🇳🇿 Living the Van Life: 12 Days of Campervan Adventures in South Island, New Zealand

We recently went on an amazing adventure and wanted to share some valuable lessons we learned along the way. Whether you're planning a road trip or renting an RV, these tips will come in handy.

1. First things first, get familiar with your vehicle. It's important to know how to drive it safely and make the most of its features. And here's a little secret - RV centres often have free leftover supplies like kitchen and pantry items. Take what you need, but remember to be considerate of others.
2. Next, make sure to download an app that shows you everything from camp sites to dump sites, laundromats, and gas stations. It's also a good idea to have offline maps since reception can be spotty in some areas.
3. Flexibility is key. Plan your itinerary based on the weather and your personal situation. And when you're on the road, drive according to the conditions.
4. Taking care of your RV is important too. Empty the grey water and fill up the water tank daily when you can. We found that tidying up the van at the start of the day is a great habit to have. And when you're staying at a paid camp site, make use of the facilities like toilets, showers, and kitchens. It's all included in the price!
5. Remember to enjoy the journey! Take breaks whenever you want to admire the surroundings and rest when you're tired from driving.

Now, let's talk about budget. For our 12-day trip, here's how much we spent in New Zealand dollars:
1. Campervan hire, including RUC: $2,900
2. Diesel: $350
3. LPG: $45
4. Campsite fees: $450
5. Food, groceries & Misc: $950

Of course, your expenses may vary depending on your budget and destination. In our case, we focused on hiking, so we didn't spend much on attraction fees.

We hope these tips and insights help you plan an unforgettable adventure. Happy travels!

In this video:
00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Auckland - Christchurch
01:31 - Christchurch Airport
01:41 - RV Super Centre Christchurch
01:56 - Mona Vale Garden Park
02:23 - The Square
02:41 - South Brighton Holiday Park
03:30 - Castle Hill
04:12 - Rakaia Gorge Lookout
04:37 - Mount Sunday
05:11 - Lake Opuha Camp
05:19 - Canola Fields
05:42 - Lake Tekapo
05:55 - Lakes Edge Holiday Park
06:00 - Mt John Walkway
07:00 - White Horse Hill Campground
07:19 - Hooker Hut
08:06 - High Country Salmon
08:21 - Lindis Pass Viewpoint
08:52 - Wanaka Lavender Farm
09:25 - Mt Aspiring Holiday Park
09:49 - Brewster Hut Track
10:07 - Brewster Hut
10:31 - Haast River
10:35 - Fantail Falls
11:08 - Wanaka Craft Market
11:29 - Lake Wanaka
11:35 - That Wanaka Tree
12:13 - Kidds Bush Reserve
13:12 - Isthmus Peak
15:04 - Lake Pukaki Reserve
15:20 - Glentanner Park Centre
15:45 - Sealy Tarns
17:00 - Geraldine Top 10 Holiday Park
17:37 - Christchurch - Auckland
18:54 - Outro

Complete playlist:    • All Videos  

#TravelVlog #RoadTrip #Adventure #HiddenGems #BudgetTravel #NatureLovers #NewZealand #SouthIslandNZ #CampervanNZ #NZHiking #AucklandToChristchurch #MountainViews #EpicLandscapes #NatureEscape #ScenicWalks #PhotographySpots #VanLife #RVTravelTips #NomadicLife #CampgroundNZ #CamperAdventure #TravelBudget #CheapTravelNZ #HikingNZ #MustVisitPlaces #ExploreNZ #LikeAndSubscribe #DiscoverMore #EpicViews #TravelGoals #BucketListDestination