Two Singaporean families, close friends for over a decade, have holidayed together across the globe, from Malaysia to Scotland, usually hopping between Airbnbs in rental cars. But for this trip, the group of eight – four parents and four kids – wanted something different.
They arrived at the Wilderness base to pick up two motorhomes, ready for an epic journey across New Zealand’s South Island.
“We were inspired by a fellow friend’s Instagram post about Wilderness Motorhomes, so we decided to give motorhoming a shot!” the Chuas said.
“We are good friends, and our children have known each other since they were babies. They play well with each other, fights and all, and we all enjoy spending time together. We rarely get to have such extended periods of fellowship in Singapore where life can get really busy and tiring.”
What was it like to travel by motorhome in such a large group?
To accommodate their large group size, the company decided to hire two four-berth motorhomes.
This turned out to be a perfect decision – with four sets of adult eyes and an open line of communication through WhatsApp, they could all look out for each other on the road. Someone was always on hand to get directions, remember to switch off the gas, or to help clear out the toilet cassette. Onboard WiFi kept the two vans connected between towns, so a message was never far away.
“We would text to meet each other at a specific destination if we lost one another on the roads,” the Chuas said. “That could happen because we would usually give way and pull over when we were driving, so we wouldn’t hog the roads.”
“Travelling as a group gave us time to do so much,” they explained.
“We took turns with the kids – one parent would play with the kids while another took pictures or read, another cooked, another did the laundry or exercised – and the kids loved having time to play together.”
One of the best parts of motorhome travel was the other kids they met at the campgrounds. Their children got to meet people from all over the world, many of them also from Singapore, and they remember the interactions as “precious”.
“One kid named Eden said, 'I am from all over,’” the Chuas recalled. “I think if we had travelled in our regular fashion, we would not have spent that much time in playgrounds, and the kids would not have gotten the chance to meet so many different children.”
Play, freedom, and small lessons on the road
Life in a small space came with its own lessons. On the first night, one of the boys settled into what the children dubbed "the smallest toilet in the world" and enjoyed the hot water for so long that there was none left for anyone else. The tank only needed half an hour to warm up again, but the girls showering after him weren't in a waiting mood. They did their best to keep their spirits up, repeating "it's not cold! it's not cold!" as they went. It became a lasting lesson about being considerate and mindful of shared constraints.
“Something we hoped they would see is that humans can live with less,” the Chuas said. “We don’t really need large spaces; small spaces can be cozy and fun too.”
The playgrounds were the children's own reward at the end of a driving day, and the campervan parks rarely let them down. Tekapo went one better with two trampolines instead of the expected one.
Other lessons arrived by surprise. Once, the fridge door flung open mid-drive and startled everyone in the van, and the children quickly worked out it needed to be shut tight next time.
"There are so many lessons kids can take away from a motorhome experience, namely responsibility, carefulness and wise stewardship," the Chuas reflected.
Want to read more about families on the road? Check out Jordyn & Ben’s adventure with their newest explorer in tow.
How do you balance togetherness with personal space in a large group?
The families created an easy routine – daytimes were spent together, while evenings allowed them to relax in their own space. They had dinner together, read books, or tucked in for an early night.
“After dinner, our family had the routine of sitting around the table, chatting about the day, snacking a bit, and then washing up,” the Chuas said.
“It was harder for the kids to go back to their respective vans because they were so used to previous travels where they shared a room or two! So that was a bit of a bummer for them. But there’s no way four kids are going to dominate a van!”
Once the children crashed, the rear bedroom of the motorhome gave the adults a comfortable evening sanctuary. They ended up appreciating this feature a lot, as it gave the parents a bit of quiet time.
Which destinations turned out to be the highlights of the trip?
Glentanner was a firm favourite, thanks to a walk down to the lake that gave the group its most meaningful evening of the whole trip.
"The sun was slowly setting, and we were just in awe of nature, of how small we were, and the kids were happy placing messages with stones on the beach," the Chuas remembered. "We told stories of the Hobbit, the boys chitchatted about football, and it was so lovely just having that time together, enjoying nature and the company of one another."
Tekapo turned out far better than anyone had expected, its playgrounds and ducks winning the group over. The motorhomes drew wildlife wherever they parked, from a golden pheasant loitering nearby to a yellow-legged hornet the family later learned they were meant to report to biosecurity.
"The long drives gave us parents the chance to chat and reflect on life together, which is something we don't get to do often in Singapore," the Chuas said.
Need more inspiration? Check out our South Island with a Toddler Itinerary for the best family-friendly spots.
Was there anything that didn’t go as planned, or anything you’d do differently?
Not everything went to plan. One day the group brushed past another van, and the mudguard on the left rear came clean off.
"That was quite shocking, and we felt so bad," the Chuas said. "But we called Wilderness, and they were so quick to provide help. They told us to leave their number and our vehicle number plate, and then assured us that all would be well. We were really thankful for their prompt response and assistance."
Looking back, the Chuas see a style of travel that asked more of everyone and gave plenty in return. Clearing your own waste, remembering the gas, planning drive routes and parking around the size of the van, all of it called for independence, care, and a fair bit of forethought.
They would happily do it all again, with one change in mind for next time.
"We would not pack the itinerary so tightly," they said. "We’d plan more free days to simply drive around and park wherever looks scenic. We would not drive more than 100km on any day, since driving a campervan means you have to go a little slower on the roads."
The days they pushed from Queenstown to Tekapo wore them out, a reminder that the best moments came when nobody was rushing to the next stop. For the Chuas, those were the ones worth holding onto: the walk to the lake at Glentanner, the ducklings at Tekapo, and the simple pleasure of eight people who know each other well, sharing a small space and a beautiful country.
Ready to start planning your own family adventure? Read our guide to travelling in a motorhome with kids.
