5 Reasons to Travel New Zealand in a Van (#vanlife)
If you know me, you will know how obsessed I am with the idea of living in a van (#vanlife), so its probably no surprise that I think the BEST way to travel in New Zealand is in a van.
You know that saying - ‘it’s not the destination, it’s the journey’ - that could not be more accurate when it comes to NZ road trips, and here are 5 reasons why a van trip in NZ should be your next holiday.
You have ultimate freedom…
The beauty of a van trip in New Zealand is that you can freedom camp on any public land (unless there is a sign stating no overnight camping). This means you don’t need to pre-book campsites, you can just see where the road takes you and park up when you find somewhere worth stopping.
There are also loads of designated ‘freedom camping’ spots, and these are easy to find on google maps or the CamperMate app.
The feeling of freedom you get from an unplanned trip like this is incredible.
Note: If you are travelling over the peak summer months and need powered sites - we would recommend booking these! We travelled in April/May and didn’t need to pre-book anything.
The best bedroom views
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world (I might be biased but I’m sure I’m not wrong), and no matter where you park you are almost always guaranteed to wake up to some stunning scenery.
The first night of our trip we parked on a beach and woke up to watch the sunrise over the ocean while cosy in our bed. It is still one of my favourite travel memories of all time.
And it’s not just where you sleep - you can pull over at any time to stop and soak in the scenery. We had some really incredible lunch views and impromptu swim stops.
It’s cheap!
Well, cheapish. Cheaper than staying in hotels. But like anything - this comes down to your lifestyle and preferences.
If you freedom camp, your only costs are fuel and food. You can also get some epic deals on camper vans if you do a relocation (essentially driving the van back to a more popular pickup point), or go outside of school holidays.
There are so many free activities in New Zealand that this can be a really cheap holiday option!
You get to see more of New Zealand
Flying from city to city is great if you are in a hurry and want to cover a lot of ground, but one of the things I love about New Zealand is all the cool little towns along the way.
There are always cute cafes, quirky art galleries, interesting shops, and if you’re travelling in summer - the best real fruit ice cream spots! If you get a chance to slow down, make sure to add some extra stops along the way and chat to some locals - we’re friendly I promise!
You don’t need to repack!
When you travel in a van, you have all your things with you, all the time. You don’t need to repack your bags every few days and hope everything fits, and you don’t have to worry about leaving things behind. You also have all your stuff handy if you see a great spot to stop and swim, and you always have food/snacks on hand (a bonus if you’re travelling with a toddler).
You also always get to go to bed in a familiar environment, even if you are in a different place every night. We found this made such a big difference and we really felt like our van was our home by the end of our trip.
We spent 10 nights travelling around Northland in a van, and I can honestly say that it was the best holiday I have ever been on. New Zealand is safe for toddlers to run free, the outdoors is so accessible (beaches, walks, mountains), people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. It really is the perfect destination to travel by van!
If you want to watch our #vanlife vlogs, you can check them out here.
