Sometimes it takes a full-on disconnect from technology to full-on reconnect with your surroundings. By the time we landed in New Zealand, we’d been constantly connected for 10 months. This is not a complaint – quite the opposite. Without technology it would not be possible to live the life we currently live. Technology can be our savior, but it can also be our undoing! I think we can all relate. Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine a life un-tethered from laptops and phones. It’s hard to disconnect even when you want to… there are too many distractions. For the sake of our own sanity, we’ve learned that it’s imperative to do so from time to time, and what better way to enforce it than to remove all possibility of interference. This was our M.O. for exploring the South Island of New Zealand. We moved into a camper van, without any data or wifi, and we drove far from the digital realm.
Our ‘home’ was a Wicked camper van. The company is best known for their hilariously inappropriate van murals, our Spidey senses were tingling with delight when we moved into our new home for the coming weeks (it could have been much worse, trust me!).
If you’re looking for a small camper van that’s easy to drive, with all the basic necessities (convertible bed/dining table, storage, small gas burner) and you have a slightly inappropriate sense of humor (guilty as charged), then Wicked is right for you.
If you’d like more space and the option for a toilet on-board (how luxurious!), you might want to go with a Juicy van instead.
I’ll keep it real and admit that we aren’t particularly great at ‘roughing it’. Our best camping experiences are often when our ‘eagle-scout’ friend joins the adventure, and our drive across the South Island wasn’t always comfortable. We ate a lot of canned ravioli, slept uncomfortably on many nights, and ended our drive in a smelly state, itching from bug bites (sand fleas are the worst in NZ!). We also learned some creative cooking methods, met fascinating people, taught a group of Aussies how to make s’mores by a bonfire, and became pros at going to the bathroom in the woods. We conquered the island together. We laughed harder than ever, and were constantly amazed by the immense beauty and ever-changing landscapes.
That time we dined on top of our camper van… red wine, canned ravioli and a killer sunset! This was also the moment I realized that canned ravioli doesn’t taste as good as it did in college, but it does pair well with a NZ Pinot. ??☺️ #campervanlife #southisland #roadtrippin #bestworldyet A photo posted by Andrea & Bryan?Best World Yet (@bestworldyet) on
Our experience taught us a few important lessons that everyone should know before setting out for a camper van drive through NZ. Some of these points may seem obvious – so let’s just call this a rookie’s guide to camper van life.
- Bring bug spray – you’ll need it often.
- Bring a light – shit gets dark.
- Bring baby wipes – when you can’t shower, a nice body/neck scrub will leave you feeling refreshed.
- Download the Campermate App on your phone and read reviews for each campsite – follow the advice of your fellow campers!
- Introduce yourself to fellow travelers – you might get lucky and be served a nice meal (big thanks to the sweet lady who fed us lamb chops!).
- Cash your maps before you leave wifi/make sure you have an offline map available.
- Don’t underestimate how long it will take you to get from place to place. Google maps does not account for the fact that you are driving a big, slow van down rugged roads.
- DRIVE ON THE LEFT!
What’s the best way to tackle the South Island? You could spend months exploring, so narrowing down the list of incredible sites can be overwhelming. Let us guide you to an epic adventure – here’s a hit-list of experiences you can’t afford to miss.
#1 Queenstown
The adventure capital of NZ! Make time to stop for a bungee jump at the very least – this is the most famous spot to jump in the world! Queenstown is the perfect start to a NZ road-trip, with Wicked and Juicy rentals available for easy pickup.
Click here to read more about pushing your limits in Queenstown!
#2 Wanaka
This gorgeous lake town is worth staying more than a few nights if you can spare (we settled in for 2 weeks!). Stroll around the lake, find the famous Wanaka Tree, kayak to Ruby Island, mountain bike along the Clutha River and visit Rippon Vineyard for a tasting.





#3 Milford Sound
It’s a long journey (and quite a bit out of the way) from Wanaka to Milford by car. A flight to the sound, however, is the most efficient and (most importantly) most scenic way to visit the fiords. This is a rare opportunity to experience the most stunning views in all of NZ!
Click here for more about Milford Sound – the most unique landscape in all of NZ!
#4 Punakaiki Rainforest
The pancake rocks of Punakaiki are a popular tourist stop for a reason. They’re incredibly unique and provide an impressive landscape along the coastal drive. Stop in for a quick visit and, if you have more time, take a hike through the lush rain forest.




#5 Franz Josef Glacier
Schedule a tour with The Helicopter Line – this was one of our most memorable experiences in NZ! The flight to the glacier is breathtaking, and it just gets better from there! We were fitted with crampons and guided through an ice-sculpted wonderland. The scenery is unbelievable, and our guide provided fascinating information along the way. The glacial landscape changes daily, so each experience is unique and exciting.
#6 Mount Cook National Park
A rugged landscape of ice and rock, with sparkling blue lakes scattered in between. There are multiple hikes and plenty of big views, as well as New Zealand’s highest mountain!
Photo credit: our friends at Roamaroo
#7 Abel Tasman National Park
Our favorite stop on this journey was Totaruni Campground. It’s a long drive to the far north of the South Island… it’s hard to access…. and it’s totally worth it. When you reach the dirt road that seems to go on forever, just keep pressing on! Camp here for a few nights just off the beach, and enjoy untouched beauty and a lively campground atmosphere with many travelers. You can also hike a portion of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track (one of NZ’s ‘great walks’). With ferries available for transfer to various points along the trail, we hiked along the coast for a full day before catching a ride back to camp. The views are incredible, rain or shine (in our case – rain!).
#8 Marlborough Wine Region
Make a day of tasting! Our favorite winery in the region is Yealands. The grounds are some of the most impressive we’ve ever seen, with miles of vines that stretch all the way to the cliffs, which drop dramatically to the coast! The views are unbelievable. Stop in for a tasting, then take a scenic drive through the grounds, where you’ll find multiple spots to stop and picnic.
#9 Kaikoura
Take time to stop at multiple spots along this stretch, and be sure to make friends with the fur seals along your way. Kaikoura is teeming with marine-life, and there are dozens of ways to experience the action. Snorkel with the seals, kayak with the dolphins, or schedule a whale watching tour.
If you’d like to follow our tracks to an unbelievable South Island road-trip, here’s a map highlighting all the sweet spots 🙂
The beauty of New Zealand can’t be denied, but what makes it so special? There’s nowhere else in the world that lends itself to driving through such diverse landscapes in a matter of days. From lakes and mountains to glaciers and rain forests – there’s so much beauty crammed into such a small island!
When you visit, do it right. Disconnect and take it all in…
Life is what happens in between wifi signals.Click To TweetPIN IT!
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❤️!
Frances :* <3
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Everything sounds so amazing! I want to do it all! The van art is hilarious. I would totally rent it just to smile every time I got in.
After a while we got used to it, and would wonder why people were laughing at us and taking pictures 😉 “Oh yea… our van is hysterical.”
I’ve always thought that New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on earth and your photos prove it! And that van? So cool 😀 It really does sound like an epic road trip.
It is such a stunning place!
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New Zealand has been a dream everything here is just so amazing! I love it! I wish that I can go sooner.
Great, would love to visit NZ and cruise around with a retro camper!
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Great report! The heli hike experience looks supercool. Definitely need to put NZ on top of my bucket list 😉
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we’re so planning a NZ road trip but it’s just a matter of getting the time together – pinned this because it has lots of good tips! Life is indeed what happens when you are too busy messing wifi! great quote.
Thanks Shobha! I’m so happy you found it helpful 🙂
Traveling around with camper must be really adventurous! I know people who have done it even with the kids! So brave:)
I can’t even imagine doing it with kids. SO brave!!
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What a fabulous adventure…and great resource! I’m not usually a fan of road trips (or roughing it)–but I’ll admit to being intrigued!
This was new for us as well. I think it was a fun way to explore, but we were excited for a hot shower and comfy bed at the end of it!
Looks like such an amazing trip. I love the Ripon Winery. Those vines and the water are perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Ripon was incredible!
I love the van! And yes, baby wipes are a must. I learned that from my time in the Army lol
Love this…an amazing digital detox in such beauty and splendor. Have always wanted to visit New Zealand and your pics and videos are great. Thanks for sharing your amazing experience.
Is there a cooler way to road trip around in NZ than in a retro van? Probably not. Some great tips!
I think not 😉
Have never been to New Zealand and would love to do a road trip. Good tips.
This is the trip I wish we’d done across South Island. We drove on the west side, had too few days and didn’t camp. NZ is made for camping. Must go back and I love this option.
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Yes! Been looking for a guide like this. Great tips. We head to NZ in 2017
Awesome! You are going to have a blast!
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Wow. Just seeing all your pictures and the amount of outdoor activities to enjoy is convincing me to check out options to travel to NZ! What an amazing landscape. Surreal! I wouldn’t mind road tripping there for a couple of months. Props to you guys for the challenge of your living it out in your van! I’ve never bungee jumped and this seems like the perfect place to try!
One question though, how’s the food there?
More power to you guys!
Hi Trisha! There were some great little cafes in Queenstown and Wanaka; however, we spent most of our time in NZ eating canned soup and sandwiches 😉 Our camper van kitchen wasn’t exactly accommodating for much more! When you visit, (if you like meat) I definitely recommend trying roo. It was my favorite NZ food discovery. We had that a few times and lamb chops as well.. can’t beat a good barbecue in that part of the world!
Big thanks to the Best World Yet for their guide on the ultimate NZ roadtrip: https://t.co/EAsJN27cWP https://t.co/3DfN3hDyAW
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