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Motorhome holidays in New Zealand

Travelling through New Zealand by motorhome gives a feeling of freedom! Determining your own route, get out where you want and for how long you want. No need to search for a hotel at the end of the day and no need to pack and unpack your suitcases.

You can spend the night at the most beautiful places, there are campsites for every taste and in many locations: for example at a beautiful beach or in one of the many National Parks of New Zealand. Every night you sleep in the same bed and at all times you can prepare your own food and picnic wherever you want. Having your own vacation home on wheels gives you a fantastic sense of freedom and convenience.

Why take a campervan trip in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a beautiful country, there is exuberant natural beauty and the two islands are very varied in terms of landscapes. It is relatively manageable compared to other "campervan travel countries" and you do not have to travel many miles to get to another beautiful or even more beautiful place. Because the country is so long and therefore spans multiple climate zones, you will visit very different landscapes and vegetation zones. From the subtropical north to the southern Alps on the South Island - equally stunning!

New Zealand is a safe country and very pleasant to travel in. Motorhomes are almost always rented from Auckland to Christchurch or Christchurch to Auckland in New Zealand. This way you see the North Island and the South Island and do not have to take the ferry twice between the two islands. There is a one-way surcharge for this but it saves costs for the second crossing, fuel and time to drive back to the city of departure.

Motorhome travel on the North Island in New Zealand

Auckland is the country's largest city the main hub for air travel. All campervan rental companies are located here and most campervan rentals begin or end in Auckland. There are a few attractions in the "City of Sails" not to be missed: the waterfront, the volcanic Mount Eden, the lively High Street, the Parnell, Ponsonby and Newmarket neighborhoods.

The Bay of Islands in the subtropical north offers beautiful beaches, beautiful ferns and other endemic vegetation. You can kayak, swim or take a boat trip here. Culturally, this area is very important to New Zealand; the Waitangi Treaty House is considered the cradle of the country. At Rotorua, you can experience geothermal activities very closely. Here geysers spout from the ground, boiling mud springs and sulfurous vapors make this a very interesting area. In the middle of the North Island are volcanoes. A visit to Tongariro National Park shows the spectacular world of these sometimes dormant and sometimes active giants. The capital Wellington is also departure point of the ferry to the South Island. In the main travel season, it is highly recommended to make advance reservations for the ferry crossing. Wellington is a lively city with many restaurants and a wonderful museum about New Zealand.

Motorhome tours on the South Island in New Zealand

In the north of the South Island is the Abel Tasman National Park, where you can hike on beautiful trails through primeval forest. Prefer to go by boat? Kayaking is an excellent way to explore this stretch of coastline. Further south, you travel along the rugged west coast, later reaching Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier in the Southern Alps. In the "adventure capital" Queenstown, everyone who loves sports and adventure can indulge themselves. There is plenty to do and experience. Te Anau is the gateway to the Fjordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The most famous fjords are Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Many hiking trails can be found in this area. The Scottish town of Dunedin all the way south with its historic buildings is definitely worth a visit! On the east coast of the South Island you can see dolphins and whales at Kaikoura and yellow-eyed penguins at the Otago Peninsula. Christchurch located in the province of Canterbury, is the largest city on the South Island. This is where the international flights land and where all RV rental companies are represented. You can start or end a campervan trip either in Auckland on the North Island or in Christchurch on the South Island.

What should I consider for my campervan trip in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a large country, but it can be well traveled in 3 to 4 weeks. Pay attention when crossing from the North Island and South Island or vice versa as you book the campervan along. Sometimes you drive quite a few miles in a day, so we recommend taking plenty of rest as well. In New Zealand this is certainly not a punishment, as the beautiful nature always provides a moment of enjoyment! We also recommend that you do not pick up your camper immediately after your flight to New Zealand. First spend a few nights in Wellington or Auckland before you start your campervan trip in New Zealand!