New Zealand by campervan: 1 week campervan itinerary ideas
Plan your campervan holiday with these road trip options for the North and South Islands
the west coast of the south island is an epic campervan destination — photo by miles holden
Campervan travel in New Zealand means rolling open the van door to see sunlight bouncing off the ocean. It’s bare feet in the sand, hanging my towel off the wing mirror to dry, jumping in the sea and calling it a shower.
It can be gritty and rugged, but seeing New Zealand by campervan is so much fun.
It’s also so easy here — this has to be one of the best countries for a campervan road trip. The scenery is gorgeous, campsites are prolific, the weather is (mostly) mild, and the country is relatively compact.
Plus, traveling in a bed on wheels means you get closer to the glorious outdoors that New Zealand is famous for.
I owned a campervan for two years and travelled both the North and South Islands in my van. I’ve clocked up more than 30,000 kilometres on New Zealand’s roads.
These are some of my favourite short road trips — if you’re looking for one week campervan itineraries, these might inspire you.
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Your campervan itinerary budget
Although a campervan holiday in New Zealand might be a little rugged and adventurous, it might not be as cheap as you think it will be.
In peak periods, you can be paying $200 or more per day for a campervan hire, and on top of that you need to pay for petrol (which is currently around $2.70 a litre) and a campervan park, which can be between $25-80 depending on whether you need a powered site or not.
You’ll probably want to stay at a powered site every couple of days, particularly in the winter months.
These costs can add up quickly, and mean you might be better off with a cheap rental car and basic accommodation.
Of course, with a campervan you’re paying for the experience, and you’ll save money on food with cooking facilities, but it’s something to consider when you’re looking at your budget.
To save money, use the ‘Gaspy’ app for finding the cheapest fuel — I did a lot of miles and saved money where I could.
1 week New Zealand campervan itinerary ideas
These itineraries are just starting points; you could easily travel around New Zealand for a month or more in a campervan, but these trips show what there is to see in the different regions.
Jump ahead based on the region you’re interested in visiting:
A trip from Auckland to the Coromandel, Waitomo, and Raglan
See the wild beaches of the Coromandel
Visit the glowworm caves at Waitomo
Check out the surf beaches at Raglan
Day 1: Auckland to Tapu
Driving the west coast of the coromandel is a completely different experience to the east. In many places, the road has pohutukawa trees on one side and the water on the other, a narrow strip of tarmac wedged in the middle.
The rocky shores are perfect for fishing and come evening, camping on this coast provides you with the chance to watch golden sunsets across the water.
A foray along the Tapu Valley road will take you to the mighty Square Kauri, which is well worth the detour. Weather permitting, the river carving through the bottom of the valley is also great for swimming.
A freedom campsite for self-contained vehicles at the Tapu Domain is a priceless spot for a waterfront stay.
For a campsite more secluded from the main road, Tapu Creek Campervan Park is a peaceful little gem.
Day 2: Drive north of Colville to the remote and beautiful Waikawau Bay
little bay, next to waikawau
Driving north of Coromandel town always feels like setting off for the last frontier.
The already narrow roads dwindle to slivers of gravel alongside the pohutukawa-lined coast.
WHERE TO CAMP
Waikawau Bay is one of my favourite places to head to in the northern reaches of the Coromandel. There’s a sprawling DOC campsite right next to the long surf beach.
Over the hill, Little Bay is the sweetest slice of Kiwiana life with tractors on the beach and baches tucked into the bush. There’s a great freedom camping spot here right by the beach.
Day 3: Opoutere
Set a few kilometres off State Highway 25, and filtered from the road by a tall stand of pines, Opoutere Beach is resolutely remote.
It’s highly likely that you’ll find yourself sharing the long stretch of white sand with only oystercatchers and endangered dotterels, which breed on the Wharekawa sand spit at the north of the beach.
As you walk around the estuary, you might also hear the screech of kaka and spot the parrots overhead.
WHERE TO CAMP
Opoutere Coastal Camping is a pretty spot caught between a stream and pine forest.
Or, head to the beach carpark which also doubles as a freedom campsite for self-contained vehicles.
Day 4: Waitomo
The Waitomo area is famous for glowworm caves and all the adventures you can do within — black water rafting, abseiling, caving, and all sorts of other underground shenanigans.
There are more sedate ways to see the glowworms, including short guided walks in the caves, and gentle punting around on rafts in the dark.
There are also some nice walk that explore the rock formations in the area.
WHERE TO CAMP
The Juno Hall YHA is a hostel that also offers powered and unpowered campervan sites.
Day 5 & 6: Raglan
Raglan’s laid-back, bohemian vibe makes it a dreamy campervan destination.
A perfect day here is going to yoga and getting coffee from Raglan Coffee Roasters, before heading over to Ngarunui Beach to walk, swim, or surf.
This beach is one of the North Island’s famous black sand beaches.
If you stick around long enough, the lookout point above the beach comes alive at sunset, with people settling onto picnic blankets and benches to enjoy the show.
Stay: Te Kopua Whanau Camp is a great campground only a few minutes walk from the beach. It’s $15 a night for a spacious, basic campground.
Day 7: Back to Auckland
The drive back to Auckland only takes around two hours. If you want to stop off along the way, make a quick detour to the Hamilton Gardens.
An Auckland to Wellington itinerary, via Castle Point and Cape Palliser
Day 1: Auckland to Rotorua
Day 2: Rotorua to Taupo
Day 3: Visit Tongariro National Park
Day 4: Head down to Whanganui
Day 5: Visit Castlepoint
Day 6: Drive to Cape Palliser
Day 7: End in Wellington
Day 5: Explore the windswept coastline at Castlepoint
Castlepoint is a special place Fishing boats sit pulled up onto the sandy shore. Occasionally, someone bobs past on a horse. Other than a local shop, which also serves as a coffee place and takeaway joint, there’s not much here other than simple baches hunkering against the hills.
Watching over the small settlement is Castlepoint Lighthouse, a monolith atop a craggy limestone knoll lashed by waves.
First lit in 1913, it's the tallest lighthouse in the North Island and one of the last two remaining lighthouses in New Zealand with a rotating beam. A boardwalk scales the fossil studded ridge of the headland to reach the lighthouse, then climbs beyond to an epic lookout.
For an alternative vantage point, follow the Deliverance Cove Walking track from the carpark.
It curves along a pine-covered ridge above the beach, eventually leading to the mighty Castle Rock. Scramble up through golden grass and until you reach the lofty peak.
At 162 metres high, it looms over the coast and gives impressive views in all directions. Walk back to the carpark along the half moon of the lagoon, where surfers catch waves rolling in through a narrow gap in the rock.
WHERE TO CAMP
Park up your campervan at the Castlepoint Holiday Park for a prime spot close to the water, with views of the lighthouse. It’s equally pretty at night, with the beam of light swirling over town beneath skies dusted with stars.
Day 6: Find the end of the road at Cape Palliser
Visiting Cape Palliser is one of the best things to do near Martinborough in the Wairarapa region.
Make a pit stop for coffee and cake at The Land Girl cafe in blink-and-you-missed-it Pirinoa. It’s the perfect amount of quirky, with upcycled outdoor seating where you can enjoy country views, and even some vintage clothing treasures to browse.
To break up the drive, stop by the Putangira Pinnacles to go for a bush walk and marvel at distinct rock formations. The track follows the streambed to the knobbled fairy chimneys of the pinnacles, reaching up from the stony ground.
There is a DOC campsite here if you enjoy the peace of the bush.
The road to Cape Palliser follows the pebbled coast and is dotted with one-way bridges, slowing you down in preparation for the pace of life in Ngawi, a quirky fishing village wedged between a cliff and gravelly beach.
Bulldozers tinted orange from salt spray sit in a haphazard line along the water’s edge, rusted hulks waiting to drag homecoming fishing boats from the ocean.
Rogue sheep trot across the road, only mildly perturbed by passing cars.
Continuing on past Ngawi, you’ll start to feel as if you’re reaching the end of the world, and in some ways you are; this is the southernmost point of the North Island.
The road becomes narrow and potholed, dipping in and out of fords and clinging to the rocky cliff in places.
Only attempt it if you’re in a small to medium-sized campervan.
On the way to the lighthouse is the largest fur seal colony in the North Island. The seals are everywhere, hopping between bushes and lugging themselves over rocks, wafting pungent smells as they go. They are often sprawled right by the parking area, so take care and make sure you keep at least a 20-metre distance.
The Cape Palliser lighthouse is the last stop on the road. Boldly candy striped in red and white, it has stood at its fantastic vantage point since 1897. Climb the 253 steep steps to enjoy views of the harakeke-covered hills and surf surging onto shingle beaches below.
WHERE TO CAMP
The camping area of Ngawi is right in the middle of the village, conveniently next to the Captain’s Table Food Truck which dishes up fresh fish and chips.
The campsite is run on donations, so drop a few coins into the box and settle in for the evening to watch the bustle of activity around the fishing boats.
Day 7: To Wellington, via Martinborough
As a final port of call before making the return trek over the Remutaka Range, call in at Poppies Martinborough for lunch. You can’t drive through the Wairarapa without visiting at least one winery, and Poppies is a highlight.
Lunch comes in the form of decadent, seasonal platters. Call in advance to book; it’s a delightful treat to end a weekend of campervanning.
1 week campervan itinerary around the top of the South Island
Golden Bay
Marlborough and the Marlborough Sounds
Golden Bay
Cruise out to Puponga to discover a wild corner of Golden Bay.
Farewell Spit is a long arc of sand which acts as a beacon to migratory birds. There are short walks around the base of Farewell Spit and Puponga Farm Park. Hike to a lighthouse, meander along granite-coloured cliff tops, or stop by Cape Farewell, the northernmost point of the South Island.
Wind-swept Wharariki Beach is reached by a 20-minute walk across farmland. This wild beach has vast dunes and views out to the Archway Islands, plus a resident seal colony.
Soak up the peace for longer by staying at Farewell Gardens Holiday Park.
Marlborough and the Marlborough Sounds
One of the first places I stop after catching the inter island ferry from Wellington to the South Island is Pelorus Bridge.
The Pelorus River is an exceptionally clear, green ribbon of water carving through a pocket of towering native forest.
The scenic reserve feels like a quiet green haven, with the added bonus of a cafe. A series of short walks lead through the reserve and down to rocky riverbanks and pools of water. Plunging into the liquid glass water after a long drive is sublime.
The Pelorus Bridge campground is right next to the river.
For a campground well off the beaten track, head to French Pass.
The drive out to French Pass is a little hair raising.
The narrow road follows an impressive ridgeline with sweeping views of the sounds and offshore islands, tapering off to gravel for the last 20 kilometres — probably not ideal for larger motorhomes.
At French Pass there’s a waterfront campsite in a quiet bay.
Massive black stingrays sweep through the calm waters, close enough to touch. A rustic wharf juts out of the centre of the beach, and sitting here watching the rays glide underneath is mesmerising.
There are also a couple of short walks to explore. From the French Pass lookout you can watch the power of the French Pass current spin water into thick swirls between D’Urville Island and the mainland.
If you’re not up for driving all the way out to French Pass, Elaine Bay is roughly at the halfway mark of the Croisilles-French Pass Road. Here you’ll find a gorgeous DOC camping area right by the water of Pelorus Sound.
1 week on the West Coast of the South Island
Day 1: Christchurch to Westport
Day 2: Westport to Kohaihai
Day 3: Gentle Annie’s
Day 4: Punakaiki
Day 5: Ōkārito
Day 6: Franz Josef, Lake Matheson and Gillespies Beach
Day 7: Drive to Queenstown
Day 1: Westport
Despite its less than attractive name, Cape Foulwind is a beautiful stop. The coastal walkway here takes around two hours return, so it’s the ideal spot to break up a drive. You’ll see seals, a lighthouse, and brilliant views of the coastline.
Day 2: Westport to Kohaihai, at the end of the road on the West Coast
Detour off the main road into Kahurangi National Park to see the impressive Ōpārara Arches, grand limestone formations sculpted by the river. Getting there involves a gravel road which might not suit bigger campervans.
The walk to reach the main arch follows the Ōpārara River through luscious West Coast beech forest. As well as the Ōpārara Arch walk, the Moria Gate and Mirror Tarn loop is beautiful.
WHERE TO CAMP
Kohaihai Campsite is one of my favourite places to camp on the West Coast of the South Island.
Kohaihai is the last stop on the West Coast road heading north.
The campsite here is bordered by a tannin-dark lagoon and a beach of creamy sand. This is the start/end point of the Heaphy Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.
You can walk the first section of the track to reach deserted beaches fringed by nikau palms, enjoying a stretch of coast that feels truly untouched.
Day 3: Head to Gentle Annie’s Seaside Campground
Gentle Annie’s Campground is another highlight of the West Coast.
It’s a beautiful, sprawling green space set where the Mokihinui River meets the sea. The beach here is strewn with driftwood, which is occasionally scraped together for sculptures or bonfires.
Sunsets are spectacular, and if you walk down the beach to Gentle Annie Point you’ll find a clever maze crafted out of trees. If you can find your way through, you’ll emerge to a stunning sunset lookout point.
Day 4: Stop by Punakaiki for short walks and limestone rock formations
About an hour and a half south of Gentle Annie, you’ll come to Fox River, which is worth a stop.
A half day walk starting from the mouth of Fox River, the Ballroom Overhang is one of Paparoa National Park’s natural highlights. From Fox river, follows the Inland Pack Track along a limestone gorge.
The last part of the track follows the river – there is no formed trail and you’ll be wading and hopping up 500 metres of river bed to reach the overhang.
The water pouring through the West Coast limestone is filtered to a clear bottle green and it’s impossible to resist jumping into the deeper pools for a swim.
The section of highway between Fox River and Punakaiki is the most epic on the whole coast.
The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes walk is the main draw at Punakaiki, but the village itself is a beautiful place to spend time, sheltered under a limestone bluff and bordered by rivers.
The Porari River Track follows the boulder-studded river through thick nikau forest. The track eventually reaches the Inland Pack Track, and you can either turn around and head back or make a loop by following the Inland Pack Track around to where it exits by the Punakaiki River.
WHERE TO CAMP
Stay at the Punakaiki Beach Camp to make the most of exploring.
Ōkārito
Tiny Ōkārito is famous for the surreal Ōkārito Lagoon.
The wetland landscapes make the area ideal for walking and kayaking. Ōkārito Coastal Walk is also a great way to take in the surreal landscapes of wetlands, coastal forest, and mountains. The track runs high along a bluff before arriving at a tannin-dark lagoon. If it’s low tide, you can loop back along the beach and keep an eye out for Hector's dolphins playing in the waves.
WHERE TO CAMP
Right by the beach is a small, community run campground, the perfect place to spend a night or two.
Franz Josef, Lake Matheson and Gillespies Beach Campground
Franz Josef makes a great base for exploring glacier country.
Find epic glacier views via the Roberts Point and Alex Knob tracks, some of the country’s top day walks.
Depending on the weather and your experience, you can head 20 minutes down the road to hike the Mount Fox route, which gives epic views across Fox Glacier.
Lake Matheson is a classic West Coast pit stop. The walk around the lake is stunning even if breezes ripple the surface and you can’t see the mirror reflections of the mountains.
Keep on driving past Lake Matheson to reach Gillespies Beach Campground.
WHERE TO CAMP
You might want to stay in Franz Josef instead of Gillespies Beach (or instead of Okarito, the previous night).
If that’s the case, check out the Orange Sheep Campervan Park, tucked into lush native bush. It’s great value for money.
This DOC site is small and remote, set just back from the beach. Walks lead down the coast to the remains of an old gold mining settlement, and further to quiet lagoons.
The sunsets from the pebbled beach are beautiful, but the best part is standing on the beach and looking back toward the mountains, and seeing Fox glacier flowing from the Alps.
Finding campsites in New Zealand
You can’t just park your campervan anywhere in New Zealand. You’ll need to find offical campgrounds, DOC campsites, or legal freedom camping areas in New Zealand.
If you want a hot shower and cooking facilities, you can book a holiday park but note these tend to be aimed at young families or retirees with massive motorhomes. They are also the most expensive at NZD$20+ a night.
Top 10 campsites are a great and reliable option with excellent facilities. It’s handy to have access to washing machines at least once a week on your trip.
Freedom camping is restricted by local council bylaws, which means you can’t just park anywhere, or you risk getting a hefty fine.
To find places to park your campervan in New Zealand, I recommend using the Rankers or Campermate apps.
If you’re on a budget and driving a self-contained campervan, you can park in freedom camps. These are often car parks with designated overnight parks and a public toilet nearby.
It's a mixed bag, sometimes they're in prime locations on the beachfront, other times they are on the outskirts of town.
I read the reviews on Rankers and avoid any that mention unfriendly locals or a weird vibe. Most of the places with good reviews are reliably amazing.
The important thing to note is that if you park overnight outside designated freedom camping areas, you risk incurring fines.
Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites sit on public conservation land and are beautifully scenic.
They’re also budget friendly, ranging in price from NZD$5 -$20 depending on the facilities. They usually have water and compost toilets, and sometimes cold showers.
Considering my longest stretch without a shower was around two weeks over the hottest part of January, even a cold shower is a luxury.
In all my time traveling alone in my van, I have never felt unsafe in campgrounds.
I always keep friends and family updated on where I’m going.
I typically tuck myself into bed before dark, which means summer travel is easier when there is light until 9pm. In the gloomier winter months, I make sure I have reading material and podcasts downloaded for the evenings.
Of course, I lock my doors at night and don’t leave belongings outside — especially if there are wekas around.
In many campgrounds in the South Island, the most dangerous thing you’ll need to watch out for is the weka — these flightless, chicken-sized birds are adorable but endlessly annoying. They will steal anything you leave lying around.
They will dash out of the bushes and steal anything you leave lying around.
And I mean anything, I lost a bar of soap to one, nearly lost one of my hiking boots to another, and have had various snacks stolen by even more.
If you leave your van doors open, they might even jump inside on the hunt for treasure, so keep your things in the campevan and the doors closed!
Outside of the peak of the peak season (December and January) you don’t need to pre-book campsites.
Campsites are generally less busy than hotels, except for the Christmas and New Years period, when locals all go camping for their summer holidays.
Not having to book accommodation in advance is one of the great perks of travelling New Zealand in a campervan.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you found some useful tips for planning your campervan holiday in New Zealand. I’m excited that you’re going to visit us!
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