Travelling around New Zealand is an explorer’s dream come true! With majestic mountainscapes and mysterious lakes scattered around the island, it’s a dream vacation for hikers, photographers and adventure enthusiasts. You could set out from Auckland or Christchurch and make your way through the various campsites along the route, and trust us, there are some beautiful sites to choose from.
What’s even better is that you don’t need to do it in your own vehicle or go the traditional camping method with tons of luggage and tents. You can just hire a campervan. Check out cheap campervan rentals in Auckland or Christchurch; you might find the perfect home on wheels for your travels.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips for campervanning around New Zealand, specifically near Auckland.
Camp for free
Before you hire a campervan, check if it has a blue self-contained vehicle sticker. If there is, then that means you’ll have a free pass to all the freedom campsites that are approved throughout the area. Freedom camping pretty much lets you access any of the campsites free of charge, which can save you a decent amount of funds that can be allocated to something else on your trip.
Download any apps you may need
While freedom camping is convenient, you might still be required to book a site either on the park’s website or via a camping app like CamperMate. Before you set out on your trip, we suggest that you download any necessary apps that will make your trip smoother and easier.
Safety strips for travelling in a campervan
While New Zealand might be pretty safe, there are other issues that can arise during your trip that you might want to avoid, like issues with your campervan. To avoid them, we recommend doing the following:
- Watch your fuel gauged and make sure you have enough to make it to the next gas station
- Close all cupboards and fridges in your vehicles so nothing falls out while you are driving
- Unplug your vehicle from the mains before you leave a campground
- Turn any gas bottles off while you travel
- Make sure the van has a spare tyre and service history before setting off
- Make sure the campervan is prepared to drive. This means closing outward-facing windows, folding in stairs, or closing the ventilation hatch.
Hire a van before you arrive
This is a tip that’ll save you a lot of time. If you’re travelling to Auckland, try hire a campervan before you arrive. That way, it’ll be ready to go when you get there and you don’t have to wait for it and waste your travel time.
Plan your itinerary
When it comes to travelling, planning the trip is the best way to ensure you enjoy it. While you don’t always have to stick to the plan, having one will at least give you something to do. There’s nothing worse than going on vacation and spending half of it trying to find what you want to do.
Before you start, plot out a route you’d like to travel and what campsites you’d like to spot along the way. Once you have your heading, look for activities you can do in the area and plan those in too. Even planning your meals is helpful so you know where you can eat if you aren’t cooking for yourself.
Download offline maps
You’re travelling in a new country; there’s a good chance that you might take a wrong turn here or there; it happens. In times like these, we turn to maps for the answers. But what if you have no signal? You’re lost and have no access to maps to find your way to your destination. Well, this is where offline maps come in handy. Downloading offline maps of your route will ensure that you always know where you are going, even if you lose signal.
Learn the roads
We’d suggest you prepare yourself with how the roads work in NZ. For instance, livestock like cattle and sheep often travel over the roads so you might need to stop while they cross. Barriers don’t control the railways, and there will be a few speed limits that you’d need to adhere to, especially around windy turns.
Always have cash on you
This is the golden rule for travelling. In NZ, many campsites operate on an honesty box system for those who haven’t booked online. So, it would be handy to have some cash on you. Also, in areas with very little signal, wireless card payments might not work too well. Having cash on you could be a lifesaver, especially if you’re desperately needing fuel.
Take bug spray
Camping and getting in touch with New Zealand’s beautiful natural landscape is amazing, but wherever you camp, there’s always going to be one constant: bugs! In NZ, you might get pestered by sandflies or mosquitoes. To combat these nuisances, bring along some bug spray or a mosquito net to keep them off of you. Likewise, we’d also suggest bringing some bite cream or spray in case you react to being bitten by any insects during your trip.
Final Thoughts
There are some amazing campsites to explore around Auckland in New Zealand, and what better way to do so than in a campervan? Follow these tips to help you prepare for your trip and enjoy what New Zealand has to offer. Trust us, this will be a vacation you won’t soon forget!