Caravan Trip in New Zealand: A Complete Guide
Some countries are synonymous with road trips, because they are simply the best way to travel around a country. A great example is New Zealand. With both the North and South Islands offering great landscapes that are pretty much as amazing. How amazing? Well it’s no surprise that the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia were filmed here. I mean, who doesn’t fall in love with such spectacular landscapes?
Touring or road tripping, might look simple, but believe me, it is not that easy. It is more or less like preparing your itinerary and accommodation during your non touring journey, just slightly more complicated. There are several things to consider if you want to have an enjoyable long trip with your car and caravan.
– Travel mate
This is probably the most important thing that a lot of people tend to forget about, yet it is somehow one of the most important things. A road trip as you might know, will be such a long journey. You and your travel mate will be very intimate with each other. You guys are going to squeeze together into not such a big area for quite a long time. Choosing the right travel mate or at very least, understanding your travel mate is a must. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I had been travelling through Australia on a road trip with complete strangers instead of good friends.
– Research
The research is more about the car and the caravan. Though I know that either buying or renting both has its own advantages and disadvantages, I personally prefer to rent. You should definitely research where to get the best bargains. On top of that, you also need to consider insurance coverage and the specification of the car and the caravan. Remember to find the best bargain, not the cheapest.
– Super important things
Remember the super important things, like caravan (and car) equipment and travel documents that you will need during the trip. Two of the most important documents that you shouldn’t forget are your passport (+ valid visa) and international driving license, for the full list of the caravan equipment and travel documents, you can check here.
– Plan Your Route
Getting lost is definitely not the end of the world, but being inefficient on your road trip is something that you should avoid. Especially if you have a tight budget, limited time and have so many places to see on the list. Planning your route thoughtfully can result in a great life time experience. It’s all about having a smooth journey and less of a headache during the road trip because you know where you are heading to, oh yes you’ll grateful for your route planning!
Besides the lists up there, be sure to understand some of the local jokes or habits. Don’t get mixed up between the Aussies and Kiwis.