If you’re planning a family road trip around New Zealand, here are 14 things we’ve learned along the way that would have been handy to know before we started!

1. Freedom camping in NZ is everywhere!
Whether it’s in a car park at the beach, right up a mountain or next to a lake, New Zealand is incredibly motorhome and caravan friendly and there are some absolute perlas out there.
👉 To find camps we use the WikiCamps and CamperMate apps. (We’ve shared more of our favourite travel apps in How we plan our route in New Zealand – the apps and tricks we use everyday!

2. Kids will turn your holiday into a playground tour.
Trust me when I say playgrounds are everywhere! Not just your standard swing and slide either, think rope bridges, trampolines, water play, see saws, massive slides and more!
Pretty much if you find a town, you’ll find an epic playground no matter how big or small the town is.

3. NZ is bigger than you think.
Unfortunatley you won’t see it all, much like Australia. To give you some scale: New Zealand is bigger than the UK and about the same size as Japan. Don’t underestimate the distances!

4. Van life in winter with kids is no joke.
Cold weather makes things tricky: wet clothes mean constant washing, getting outside takes 23 layers, and small spaces feel extra cramped when everyone wants to stay indoors.

5. Gumboots are a national uniform.
Seriously though, they’re worn everywhere: shops, pubs, hikes, playgrounds – no where is off limits. And not just the cute ones like Merry People either… we’re talking full on knee high heavy duty gummys!

6. Pak’nSave has the cheapest groceries.
They’re everywhere, stocked with familiar brands, and the cheapest overall.
In NZ the price labels are on the top of the shelf, not the bottom (it took me forever to figure this out 😅).

7. The Roady App is a game changer.
We use it to find activities and sightseeing spots. Our motto – if it’s not on Roady, it’s probably not worth going to. (The app also works in Australia! We’ll be using it there too 🙌🏼).

8. A trusty vehicle matters.
Between winding mountain roads and remote stops, you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Especially with kids in tow!

9. Travel times are deceiving.
If the map says 2 hours, expect 4. The mountain roads are super windy, and they look like a toddler tried to draw a straight line and gave up halfway.

10. More solar is always better.
Our heater runs every night in single digit temps, which drains the battery fast. Without enough solar, we need caravan parks for power every couple of nights and costs add up quickly.

11. Less = more.
Living in a van means embracing minimalism. Cupboard space is limited and clutter builds fast if things don’t go back in the right place.

12. Speed limits change quickly.
It can drop from 100 to 50km/h with very little warning. Don’t get caught out like Shaun did in Australia… he missed a sign, lost 3 demerit points and got slapped with a $500 fine.

13. Caravan parks aren’t like Australia.
More are more basic and in need of a renovation. usually just power and amenities. Not all have water or sullage points on your site which we thought was super weird but now we are just used to.

14. Family-friendly hikes are everywhere.
You’ll find easy trails all over NZ that even little legs can manage. You might be surprised (like us!) by how much your kids enjoy hiking when given the chance.

Travelling NZ with kids is full of surprises — some challenging, some incredible. Hopefully, these tips help make your adventure that little bit smoother! If you have any questions or want more information about a New Zealand travel topic, let me know in the comments or over on our Instagram.

❤ Britt
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