New Zealand Travel Tips

We've collected all the best travel ideas and advice to enhance your campervan trip around New Zealand. We'll be adding new articles regularly to help build your ultimate holiday itinerary.

The North Island's Best Waterfalls

One thing New Zealand isn't short of is waterfalls. It’s hard to say which are the best, but here's our favourites ...

Best Waterfalls

About Driving in New Zealand

If you're planning a New Zealand self-drive holiday, be it in a rental car or hired campervan, you should know a few things about driving in New Zealand ...

Driving in New Zealand

Going Bush

When you ‘go bush' in New Zealand, you encounter many strange trees, and many more familiar ones, but what truly sets it apart from your usual woodland is the atmosphere. It's temperate rainforest. The air is hushed and humid ...

Going Bush in NZ

How Free is Freedom Camping in New Zealand?

Freedom Camping is a very popular activity in New Zealand, both for the locals and tourists. You always see campervans on the road - they're great for getting around the country, combining travel with accommodation to keep expenses down, and allowing you to spend the night in beautiful locations, surrounded by nature ...

Freedom Camping in New Zealand

Trip Planner: A Magical History Tour of the North Island

This two-week trip begins and ends in Auckland. If you wish to immerse yourself in New Zealand's history, visiting many museums and heritage sites along the way, this is the trip for you ...

A Magical History Tour of the North Island

Trip Planner: A Fortnight in the South Island

This itinerary begins and ends in Christchurch, and includes iconic New Zealand locations such as Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, and Milford Sound ...

A Fortnight in the South Island

North Island Day Walks

New Zealand is a very outdoorsy nation. Bush walks are a big thing. The Department of Conservation maintains many tracks around the country. Here are some of our favourites walks in the North Island ...

North Island Day Walks

Staying at New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) Campsites

For anyone considering a holiday in New Zealand, hiring a campervan is a great way to go. Among the best places to stay if you're touring New Zealand in a campervan are DOC campsites.

Staying at DOC Campsites

Historical Places to Visit in New Zealand

For history buffs, we've compiled a list of recommended places to visit when you're on holiday in New Zealand ...

Historical Places to Visit

7 Day Campervan Trip - New Zealand's Volcanic Wonders

This one-week North Island trip is designed to show off New Zealand’s volcanic wonders. If you yearn to experience the otherworldly beauty of geysers, mud pools, lava caves, natural spas and active volcanoes, this is the trip for you ...

New Zealand's Volcanic Wonders

Te Puna Quarry Park

Spending time at Te Puna Quarry Park is an experience for all the senses: the sounds, the colours, the smells of the flowers, the textures of the trails and the art that you can interact with.

Te Puna Quarry Park

New Zealand's Best Walks

New Zealand is a country of unparalleled natural beauty, with vast stretches of untouched wilderness and some of the most breathtaking tramping walks in the world. Whether you're an experienced hiker or just starting out, there's something for everyone in this adventurer's paradise.

New Zealand's Best Walks

Things to Remember When Touring New Zealand in a Campervan

A fair amount of organisation goes into a successful New Zealand campervan holiday. There is a lot to think about – so it is not surprising that people tend to forget silly, little things. Here is a list of ten common things that catch campervanners out ...

Things to Remember When Touring New Zealand in a Campervan

Top 10 Things to do in Taupo

Taupō is a very popular holiday destination in New Zealand. Taupō sits on the shore of a massive lake - Lake Taupō, formed 25,000 years ago by the one of the world's largest known volcanic eruptions. Attractions in Taupō include water-based activities, geothermal sightseeing, and many options for adrenaline junkies.

Top 10 Things to do in Taupo

New Zealand's Best Snow Sports Destinations

New Zealand's breathtaking landscapes and abundant snowfall make it a paradise for snow sports enthusiasts. With its pristine powder, diverse terrain, and world-class facilities, New Zealand offers a wealth of options for snowboarding, skiing, and other thrilling snow-based activities.

New Zealand's Best Snow Sports Destinations

Dark Sky Stargazing in New Zealand

New Zealand's dark sky stargazing opportunities are a treasure trove for astronomy enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With its abundant Dark Sky Reserves, world-class observatories, and unforgettable stargazing experiences, New Zealand offers an unparalleled journey through the cosmos.

Dark Sky Stargazing

What You Get in a New Zealand Campervan Rental

It's hard to imagine there being enough room inside to keep you and your family comfortable for weeks. But you will quickly learn that campervans are like Dr Who's Tardis - they seem bigger on the inside.

What You Get in a New Zealand Campervan Rental

Top Places to See Dolphins in New Zealand

New Zealand has many species of dolphins. Some tourists choose to visit New Zealand just for the opportunity to swim with them. Here are the top places to see dolphins in New Zealand.

Top Places to See Dolphins

Best Places to Go Kayaking in New Zealand

Kayaking can be both relaxing and thrilling, depending on where you are and how fast you paddle. It can provide a workout and slow down time. It can give you a whole new perspective on some of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations. You can hire kayaks practically anywhere, and many places have guided tours ...

Best Places to Go Kayaking in New Zealand

Muriwai Beach

Muriwai's only a forty-minute drive from Auckland City, on the wild west coast. It's a good surfing beach and there's a campground right next to it. It has luxuriously soft black sand, but what makes it special are the breathtaking views of its massive gannet colony ...

Muriwai Beach

Things to Bring for a New Zealand Campervan Holiday

Most campervans available for hire in New Zealand come with a range of equipment such as bedding, towels, cooking implements and crockery, but you will need to supplement this with your own gear and a trip to the supermarket. Here’s a helpful checklist of things you should take on a campervan holiday in New Zealand ...

Things to Bring for a New Zealand Campervan Holiday

New Zealand Museums

Museums: everyone's favourite wet weather tourist attraction! Here's a list of our favourite museums in New Zealand ...

New Zealand Museums

Auckland to Christchurch by Campervan

Campervan holidays are really popular in New Zealand. It’s just the most convenient way to see the country. A common thing people do is hire a campervan in Auckland and drive down the length of New Zealand to drop it off in Christchurch (or vice versa) ...

Auckland to Christchurch by Campervan

Waitomo Caves

Something you absolutely have to do if you come for a holiday in New Zealand is go on a Waitomo glowworm tour by boat. It. Is. AMAZING.

Waitomo Caves

Lord of the Rings Location Guide

We're huge fans of The Lord of the Rings films. Living in New Zealand, we’ve visited a lot of the filming locations. They’re worth visiting even if you’re not a fan; their sheer beauty is unsurpassed. People flock to them from all over the world, and will certainly be amongst the highlights of your New Zealand travels ...

Lord of the Rings Location Guide

Taking Your Campervan on the Interislander Ferry

If you plan on visiting both islands on your New Zealand campervan trip, you'll need to take your campervan on the Interislander ferry. The trip through the Marlborough Sounds is magical, and if you're lucky you might even spot some dolphins!

Taking Your Campervan on the Interislander Ferry

Top 10 New Zealand Beaches

New Zealand is a country made up of islands, which means there's a beach in every direction - so choosing the best ones is difficult to say the least. With so many to choose from, it will always be a matter of opinion. That being said, here's our favourites ...

Top 10 Best New Zealand Beaches

3 Day Campervan Trip - Northland

This trip begins and ends in Auckland. It is a three-day/two-night trip that has the potential to be quite inexpensive ...

3 Day Campervan Trip - Northland

Hamilton Gardens

The gardens are impressive, varied and very beautiful. You probably won't get around all of them in one go, but they’re free to enter, so you can go as often as you like.

Hamilton Gardens

Explore Rotorua

Rotorua is a city bubbling with geothermal activity: hot pools, mud pools and geysers release hydrogen sulphide into the air, which is responsible for the sometimes pungent aroma and adds to the city’s charm. It is a constant reminder that you are in another world.

Explore Rotorua

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is an up-and-coming city on the rugged west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. It was founded in 1841 by settlers from ‘old’ Plymouth in England ...

New Plymouth

Taranaki

Taranaki, called Mount Egmont by Captain Cook, is a large volcano on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Perhaps the most striking of all New Zealand's volcanoes ...

Taranaki

Cathedral Cove

Cathedral Cove is the best beach in New Zealand. An enclosed stretch of golden-white sand at the foot of a forested cliff, its crystal-blue waters are a stage for magnificent rock formations, so beautiful they seem deliberately sculpted ...

Cathedral Cove

Must-do in Marlborough

At the top of New Zealand’s South Island lie the Marlborough Sounds. Beautiful, balmy and serene, they form a whimsical patchwork of lush greens and burnished blues ...

Visit Marlborough

Visit Akaroa

Fancy a relaxing few days filled with fine food and harbour views? You could do a lot worse than Akaroa. Akaroa is a small town on Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch. It’s one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand ...

Visit Akaroa

Visit Kerikeri

Kerikeri and the surrounding area is a great place to go if you're interested in New Zealand's history. It's a picturesque small town in the far North of New Zealand, steeped in history and surrounded by scenic waterfalls and native Kauri forest.

New Zealand Travel Tips

The North Island's Best Waterfalls

About Driving in New Zealand

Going Bush

How Free is Freedom Camping in New Zealand?

Trip Planner: A Magical History Tour of the North Island

Trip Planner: A Fortnight in the South Island

North Island Day Walks

Staying at New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) Campsites

Historical Places to Visit in New Zealand

7 Day Campervan Trip - New Zealand's Volcanic Wonders

Te Puna Quarry Park

New Zealand's Best Walks

Things to Remember When Touring New Zealand in a Campervan

Top 10 Things to do in Taupo

New Zealand's Best Snow Sports Destinations

Dark Sky Stargazing in New Zealand

What You Get in a New Zealand Campervan Rental

Top Places to See Dolphins in New Zealand

Best Places to Go Kayaking in New Zealand

Muriwai Beach

Things to Bring for a New Zealand Campervan Holiday

New Zealand Museums

Auckland to Christchurch by Campervan

Waitomo Caves

Lord of the Rings Location Guide

Taking Your Campervan on the Interislander Ferry

Top 10 New Zealand Beaches

3 Day Campervan Trip - Northland

Hamilton Gardens

Explore Rotorua

New Plymouth

Taranaki

Cathedral Cove

Must-do in Marlborough

Visit Akaroa

Visit Kerikeri

Auckland Branch

Christchurch Branch