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.
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:
Whatever outdoor activities you’re into, planning and dreaming are when the fun begins.
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.
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.
If you start out in Wellington, you might like to consider the rugged Kapiti Coast or the charming Wairarapa with its wineries.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.