If you are planning a road trip in a campervan around the beautiful country of New Zealand – or any country really – read the list below for a handy checklist of things to pack. A lot of these items can easily be picked up along the way if you find you need them. But if you like to be prepared and already own some of these items then you might as well bring them with you!
As a bonus, I’ve also included a list of apps to download too, just to make your road trip as smooth as possible. If you need tips finding a campervan in New Zealand, take a look at our reviews and camper comparisons here.
Items to Pack for a New Zealand Campervan Road Trip
1. USB lighter adaptor
A small but handy device to have just in case your car doesn’t come with USB sockets. Many older vehicles don’t have USB ports or might only have one socket. You can buy adaptors with multiple sockets so you can double up your charging.
2. Portable charger
An battery pack or portable charger is always handy to have when travelling anyway! You may find charging devices difficult in a vehicle if you can only charge while the engine is on. A portable device is useful to have as you may be able to leave it on charge overnight at shared spaces in campsites, whereas you probably wouldn’t want to leave your phone out on charge in a shared area. It’s just handy to have as a back up!
3. SIM card
I highly recommend getting a local SIM card when travelling to get access to data. These are usually easy to pick up in airports. While on the road it will be hard to rely on WiFi alone. Most free campsites don’t have WiFi. Even paid campsites don’t always have reliable or free WiFi. We picked up a 10GB SIM card for 49 NZD (approximately £23 or $29 USD) which just about lasted 3 weeks, even with George wasting 5GB streaming a football game.
4. Warm clothes
Even if you are travelling in the summer, some areas of New Zealand can get quite cold at night – and even in the day to be honest. Bring waterproofs and layers, prepare for all weather types! I’d recommend bringing a lightweight thermal layer to sleep in on particularly chilly nights. Most nights we were fine but around the mountains in the South Island it does get cold.
5. Phone holder
Super handy but easy to forget. Make sure you have a phone holder to prop your phone up with so you can easily see your maps whilst driving. We bought this one from Amazon which works in any vehicle and is small and easy to pack. It is a non-slip silicon mat that just sits on top of the dashboard do you don’t have to worry about leaving suction marks or having some where to attach a clip.
6. Aux cable
Older vehicles are unlikely to have bluetooth so pack an Aux cable so you can connect your phone to the car’s speakers. You’ll want some music or podcasts for those longer road trips! Remember to get an adaptor too if your phone doesn’t have an aux port.
7. Microfibre towel
Again a handy thing to have for travelling in general. Some campervan companies will provide towels but microfibre ones dry very quickly and don’t take up much space so ideal if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want to keep putting a damp, smelly towel back in the car everyday.
Apps to Download For a New Zealand Campervan Trip
1. Campermate NZ
Campermate is an app that allows you to locate campsites. You can easily filter by self-contained or non-self-contained vehicle campsites and by the facilities available. All the campsite pins on the map are colour coded so it is easy to see the free, low-cost and more expensive campsites at a glance. The app also includes pins for things like public showers, toilets, petrol stations, ATMs, food and drink and even attractions. It’s super useful when you need to locate something nearby and quickly.
Another great feature of Campermate is that it allows users to leave comments on each pin. It is great to see other camper’s reviews of sites before you go. It also helps to keep information up to date, occasionally you will find comments saying the prices or opening hours have changed so always helpful to glance over them!
2. Rankers Camping NZ
Rankers is another great app that allows you to find campsites across New Zealand. Rankers has lots of similar features to Campermate like filters for different types of sites and additional pins for walking trails and other amenities. Rather than the comment system that Campermate uses, Rankers has a rating system which makes it quicker to review how good a campsite is perceived to be.
We found that some campsites appeared on one app and not the other. Therefore I would recommend downloading both just to have a wider range of options.
3. Weather Forecast
Have a weather forecast app handy so you can prepare yourself for the day ahead. Even in the summer in New Zealand, warm sunny days are not guaranteed. With a trusted weather app you might be better prepared to plan ahead and adjust your route to make the most of clear days.
4. Music and Podcast Apps
I’m sure you already have a music and or podcast app like Spotify on your phone – but make sure you have downloaded plenty of playlists and podcast episodes. Even if you have a SIM card you probably don’t want to use up all your data streaming or downloading music. Plus, signal isn’t always reliable in rural locations so better to download plenty when you have WiFi.
5. Offline Maps
Again I’m certain you will have a maps app but just make sure you download offline maps before you set off. It is easy to find yourself in a location without signal so having offline maps will make navigating a little easier.
6. Alltrails
Alltrails is a great app for anyone who loves hiking. If you’re visiting New Zealand you will likely embark on a hike or two. This app can show you popular hiking trails nearby with the trail marked on a map you can follow. You can also see reviews and comments from other hikers.
7. Spark
If you have a SIM card with Spark download the app to keep track of your data balance. If you’re with another provider, obviously download theirs instead!
Where to Next?
3 thoughts on “Things to Pack for a Campervan Road Trip in New Zealand”