zealand by campervan to the fullest. If you are interested in taking a trip like this, we recommend checking out the Motorhome Republic website, where you can see all the available options, prices, and make your reservation directly.
The rental of the campervan will be for 33 days, as we have to subtract the days of flights and the first night we will sleep next to the Auckland airport. We will stay at the Auckland Airport Lodge since our flight arrives at 11 pm, and we prefer to rest that day and the next morning go to pick up our campervan first thing.
With the main aspects of our New Zealand by campervan trip clear and booked, the next step was to plan the route we would follow through the Land of the Long White Cloud, considering that our idea is to visit all the must-see places in New Zealand. It’s also important to try to do so calmly and enjoying the incredible landscapes and experiences that traveling by campervan offers.
Something important before starting to plan the route was to be aware that the weather in New Zealand is quite unpredictable, so there will probably be days when we have to change plans or even cancel some of the visits or activities we had planned. Keeping this in mind, we have left 3-4 extra days that we can use as a plan B or even to stay longer in some of the places we like. This is something that traveling by campervan allows us to do, which we believe will be one of the great advantages of this way of traveling.
If you have less time, you can experience all these wonders by following this 14 and 21-day route through New Zealand.
Campervan Route through New Zealand’s North Island
The route through New Zealand’s North Island will initially be 14 days, including flights and the ferry from Wellington to Picton. This means we will have 11 days to explore this part of the country, which, although often considered less impressive than the South Island, we believe is the perfect gateway for our campervan journey through New Zealand.
On the first day, after picking up the campervan, we will dedicate the day to exploring Auckland, the most populated city in New Zealand, which is also centrally located on the North Island and will be our entry point to the country. After this initial day, we will follow the route to the far north of New Zealand, reaching Cape Reinga, one of the most magical places in the country, where it is said that souls embark on their journey to the spiritual realm.
The next stage will take us along the west coast of the North Island, visiting notable places such as Te Paki Giant Dunes, Ninety Mile Beach, and the Kauri Coast, where we will have our first encounter with the kauri forests that cover part of this area of the country.
After exploring this part of the island, we will head to the Coromandel Peninsula, where we will stop in Thames, Coromandel, Waiau Kauri Grove, the iconic Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, Whangamata, and Waihi Beach—well-known spots in the country that we will explore over a day. From here, we will head to Rotorua, a place where geothermal activity is the main attraction, featuring geysers, mud pools, and steam clouds, bringing us closer to one of New Zealand’s most renowned areas.
After spending a day in this incredible region, we will spend the next day visiting two of New Zealand’s most visited places: Hobbiton, the set where the movies The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien were filmed, and the Waitomo Caves, home to the famous glowworms. From here, we will explore the Lake Taupo area, making stops at Huka Falls, Craters of the Moon, and Taupo, spending the night in Turangi or Tokaanu. The next day, we will begin the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, considered by many to be the most beautiful one-day trek in the world.
Our campervan journey through New Zealand will continue by bringing us closer to Mount Taranaki, traveling along the Forgotten World Highway, which will allow us to enjoy another of the most famous views of the Land of the Long White Cloud, which we are sure will leave us speechless.
Route Map for the North Island of New Zealand
Here is the map outlining our route through the North Island of New Zealand, which will take us through the regions of Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, Taranaki, and Wellington, hitting the most popular tourist spots in these areas of the island.
Campervan Route through New Zealand’s South Island
Our campervan journey through New Zealand’s South Island continues along the Queen Charlotte Drive, one of the most scenic roads in the country, making stops in Nelson, Westport, and Cape Foulwind, where we will end the first day of our South Island route. From here, we will continue along the West Coast, visiting places such as Tauranga Bay, Punakaiki, Greymouth, and Hokitika Gorge, before spending an entire day in the area of Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, and Lake Matheson, where we hope to enjoy some of the best views in the world.
Next, our campervan route through New Zealand will take us through Haast Pass, Dune Lake Walk, Thunder Creek Falls, Fantail Falls, Blue Pools, Makarora, and Lake Hawea, eventually reaching Wanaka, known for its famous tree and the views from Roys Peak, a peak we plan to reach after several hours of trekking, which we hope will be one of the highlights of our trip.
From Wanaka, after spending two days in the area, we will continue our journey through Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu, and Queenstown, where we will spend a full day exploring this city, which we have read is one of the most interesting in New Zealand.
The next stage of our journey will take us to Te Anau, traveling along the Milford Highway to reach Milford Sound, where we will embark on one of the most incredible cruises in the world, exploring this stunning fjord, which is said to be a paradise for the senses. The next day, reluctant to leave this place, we will take a full-day excursion to Doubtful Sound, another magnificent fjord that is three times longer and ten times larger than Milford Sound.
After these two days of excursions, we will continue through the Southern Lands region, visiting Waipapa Point, Slope Point, Curio Bay, Porpoise Bay, Cathedral Cave, Purakaunui Falls, Owaka, Nugget Point, Tunnel Beach, and Dunedin. We will then venture into the Otago Peninsula, where we will visit Sandfly Beach, Katiki Point, and the famous Moeraki Boulders, one of the must-see places in New Zealand that we are particularly excited to visit.
From here, we will embark on the final leg of our New Zealand campervan journey, heading towards the impressive Mount Cook, which we will attempt to see and enjoy by doing the Hooker Valley Track. We will then spend a couple of days between Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, two essential spots in the country, serving as the perfect conclusion to one of the most incredible trips in the world. The journey will end in Christchurch, where we will spend the last day exploring the city before returning our campervan and catching our flight home.
