Holiday time is precious — especially when you have less than a week away. It may seem like your trip will be short on time, but it doesn’t need to be short on planning.
With the help of our pre-departure tips and on-the-road hacks, you’ll be well prepared to make that five day trip feel more like five weeks.
Use your head and book ahead
Part of the fun is in the planning. If your holiday time is tight, you can’t afford to wing it too much. Before you hit the road, prepare a route that ideally focuses on a region so your travelling distances aren't too far. Firm up your ideas on where you’ll park each night.
Once you’ve decided where you’ll stay, your next step is to make reservations and get confirmations. Aim for plain sailing so you can simply find your pitch, plug in and chill out.
Once you know where you’re staying each night, you can start researching all the fun activities you might do. You may find opportunities to:
- Hire kayaks or bikes
- Find out what walks are in the vicinity
- Visit galleries or museums
- Just chill out in nature.
Whatever outdoor activities you’re into, planning and dreaming are when the fun begins.
Set your course for off-the-beaten-track exploring
When road tripping in New Zealand, it’s easy to find yourself in places that feel like they’re off-the-grid — even when you’re relatively close to a main centre.
Auckland
If starting your road trip from Auckland, consider heading over to Raglan. Then take the road from Raglan to Waitomo — or to another scenic location beside the mighty Waikato River.
Alternatively, the Coromandel Peninsula offers so many nooks and crannies to hang out at. The regions north of Auckland between Orewa and Waipu are also special.
Wellington
If you start out in Wellington, you might like to consider the rugged Kapiti Coast or the charming Wairarapa with its wineries.
Christchurch
In the South Island, you’ll likely depart from Christchurch. Head north via the Kaikoura Coast which offers jaw-dropping views round every corner. Or venture inland to Methven and check out Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa after a ski up Mt Hutt.
Dunedin
If Dunedin is your starting point, The Catlins have spectacular driving — as does the Otago Peninsula, Oamaru or Cromwell.
Take a close look at our suggested itineraries for some ideas.
Focus local
A motorhome holiday over seven days or less doesn’t really allow time for driving long distances. Make the smart move by focusing on a smaller geographical area so you can enjoy more time savouring your destinations — and less time driving to them.
Get to grips with your motorhome
When you’re pressed for time, you don’t want to waste precious holiday hours figuring out how your motorhome works, only to crack the code of the cooker the day you head home.
After you know which motorhome you’ll be travelling in, spend a few hours educating yourself prior to taking off. Get to know how your motorhome works.
Some premium rental operators offer comprehensive motorhome orientation videos that you can watch from home before your holiday starts. Take note of any video and blog content that’ll help you out on the road, like the following resources.
- Guide to cooking in motorhome kitchens
- Basics of your motorhome’s toilet and shower
- Everything you need to know about motorhome power
- The scoop on motorhome entertainment
- Basics of motorhome water
The two most common issues motorhome tourers have on the road are with the fridge and the central heating. This is usually because the motorhome orientation was rushed or the information about how to operate this equipment was insufficient.
Before setting off on day one of your campervan hire, make sure you:
- Are confident with how the heating works
- Know the basics of operating the fridge — especially selecting the power source
- Add the operator’s on road assistance number to your phone contacts
- Check the gas bottles and fresh water tanks are full
- Know where your motorhome user manual is — if there is one
- Securely fasten all your gear plus doors and drawers.
If you’re nervous driving a motorhome for the first time, ask the rental operator if they’ll take you for a quick familiarisation drive. Everything you need to know before your maiden voyage can be found in our handy guide to driving a motorhome in NZ.
Driving in New Zealand
New Zealand road rules are much the same as in other countries. A lot of the signage will be familiar but the most important thing to note is that Kiwis drive on the left. If you’re used to driving on the right-hand side of the road, you’ll need to pay extra attention while navigating New Zealand’s winding highways.
You’ll find the booklet Driving in New Zealand produced by Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) a super helpful resource. It’s available in 12 different languages.
Also check out our blog on tips for a safe and enjoyable trip and this comprehensive guide on how easy it is to drive a Wilderness motorhome.
Like in other countries, be sure to:
- Focus on the road
- Follow the local road rules
- Take breaks when you’re feeling tired.
What to bring and what to buy
Motorhome holidays are much like regular holidays — only you don’t have to unpack every time you get somewhere. But you do need to think about what to bring to create a special vacation experience.
A few useful items to consider are:
- Refillable drink bottles to save on plastic waste
- A day pack for excursions
- Books and playing cards for night time relaxing — and head torches with variable dim light settings
- Clothes that suit your planned activities — such as swimsuits, raincoats and tramping boots
- Towels, sunscreen and bug spray.
Large suitcases can be bulky in a motorhome with limited storage so think about soft bags which are easier to stow. Clothes pegs have multiple uses while travelling, whether you’re hanging up some laundry or closing bags of food.
Learn more about what to pack for your Wilderness motorhome adventure.
Download maps and road trip apps
New Zealand still has a few remote areas without mobile coverage so be prepared to work around lack of mobile if you’re going off grid.
One solution is downloading an offline map to your phone. Guru Maps is particularly good and can be found on the App Store and through Google Play.
A single page NZ map, or North and South Island ones, can also be useful. Our Wilderness Adventure Support team will offer you one when you pick up your motorhome.
The New Zealand MetService (Te Ratonga Tirorangi) is a reliable source of local weather information. For night sky stargazing in Aotearoa, try downloading informative apps like:
Gaspy will show you where to find your nearest, cheapest fuel.
Check out our top ten travel apps to enhance your NZ motorhome trip.
It’s neat to be tidy
We’ve all heard how a boat needs to be ship shape. Well, a motorhome also likes to be kept neat and tidy, lest blood pressures become elevated.
Here are some motorhome hacks for avoiding mess when you’re on the road.
- Have a place for everything and everything will be in its place — keys, wallet and phone can be easy to misplace.
- Pack a pair of jandals or flip flops — or any shoes you can slip on and off quickly for trips outside. This way you’ll avoid sandy or muddy feet spreading a mess throughout your motorhome.
- A dustpan and brush is also handy — not just for sweeping out the interior but also for brushing sand off your legs and feet at the door. Premium motorhome rental operators will supply these items.
Health and safety while motorhoming
Getting sick on holiday is a real drag. It’s the last thing you want so here’s a little advice on how to stay safe and healthy on your motorhome travels. Prepare by:
- Taking out comprehensive travel insurance
- Wearing masks, sanitising and washing hands when necessary
- Packing any medications you need
- Having a contingency plan for isolating if you fall ill.
You won’t need to bring a first aid kit as Wilderness motorhomes come with them.
Campervan rental insurance is also highly recommended — not only to protect you on the road but for your health and peace of mind.
Leave room for spontaneity
You’ve created a list longer than your arm, you’ve read about Wilderneests motorhome campsites and you’ve settled on your travel plan. It’s tempting to cram as much as possible into your short holiday but it’s the quiet moments you’ll likely recall in years to come.
Sitting by a beautiful lake or a powerful ocean, watching a piwakawaka (fantail bird) hunt for bugs, or reflecting peacefully at the summit of a mountain. Those memories will last a lifetime.
Be sure to get the most out of your motorhome holiday with thorough planning and off-the-beaten-track exploring. But remember to leave some space to be spontaneous.
Download the motorhome road trip itinerary that fits your plans.
