One random night, Shaun and I were about to turn on the TV when we decided instead of numbing our brains at the end of a long day, we would create a 1–2 year plan.

A few wild ideas were thrown around… and then I said, “What if we travel New Zealand for six months?”

*Cue immediate excitement*

But when we looked into hiring a campervan for that long?

$58,000!

Hiring was definitely off the table.

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Why NZ?

We’ve loved New Zealand for a long time — Shaun and I visited Queenstown years ago on a package snow trip (it was actually cheaper than skiing in Australia!) and we completely fell in love with it.

When we thought about it more, NZ just made so much sense:

• Close to home — only a 3-hour flight from Sydney

• Affordable flights — around $255 per person

• We can buy our own campervan (even without a NZ mailing address)

• Familiar but overseas — easy access to doctors, supermarkets, shops, etc.

• Insane natural beauty — hot springs, glaciers, beaches, rainforests

• We’ve already lapped Australia and wanted a brand new adventure

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Our Campervan Plan

After some very serious Googling, we realised:

• Our budget would allow us to afford to buy a camper van in NZ for $40K-50K.

• We can sell it at the end of our trip to get a good chunk of that money back

• Even if we lose $10K in resale value, it’s still $45K better than giving it to a rental company!

A big investment upfront but a no brainer for the amount of time we want to spend exploring the entire country.

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Our Campervan Wishlist

We think we know what we want, but we’re keeping an open mind too.

Here’s what we’re ideally looking for:

• Budget: $40K–$50K NZD

• Shower and toilet onboard (self-contained certified)

• Big windows to let in light and be able to see all the epic views without stepping foot outside

• Main bed at the back under the windows

• 4 berth setup (anchor points for car seats = big bonus!)

• Diesel heater for those chilly South Island mornings (another bonus!)

• Kitchen essentials included — pots, pans, bits and pieces to get started

• Older but quirky — something with character, not just a plain white van (like the photos above- thanks marketplace!)

Basically… something that feels homey!

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When We’re Buying

Because we’re buying in New Zealand, it’ll depend a little on what’s available at the time — but we’re aiming to purchase around mid-July 2025.

We’re ready to hit the ground running when we arrive!

It’s a long shot but if you know of anyone selling a camper, please get in touch either through the comments or over on our instagram – @Roam_N_Round

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Why We Can’t Wait

We honestly can’t wait to move back out of a house and live simply again.

There’s just something so special about waking up to a different backyard every day — wide open spaces, nature all around, and the kids learning through play, just like they’re meant to.

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Where We’re Looking for Campervans

We’re keeping a close eye on:

• Trade Me (NZ’s version of Gumtree)

• Facebook Marketplace

We’re hunting for something self-contained, full of charm — and when we find it, it’s go time!

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If you’ve traveled New Zealand in a campervan with kids, we’d love your tips! Drop them in the comments — we’re all ears.

❤ Britt

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