I’d like to thank Aly for sharing this article with her readers! Her site is an anthology of adventures that will inspire even the most reluctant traveler. I particularly enjoyed her most recent accounts from Auckland, New Zealand—one of my favorite places on earth.
New Zealand may only be the 126th country in the world in terms of size, but it sure packs a punch! There’s plenty to see and do no matter how much time you have available to you, and you’ll quickly find yourself falling in love with this country, from its people to its landscapes. One of the great things about touring the country by campervan is that you can get off the beaten path and see things that the ordinary traveler might miss, but there are dozens of other reasons as well!
Here are the top five reasons you should start planning your New Zealand adventure road trip:
1. Endless choices for where to go.
Whatever you’re looking for in your road trip, you’re sure to find it in New Zealand. Auckland is often the starting point for travelers since most international flights fly into the city, but from there, the sky’s the limit! Popular routes are from Auckland to Christchurch or Wellington, which will show you a lot of what the North Island has to offer, or you could begin in either Christchurch or Queenstown and focus on the South Island. If you believe that road trips mean freedom, you’re sure to love how free you are to choose from an endless array of destinations in New Zealand.
2. The scenery is sure to be absolutely amazing!
Check out scenery made famous as the backdrop for the film adaptation of the Lord of the Rings! New Zealand is known for having some of the most varied landscapes on earth, with everything from beautiful sandy beaches to breathtaking mountain peaks. In the northernmost parts of the country, you’ll find fair weather year-round, while in other parts of the country, you’ll find world-class winter resorts (just don’t forget that since the country is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed!). There’s plenty to discover.
3. When you’re not personally behind the wheel, you get a bit of downtime to relax.
Travel by campervan can be one of the most relaxing ways to travel: rather than spending all day, every day on sightseeing and walking around, you’ll have ample time to write in that travel journal, edit your photos or use your smartphone’s data plan to catch up on your favorite Netflix shows. Just remember that because Netflix restricts its content by country, you’ll need to use a strong VPN to hide your IP address so that Netflix doesn’t suss out your true location and you can access your account and stream content like you would back home.
4. There’s loads of places to camp.
If you’re like me, summer means not only road trips but also camping, and New Zealand has plenty to offer there. You’ll want to read up on the different types of campsites and what sorts of facilities you might find, but no matter where you go, you can probably find a nice spot to park the campervan for the night so you can save some money by foregoing those expensive hotel fees. And after all, there’s nothing better than kicking back next to the campfire at the end of a great day of driving!
5. It’s easy to get all the logistics sorted out.
No one wants to spend hours and hours agonizing over planning the perfect trip, but it’s really not that difficult to plan your New Zealand campervan tour. Pick your route, rent your car, book your accommodation and you’re all set to go! Wherever you choose, you’re sure to have the adventure of a lifetime exploring the country from one end to the other.
So what are you waiting for? Get going!
Thank you so much to Jess for writing this article for us! You should really go and check out her blog for lots more travel goodness!
