Some travellers visit New Zealand once, tick off the famous stops, and move on to the next country. Evan Cheung is not one of them. An avid holidaymaker from Singapore, he has now travelled the country with Wilderness three times — twice with friends, once with family — and is already planning a fourth trip in 2027 to share it all with his wife.
Why does he keep coming back? For Evan, New Zealand has become the place to breathe out and leave life’s worries behind.
“What drew me to New Zealand was a combination of its breathtaking natural beauty, the warm culture, and the relaxed pace of life. It’s a place that immediately offers a sense of calmness, making it the perfect backdrop for my photography and a refreshing escape from city life,” Evan explained.
"Every time I holiday in New Zealand, I find myself feeling genuinely happy, calm, and present. It's a place where I can completely unwind and take in the sights and sounds. The locals are warm and friendly, the environment is incredibly comfortable, and I always feel safe."
Coming from Singapore, where the weather is perpetually hot and humid, the South Island offers him something home can't: cool air, open space, dark skies, and the freedom to slow right down.
This is his case for exploring New Zealand by motorhome, and what he's learned along the way.
What is the best South Island motorhome itinerary for travellers from Singapore?
Evan's route is a loop that plays to the South Island's strengths. Picking up in Christchurch, he has worked his way through Lake Pukaki, Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Glenorchy — pausing at Wilson's Bay on the way — before winding up through Wanaka. On the way back, the small town of Ashburton earns a visit every single trip.
It's a compact loop, and for time-pressed travellers flying in from Singapore, this route delivers the South Island's best sights within short, easy distances. It also leaves plenty of room to slow down and enjoy each stop.
Season shapes the experience too. April delivered autumn colour that made a lasting impression, and it's exactly why he's bringing his wife back in 2027.
"Walking through places like Arrowtown and Queenstown surrounded by vivid, changing leaves made a lasting impression on me. I knew right then that I had to bring my wife back so we could experience it together," he says.
Is driving a rental motorhome difficult for Singaporean drivers?
Less than you'd expect, and Singaporeans start with an advantage. New Zealand drives on the left, just like home, which removes the single biggest adjustment most overseas drivers have to make.
Evan says that the vehicle is easy to get used to, and won't intimidate you for long.
"It's definitely a larger vehicle than a standard car with a few blind spots to watch out for, but the large mirrors make a huge difference, and it handles very similarly to a regular car with plenty of power," Evan says.
The setup, he found, was a breeze to navigate.
"We just unpacked our clothes and food into the cupboards and fridge, and we were set,” he explains. “The main thing to plan around is size in the tighter towns. Managing a larger vehicle in tighter spots like Queenstown or Arrowtown takes a bit of strategy, but in most places like Ashburton, parking is straightforward.”
Want to know more about driving a motorhome in New Zealand for the first time? Check out our blog.
Why is renting a luxury motorhome the best way to explore the South Island?
For Evan, the answer comes down to freedom and self-sufficiency.
"You can go wherever you want, stop whenever you like, and you never have to deal with the hassle of packing and unpacking luggage every time you move locations," he says. "Having onboard comforts like a toilet, shower, and power supply means home is wherever you park."
That self-sufficiency has a practical edge for a photographer. Built-in power inverters kept his camera gear charged and his phone navigating, no matter where he roamed.
"Whether you're needing to charge gear or simply relying on your phone for navigation while freedom camping in the middle of nowhere, having power on demand means you're never stranded without a battery," he says.
He's also driven both new and older vehicles in the Wilderness fleet, and came away impressed by the consistency.
"What keeps bringing me back to Wilderness is the perfect mix of exceptional service and thoughtful vehicle design,” he explained.
“Before my first trip, I reached out and asked a lot of detailed, technical questions, from power inverter locations to kitchen knives. The team handled every query with complete professionalism and warmth, instantly easing my first-timer nerves. I've seen that even the older vehicles are kept spot-on in terms of cleanliness and maintenance, aging like a good bottle of wine.”
What are the top South Island photography spots accessible by motorhome?
The headline act, twice over, was the Aurora Australis. Evan caught the Southern Lights first while freedom camping at Lake Pukaki in the depths of winter, and again in Queenstown. The Pukaki night has become the story he tells most.
"The wind was howling around 2:00 AM, making the entire motorhome sway with the intense windchill, but that's exactly when I caught my first Southern Lights," he says.
"The motorhome was an absolute lifesaver. I could step outside into the freezing night to shoot photos, then hop right back inside to warm up with hot water, coffee, and a hot shower. Having your 'home' right there in the wild made me feel completely safe and comfortable."
Other than the aurora, a few spots exceeded every expectation. LandEscape Wanaka and its private outdoor hot tubs were unforgettable, as was the autumn colour through Arrowtown.
However, Wilson's Bay, on the drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy, was Evan’s favourite spontaneous find.
"I came across a gorgeous spot at Wilson's Bay, so I simply pulled over, set up a chair, made a hot coffee, and sat by the water taking in the view for two hours," he says. "That kind of spontaneous, relaxed moment just wouldn't happen if you were traveling in a standard car."
Planning your own New Zealand road trip? Check out our guide to the best South Island campsites.
What are the key driving rules for overseas visitors?
Driving in New Zealand is straightforward for Singaporean visitors: you drive on the left just like home, and the road rules are simple once you know a few local differences. Here's what to know before you set off.
Your licence
-
A current, full Singapore car licence is all you need. It's in English, so no IDP or translation is required, and it covers every Wilderness motorhome.
-
Carry the original physical licence whenever you drive; digital copies aren't accepted.
Speed limits
-
The limit for a heavy vehicle like a motorhome is 90km/h on the open road and 50km/h in urban areas, with lower limits signed in residential and high-pedestrian zones.
-
Limits are strictly enforced by camera, so treat them as a ceiling, not a target – especially in a heavier vehicle that takes longer to stop.
Give way and stopping
-
At uncontrolled intersections, give way to your right; at roundabouts, give way to traffic already on it.
-
Come to a complete stop at stop signs, even when the road looks empty.
Rural roads
-
One-lane bridges are common in the South Island, and signs will show you who has priority. A blue rectangular sign means you have priority, while a circular sign with a red border means you should give way to oncoming traffic.
-
Watch for wildlife and livestock on rural roads, and fuel up in towns since stations can be far apart.
How does a motorhome compare to hotel travel for a road trip?
The biggest difference is that your accommodation moves with you, and you don’t have to haul suitcases to pack and repack at every stop. For Evan, that mobility pays off most when New Zealand's weather does what it does best: change without warning.
"New Zealand's weather can change in a second, and traveling in a motorhome gave us the ultimate flexibility to adapt on the fly, whether that meant deciding to see penguins on a whim, or simply parking by a lake to enjoy the landscape with a warm cup of coffee," Evan says.
“There was zero pressure to rush through a rigid itinerary or worry about missing out, because literally everywhere you turn in New Zealand is beautiful. Moving at our own pace allowed us to slow down, be present, and experience the country on our own terms.”
A hotel can't wait for you with a shower and kitchen at the end of a trailhead, and it can’t follow you to a lakeside freedom camp at Lake Pukaki. This was one of the most memorable spots for Evan, where he woke to breathtaking, unobstructed views.
Evan’s advice for first-timers, and what’s next
Evan tells every friend considering a first motorhome trip the same thing: go with Wilderness, and take it slow. He values a vehicle that adapts to you, with a bed that's always ready and a dining space that's always open, so you can "pull over legally anywhere, grab lunch, take a quick rest, or use the bathroom without touching a single tool."
His biggest tip is a matter of mindset — take things slow and stay flexible, because the weather and road conditions change, and you might decide on a whim to see penguins or eat fresh salmon by a riverside.
"This isn't 'The Amazing Race' where you just clock locations from point A to B. With Wilderness, you get top-tier support, fantastic vehicles, and the freedom to truly slow down and experience the journey."
That freedom is what he's carrying into 2027, when he returns for an anniversary trip with his wife to chase the autumn he fell for last April. "The weather during that season is comfortably crisp without being as cold as winter, and the longer daylight hours give us plenty of time to soak in the stunning autumn colours across the South Island at our own pace."
Ready to start planning your own motorhome adventure? Check out our holiday budget calculator to see how much you should realistically plan to spend.
