I explored France by campervan with beautiful beaches, hidden gem lakes and medieval towns

Business Mayor

26-04-2025

I ROLL out of bed, take three steps and my feet are immediately in the sand.
The sun is beaming down on the French beach and I spend a blissful few hours sitting here in peace, soaking up the sun's rays.
5 The picturesque coastal town of Saint-Tropez on the Cote d'Azur Credit: Getty
5 The iconic Cannes shoreline Credit: Getty
This gorgeous stretch of shoreline is just outside Cannes but I won't be here long.
Tonight, I will sleep in the mountains and the night after that a medieval French town.
It is all down to a well-prepared campervan christened 'Lee'.
My husband Nick and I have covered 500km in five days in this Roadsurfer motorhome and seen more of France than I thought possible.
Instead of being chained to an Ibis hotel, we have stocked up at Aldi and hit the road making our way from Nice down the coast to Cannes and St Tropez before ploughing into the Verdon region.
It's a freeing way to live. With no real plan, we are able to discover hidden gems before packing up and heading to our next destination at the drop of a hat.
One highlight was a visit to the Verdon Gorge, a river canyon close to the region of Quinson, filled with deep turquoise water.
We filled up on a quick lunch from our gas stove — two minute noodles with some tinned veg mixed in — before hiking the stunning mountains bordering the water.
Our 'cooee' calls echo around the rock faces and at that moment, it feels like we are the only people left in the world.
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A short drive west of here took us to Sainte Croix Verdon, home to a huge lake with waters as turquoise as the Verdon Gorge.
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Greeted by one of the happiest Frenchmen I've ever met (who roared 'g'day mate' as soon as I mentioned we were Australian), we felt immediately at home at the campsite, just metres from the water's edge.
And if we thought our views couldn't get more stunning than that, a morning run the next day proved us wrong.
Making our way along the craggy paths, we caught the sun rising over the mountain tops.
A side note, anyone who says the French are grumpy has never seen them in nature.
On every hike, we are inundated with bonjours, waves and 'vas-y's ('go ahead' in English), as we crossed paths.
Yet campervan life is bittersweet. One of my greatest aspirations is to sit in the sun and read, eventually falling asleep.
But, at the risk of sounding extremely naff, when you have a campervan, the open road is always calling.
With each turn, southern France shows off its jaw-dropping vistas, from rolling lavender fields to gorgeous gorges that make way for towering snow-capped mountains and picturesque French towns nestled in between.
Having a built-in shower was a great perk in motorhome Lee, as it meant we were not saddled to anywhere in particular and could be completely self-sustainable.
However, with all these amenities, it meant our campervan was quite big which made it difficult to stop in some of the tiny French towns.
And while it is nice to go where the wind takes you, it's a good idea to have a few ideas of where to park up for the night as camping sites are always a lot nicer than sleeping on the side of the road.
Luckily we had everything we could need in Lee — all the kitchen gear and bedding, along with tables and chairs to relax outside in. Just like that picture perfect van life image.
5 Happy campers Brittany, Nick and 'Lee' Credit: Brittany Vonow
5 The stunning turquoise waters of the Verdon gorge Credit: Getty
5 The dreamy lavender fields in Provence Credit: Getty
Being in France meant even with our own mini kitchen, a quick stop at a local bakery for a cheeky croissant or two was still needed every so often.
And if France isn't for you, Roadsurfer vans can be picked up from a multitude of locations: London, Edinburgh and Manchester, to name just a few in the UK, while Austria, Belgium and Sweden in Europe mean a cheap Ryanair flight is the only thing standing between you and a campervan summer.
I have no doubt the road will be calling my name again when summer hits.
Happy camping.