What was once the wonderland of retirees, motor-homing is seeing a massive resurgence among us gen y-ers, especially with the range of vehicle options available to suit all budgets. As I take on New Zealand in my ginormous Apollo Camper, I am happy (and slightly shocked) to report that I am a fan of driving holidays, and the following reasons are why camper vans are cool.
[SIDENOTE] It’s important to remember when you’re travelling in a camper van you’re effectively the human equivalent of a turtle – cue appropriate turtle/hare analogies here. You can’t go much faster than a glacial pace (about 70km/hour MAX). BUT how is that not the perfect combo for a holiday centred around driving and exploring the countryside? There’s something very modern, very nomadic about this type of holiday choice. Ok, glad we got that over and done with.
8 Reasons Why Camper Vans Are Cool
1. Because it’s your own boutique hotel on wheels fitted with all the mod cons (tv, fridge, bathroom, microwave, DVD player) for a fun self-sufficient holiday.
2. Because your giant cement brick of a suitcase comes with you wherever you go – but YOU don’t have to lug it to the next location every. single. day.
3. Because you have the freedom to go off-grid without keeping to a rigid holiday itinerary.
4. Because you don’t have to worry about finding a bed ‘n breakfast after a long day driving and sight-seeing, or that you’ll find yourself living your own version of a Hitchcock film.
5. Because who doesn’t need to hone their driving skills on the skinny streets of an urban city?
6. Because when you’re sitting up that high in the drivers seat it feels like you’re the king of the world (or at the very least, normal cars are a bit scared of you).
7. Because you can spend the night in the middle of a vineyard for free and treat it as your own personal cellar door. (sign-up for oktostay.com for New Zealand locations)
8. Because it’s better than hitch-hiking… because that shit ain’t cool!
AMW xx
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When you put it like that campervanning sounds like an interesting option.
Sure, enjoy your tour, but here in New Zealand we have a BIG problem caused by visitors who use camper vans that do not have on-board toilets and leave filthy piles of excrement in the bushes at popular stopping places. As a result there is now a lot of negativity towards freedom campers who think they have a right to just stop for the night anywhere they want along the roadside and leave their sewage, and local councils are introducing laws to fine offenders. If you haven’t got an on-board toilet, don’t shit on our beautiful country, go to a motor camp where there are proper facilities.
Hi Bruce,
I am really enjoying gallivanting around your beautiful country. You make a pretty awkward, but necessary point about camper vans. I had a bathroom on-board (and private properties who allow camping via oktostay.com advocate motorhomes with bathrooms) but stayed in holiday parks or registered camp sites (with bathrooms) most nights. During my travels I didn’t actually see anyone “freedom camping” – I think there really has been a crackdown of-sorts – and I travelled from Auckland right down to Milford Sound, sometimes driving very late at night. Most free campsite locations now seem to have toilet facilities but still feel really remote, so great for people who want that “freedom camping” type experience. 🙂
Good to know – perhaps another option would be for people like yourself to petition the New Zealand Government, who are actively encouraging tourism to aid your economy, to bring in laws to make it mandatory for camper vans to have on-board toilets.