My family of 5 took an RV trip in New Zealand for a week. We saved money on groceries and free campsites and splurged on sightseeing.
For my 40th birthday, my family and I traveled New Zealand's South Island in an RV.
We went for eight nights and had an absolute blast.
Though the RV itself was expensive, we found other ways to save money along the way.
With its stunning mountains, picturesque lakes, and star-filled skies, New Zealand 's South Island is truly spectacular. My family of five recently traveled there and hit the road in an RV for eight nights to celebrate my 40th birthday and make some epic memories together.
Renting an RV proved to be a popular way to see the island, but it was also a pretty expensive way to travel. However, we did enjoy the convenience of having our accommodation, transport, and cooking facilities all in one.
We spent money on the RV itself
The RV cost us 3572 New Zealand Dollars (with the insurance factored in) for eight nights, about $2115, which is just over NZ$446 a night.
In addition, we paid for powered sites at caravan parks at least every second night so that we could access electricity for the portable heater and refill our water supply. Powered sites ranged in price from NZD$50 to NZD$110.
So, all in all, we spent up to NZ$556 a day on the RV alone, plus what we spent on fuel, which was more expensive than back home in Australia, where we live. The RV company also charged a mileage fee at the end of the trip, which worked out to be about NZD$170.
We didn't mind spending money on certain experiences
You can't go to the South Island and not see those iconic sites it's famous for. We splurged on experiences like boating around the fjords of Milford Sound, venturing into the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, and stargazing in Lake Takapō.
These experiences weren't cheap, especially for a family of five. But I felt like spending the money was totally worth it, because they were experiences we couldn't have elsewhere.
We also shelled out for treats along the way
We have three kids under 10 who love treats, so we definitely indulged on the trip. Often, we'd cook our main meals in the RV to save money, then have a treat out and about.
On our way north, we discovered an award-winning artisan ice cream shop in Arrowtown called Patagonia Chocolates, and on the return leg to Queenstown, we went back for seconds. There was also a quaint store full of treats in Arrowtown, the Remarkable Sweet Shop, and we spent far too much money on sugary delights.
However, we made sure to save by keeping groceries in the RV
We couldn't get over the cost of groceries in the center of Queenstown. It was outlandish compared to Australian prices. When we picked up our RV, I asked our taxi driver where to shop, and he recommended a low-price store called Pak'nSave. The prices were much more in line with our budget, and we stocked up for the week.
The office of the campground where we were staying in Queenstown also had a free community shelf where other travelers had left staples like salt, pepper, coffee, and so forth. We took what we needed and donated our leftover supplies at the end. It was a great system.
Living in an RV with a small fridge meant we had to be smart about our food storage and cooking. I planned out our meals in advance and made sure ingredients could be used in multiple dishes, which also saved money.
We also entertained ourselves for free in the great outdoors
New Zealand is the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature. A lot of our itinerary was about hikes and wholesome outdoor fun.
Highlights included the walk up Queenstown Hill for panoramic views of the area, watching sunsets on Lake Wakatipu, rock collecting with the kids, and hiking around Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
My absolute favorite experience was climbing Roy's Peak, near Wānaka, with my 9-year-old son. It was a challenging hike of roughly 10 miles, but the sweeping views at the top were spectacular.
We spent some time 'freedom camping'
Because the powered campsites cost up to NZD$110, we also saved money by "freedom camping" whenever we could, which is a kind of camping where you're allowed to stay on public land without paying a fee. However, there are specific rules for camping this way — for example, you must be in a self-contained vehicle with a toilet, wastewater tank, and trash facilities.
My favorite spot we did this was Lake Pukaki. We arrived at night and had the most spectacular view of the Milky Way. Then, we woke up surrounded by snow-covered mountains and a lake glistening in the sunlight. It was absolutely magical.
Overall, I loved the experience of traveling in an RV and would highly recommend it if your budget allows for it. The kids had a ball, and we made lasting memories that we will cherish forever.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
More Married Women Are Traveling Alone Than Ever Before—Here's Why
According to research from multiple studies, more married women are choosing to travel by themselves than ever before. While older women are leading the charge, younger women are becoming more interested in solo travel as well. Best of all? Many are saying that it's actually been good for their a surprising shift happening in the world of travel: more married women are booking solo getaways than ever before. According to a 2024 study by online travel agency over 54 percent of women surveyed said they wanted to travel solo. And according to previous studies, such as one from 2023 by Boston-based tour operator Road Scholar, found that 60 percent of its solo travelers were married women traveling without their spouses. In that same year, another report from Australian travel agency Flight Centre found that women going it alone was the company's most common type of traveler. But don't be mistaken. While some are opting for quiet beach vacations or leisurely wine tastings. More and more, women are choosing bold, immersive adventures—think of destinations such as Morocco, Colombia, Egypt, and Cuba. Places that challenge and could potentially transform them. 'I think there are multiple reasons, including the fact that women are exhausted at being defined as mothers, wives, grandmothers, career women, etc, and they're facing the if not now, when' question head on,' Stacey Ray, owner of the female-founded travel company Sisterhood Travels, says. For many women in older generations (such as baby boomers and those in Generation X), travel may have once felt exclusively like something reserved for family vacations or something that you would do with a husband. But more and more women are taking the plunge and booking a ticket for one. 'Approximately 40 percent of our clients are married women traveling solo," Rays says. '[That's] up about 15 percent over the last couple of years. The median age range is between 58 and 68 for married women traveling solo, and I think this demographic will continue to rise as other married women share the wonderful experiences they're having.' For Kelly Lewis, founder of the boutique travel company Damesly, says many of her clients travel simply because their spouses can't or don't want to. 'Most of my guests have partners or are married, but choose to travel solo because their partners can't take time off work, or they don't have an interest in traveling,' Lewis says. For writer and blogger Megan Padilla, she and her husband have different traveling styles. Plus, she loves the freedom. 'It's incredible to travel exactly on your terms —to choose what matters most and how you want to spend your time and money without having to bend, cave, or compromise,' Padilla says. 'For example, I love lingering over a spritz at a tiny café in Rome. My husband doesn't drink and isn't interested in food, so if I were with him, I'd miss out on those little moments that make the trip truly mine.' However, for L.A.-based writer Carrie Bell, traveling alone became a necessity during a period of bereavement. And it ended up being exactly what she needed. 'After my dad died, I took a solo road trip to the high desert—Joshua Tree, and Palm Springs—for work. My husband couldn't travel with me because he didn't have the time off, so I had to go alone,' she said. 'It ended up being incredibly special. The desert, especially Joshua Tree, was a place my dad took me as a kid on camping trips, and being there felt like reconnecting with him. I spent my days walking, crying, soaking in hot springs, watching sunsets, and trying to figure out how to move forward without him. That trip became a turning point. Now, I return often to the desert for solo escapes, it's where I go to recenter, reflect, and remember.' Traveling alone, whether it's to it's a wellness retreat in Sedona or a bustling photography expedition in the Galapagos, offers many women an opportunity to reconnect with themselves, away from the demands of daily life. It's not about leaving their marriage behind, but rather, about leaning into rest and independence. For Bell, traveling alone is part of her formula for keeping a healthy marriage. Time apart reinforces her and her husband's time together. 'It's important for me to have these experiences on my own as a way to forge my own identity and feel like a whole person,' she says. Nancy Arehart, a retired photographer from the Raleigh–Durham metropolitan area of North Carolina, says that solo travel has only strengthened her marriage and was born out of necessity, as well as a love for the camera. 'At the time, my husband and I were caregiving for my elderly parents, and we found it pretty necessary to go on solo vacations because one of us needed to be home to care for my parents,' she says. 'I decided, at the encouragement of my husband, to do a photography-focused trip with a friend. I quickly discovered that I loved traveling.' Since then, solo travel has become a shared passion for both her and her husband, and Arehart has visited over 15 countries alone, including Antarctica, the Galapagos, Botswana, India, Africa, Brazil, Svalbard, and Peru. 'We don't always need to be physically next to each other to keep our marriage strong and thriving,' she says. 'Even though my parents are both deceased now, we still do our solo travel, but we make a point of scheduling a few vacations that we can do together each year as well.' Though older women are certainly leading the charge (in that Flight Centre study, the average age of a woman traveling alone was 52), younger women are also becoming more interested in traveling solo. According to travel public relations company ASA Luxury's Travel Trends Report 2025, 58 percent of Gen Z women expressed an interest in traveling abroad alone, and 83 percent said they were inspired to do so by social media influencers and celebrities. For some, however, it's as simple as considering the experiences of the women closest to them—and wanting more for themselves. 'My husband's grandmother did everything right for her generation,' Bell says. '[She] raised a family, kept a home, but never traveled because her husband didn't want to. After he passed, she realized she'd never seen anywhere beyond her hometown. That conversation made me realize: I'd rather dine alone and wonder if the maître d' pities me than miss out just because my husband can't come." Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
CNBC
2 hours ago
- CNBC
Couple lives on $132,000 in the 'Hamptons of New Zealand'—it's expensive, but 'worth it' for the relaxed lifestyle
When Phoebe Merrick first arrived on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, she thought she'd only be there for two months. It was June 2023, just before Merrick's final year of college, and the Virginia native planned to work a summer internship at a winery on the island. "I was like, 'This cannot be real,'" Merrick tells CNBC Make It of the view while ferrying over from Auckland. "I just thought it was so beautiful." Two years later, Merrick is still on Waiheke and getting ready to move into a new house with her boyfriend, Reuben Sandoy, who grew up in the area. The two met during Merrick's summer program and, by autumn, Sandoy had traveled to meet her family in the U.S. and the two decided they would live together abroad. Merrick, 22, works remotely as a freelance marketing and social media manager while Sandoy, 29, runs his own plumbing business on the island. Together, the two make roughly $132,000 U.S. dollars per year. Here's how they live and spend their money on Waiheke. Waiheke Island is the second-largest island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand and is a roughly 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland. The area is known for its wineries and beaches. Roughly 9,000 people live on the island during the winter, and the population swells to upwards of 45,000 each summer. More than 900,000 people visit the popular tourist destination each year, and it's sometimes referred to as the "Hamptons of New Zealand," where the rich and famous vacation. But ultimately, what drew Merrick to Waiheke is the reason why Sandoy has lived there the majority of his life: the beautiful scenery and slow pace of living. As a local, Sandoy appreciates that everything is close and there's little traffic. He also has little competition as a plumber to earn business on the island. Adjusting to life far from home took Merrick some time. There were differences in routine, like driving on the other side of the road and living without the conveniences of Amazon delivery. It also came with a level of culture shock around money and the price of living far from a big city. "I felt like a millionaire when I first came over," Merrick says, noting that paying with the strong American dollar versus the New Zealand dollar made her savings go farther. As of May, $1 USD is worth about $1.70 NZD. Her earnings don't go as far in local currency, but "it's worth it for the lifestyle for me. I love living on an island," Merrick says. Here's how Merrick and Sandoy spent their money in April 2025. Living on an island like Waiheke is expensive. The couple has been living in Sandoy's mother's house rent-free for several years. What they saved on rent they've funneled away for a down payment, mortgage payments and future renovation costs for a new house. After their savings, the couple's second-highest spending category was for food. Food costs are high because a lot of things have to be imported; going out to eat also comes at a premium when many restaurants cater to wealthier tastes and higher budgets. "You'll go to restaurants, and it won't be like just a casual pizza or burger — it'll be a truffle ravioli or caviar on crayfish and all of that," Merrick says. The two enjoy food and are willing to spend on it — Merrick likes to host dinner parties and cook most meals, especially if she can recreate American recipes she misses, while Sandoy enjoys little luxuries like a steak dinner. "It's probably what we enjoy spending the most money on versus anything like shopping or going into the city," Merrick says. The couple's third-largest budget item for the month was on transportation — Sandoy drives around the island for work and spent about $800 NZD, or about $470 USD, on gas. Merrick prefers to take the bus around the island; the two will also visit Auckland via ferry and use rideshares to get around for the day. New Zealand has a free health insurance program, but Sandoy pays an additional $100 NZD, or about $58 USD, per month for premium coverage. Merrick is on her parents' health insurance and schedules doctors appointments for when she visits home in Virginia. Sandoy says he's been preparing to buy his own home with Merrick since they began dating, but the housing market has been tough to navigate. Real estate prices jumped in 2021 and remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic trends. In late May, Sandoy closed on a house worth $1.055 million NZD, or nearly $621,000 USD, handing over a 10% down payment. While the price is "pretty average," Sandoy says, he says he was able to afford it because it's a fixer upper in need of renovations. Sandoy and Merrick have both been saving for future mortgage payments and renovation costs. They moved in right away and will live there while renovating the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home over the next year. "We're both very excited to renovate together," Merrick says. "It is something that we both find quite fun. It's a great financial step to take as a couple, so it will be worth it in the long run, even if it is a bit scary right now." Sandoy works up to 50 hours per week doing repairs and home projects for clients on the island; he makes around $153,000 NZD, or roughly $91,000 USD per year. It's labor-intensive work involving "crawling underneath houses or working out in the elements." Sandoy says his job can be demanding because he's self-employed. Merrick works about 40 hours per week doing social media and marketing for four local clients she found via a Facebook message board. She makes $70,000 NZD, or roughly $41,000 USD, per year. As her own boss, Merrick says she's able to make a little bit more than what other entry-level marketing roles typically pay in New Zealand. Merrick never had a full-time job in the U.S. but says "moving to New Zealand definitely changed my perspective on work-life balance." Workers are generally entitled to four weeks of paid leave each year on top of about a dozen public holidays. Merrick says many of her friends from college work over 40 hours per week, and some have as few as three vacation days per year. Merrick says that her contract jobs are flexible and her supervisors value taking breaks. "All my bosses are very understanding and definitely believe in taking time off as well, [including] for mental health," Merrick says. "I definitely do feel a lot happier just because my lifestyle is different," she adds. "Back in the U.S., everyone was too busy to spend time with each other [due to] work." On Waiheke, meanwhile, "people have a lot more free time, and we're able to all spend time together, and it feels a lot more social," Merrick says, whether it's going to the beach or traveling around the island and greater New Zealand together.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Terrifying video shows tourists fight for their lives as ferry sinks off coast of Bali
Terrifying footage has captured people fighting for their lives after a tourist boat carrying 89 passengers capsized off the coast of Bali. The boat had just set off from Lembongan Village, on the island of Nusa Lembongan, at about 4:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday when it was hit by a large wave. Footage captured by passengers shows people kicking IN windows of the ferry as they desperately try to escape the quick-sinking vessel. Others can be heard shouting and wailing as a nearby boat throws rope to people escaping through windows. Separate footage shows the boat completely on its side with passengers scrambling to stay afloat. 5 A tourist boat with 89 passengers capsized off the coast of Bali after getting hit by a large wave. ViralPress 5 The capsized boat's interior filled with water. ViralPress The 125-seat vessel, known as The Tanis, was newly loaded with passengers, and had been backing out on its way to nearby town Sanur, when tragedy struck. Local media reports that the boat was struck from behind by large waves, causing it to take on water. Of the 89 passengers on-board, 77 were foreigners and 12 were Indonesian. Footage showed witnesses rushing to help those trapped on the boat as it tilted and sank further into the sea. 5 Footage captured by passengers shows people trying to escape the sinking vessel. ViralPress 5 A nearby boat threw a rope to people escaping through windows. ViralPress Thankfully, quick-thinking witnesses spotted the boat going down and rushed to the scene, helping to evacuate passengers who could be seen sliding into the water with life-jackets. All passengers were evacuated to safety by 6:30 p.m. local time and no deaths or serious injuries were reported. As a safety precaution, divers have been employed to search the sunken boat and seabed, to ensure there are no victims. Most of the passengers on board the sunken boat chose to remain in Nusa Lembongan after the incident, but two proceeded with the journey to Sanur Harbor. It's understood The Tanis was only in operation for three months before it sank. The terrifying incident comes just three months after an Australian woman was killed after a tourist snorkelling boat capsized in Bali. 39-year-old Melbourne accountant, Anna Blight tragically drowned after their boat was hit by large waves, causing it to flip upside down. 5 All passengers were evacuated to safety, and no deaths or serious injuries were reported. ViralPress The boat carrying 13 people, including 11 Australians, was traveling to the popular island of Nusa Penida when they became overwhelmed by rough surf. Government website Smartraveller has since updated its advice, warning Australians to 'exercise a high degree of caution,' when visiting the country. The website flagged a number of issues including drowning, dangerous boats or ferries, strict entry conditions and alcohol poisoning. 'Australians have drowned in coastal areas, due to rough seas and strong rip currents at popular tourist beaches including in Bali. Many beaches are unpatrolled,' it said.
