There are many travel destinations in the world. However, few of them are comparable to New Zealand and what it has to offer. Whether you prefer sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains, or icy glaciers, New Zealand is a land of abundant landscapes. Luckily, you can experience all the beautiful landscapes through campervanning.

Besides, New Zealand is the perfect campervanning destination, and there’s a sense of the outdoors you cannot experience elsewhere. You will enjoy the flexibility you get with a campervan and enjoy visiting and lingering in places you would otherwise not have a chance to explore.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, a wet-behind-the-ears first-timer, or an excited student about to take a gap year, you should try to make the most of campervanning in New Zealand. There’s a lot you can plan to ensure that you have the best ride of your life.

With that being said, dig in and learn as much as you can from the ultimate campervanning guide to New Zealand. This travel guide will give you pointers on everything you should know during your road trip.

Your Vehicle of Choice

Renting a self-contained van is hands-down the best way of campervanning in New Zealand. One of the most significant benefits of renting a self-contained vehicle is that it lets you camp for a limited number of days on public land unless there are restrictions.

Nevertheless, your campervan doesn’t give you leeway to park anywhere you like. New Zealand has strict camping regulations, and the local Kiwi authorities won’t hesitate to slap you with huge fines if you don’t follow their rules.

Additionally, for your campervan to get classified as self-contained, it has to meet specific considerations. Ensure you ask your vehicle company whether the campervan has a self-contained sticker. If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to access any freedom camping sites.

Renting a Campervan VS Buying a Campervan

Renting or selling a campervan will boil down to:

— Your budget
— Your duration of stay

Renting a Campervan

Renting a campervan isn’t the cheapest option. However, it is the best one if you only plan to stay in New Zealand for a month or less. It is quite easy to do as you can pick up your campervan at the airport. All that is required of you is to sign the paperwork, ensure the van is self-contained, then burn the rubber.

Buying a Campervan

Buying a campervan is the cheapest option for you if you plan to stay for months on end. However, it is also a complicated option since you’ll have to sell the van off when it’s time to leave.

If you’re staying for months on end, we strongly advise you only to buy a self-contained campervan. Also, ensure you don’t buy a lemon, or it could ruin your trip. Before you seal the deal, make sure the campervan has gone through a serious inspection to rule out any issues on the vehicle.

Campervanning Apps 

Luckily, there are a couple of apps you can download on your Android or Apple device to help you navigate the road. Some of them have offline features such as maps that are great for when the network is out of reach or unavailable.

Other apps provide useful information such as fuel costs or the cost of camping sites and info on restrictions. Some of the best apps you can download on your device for exceptional campervanning experiences include:

— Google Maps
— Campermate
— Gaspy App
— Wikicamps
— Camping NZ

Camping Costs In New Zealand

If you have a self-contained campervan, you might avoid camping costs, as there are freedom camping sites that don’t charge. But, if you go for the non-self-contained vehicle, it’ll be hard for you to get freedom camping sites that’ll accept your vehicle.

Depending on the available facilities, here’s what you should expect to pay per person for a serviced campground:

— Basic site, Unpowered- (Self-contained a MUST) NZD$8
— Scenic Grounds: NZD$15-20
— Serviced Grounds: NZD$25-40

Now that you know the basics of what to expect when campervanning in New Zealand, it’s time to address some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

1. Can you sleep anywhere in a campervan in New Zealand? 

No, you can’t sleep anywhere in a campervan in NZ. Whether you’re free camping or looking for family-friendly camping sites, you have to sleep in designated areas. There are stringent campervanning regulations in New Zealand, and you will pay a high price if you decide to break any rules.

If you’re doing freedom camping, you have to ensure that your vehicle has a self-contained sticker, and you’re camping on public land. Some public land has regulations on it, so try to find out if yours does before you set up camp.

2. Is it safe to Campervan in New Zealand?

Yes, New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world. Additionally, campervans are designed to keep you safe, comfortable, and secure while on your trip.

3. How do you campervanning in New Zealand?

Once you have your campervan, you have three choices for campervanning.

• You can make a one-way trip from the North Island to the South.
• You can stay on the North Island and explore it to your heart’s content. However, please note that you can’t drive your campervan while on the beach.
• You can stay on the South Island. The South Island has more routes for campervanning and road trips.

4. Where do I park my campervan in New Zealand?

There are several places where you can park your campervan in New Zealand. Some of them include:

— Holiday Parks
— National Parks
— Park over property
— Freedom camps

Conclusion

The more you travel around New Zealand, the more you will love and enjoy the freedom that comes with campervanning. There’s nothing that compares to carrying your home around to linger over extraordinary views.

But, before you ride on into the sunset, please make sure that you’re well-equipped to take care of the environment. New Zealand is strict when it comes to environmental protection.

But remember, as much as Kiwis are some of the most friendly people on earth, they’re tired of visitors who think their country is a hotel with maid service. Therefore, try to take as much care of their country as you can.

If you found the article useful, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Safe travels!