Your ultimate guide to RV adventures in Aotearoa

Embark on an unforgettable journey through New Zealand with our comprehensive travel guides. Whether you are an international explorer or new to RVing here, we provide all the insights you need for a safe and spectacular adventure. Discover breathtaking landscapes, plan your perfect route, and find all the essential information to make your trip smooth and memorable.

Navigating New Zealand's roads with confidence

Driving an RV in New Zealand offers unparalleled freedom, but understanding local driving conditions is key. Our guides cover tips for driving winding mountain passes to coastal highways, e Ensuring you are well-prepared for any road. Learn about road rules, safety tips, and what to expect on different terrains, so you can focus on the stunning scenery.

Ever considered wheather to travel from north to south or the other way around? New Zealand is a vey long country steching 1600 Km or 990 miles from north to south from a sub tropical climate in the north to Southland temporate maritime climbate.. The Far North can be exploored all year round, People swim in the sea mid. winter. Southland and Fiordland are prbably best explored in the summer unless your into winter sports, then winter is esential. 

For example:                                                                                         - Spring or early summer, considering starting north and                 heading south as the weather warms up.                                       - Late summer or autumn,  start in the south and head north         as it gets warmer further north.                                             

Craft your perfect itinerary

Route planning is crucial for an enjoyable RV holiday.Whether you prefer bustling tourist hubs or serene, off-the-beaten-track destinations. Discover the magic of Aotearoa at your own pace. You can ask you travel agent for help planing an itinerary.The folowing organisations can also help you with your travel plans.

  • NZTA Journey Planner: Real-time road closures, delays, weather alerts, and travel times across state highways.Access NZTA Journey Planner
  • AA Travel New Zealand: Itinerary ideas, regional travel guides, accommodation discounts, and driving safety courses.                                                                                        Access AA Travel
  • Google Maps: Up to date travel maps showing best routes between destinstions, travel times and hazards. However, google maps will not avoid unsealed roads.
  • Waze Maps: to avoid unsealed roads while route planning click, https://www.waze.com/live-map or install and open the Waze Navagation app from Google on your device;
    • Tap the Menu/Search (three bars) button in the top left corner, then tap Settings (the gear icon).
    • Under the Driving Preferences section, select Navigation.
    • Scroll down and tap Unpaved roads.
    • Select Don't allow to keep Waze off all unpaved surfaces
  • 100 % Pure New Zealand: the ultimate in travel destinations. They offer Destination Planning and tourist packages which are worth checking out.  https://www.newzealand.com/nz/ 
  • NZMCA New Zealand Motor Caravan Association: All the information you need for the trip of a lifetime around New Zealand. They have information on eveything from trip planing, camp grounds, dump stations, water, cooking gas, other supplies and sevices. Visit the NZMCA website on,         Visit NZMCA Website                                                              You can also down load their app. on your phone by clicking or copying this link,                         https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.org.nzmca.app&hl=en_NZ 

Ever heard of Lake Rotopounamu, Tongariro National Park. The track encircles the lake and is easily accessable fron the main road. Experiance NZ's native bush with a 1 hour walk. This is just one examle of seldom visited spots.

Dangerous or Challenging Roads

Skippers Canion, Central Otago. Banned Road.

Dangerous roads are challenging but not all challenging roads are dangerous. Please avoid dangerous roads. Ask your travel agent, hire company or one of the agencies listed above, for guidence. You hire company will give you a list of banned roads. You may also like to ask the locals before proceeding. For example the Forgoten Highway is challenging but could not be considered dangerous by New Zealand standards.

Another road I would definitly not travel on, including in an RV, is the road to Port Jackson, Coromandel Peninsula. For details please refer to Dangerous Roads website: https://www.dangerousroads.org/australia-and-oceania/new-zealand/5807-port-jackson-road.html

If you must drive to the top of Coromandel try the Port Charles Road instead. Keep going to Stony Bay where there is a DOC camp, a stony bay and access to walking tracks.

How dangerous a road is very much depends on you driving ability and keeping your speed in check. When driving a challenging road never take your eyes off the road, assume that every blind bend will turn into a hairpin and, go and explore.

Links and Directories

Sites for Self Contained Vehicles (Freedom Camping)

  • Rankers NZ: Excellent crowdsourced maps detailing every legal freedom camping spot, user reviews, and local council restrictions.  Access Rankers NZ Website
  • CamperMate: The essential smartphone app for finding free campsites, real-time reviews, and local amenities on the fly.                     Access CamperMate Website

Sites for Non-Self Contained Camper Vans

  • Department of Conservation (DOC): Book scenic, low-cost DOC campgrounds with baseline bathroom facilities set deep within national parks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Access DOC Campground Booking
  • Holiday Parks New Zealand: The official directory for fully-equipped holiday parks featuring power hooks, communal kitchens, laundries, and hot showers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Access Holiday Parks NZ Website

Cook Strait Ferry Booking

      Most van hire companies will book the crossings for you and offer a 10% discount. There is also a flexible booking time option available.            These are the two alternatives:

  • Interislander: Book your campervan onto the classic ferry network connecting Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island). Access Interislander Website
     Wendekreisen Campervan Rentals
  • Bluebridge Ferries: Alternative competitive ferry crossing service across the Cook Strait with excellent freight and camper options. Access Bluebridge Website

Campervan and RV Organizations

  • New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA): Joining this group offers members access to exclusive low-cost parks, discounts on ferry travel, insurance, and a powerful community network. To join the association there is a joining fee. It is however well worth while and highly recommended especially for long term travelers.                                                                                                                                                     Visit NZMCA Website

Great Walks & Favorite Destinations

  • DOC Great Walks Directory: Secure bookings for New Zealand's world-famous premier multi-day hiking tracks like the Milford, Routeburn, or Abel Tasman tracks.                                                                                                                                                                                                          Access Great Walks Booking
  • 100% Pure New Zealand: The official national tourism board's ultimate guide to iconic destinations, regional highlights, and cultural experiences.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Access Tourism NZ Destinations

    Dump Station Locations

    • Tourism Properties Dump Station Guide NZ: You can also google this heading for a omprehensive listing of public and holiday park dump stations to safely empty grey and black water tanks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Ready to start your New Zealand RV adventure?

 After exploring our travel tips, we encourage you to use the links above to learn more about specific destinations. You can also share these resources with your travel agent to help them plan your perfect trip to New Zealand. Your adventure awaits!