a day ago
I explored New Zealand's iconic South Island by campervan - here's why it's the best way to take in the sights
There isn't a more iconic experience in New Zealand than exploring the South Island by campervan.
With a home on wheels, and spectacular scenery guaranteed, the best months to visit are February to May, and September to November, when the weather is warm and the island less busy.
Queenstown is the epicentre for campervan hire, where most begin and end their journeys, and it's wise to spend a few days here to shrug off jetlag before embarking on your journey.
With hundreds of campsites to choose from, planning a route can prove a little daunting, so here is my selection of tried and tested favourites, within an easy drive of one another.
Lake Wanaka - Glendhu Bay Holiday Park
Situated a fifteen-minute drive from the small, laid-back town of Wanaka (with a great choice of restaurants, cafes, and adventure activities), this large campsite sprawls along the banks of picturesque Glendhu Bay.
You're not booking in for fancy toilet blocks & showers (they are basic) but for the beautiful location and its north facing, sunny aspect.
Book ahead to nab a prime spot bordering the lake, then while away hours swimming, barbecuing, and stargazing.
Mount Aspiring National Park, which served as the Misty Mountains in the Hobbit films, is on your doorstep, and nearby hiking trails include the popular five-hour walk to Roys Peak.
A day trip by boat to the island of Mou Waho is another good option.
Book it: From £23 per night for lakeside powered site (
Lake Tekapo - Lakes Edge Holiday Park
Framed by snow-capped mountains, this site is on a bluff above Lake Tekapo, known for its crystal-clear turquoise water.
It has nice communal facilities, including a kitchen and barbecue area, with lake-view picnic benches for al fresco dining.
To get out on the water, rent paddleboards or kayaks (£15 for one hour) at the sandy beach just below the camp
One of the best places in the world for star gazing, visit the state-of-the-art Dark Sky Project to learn more on how Māori people once used the stars to navigate and hunt, and, on a clear night, book a star-gazing tour at the Mt John Observatory.
A walk to the picture-perfect Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935, is lovely at sunset.
Book it: From £35 per night for front row powered site. (
Mount Cook - White Horse Camping Ground
Camp beneath magnificent alpine scenery at this Department of Conservation site.
A pitch here can't be prebooked, so arrive by lunchtime to nab a good spot, with those at the rear giving uninterrupted views of Mt Sefton.
You'll find toilet blocks, and fresh running water, but no showers or power to connect to.
The most popular hike is along the Hooker Valley Track to the glacial Hooker Lake (take swimming kit with you for a bracing dip), and it's best to set off by 8am before the day trippers arrive.
Other well-marked trails leave from the campsite and range from gentle to arduous.
Book it: From £6.50 per adult per night. Payable at site. (
Oamaru - Oamaru Harbour Holiday Park
This small campsite is the only one on Oamaru's seafront and has good but few facilities (you may need to wait your turn for a shower).
Although a road runs between the site and the sea, there's such little traffic that it's still worth pre-booking a front row spot.
It is ideally situated for visiting the town's famous Little Blue Penguin colony, which return to shore like clockwork at dusk.
Also, look out also for fur seals basking on the harbour wall.
Book it: From £27 for an ocean view powered site(
KATE'S TOP CAMPERVAN TIPS
Check dates of school holidays and travel outside of these if you can.
Stock up on essentials at a supermarket before setting off, as you can travel long distances without seeing a grocery store.
It's worth paying a little extra for a premium pitch to enjoy a lake/mountain/sea view.
Shower facilities on most campsites are excellent, so save your campervan shower and loo for Department of Conservation sites.
Call at wineries to buy your booze straight from the cellar door.
Pack insect repellent for camping near rivers and lakes.
Ask your Maui rental provider to include two camping chairs and a foldaway table for dining outdoors.
Don't be put off by the name 'holiday camp'. These are campsites with facilities, not Butlins.
Otago Peninsula - Portobello Village Tourist Park
This hilly, green and tranquil site is tucked away two-minutes' walk from the seafront in the tiny, seaside village of Portobello, with its one pub, restaurant, and shop.
There are plenty of well-maintained showers and loos, and the pitches feel specious, bordered by trees and bushes, which provide extra privacy.
Use this as your base for visiting the Royal Albatross Centre, walking among sealions on Allans Beach, and taking a wildlife-spotting tour with Monarch Cruises, during which you're likely to see Hector's dolphins, fur seals, Little Blue penguins, and soaring albatross out fishing.
Book it: From £22 for powered site (
Te Anau - Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park
As campsites go, this is quite fancy. You'll find this large site, with spacious pitches, on the Southern shore of Lake Te Anau, a ten-minute walk into the centre, with plenty of restaurants and cafes.
It has a modern communal kitchen, excellent power showers, small shop, TV lounge, and jacuzzi hire.
If you're not planning an overnight stay at Milford Sound, this makes a great base for exploring the Fiordland National Park.
While there, take an evening cruise on a vintage yacht, or enjoy a show out on by glowworms found within a nearby, extensive cave system.
Book it: From £32 for powered site (
Milford Sound - Milford Sound Lodge
Deep within the Fiordland National Park, this stylish campsite and lodge is a cut above the rest, with pitches nestled within the rain forest (be warned, this is one of the wettest places on earth).
It also has a fabulous restaurant, so give yourself a night off from cooking to enjoy Canterbury duck breast or Otago lamb, highlights on a menu that celebrates South Island's finest produce.
The drive to reach Milford Sound is spectacular. Stop off to walk the short trail through moss-covered forest to Lake Gunn, and gaze at mountain reflections in the so-called Mirror Lakes.
Once there, take a boat trip across Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries, and hike a stretch of the Milford Track, reached by water taxi from the town.
Book it: From £53 per night for powered site (
Queenstown Area - Twelve-Mile Delta Campsite
This Department of Conservation campsite breaks the journey nicely between Milford Sound and Glenorchy and offers another chance to get off grid.
Nestled amid regenerative forest, and situated on the banks of Twelve-Mile Creek, close to Lake Wakatipu, there are gentle walking trails to take, and the swimming is safe.
You can't book ahead, so try to reach here by mid-afternoon to bag a good spot.
Book it: From £6.50 per adult per night. Payable at site (
Glenorchy - Mrs Woolly's Campground
After Passing through Queenstown, you'll soon be deep in Lord of the Rings country and its various film locations, where Tolkienites can pay homage at Ithilien (otherwise known as Mount Crichton) before reaching laid-back Glenorchy.
At the heart of the community sits Mrs Woolly's rustic campsite, with five powered and 33 unpowered sites.
You've 360-degree views of the dramatic Richardson Mountains to gaze at, and it's just a short walk to the shores of vast Lake Wakatipu.
Hot showers are coin operated, costing £1 for five minutes. Next to the site, you can stock up at Mrs Woolly's General Store, which also serves light meals and cakes.
Base yourself here for stunning mountain hikes, and jet boat rides along the Dart River.
