Campyavan

Campyavan A new platform that connects campervan travelers with private properties across Aotearoa.

If you’re after a bit of a challenge, you can summit the tallest peak in the Waikato’s Kaimai Ranges and be back down in...
28/09/2026

If you’re after a bit of a challenge, you can summit the tallest peak in the Waikato’s Kaimai Ranges and be back down in time for a celebratory b**r, all in less than a day. 🍻

Mt Te Aroha is no small feat. It’s a steep climb through native bush all the way to the summit, but you’ll be rewarded with incredible 360° views across the surrounding landscape, and as far as Mt Taranaki on a clear day.

The 9km out-and-back trail starts from Te Aroha Domain in the town centre, with over 900m of elevation gain on the way up. There are plenty of other trails from the Domain if you’re after something a little more relaxed, but none offer quite the same views.

A few tips from our experience!
🌄 We recommend getting an early start if you're heading out on a summer day to avoid the mid-afternoon heat.
💧 Be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks for a break at the top.
🥾 Ideally gear up with decent hiking boots and poles for some of the trickier sections.
🛘 Take extra care if it’s been raining, as parts of the track can get slippery.
☀️ The summit is sometimes shrouded in cloud, so if those big views are what you’re after, try to pick a clear day.

Once you’re back in town, reward yourself with a drink or some dinner at one of Te Aroha’s cafes, pubs or bars. A few of our favourites:

☕ Villa Nine: Great coffee and cafe food, plus the slices in the cabinet are amazing
🍺 The Office Bar & Eatery: A relaxed spot for a drink with a great pub menu
🍷 Vintage W**e Bar: Classy but cosy, with an interesting drinks menu, pizzas and bar snacks

Te Aroha is a little off the beaten track for most visitors road tripping the North Island, but this classic Kiwi town and its surrounding area have plenty to offer, so we think it’s well worth staying a night or two and exploring while you’re there.




This stretch of road deserves a spot on your NZ itinerary 🚐🏔️The road between Oamaru and Ōmārama often gets missed when ...
21/09/2026

This stretch of road deserves a spot on your NZ itinerary 🚐🏔️

The road between Oamaru and Ōmārama often gets missed when planning a South Island road trip. It doesn’t always fit neatly into the usual tourist loop, but we reckon it's worth making a little time in your itinerary for this detour!

SH83 through the Waitaki Valley is one of those drives where the scenery just keeps on giving. Much of the drive follows the valley’s lakes and dam system, surrounded by mountains. Luckily, there are plenty of places to pull over and explore, so while Google Maps expects you to do the trip in 90 minutes, we’d give it a good few hours!

A few of our favourite stops:
🪨 Elephant Rocks for a wander through some seriously impressive limestone formations. It was also one of the filming locations for The Chronicles of Narnia
🍺 The Best Dam Pub in Otematata for a cold b**r and a bit of classic Kiwi road trip culture
🚐 Benmore Dam where we found a quiet spot to park up, then walked over the hill to discover a spectacular, still lake with the mountains reflected perfectly in the water. A perfect spot for photos and a quiet moment.

Got a bit more time? Stop in at the Museum of the Vanished World or Kurow Museum & Information Centre to learn a little more about the local history of the Waitaki Valley.

There’s also a few low-cost lakeside campsites along the way, including Sailors Cutting, Loch Laird and Fishermans Bend. We haven't stayed at these ones ourselves yet, but they're definitely on our list for a future trip to really slow it down and take it in 👀🚐

It’s peaceful, beautiful and feels a world away from some of the busier tourist stops.
If you've got a little extra time in your itinerary, don't overlook this scenic stretch of highway!

When planning your New Zealand road trip, one of the biggest tips we can offer is to leave a little buffer time in your ...
17/09/2026

When planning your New Zealand road trip, one of the biggest tips we can offer is to leave a little buffer time in your itinerary 🚐 Here's what we've learnt about why that “2-hour drive” probably won’t take two hours:

📸 You'll almost definitely spot a viewpoint, beach, waterfall or mountain. Probably several. Wherever you're driving, plan for photo stops and a moment to appreciate your surroundings. You never know what you might come across.

🗺️ You might stumble across an activity or place you hadn't even heard of when planning your trip, and it’s such a shame to drive past not knowing if you’ll get a chance to go back and explore!

🛣️ Our roads simply aren't always what international visitors expect. Many of them, even our main highways, are narrow, winding, have single lane bridges, and passing lanes can be few and far between. This can all make the journey slower than the speed limit and your maps app might suggest.

🐑 And sometimes, you'll hit a traffic jam of the animal kind. Whether it's rogue wildlife or farmers moving their cattle from one paddock to another along the road... It happens!

We've learnt from experience that being short on time can mean missing out on some pretty great memories. So give yourself a bit of a buffer. You'll have more freedom to enjoy the journey, and all its unexpected possibilities.

If, like us, you'd love to do the Tongariro Crossing but are a little put off by how busy it gets, put the Tama Lakes Tr...
14/09/2026

If, like us, you'd love to do the Tongariro Crossing but are a little put off by how busy it gets, put the Tama Lakes Track on your list.

Starting from Whakapapa Village, you'll first pass the spectacular Taranaki Falls before heading through tussock and alpine landscapes towards Tama Saddle, with incredible mountain views along the way.

The main track has less elevation gain than the Tongariro Crossing, but you can add the steep, rocky side trip to Upper Tama Lake for a bit more of a challenge. For us, this was equal parts scary and fun 😂 but the views from the top were so worth the extra effort.

We'd also recommend a night or two at Whakapapa Holiday Park back in the village. It gave us a good chance to enjoy the local area and rest our tired legs after a long day of hiking. It's got more sheltered and private campervan sites than you often find at NZ holiday parks, and reminded us of some of the campsites we found travelling through the USA and Canada 🚐

Save this one for your next summer road trip 🏔️🚐

Being based in Christchurch, we've done a decent amount of exploring around Canterbury in between the longer road trips ...
03/09/2026

Being based in Christchurch, we've done a decent amount of exploring around Canterbury in between the longer road trips travelling around the motu.

One of our favourite ways to spend a day out is finding a new walk or hike, usually with a local coffee stop to start or a craft b**r to finish. 🍻☕

There are so many walking tracks around Canterbury, and plenty we haven't discovered yet, but we've picked three of our favourites so far. All are family friendly, have great views, and can be done in a few hours max, making them ideal for a day trip from Ōtautahi or a break from the road between destinations.

🏔️ Balmoral Fire Lookout
A steady 30-minute uphill walk along a 4WD track takes you to one of the historic fire lookout huts, with epic views across the mountains, rivers and forests of Hurunui District. You can even head inside the hut for a little history lesson! There’s not much nearby, but if you're heading back south, we recommend a refreshment stop at in Amberley.

🌿 Tāhekeru/Sharplin Falls
A varied track through native bush alongside Bowyers Stream, with swing bridges, giant rocks to squeeze around and a view of Sharplin Falls at the turnaround point. We walked this one in winter, but reckon the rock pools below the swing bridge would make a pretty epic swimming spot in summer. Stop in at nearby for a cosy pre-walk coffee!

🌊 Awaroa/Godley Head
Just 30 minutes from Christchurch city centre, Godley Head is a must-visit. Do the full three-hour loop from Taylor’s Mistake, or drive up through the Port Hills to the carpark for a shorter and easier wander. We recommend a pitstop at in Sumner for coffee and pastries on the way!

All of these walks are also on the website for more information! Big love for the Department of Conservation 🫶

Have you done any of these? And what Canterbury walk should we add to our list next? 👇

Canterbury is full of incredible places to explore, and Rakaia Gorge is one that's well worth adding to your list. It's ...
29/08/2026

Canterbury is full of incredible places to explore, and Rakaia Gorge is one that's well worth adding to your list. It's an easy day trip from Christchurch, or if you're driving SH1 between Christchurch and Timaru, we recommend taking an inland detour to stop off here along the way. The extra 30 minutes of driving is well worth it!

The bright blue river, dramatic cliffs and easy walking tracks make it the perfect place to pull over, stretch your legs and slow things down for a while. There are a few spots where you can access the river, and wander across the bridges to see the gorge from different angles.

If you're after something a bit more energetic, the Rakaia Gorge Walkway is a 10km out-and-back hiking track, so you can tackle the whole thing or just walk part of it if you're short on time. Make sure to wear decent walking boots, as parts of the track can get pretty muddy.

There's also a low-cost campsite right by the gorge. We visited in the off season and loved how peaceful it was, making it a great base for a quiet night surrounded by nature. We also got lucky with a cliffside campsite, giving us epic views from the camper to wake up to.

Add this one to your South Island road trip list!

New Zealand is well-known for its great flat whites (though there's a longstanding rivalry with Australia over who inven...
24/08/2026

New Zealand is well-known for its great flat whites (though there's a longstanding rivalry with Australia over who invented them!). As big coffee fans, we're on the hunt for a decent brew whenever we're on the road.

We've had too many memorable coffees to put into one post, so to start with, here's a few of our favourites that are a little off the beaten track.

☕️ General Post
Blink and you'll miss the small stretch of road that makes up the main street of Tai Tapu, but if you're travelling between Christchurch and Akaroa, this cosy spot is well worth stopping off at for a brew!

☕️ Gorge Quarter
We found this cute spot by accident looking for a toilet on a drive between Wellington and Napier, and we were so glad we did! This small coffee shed is tucked away in a carpark used to access the Manawatū Gorge walking tracks, and the hit the spot to see us through our journey. .quarter

☕️ Dawn, Tekapo
If you're looking for a coffee while you're exploring Lake Tekapo, we recommend heading out of the main town centre and down towards Lakes Edge Holiday Park, which is home to Dawn, an Airstream caravan where you can grab a coffee and enjoy the wonderful lake views.

☕️ Corner Peak, Wānaka
We'd had this coffee caravan on our go-to list long before we had the chance to visit, and we weren't disappointed! Delicious brews in vintage cups, comfy camping chairs and beautiful mountain views. Even on a chilly morning, we recommend a short detour out of Wānaka to this spot! We've got plenty more coffee spots up our sleeve, so there'll be another round to come ☕️ .coffee

If you're travelling between Auckland and Tauranga, we recommend taking the scenic route through Karangahake Gorge and s...
21/08/2026

If you're travelling between Auckland and Tauranga, we recommend taking the scenic route through Karangahake Gorge and setting aside some time to explore.

There are walking tracks ranging from short strolls to longer hikes, the Hauraki Rail Trail if you're bringing your bikes, and a handful of swimming spots to cool off in over summer. It's an easy place to spend a few hours, and Dickey Flat DOC campsite is close by if you'd rather slow down and stay a night or two.

The gorge also has a fascinating history. Long before European settlement, it was an important area for local Māori, before later becoming one of New Zealand's busiest gold mining regions. Today, reminders of that history are scattered throughout the gorge, from old tunnels to mining relics.

The drive itself is beautiful, but rather than passing straight through, we reckon it's worth taking your time. Karangahake Gorge is one of those places that's best experienced outside the van.

Views from the camper 🚐The roads between destinations, the sunrise views, and the unplanned places you pull over just to...
20/08/2026

Views from the camper 🚐

The roads between destinations, the sunrise views, and the unplanned places you pull over just to take it all in.

Sometimes the best part of the journey is simply slowing down and appreciating the scenery along the way.

One of our favourite things about road tripping around Aotearoa is finding a good swimming spot, and we’re pretty lucky ...
16/08/2026

One of our favourite things about road tripping around Aotearoa is finding a good swimming spot, and we’re pretty lucky to have no shortage of them 🏊

There’s nothing better than pulling up somewhere beautiful, taking a refreshing dip, and enjoying the view. It’s hard to pick favourites, here are three of our top spots, each offering something a little different.

🏖️ Lake Wainamu
Just up the road from Bethells Beach in West Auckland, this lake is accessible via a 30 minute walk around the black sand dunes (or over them if you’re feeling energetic!) A stunning spot that can get pretty busy in-season, but there’s room for everyone in the lake and it’s well worth the trek!

👙 Lake Ianthe/Matahi
The West Coast of the South Island isn’t well known for its swimming spots, as most of the beaches aren’t safe. However, when we came across Lake Ianthe on our way to Franz Josef, we couldn’t resist a dip in this serene spot. We also caught a look at the endangered Kōtuku (White Heron) on the shoreline.

🗻 Lake Pukaki
We’ve taken dips in Lake Tekapo in all seasons, each one as magnificent as the next. It’s glacier-fed so its stays pretty chilly year-round, but in those warm summer months it’s one of the most refreshing and breathtaking spots to cool off. We’ve always been pleasantly surprised at how quiet the lake is each time we’ve stopped by, too!

Add these swimming spots to your list of road trip stops!

Address

Christchurch

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Campyavan posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category