Sometimes, adventure isn’t about chasing adrenaline or flying through an itinerary. It can be a quiet sunrise over the Tasman Sea, a cup of coffee on a rainy day, or discovering a ‘hidden gem’ café in a vibrant city.
For slow-travel enthusiasts like Adam Kubicec and his girlfriend, trading a self-contained car for the comfort of a Wilderness motorhome offered a different kind of freedom. It allowed them to dodge the crowds and find the secluded spots, all while brewing a barista-style coffee each morning.
In this blog, Adam shares his Wilderness adventure, and how slowing down created the most meaningful moments.
What was the biggest surprise about life in a motorhome in New Zealand?
Having travelled far and wide around Europe in a campervan, Adam is used to strict regulations limiting where you can stay. He said one of the biggest surprises was how well set up New Zealand is for freedom camping.
“It makes travelling with a motorhome incredibly easy and flexible,” Adam said. “You can be confident that you will always find a suitable place to stay overnight, even if you plan only a day ahead, or sometimes even less.”
The extensive network of freedom camping spots and cheap Department of Conservation (DOC) sites made finding a place to park very easy, and meant the couple could truly enjoy the wild nature - often completely on their own.
Adam said the flexibility that comes with a motorhome needs to be experienced to be understood. One of the biggest advantages was simply being able to move locations if the weather wasn’t good. It’s like relocating a hotel room wherever you want to go.
“New Zealand’s weather varies greatly across both islands and changes quickly, so having the freedom to adjust our plans made the trip much easier and more enjoyable,” he said.
Learn more about freedom camping in New Zealand.
An itinerary for the unhurried
The couple started their Wilderness journey by travelling through the dramatic cliffs of Arthur’s Pass and along the West Coast, stopping at Castle Hill and Pancake Rocks on the way.
“From there, we drove to the northern part of the South Island, where we planned to visit the remote Wharariki Beach - a peaceful area that offered a perfect break before the long drive through Nelson and Picton,” Adam said.
“The North Island welcomed us with vibrant Wellington. Even though we usually prefer nature over cities, Wellington was absolutely worth two nights, and we enjoyed returning each evening to the quiet comfort of our motorhome.”
On the North Island, the priority was to slow down and enjoy. The couple’s favourite stops included the volcanic slopes of Tongariro National Park, the quirky Mount Maunganui, and the scenic beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula.
“The trip ended perfectly with Cape Reinga and our final night at Piha Beach,” Adam said.
“Thanks to our friends living in a campervan on the North Island, we were able to discover several excellent recommendations along the way.”
For more inspiration, take a look at our Christchurch to Auckland road trip itinerary.
What does a day in the life on the road look like?
For this duo, it starts with meeting the sunrise while savouring their favourite drinks - an Aeropress espresso for Adam, and a ceremonial matcha latte for his girlfriend.
“This is one of the great advantages of travelling in a motorhome - you can bring your favourite essentials with you,” Adam said.
Then, a quick check of the weather forecast, and the two are ready to set off to their next location.
Evenings are spent cooking dinner in the well-equipped motorhome kitchen and using the onboard Wi-Fi to share updates with family and friends. On rainy October evenings, the two would curl up with a good book in their cosy space while listening to the weather outside.
Adam said that sometimes, it was far too easy to just stay inside in their little cocoon.
“The overall design made everyday living remarkably easy,” he said. “And we can't forget how warm it was inside every evening and morning, so sometimes it was hard to force ourselves to go outside into the cold weather.”
The hidden gems in the big city
New Zealand’s national parks often take centre stage, and the couple tends to avoid the hustle and bustle of big cities. However, Wellington defied their “nature only” rule - so much so that they decided to stay an extra night.
“It is a vibrant and inspiring city with a lot to offer - from great cafés, unique shops, official institutions and modern architecture to its strong connection with the ocean,” Adam said.
“What makes Wellington special is the combination of urban life with nature: the sound of native New Zealand birds, beautiful parks, and coastal views all contribute to a very high quality of life that is well worth exploring.”
While exploring Wellington’s winding streets, they stumbled on a niche spot that serves up great matcha - and also provides a bit of "puppy therapy" for homesick travellers. A favourite among local dog owners, the Pour & Twist was a real hidden gem for the couple.
The unexpected luxury of a rainy night
Weather can make or break a holiday, but a motorhome changes the game.
Adam discovered that a change in weather brought its own kind of magic. The transition from a cramped car to a spacious motorhome turned "bad" weather into a highlight of the trip.
“Sitting inside the motorhome with a hot cup of chocolate, listening to the steady sound of rain hitting the roof, felt unexpectedly comforting,” Adam recalled.
“We were used to travelling with a regular self-contained car, where heavy rain often meant staying cramped inside and struggling to cook or move around comfortably. In the motorhome, those rainy evenings turned into moments of calm, warm, dry, and peaceful. There was nowhere else we needed to be.”
A spiritual sunrise at the edge of the world
When it comes to witnessing the day begin, Port Jackson at the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula was one of the couple’s highlights.
However, it was the raw, otherworldly energy of Cape Reinga that left the deepest impression. In Māori culture, this is where the spirits of the deceased leave the physical world and journey back to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.
As Adam and his partner stood at the edge of the world and watched the sun rise, it was hard not to feel the spiritual significance of the place.
“Seeing a few hikers starting the Te Araroa Trail early in the morning added another emotional layer,” he said.
“Watching them at the very beginning of such a long and demanding journey, in a place so rich in spiritual significance, made us reflect on beginnings, endings, and how connected those moments really are.”
Tips and tricks for a great journey
A motorhome journey can be a steep learning curve, but Adam quickly picked up some golden rules to keep the trip smooth.
Step 1: Stay ahead of the elements. New Zealand’s landscapes are beautiful because they are wild, but that also means the roads can be unpredictable. Always check for driving conditions and road closures before you set off, as unexpected situations can happen at any time.
Step 2: Do a proper grocery shop before heading out. Rural convenience stores often close early. If you’re planning to be in remote areas, it pays to have the snacks on hand.
Step 3: Aim to arrive at your campsite before dark. Sites can also fill up faster than expected - especially in peak season and at popular tourist spots. In some places, Adam arrived to find the campsite already full and had to keep driving.
Step 4: Balance driving time with outdoor time. In a motorhome, it can be easy to spend day after day behind the wheel. Adam says it pays to make a conscious effort to stop, go for walks and take time outside. Those are the days that make the trip feel like a real experience, rather than just moving from one location to the next.
Step 5: Don’t forget your luxuries. Since you’re travelling in a home on wheels, you can take your fancy coffee machine. Adam says that having his essential barista items made a huge difference - especially for a European used to plenty of coffee stops.
Take a look at our top tips for an unhurried journey.
