Why should you try this alternative way of traveling, the campervan lifestyle? What should you consider? Why did we fall in love with campervanning so much? And why is New Zealand the perfect place to try it out? If you’re curious about our story and the answers, or if you’ve been thinking about this adventurous form of travel but haven’t dared to take the plunge yet and need some inspiration, or if you just want to let your mind wander a bit, then definitely scroll down and read on!
The idea
In the spring of 2024, my fiancé, András, and I had a big idea: we booked plane tickets to the farthest point from us on the globe, New Zealand. This mysterious country had long held a prominent spot on both of our bucket lists, but due to its remoteness, it remained in the dream-destination category. That is, until we found an affordable flight offer—thanks to the emergence of new Chinese airlines (which story deserves its own post, so I’ll write about it in another blog entry). So, we had our tickets, and now we just had to fill our two-plus weeks with adventure.
Knowing ourselves and looking at the map of New Zealand, it was clear we’d rent a car to reach as many magical places as possible. While searching online for recommended routes and car rental options, the idea of a campervan kept popping up. Initially, we scrolled past without paying much attention because we didn’t really know what a campervan was. But as I found more blogs and descriptions, piecing them together with some familiar accounts of past trips to Iceland and Italy, along with my childhood camping memories in Hungary—where we camped in tents while nearby German retirees parked their motorhomes—and the films where people drive across America in RVs, I started to wonder if maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea. I began planting the seed in András’ mind, and what started as initial resistance eventually grew into a shared enthusiasm; so much so that nowadays, we’d love to build and drive our own campervan.
But why is this deep affection for campervanning?
Quick professional guide
Before diving into the answers, it’s worth clarifying some terms. We distinguish between two concepts: caravan and motorhome. A caravan is towed by another vehicle with a hitch, while a motorhome is a vehicle built for living in, with the driving cabin integrated. There’s also a third term, which is the most relevant here: the campervan. This refers to a motorhome converted from a van.
In this blog post, I’ll elaborate on the campervan adventure. To some extent, it could be relevant for all types; however, a large motorhome doesn’t require as much adjustment and compromise as, say, our little campervan. Therefore, while reading let’s imagine this kind of adventure, so we are on the same page all along:
This is by the way an alcove campervan. An alcove type is where the area above the driver’s cabin has been converted into a large double bed. This sleeping area is called an alcove. I mention this for precision, in case someone needs to decide whether they want an alcove or non-alcove vehicle.
But enough of the technicalities, let’s get back to the questions: why a campervan, and why New Zealand?
The time factor
Let’s start with the fact that New Zealand is vast (though from a Hungarian perspective, what isn’t? 😊), with long travel distances. Although there were places we definitely wanted to visit, it was hard to estimate how long it would take to actually get there and how much time we’d spend at each destination. This was proven true in practice, as there are no highways, and even on the fastest roads, the speed limit is 110 km/h, but the average is more like 90-100. Many of the roads are winding, hilly, with sharp curves, where you need to be cautious and sometimes pray that the camper makes it up the hill. For this reason, even the GPS estimates tend to be longer in reality. Our main principle was not to rush through places, but rather to savour the nature and go hiking.
Another factor was the unpredictable weather, so a sudden rainy day could easily disrupt our plans and require quick adjustments. Or what if we liked a place so much that we wanted to stay there for a few extra days? If accommodations were booked in advance, that would limit our journey, our time, and even our daily plans because we’d need to reach and check into the reserved lodging. Now imagine this scenario across 10-12 locations over 14 days. What else could offer the freedom we desired than having our accommodation always with us, allowing us to settle wherever the day’s adventure ended? Whether that be on a beach in Paihia, at the entrance to the Bay of Islands, or in Wellington, where kiwis and penguins wander at night, or in the city centre opposite the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua, on a farm at the foot of Mount Taranaki, or next to the dense Akatarawa Forest at the edge of Harcourt Park.
The financial factor
Besides time, money was also an important factor, as harsh as it may sound. One option was to pay for accommodations, a car, fuel, and eat out 2-3 times a day in restaurants or cafés. Or we could say that the accommodation and car are a single cost, plus we can manage meals more cheaply on our own thanks to the campervan’s cooking facilities rather than dining out. Additionally, lodging costs would only increase if we stayed at campsites where electricity, wastewater disposal, and clean water refills are available. But it would still be a fraction of what a bungalow would cost for a night in the same location. One thing you do have to account for is that a campervan or converted van “eats” more fuel than a regular car, so you’ll need to refuel more frequently and at higher costs. And that’s pretty much it for the disadvantages and counterarguments against this alternative form of travel. 😊
Essential self-awareness
There are also other things to consider before embarking on such an unconventional journey! First and foremost, self-awareness is crucial for an adventure like this! I’d recommend examining yourself from two main angles: 1) spontaneity versus control; 2) comfort, need for space versus minimalism, and tolerance for discomfort. Why these two in particular?
Spontaneity vs. obsession with control
How much we love spontaneity and how much we can let go of strict planning, Excel sheets, and the need to know exactly where we’ll be two weeks from now on Monday at noon, is crucial when deciding on a campervan trip. You can do planning with a campervan, too, of course, but that would kill the very essence of this kind of adventure. It’s designed so that you can stop by the roadside for the night if you feel like it, or take a break to make yourself a coffee in the wilderness whenever you want.
Along the way, there might be issues or questions that you wouldn’t encounter with a regular car: for example, why does the shower only puff scalding hot water, why does the fridge stop in the middle of the night, or what to do if you don’t have the right connector for the faucet to fill up your water tank? If you have this kind of adventurous spirit and these little bumps and unpredictabilities don’t bother you much, then don’t hesitate any longer — book that campervan for the trip! But if you belong to the other type, then you need to weigh your options! One thing is important: let’s give both our car and ourselves this sense of freedom and add a bit of spontaneity to our journey, as much as we can — even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone!
Comfort and space requirements vs. minimalism and tolerance for discomfort
The second point of self-reflection is just as important as the first one. It might even be that we pass the “campervan compatibility” test based on the first one, but still find that it’s not for us. Let’s ask ourselves how we feel about a minimalist lifestyle, tight spaces, and the possible lack of a daily shower and immaculate cleanliness. While a campervan is very compact and well-equipped, you really have to think carefully about where you put things to make everything fit. In the kind of converted van that we travelled in, you shouldn’t plan to bring huge suitcases filled with heaps of clothes and shoes, because there simply won’t be space. There are no wardrobes, shelves, or hangers where you can hang your clothes. Not to mention that there’s no space for suitcases. We used the upper, unused bed in the alcove as a wardrobe, and my big backpack fit there during our trip.
You have to be creative with the use of space, and also make sure to always maintain the order you create. You simply can’t afford to leave the bed unmade, the dishes unwashed in the sink, or just toss your used clothes in a corner. Simply because otherwise, you won’t be able to sit down and relax, you won’t have anywhere to put things, and there’s a risk that your dishes will break and your clothes will get scattered while driving.
The aspects of a nomadic lifestyle
It may take a few days, but you need to establish a nightly and morning routine of where to put things. This includes the order after meals and coffee breaks: making sure to wash up and place clean dishes properly in cupboards and storage spaces. This way, you can maintain cleanliness and order, but it will never be the same as the soft carpet of a hotel room that a housekeeper vacuums daily, where you make sure to take off your shoes at the entrance so as not to track in the dust from your hike. Here, even with the greatest care, you can’t completely avoid this because you will step inside with your outdoor shoes, not to mention if it’s raining outside. You can sweep and clean every day if you want, but don’t sweep your white-gloved hand over the surfaces afterward.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning a few words about personal hygiene. There are campervans — including ours — that come with a toilet and shower. This is exactly why you can and are allowed to spend the night in parking areas that have no built infrastructure (it’s illegal to do your business outdoors!), and in exchange, you can stay there overnight for free (although in New Zealand, there are usually toilets even in such places). You can decide to use the shower, but you have to be economical because water is limited, especially if you’ve been washing dishes, too. Plus, you have to deal with the waste water, which needs to be emptied later. Alternatively, you can decide to skip the shower for a day. We managed this by staying at campgrounds with showers every other day, and on the in-between days, we chose an alternative showering method: wet wipes. Brilliant invention! 🙂
These are all matters of personal comfort and adaptability, and they could absolutely be deciding factors against a campervan trip. If you can’t give up, accept, or handle these things casually, then I wouldn’t recommend embarking on such a journey. You simply won’t enjoy it. Instead, you’ll be frustrated, uncomfortable, and unable to focus on the joys of travel. We also had to experience and get used to these things, even though we were aware of them beforehand. But after 1-2 days, we found our routine, and by then, we were pros at assembling the bed in the evening and tying up the bedding in the morning, after converting the back into a “living room.” We knew where to place each backpack and bag at night, and how to position the cups in the cupboard so they wouldn’t break. Everything had its place and method. By doing this, we created comfort for ourselves, and could then fully devote our energy to exploration.
But why is New Zealand the perfect place to try out this alternative way of travelling?
First of all, let’s mention the fact that this country has the highest numbers of campervans per capita in the world. Seeing a campervan in the driveway is quite common, and many Kiwis love to travel their country this way. Beyond that, there are many campervan rental companies operating in the country. The best ones run out of vehicles quickly, even outside the summer season (Dec-Feb). This is no coincidence, as everything needed for a nomadic lifestyle and makes it easier is available in this country. What do I mean by this? Well, the infrastructure.
Infrastructure
In New Zealand, campgrounds are almost as common as mushrooms in the forest after rain. These are very high-standard places, where we almost felt like settling down. Proper, regularly maintained and cleaned bathrooms and toilets, spacious kitchens equipped with cooking appliances and often with dishes, cutlery, and plates. Many even had common rooms where you could read or watch TV. And if someone happened to run out of clean underwear, they could do laundry while their dinner was cooking. The best part I saved for last: some even had hot spring pools included for free, or at some, you could pay for them, while others had “just” regular swimming pools. All of these, on top of the essential power sources, clean water taps, and waste water disposal facilities, were always available.
Apart from campgrounds, there are also many places where you can legally spend the night in rest areas and car parks. It’s important that these can only be used by “self-contained” campervans — those equipped with toilets — which is clearly marked with an official sticker on such vehicle. And even then, you need to be careful about exactly where these parking areas are, because they’re usually limited in number and precisely marked. Parking outside of these could lead to a fine. Even if it’s in an adjacent parking spot. It’s not worth taking the risk; we didn’t take it either because it would be costly.
Fortunately, we always arrived just in time to get the best wild camping spots, even if it was the last one. For many, though, you don’t have to rush; there’s plenty of space, or it’s easy to find another if you don’t fit in. These don’t have extra power sources, so you’ll need to use the van’s own. Technically, toilets and showers aren’t guaranteed, but I can’t recall a place that didn’t have at least a toilet nearby. This makes life much easier, even if your van is fully equipped for complete off-grid living. Especially if these toilets are clean, stocked with toilet paper, with handwashing, soap, and hand-drying facilities — EVERYWHERE! There are also designated places for emptying and refilling your van outside of official campgrounds.
Omniscient apps
But how can you find out about all this? Very simple: there are fantastic mobile apps to guide you into the night. Specifically, CamperMate and Rankers Camping NZ are the two main apps we used. These provide information on everything: paid campgrounds, free overnight spots, all with descriptions, pictures, reviews, and contact information. Additionally, they show waste water disposal and water refill stations nationwide. If that’s not enough, they also provide information on short, medium, and long hiking trails, farmers’ markets, breweries, and farms where you can taste all kinds of locally produced delicacies. This is how we found, for example, a honey shop where you could taste and buy all kinds of honey, honey-based remedies, cosmetics, and even ice cream. The latter was delightful, hmmm! So it’s worth dropping by a local producer now and then; you’ll see and taste wonderful things there!
Few cars, friendly people, and harmless animals
Along with the professionally developed infrastructure, I could mention two more reasons why New Zealand is a great place to learn campervanning. One is that there aren’t many cars on the roads, especially outside the cities. So it’s easy to drive without stress over traffic jams or heavy traffic, allowing you to peacefully meander among hills dotted with sheep and cows. Those on the roads are generally very patient drivers who won’t honk at you if you get stuck in front of them with your sluggish van.
The other very important reason is that there are no dangerous, venomous animals in New Zealand. So you don’t have to worry about an unwanted visitor slipping in if you leave the van door open. No snakes, no furry spiders, nothing life-threatening! Which is interesting because the opposite is true in the “neighbouring” Australia.
The most unpleasant guest in the car is a mosquito. But we don’t have to fear anything in the forest. After all, what could happen? We might encounter a kiwi? If we’re lucky, then yes – just as we did one night. Although, unfortunately, they are rarely seen in the wild, as they are nocturnal creatures that prefer dense bushes, and even then, they know when it’s safe to emerge with the help of their refined beak sensitivity.
In short, there is nothing that could truly ruin a campervan adventure in New Zealand. So, if you’re a beginner, just like we were, this is one of the best places to start and try out this alternative way of travelling, which might seem a little wild at first! Besides, it’s the best place for many other reasons as well, but I’ll go into more detail about that in future posts. 😊
A magyar verzióhoz kattints ide!
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