Be a Real Freewheeler

Bring the family and explore the wonders of New Zealand by motor home

For breathtaking scenery, awesome activities, inspiring culture and unforgettable family adventures, few countries the size of New Zealand offer more. So it’s hard to imagine better way to discover just how much there is to experience in this safe, uncrowded part of the world than from behind the wheel of a motor home.

For everyone in the family, the excitement starts the moment you step off the plane and pick up the keys to your mobile ‘hotel’. Whether your route takes you around the lakes, glaciers and fiords of the South Island, or you head for the culture, beaches, cities and vineyards of the North. A motor home isn’t just a relaxing way of getting from place to place; it’s about the freedom to stop as and when you please and enjoy the splendour of this incredible country in your own time.

Not only is it fun for children, a motor home adventure is actually very convenient for the parents too. After all, what other kind of holiday gives you the chance to see so much of a country without the hassle of checking in to hotels and worrying about availability, sorting out rooms and deciding who sleeps where, and repeatedly packing and unpacking or living out of suitcases? With fridges, freezers, cookers and microwaves always only a few seconds away you can be safe in the knowledge that if anyone feels hungry they will always have their favourite snack right to hand.

The more time you can spend in New Zealand the better. This will allow you to combine the luxury of time with the flexibility and freedom of a motor home. Following an itinerary from North to South (or vice versa) is by far the best way to catch a glimpse of everything there is to offer. From pausing at idyllic hidden bays and dramatic mountain passes to stopping off for a taste of local hospitality at delectable wineries along the way. And, as the children explore the dazzling lakeside, what could be more relaxing than soaking up the evening sun enjoying a chilled glass of local Sauvignon? Most rental companies allow you to complete one way journeys and this will include travelling from the south of the South Island all the way to Auckland at the tip of the North Island.

Follow our itinerary for an ideal New Zealand motor home holiday:

Day 1: Start in Christchurch and collect your motor home and head out on the scenic West Coast, stopping off at your leisure along the way before spending the night at the glacier town of Franz Josef.

Day 2: Explore the geological grandeur of the glaciers and then head south to Queenstown – from hiking or biking to bungee jumping or jet boating, there is something for all families and all ages.

Day 3: Explore more of the Queenstown outdoor pursuits or venture to the Milford Sound, referred to by Kipling as the eighth wonder of the world. With fiords, waterfalls and cliffs, this journey will really feel like travelling through ‘Lord of the Rings’ Middle Earth.

Day 4: Head back via Queenstown and enjoy the day at leisure before your journey takes you north. Stop off at Lake Wanaka or one of the many stunning lakes.

Day 5: Stay in the pristine Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park, home of Australasia’s highest mountain.

Day 6: Travel from Mt. Cook back to Christchurch. Stop off at the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo en route before a visit to the Antarctic Centre (a fascinating place for all the family).

Day 7: Set off from Christchurch to one of the world’s most renowned whale watching capitals – Kaikoura. Dusky Dolphins and Sperm Whales are just a few of the graceful mammals you might see.

Day 8: Take your motor home on the Interislander ferry across to Wellington and on arrival visit Te Papa – New Zealand’s museum and place of discovery for youngsters. Learn what it feels like to be in an earthquake or find out more about the Maori culture. Also, check out the ‘Sanctuary by night’ tour at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 9: Venture out of Wellington and up to Taupo for spectacular views of volcanoes and lakes.

Day 10: A short trip up to Rotorua will lead you to hundreds of geothermic springs and the Te Puia Thermal Reserve. It’s well worth heading up the gondola to Mount Ngonotaha, before a lugeride all the way downhill. Why not spend the rest of the afternoon soaking in a Polynesian Natural Spa?

Day 11 & 12: Stop off in Waitomo for lunch and the mysterious Waitomo Glow-worm Cave before completing your journey in Auckland – the ‘City of Sails’.