You’ve just finished a day lugeing in Queenstown, almost didn’t do the Nevis Bungy Swing, and calmed down with a few icy Monteiths ciders in the backpacker bar. Now, your parked up near the lake, wrapped in your sleeping bag, staring out the sky light in your campervan. The stars are vibrant in the clear night sky and the moon gleaming off the still lake. This is the Southern Island of New Zealand in a campervan.
Freedom, fun and friends rolled into four wheels. Theres no shortage of sights to be seen. Every corner you turn in your motorhome brings a view like you have never seen before. Milford Sound is an incredible drive along the rain shadow of the Southern Alps.
The natural wonders of this diverse landscape are shaped by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers and melting ice caps. The magnitude of the fiordlands may have a firm scientific reason, but let your mind wander in the creative backround and believe in the local maori folklore that they’re carved by giants. The ski slopes surrounding Lake Wanaka rise from a fallen giant laying sleeping.
There is a very rich history to be explore in New Zealand from long before its European Settlers, so visit one of the many tradional Maori homes and museums. See local tribes around the Northland in the North Island perform the Haka and Tribal dances. Just like in Ireland, there are an abundance of stories to be dug up on your adventures that may seem unlikely, but then, everything about New Zealand seems unlikely!
Part of the experience of travelling around New Zealand in a campervan is that you can do so at a pace you like, and every tree and strange flower you pass has some relation to the local culture, so take the time to stop and enjoy. A city is a city, and there aren’t many in New Zealand. You will probably spend most of your time looking for natural wonders rather than man-made ones, and the coasts seem to be hot spots for this. Although further inland, hidden among the mountains, are gloworm caves, waterfalls and lakes and hot springs caused by heated volcanic underground streams.
The north island even boasts a geezer that’s not to be missed. From your campervan you get the best views of New Zealand, for more often than not, these aren’t the plotted tourist spots, but just generally seeing the landscape. Park up at the bottom of a mountain and hike to the top, stopping at fresh mountain streams from some of the worlds purest water.
The adventure capital of the world – Queenstown -takes pride in utilising its environment to create the worlds 2nd highest bungy, the only canyon swing, water jets that twist and turn at high speeds on the rivers, cold water surfing, abseiling, skiing, snowboarding, skydiving and so much more that you will need a campervan to fit all your gear in!
Theres a sport for any season, and as no two things are the same here, you will always be jumping in the van for a few days surfing,penguin spotting, or driving somewhere new to try out your snowboard. A queer sensation of deja vu may hit any New Zealand novice wandering around the countryside, but don’t worry, you have probably just stumbled upon a location used in some Hollywood movie.
