The Ultimate Backpacker Guide to Campervanning New Zealand
If there’s one country made for road trips, it’s New Zealand. Mountains, beaches, lakes, volcanoes, fjords — sometimes all in the same day. And the best way to see it? A campervan.
It’s freedom in its purest form: wake up by a lake, drive through mountain passes, stop for a random hike, cook noodles with a view, then roll into the next town whenever you feel like it. No timetables, no waiting for buses — just you, your mates, and the open road.
Every backpacker ends up with campervan stories. Like the time you pull into a random lakeside spot, cook pasta on a dodgy stove, and think, “this beats any hotel.” That’s the vibe.
🚐 Types of Campervans
Not all vans are the same. Here’s the lowdown:
2-Seater Vans: Budget-friendly, bed in the back, small pull-out kitchen. Perfect for solo travellers or couples.
Self-Contained Vans: Gold standard. Built-in toilets mean more freedom and access to free campsites. Ideal for longer trips.
4–6 Seater Motorhomes: Great for groups. Full kitchens, showers, loads of space. More expensive but comfy.
Budget Vans vs Premium Vans: Budget = older models, sometimes quirky paint jobs. Premium = newer, smoother, better amenities, but higher cost.
🏕️ Where Can You Camp?
New Zealand’s camping culture is legendary. Options include:
DOC Campsites (Department of Conservation): $10–15 NZD, basic but usually in insane locations.
Holiday Parks: Hot showers, Wi-Fi, laundry, kitchens — $20–40 NZD per person.
Freedom Camping: Free campsites for self-contained vans. Some of the best spots in the country fall into this category.
One night you’ll be in a holiday park doing laundry, the next you’re parked up by a lake with no one else around. That balance is what makes van life so good here.
🆓 Free Camping in New Zealand – The Real Backpacker Dream
Everyone loves saving money, and free camping is the ultimate backpacker win. Pull up beside a lake, cook dinner with a mountain view, and crash without paying a cent. Sounds good, right? Here’s the deal:
Self-contained only: To free camp legally, your van needs a self-contained certificate — basically a toilet and wastewater storage. No sticker = no free camping.
Epic locations: Wake up by Lake Pukaki with Mount Cook towering in the distance, or park on a quiet beach with the waves as your alarm clock.
Rules matter: Rangers check, fines are nasty. Stick to official sites you’ll find on apps like CamperMate or Rankers.
Mix it up: Even if you’re self-contained, you’ll still want the occasional holiday park night — showers, Wi-Fi, and laundry are lifesavers.
Free camping is where the magic happens. Sitting under the stars, music playing, your mates laughing — it’s cheap, it’s raw, and it’s the real NZ road trip experience.
💸 Budgeting Your Trip
Campervanning doesn’t have to drain your funds if you’re smart.
Van hire: $50–$200 NZD per day depending on size, season, and length.
Fuel: $2.50–$3 per litre. Budget around $100–150 NZD per week.
Campsites: Mix free with paid. Most backpackers average $70–100 NZD per week.
Food: Cooking saves heaps. Supermarket meals average $60–80 NZD per week.
👉 Pro tip: Fill up in big towns — fuel in remote spots can be brutal.
🚦 Driving in New Zealand
Driving here is part of the adventure, but it’s not like cruising down European motorways.
Winding roads: Sharp bends, mountain passes, and one-lane bridges. Slow down and enjoy the ride.
Left side of the road: Same as the UK and Australia.
Distances: Maps lie — 200 km can take 4–5 hours.
Weather: Expect everything: rain, fog, snow in winter. Always check road updates.
One day you’ll be blasting music down the West Coast, surfboards on the roof, rainforest on one side and the ocean on the other. Another day you’ll crawl through a snowy mountain pass with your mate gripping the wheel like their life depends on it. That’s New Zealand roads for you.
🗺️ Must-Do Campervan Routes
You can’t go wrong anywhere, but these routes are backpacker classics:
Auckland → Bay of Islands: Beaches and laidback island vibes.
Coromandel Peninsula: Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, killer coastal drives.
Rotorua & Taupō: Geysers, hot pools, adrenaline activities.
South Island West Coast: Glaciers, black sand beaches, endless rainforest.
Queenstown → Milford Sound: One of the best drives on Earth.
Lake Tekapo → Mount Cook: Turquoise lakes, snow-capped peaks, unreal stargazing.
🛒 Food & Supermarkets
Cooking in your van is the cheapest (and most fun) way to eat.
Pak’nSave: Cheapest option. Stock up.
Countdown: Easy to find, solid value.
New World: A bit pricier but everywhere.
Van-life staples:
Instant noodles and pasta — fuels half of NZ’s backpackers.
Wraps with whatever’s left in the fridge.
BBQs by the beach — cheap sausages, tunes, sunset.
And yes, you’ll eventually cook in the rain while your mates laugh because the stove keeps blowing out. That’s the full campervan experience.
📱 Handy Apps
CamperMate / Rankers: Campsites, fuel, showers, toilets.
Gaspy: Find the cheapest petrol nearby.
Maps.me / Google Maps offline: Essential when reception dies in the middle of nowhere.
🏁 Why Book Your Campervan With Us
Here’s where we’ve got your back:
All suppliers, one place: We work with every campervan supplier in New Zealand. If there’s a van available, we’ll find it.
Supplier prices = best rates: We charge exactly what the suppliers do — no markups. You get the best deal, every time.
No bias: Budget vans, self-contained vans, premium motorhomes — we don’t push one option, we find what suits you.
Backpackers for backpackers: We’ve done the drives, slept in the vans, burnt noodles on dodgy stoves. We know what matters.
Skip the hassle of searching a dozen sites. Tell us what you need, and we’ll sort the van that fits your trip, your budget, and your style.
🚐 The Campervan Life in NZ
Campervanning New Zealand isn’t just travel — it’s freedom in its rawest form.
It’s blasting music down coastal highways, waking up to snow-capped peaks, cooking noodles with mates under the stars, and rolling into towns whenever you feel like it.
It’s messy, sometimes chaotic, but always unforgettable.
And with us finding you the van at the best rate, all you need to worry about is which direction to drive tomorrow.
