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New Zealand and its stunning scenes are as close to fantasy as it can get. With all the marvelous forest, glaciers, mountains and torrents of other natural landforms, what better way to explore all that this island pair has to offer than an extensive road trip?

If you visit New Zealand, campervans can offer you a significant load of flexibility. You can easily follow your curiosity and reach places you usually wouldn’t. You could be a legendary camper or an amateur, but here are a few useful takes on what it’s like renting campervans in New Zealand.

When you start, you may want to consider the size of any vehicle you want to use. Your best bet is getting a van that’s under two years old. At least it’s got a few miles on the clock and would be in reasonably good condition.

In terms of size, pick one that has as much space as you need. Most two-berth campervans now have a built-in toilet and shower, as well as some dining space, a microwave, toaster, some barbecue grills, beddings and towels. The only trouble you may have to deal with is making and dismantling your bed every day.

Four berths have twice the space; you can finally keep your beds in one piece all day. The additional room doubles up as a living and dining space. However, these vehicles are significantly beefier and might pose a challenge maneuvering small parking spaces.

Owing to the rugged terrain of New Zealand, its roads are notoriously winding and only have a single lane. On the other hand, the signs are apparent, and these roads’ surface conditions are superb.

Campervans in New Zealand also have automatic transmissions. They drive well but don’t take off quite as quickly, and they crawl up the hills. Sometimes it is better to slow down and pull over to let faster vehicles through.

When you are ready to start your trip, check out the local campervan depot as early as they open. You should probably get there in time because the depots are already well lined up half an hour after opening at peak demand.

For more information about campervans you can check a popular local site – Travel Cars NZ

After you have secured a suitable vehicle, as soon as you open your maps, here are some prime locations you may consider visiting.

North Island

• The Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Islands are best known for their beautiful beaches. However, down the north road from Auckland, you will find some of New Zealand’s most spectacular vistas. In this corner is a small town called Orewa bordered by a few miles of caramel sand, strewn with vegetation patches. The end of the camp is lined with a row of trees in front of the beach. There is also a scenic reserve nearby with wooden boardwalks you can take to enjoy the view over the water. At night, some of its bushes are spotted with glow worms. Further north is another town called Mangawhai Heads, which sits near an estuary and if you park near the sand dunes, you can watch the surfers.

• Russel- this small seaside town used to be a whaling village once upon a time. Its drinking dens and homes have been transformed into English style cottages. Its campsite is located on a hill, and its elevation gives a clear, stunning view over the town and the seawater twinkling in the background.

• Tongariro National Park- this ash choked region of New Zealand attracts tourists like bees to flowers. The only hotel options in the area are the Chateau Tongariro, which looks like a classic relic from the 1920s. However, there are a few validated spots for campers in the native bush. You might not see the volcanoes, but the snow-peaked Ngaruhoe chips into view as you head out on the walking or cycling trails.

South Island

• Wanaka- this lakeside town is surrounded by mountain ranges and foothills, making it a very peaceful spot to camp. You can take it up a notch by reserving a spot at the local grassy motor camp that runs along one of the lake’s inlets. You can snatch a view of the Rippon vineyards with its neatly arranged vines braiding the hillside down to the lake. Mount Roy sits nearby, with its arrowhead peak just a day’s walk.

• Twelve Mile Delta- here lies a stretch of campsites strewn across a stony river delta running across Twelve Mile Creek’s mouth. Many pitches are close to the shores of an S-shaped glacier lake called Wakatipu.

• If you drive down the side of Wakatipu and keep going north, you reach Glenorchy’s township, which looks insanely dwarfed by Mount Earnslaw in the north and its chain of surrounding mountains.

Conclusion

Regardless of where you choose to go, New Zealand has a harem of activities you can indulge in while on the road. Visit the nearby communities, watch their cultural display and buy their artifacts as souvenirs. Try out the local food and jars of wine in the wide array there is around the region. You can visit the cities and enjoy their nightlife, travel the outdoors, and soak in starlight together with the beauty of its wilderness. Exploring New Zealand in campervans is getting all the comforts of home while basking in nature’s stunning glory.