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I like these journey experiences you have got and dangle on to for years to come – the sort that you just at all times speak about at dinner events and that fill the reply to everybody’s favorite query: The place is the most effective place you have got ever travelled to?
Though I can’t reply the query definitively (my reply fairly actually modifications each time I reply), I can say with confidence that New Zealand would have to be one of the vital stunning, untouched, epic, dramatic and simply down proper jaw dropping locations I’ve ever been.
After I visited for the second time a few months in the past, I needed to get a van and drive across the South Island for a few weeks. I’m fortunate to have a pal who additionally lives in New Zealand and got here on a part of the journey with me, travelling round every single day to a new seashore, city, or tenting floor in the mountains. When you too are eager about an escape to the South Island of New Zealand, right here’s precisely how to do van life in New Zealand!
Travelling across the landscapes of New Zealand is like respiration the cleanest air, consuming twice purified water or feeling recent blades of grass beneath your ft. There’s a purity on the South Island you gained’t discover elsewhere in the world.
Step One: Select a Van
My journey was a type of final minute runaway concepts I had and earlier than I knew it, I used to be touchdown in Queenstown Worldwide Airport and settling in to my new home, an outsized rental van. There are a few completely different types of vans you possibly can select and methods you possibly can go about this – from an overpriced (however very fairly) kombi rental to a inventory normal van that sleeps 2-Three individuals, to a full-fledged motor house. You possibly can even purchase a van on New Zealand’s model of Craigslist (it’s known as Commerce Me) and promote it when you’re executed exploring, which might be a notably good thought for these planning on travelling across the nation in a van for longer than a couple of weeks. I discovered my van on this comparability rental web site which confirmed me what was obtainable, essentially the most inexpensive choices, and led me to guide by way of the rental firm direct (no, none of that is sponsored – I paid full value for all the things – yay for me).
Upon getting a van it’s time to hit the open highway: however not with out a few crucial issues to word! Opposite to fashionable perception you cannot “freecamp” anyplace in New Zealand or you can be fined. I.e. you cannot park your van on the aspect of the highway and sleep the night time simply anyplace however the excellent news is there are locations the place you possibly can.
The easiest way to know the place you possibly can camp and the way a lot it’s going to price is to obtain a campsite app that may present you on a map the place the closest campsites are – how a lot they price (if something) and the amenities obtainable.
I used Rankers NZ and it was an absolute life saver – extremely straightforward to use, compares what’s close to in the world, exhibits all of the contact data and even has a score system (once more – no sponsorship right here – simply a real love for innovation in the journey house!)
Renting a Van vs. Shopping for a Van
As I discussed earlier the principle determination to make about travelling round New Zealand in a van is whether or not you’ll lease or purchase your van.
Ask any native kiwi and so they’ll let you know trademe.co.nz is the most effective place to purchase a second hand car (or second hand something) in New Zealand. You’ll be able to count on to pay a few thousand {dollars} for one thing respectable, however make certain to contemplate the time it may take to promote afterwards, insurance coverage, and many others.
Creating the Itinerary: Two Weeks in the South Island of New Zealand
When you’ve booked or purchased your van, learn up concerning the highway guidelines, downloaded your app and packed your baggage you’re prepared to go. Now for the enjoyable half: planning.
New Zealand is a comparatively small nation however has a lot to see and do, so make certain to enable sufficient time to pack all the things in. Many guests to NZ will journey each the North and South island, crossing the Cook dinner Strait however for my journey I needed to focus my efforts on the South Island solely (the extra dramatic surroundings the higher in case you ask me) and return to do the North Island at one other time.
Beginning Level: Queenstown
Now there are a few locations you possibly can begin your New Zealand van life journey – essentially the most sensible being both Queenstown or Christchurch and driving in one route then flying out of the opposite. The opposite choice can be to fly in and out of 1 metropolis and drive in a loop, which is what I selected to do as a result of I didn’t need to plan an excessive amount of and simply see the place the wind (or extra appropriately the van) took me.
Mount Cook dinner (Aoraki)
You’ll be able to’t come to New Zealand’s South Island and never go to the well-known Mount Cook dinner, often known as Aoraki. That is New Zealand’s largest mountain and is over 2,400 metres tall. While you’re right here you may want to keep a few nights in the van as a result of the world may be very climate dependent and we discovered ourselves attempting to go up in the air in a helicopter 4 days straight earlier than we have been ready to take off (the wind and snow actually results what you are able to do and when). We stayed on the city of Twizel.
Dunedin
After a few days longer than we had deliberate in Mount Cook dinner, we headed straight for the seashore and to town of Dunedin to thaw out (the temperatures have been in the negatives and our van turn out to be nothing in need of an ice popsicle). You possibly can simply spend a few days in Dunedin, particularly if you’re visiting throughout summer time as there are some nice seashores to surf and town is vibrant with its’ younger pupil inhabitants.
Heading South Alongside the Coast
From right here the itinerary can actually change depending on what you need out of your journey. For myself and my pal Sophie we had just about no plans or intentions, so we simply stored driving down to the Nugget Level Lighthouse and as soon as we have been there, determined to enterprise again towards Queenstown and spend a week on the slopes.
Wanaka
Due to our indecisive nature and following the place the wind took us, we ended up backtracking and driving the identical roads twice which isn’t ultimate when you think about the gasoline costs in this space of New Zealand. Nonetheless we have been eager to hit the slopes and with some recent powder on the best way, we made our means again to Wanaka and parked up the van in a campsite for a week.
Wanaka turned out to be my favorite metropolis/city in the entire South Island with its’ laidback nature, nice meals and mountain bike trails (which regardless of being very muddy are nonetheless accessible in the winter!)
Ultimate Ideas
Residing in a van is a smart way to see New Zealand, particularly when there are such a lot of scenic spots to park your van (like waking up on the seashore, in the mountains, or in distinctive cities the place you should purchase a classic ski go well with for simply $40 – profitable!)
I might extremely advocate van life for anybody visiting New Zealand and simply scripting this publish want I may return and do all of it once more!
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