New Zealand in a campervan – a road trip of the North and South islands
When it came to seeing as much of New Zealand as possible, there were two options we considered. The Kiwi Experience bus pass or hiring a campervan. We’d heard great things about both! So ultimately it came down to price, and at NZ$1000 for a month with a Lucky Rodeo, the campervan was by far the cheapest choice. We flew into Auckland and spent just less than two weeks in the
North Island before heading across to the South Island for three weeks and flying out of Christchurch.
A big thing I’ve learned during this trip – never pay full price if you can help it! We didn’t really book ahead for much as we wanted flexibility to work around weather and new discoveries. But booking last minute also helps you get things cheap! The two money saving tools we used were the CamperMate app and the website www.bookme.co.nz. They both got us great deals! For example, we got 60% off the Barbary sailing trip on Lake Taupo and 40% off our Milford Sound trip through BookMe. Keep an eye on the site a few days in advance, though, as the best deals sell out quick.
For an idea on the CamperMate savings – the app got us a 25% discount on the first night at the Taupo De Brett’s campsite, which is usually $27. When you consider that their customers get 50% off at the attached waterpark, and a further third off whatever you paid the first night for subsequent nights, it was a pretty good deal! The app will send you notifications for deals at campsites and attractions as you drive into new areas so keep those turned on. Some of their deals only apply to customers within a certain radius of the site, which is where booking last-minute comes in handy. The app also shows you where the free campsites are, although most of these only apply to self-contained vehicles.
Anyway, enough about money! Here’s our road trip in brief, follow the links for more detail on our adventures in those areas 🙂
Nights 1 & 2: Auckland
Highlights:
– Viaduct harbour
– Albert Park
– Mount Eden
Accommodation: Queen Street Backpackers (without camper).
Read my Auckland post here.
Night 3: Coromandel Peninsula
Highlights:
– Hot Water Beach
– Cathedral Cove
Campsite: TOP10 Hot Water Beach. Not especially cheap but amazing location.
Read my Coromandel post here.
Nights 4 & 5: Rotorua
Highlights:
– Hobbiton
– Blue Lake
– Lake Rotorua
– Okere Falls
– Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
Campsite: Holdens Bay Holiday Park. Got a great discount with loads of wifi through CamperMate.
More on Rotorua here.
Nights 6, 7, 8 & 9: Taupo
Highlights:
– Huka Falls
– Barbary Sailing trip to Maori carvings on Lake Taupo
– Free hot spring in the Otumuheke Stream at Spa Park
– Taupo De Bretts spa/water park
– Tongariro National Park
Campsites:
Cheapest on face value was Wairakei Thermal Park, lovely site on a farm with lots of animals. However we got more value for money at Taupo De Brett’s with CamperMate discount.
Read why Taupo was my fave spot in the North Island here!
Nights 10, 11, 12 & 13: Wellington
Highlights:
– Putangirua Pinnacles
– Rivendell
– Mount Victoria
– Cable car and Botanic Gardens
– Te Papa Museum
Campsites:
Closest campsite to city is Capital Gateway Motor Inn, but it requires a bus journey and facilities are minimal. Cheaper, more central and more value for money to sleep in Base Backpacker’s car park and use their facilities!
More on Windy Wellington here.
Nights 14, 15 & 16: Abel Tasman National Park
Highlights:
– Kayaking to Split Apple Rock
– Walking through the Abel Tasman National Park
– Kaiteriteri beach
Campsite: The Barn, Marahau. Cheap and great value, stunning location and fantastic facilities.
Click here for Abel Tasman adventures!
Nights 17 – 22: West Coast
Highlights:
– Black water rafting in glow worm caves with Underworld Adventures in Charleston, near Westport
– Seal colony at Cape Foulwind, Westport
– Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
– Hokitika Gorge
– Glow worm dell in Hokitika
– Arthur’s Pass and Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall
– Franz Joseph glacier heli hike
– Panoramic view of mountains, glacier, rainforest and ocean from the Okarito Trig Track.
Campsites:
Westport Kiwi Holiday Park, a bit pricey but good facilities.
Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation in Hokitika, right on the beach!
Franz Joseph Campervan Park, cheapest in the area but very minimal facilities.
More on driving the West Coast here.
Night 23: Wanaka
Highlights:
– The hike to Rocky Mountain summit for panoramic lake and mountain views. This was one of my three favourite short hikes and views, it’s spectacular!
– Puzzling World for optical illusions and outdoor maze.
Campsite: Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park. Pricey but good facilities with TV room and wifi.
Nights 24 & 25: Te Anau
Highlights:
– Milford Sound & Fiordland
– Lake Gunn and the Mirror Lakes
– Lake Te Anau
– The free Te Anau bird sanctuary
Campsite: Te Anau Kiwi Holiday Park. Bit expensive but good facilities.
For more on all of this, read my post on our Milford Sound trip with Real Journeys from Te Anau.
Nights 26 – 32: Queenstown
Highlights:
– Skydiving!
– The Skyline Gondola and Luge.
– Shotover Jetboat
– Frisbee Golf
– Glenorchy
Campsites: Everything is super expensive in Queenstown. We alternated with staying at Creeksyde Holiday Park and Twelve Mile Delta. Creeksyde is expensive but has fantastic facilities with three kitchens and tv rooms. Twelve Mile Data is 9km out of town, $13 per adult and has spectacular lake and mountain views. It’s also right at the spot where the ‘stupid fat hobbit’ Lord of the Rings scene was filmed! But it’s ran by the Department for Conservation so has toilets but no showers.
Here is my post on why Queenstown was my favourite place in New Zealand!
Nights 33 & 34: Tekapo
Highlights:
– Lake Pukaki
– Tekapo’s lakeside to Mount John summit walk.
Campsite: Lake Macgregor Campsite. This is right next to the lake with mountains all around – it’s beautiful! And super cheap at $5 per adult. There are toilets and a small area with cooking benches and sinks. No drinking water here and there are a couple of showers but no hot water.
Nights 35 & 36: Christchurch
Highlights:
– Earthquake ruins around the city centre, including the Cathedral, and memorials such as the 185 Empty White Chairs and Cardboard Cathedral.
– reStart, the creative post-earthquake business area set up shipping containers
