New Zealand by Van: Your Complete Guide - South Island Itinerary, Cost, Timing and Tips

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on earth so it's understandable to feel overwhelmed with planning, but fear not because here's everything I wish I knew before visiting.
All locations, mapped out here: geni.us/nzitinerary
The best camper van rental in New Zealand: geni.us/l7OU
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[@PBMick1]

What an awesome guide and insights into traveling around South Island! I’ve been a number of times and still found some great insights and gems I didn’t know of thanks!!

[@DanielleA2023]

Trust a woman to create a video with All the relevant information we need to support us having the same experience

[@ellen_globetrotter3783]

thanks for sharing your itinerary and all the information! New Zealand is in my Wishlist !! and wow, so many absolute gorgeous places to see and your photography is simply beautiful!

[@gabeforrey]

Hannah - yes! This is the video I have been looking for before I go to NZ’s South Island in a few weeks. Thanks for all the info, great content, and detailed tips and suggestions!

[@sincerelyhallie777]

That photo of the church and the blue stars!!!!! So gorgeous! Amazing Hannah!

[@ashe1317]

that shot of the Milky Way was just bananas. man, NZ is definitely on my bucket list, whenever i wanna fly halfway around the world again lol i've never done the campervan thing, but given the sheer breadth of sights (and sites haha) scattered around the island, that certainly seems like the best way to get around. also appreciate the "season conversion" for us Northies because that would NOT have ever occurred to me and i'd have packed all the wrong clothes 😆 another awesome vid! hope all is well with you 🤗

[@mizzorino]

Was waiting for this video and you delivered although it felt like an eternity. So comprehensive!! Well done Hannah

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Hahaha it’s been a busy month!

[@Jimmy_H]

Thank you Hannah for such detailed and useful sharing. Looking forward to visiting New Zealand someday.

[@OldBridgeDork]

I went to NZ back in January 2005 and spent a month back packing around both north and south islands. Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound were some of my favourite places I visited. I hadn’t booked a helicopter flight before travelling to Milford Sound and made a spur of the moment decision when arriving there on a day trip out of QT. Luckily it was a beautiful, if not chilly clear day. I vaguely remember it being about NZ$500 back then. I sat in the front with the pilot on the way up and it felt like we were at arms length away from the mountain face as we climbed up to the glacier on one of the nearby peaks. It was an unforgettable experience that if you make the long trip to NZ, do it. I have some great photos of me squinting as the sun reflected off the pure white snow and a vivid memory of the adrenaline I felt flying in a helicopter for the one and only time in my life.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh damn that sounds magical! I definitely want to do that next time I'm there!

[@PixelisedPaul]

Thanks for putting this together. It’s now in my travel playlist!

[@ComplacentOtter]

You are so great for travel info. It helps that you do a lot of activities that I would want to do but I appreciate that you give a lot of information.

[@mikayla3032]

Wow this video is incredibly helpful for my planning! You are a lifesaver!!

[@natepicker436]

Thanks Hannah! Always wanted to visit and your eye is much appreciated!

[@mvppainters911]

Thank you for creating and posting your adventures and tips. It will make our lives easier to plan our up coming trip!

[@aleffush]

Thanks for sharing your experience Hannah!

[@mattsmith3135]

Great work Hannah (and I appreciated you referring to Mt Cook as Aoraki!). Two weeks of travel is barely scratching the surface of the South Island, let alone the rest of New Zealand, so hopefully you'll be back to see other SI highlights such as Kaikoura, Lewis Pass (Maruia Springs has a Japanese-style bath house), Abel Tasman, and the Catlins. BTW, I'm not sure how the folk in Dunedin will feel about it being called a "little coastal town" hahaha. :)

[@MK-nd1om]

Thank you SO MUCH for putting this together!! Its rare to see a travel video on New Zealand that breaks down budget. My friends and I are planning to do the camper van experience but had so many ??s about pricing and this answered so many of them. Thank you again!

[@CurrentlyHannah]

I’m so glad it was helpful! Yes pricing is tricky because it’s dependant on so many factors but it’s nice to know a ballpark figure sometimes!

[@hayley3986]

Hokitika is my hometown 💜 highly recommend getting insect repellent if you go any gorge, lake or river. If the sandflies and mosquitoes do bite you use Lucas papaw ointment Kea can also be found at arthurs pass, which is the pass in-between christchurch and the west coast What a lovely video. I hope enjoyed your travels here.

[@danielleadams4806]

Did a camper van trip in 2017. Loved it and need to go back.

[@dianaa8125]

beautful! i love how clear your filming is

[@sammeredith7047]

I spent 10 days or so on the south island at the beginning of February this year. Wanaka and Roy's peak are absolutely worth a visit and not far from Queenstown anyway. It is a tough hike, 5-6 hours (probably more like 4 for regular hikers) with more than twice the elevation of Sealy Tarns track, near constant climbing but spectacular views. The other place that I would absolutely recommend is Abel Tasman national park way up at the north end of the island. Water taxis and hiking there was one of the highlights of my trip.

[@moonsterla]

Awesome Hannah! Thanks for the vid

[@em8r]

Great video, you really showcased the beauty of NZ!

[@followyourdreams8673]

Honestly, this a fabulous, informative video and I will definitely use your info when booking my trip to NZ in a few months. 😊

[@terrapinlane]

Love the google map feature. Very informative and beautiful video again!

[@itisriley]

Thank you for all the travel info!

[@gurjeevaan]

Thank you for the detailed sharing. Its very useful !!

[@user-de4ey5ik3r]

Wow, this was so helpful! thankyou for your insight xx

[@billweis7638]

Weird, I used to watch all your vlogs but have not seen one pop up in over a year. I am going to have to go your channel and check out more of what you have been up to.

[@lovefrommars5091]

Thank you for such a helpful video ❤

[@amberk8956]

Thank you so much for making this video. I'm planning a 2 week trip to go down the South Island & it's great to see what other people recommend. 😊

[@lilyswanton4901]

Thank you sooo much for this video!!

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

Thank you Hannah & Chris; fab guide. Love the outro music choice too. :)

[@tbillington]

Excellent video full of real world info and actual realistic costs.

[@tacrewgirl]

Very thorough video. Thanks for the breakdown.

[@darrennosworthy8921]

Thanks Hannah, that was extremely helpful in planning our trip to New Zealand south Island.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

So glad it was helpful!

[@misusudreams]

thats so helpful! thank you!

[@stephen129]

Much informative. Very wow. Happy views.

[@bhavyadedhia8944]

what a perfect video . thank you for the link to various places.

[@guadiviajando]

Girl, thank you!! such a helpful video!

[@lesleyalstrand5018]

Love this!

[@mariobarrera_]

Great content, keep it up!!

[@traveloors]

Dear Hannah, thank you so much for your video. It really enjoyed watching it and it added a few more "want to visit" locations to my nz map. I absolutely understand that you regret having missed out some nice places like the glaciers and doubtful sound, but let me tell you: there is never enough time for New Zealand. We've been to New Zealand in 2014 and stayed a whole year and still we have a too long list of places we couldn't make it to. In December we will be going back for another 6 months but i already know, that it won't be enough. I hope you will make it back one day to visit the places you missed this time. Btw Doubtful sound can also be explored by boat and i can't recommend this tour enough (even if my experince is a few years old). Doubtful sound is lacking all the tourists and boats and noise that you experience in Milford Sound and it is such a lovely place. :) And to finish: i'm shocked about the price ofthe Milford Lodge Campsite. :D Best wishes, Anna

[@babijaneqv]

This video is great! Thank you so much ❤

[@vldmrphoto]

Thanks a lot for such a detailed and well-structured video! It saved me a ton of time, really! Special thanks for sharing the map! Sincerely appraciate it!

[@zeenatkepadia3825]

Awesome, sounds like you’re video is going to be so informative. Thank you so very much for sharing.

[@abrojosaputro]

Thanks Hannah!

[@ririk57]

Well done Hannah for this how-to tour guide! Quick update for the petrol since you came. it's now (beginning of September) NZ$ 2.20/l for diesel and around $3/l for 91 ( $3.3 for 95/98)

[@nannyg666]

Well done, Hannah! Jetstar Airlines has cheap flights to most NZ cities, so those arriving in Auckland can pretty easily get a flight to Queenstown and avoid the less interesting Christchurch. While Milford Sound is the standard tourist visit providing a pretty impressive 90-minute cruise, I found the overnight Doubtful Sound excursion more rewarding if you have time and extra $$$. With fewer tourists, it feels even more otherworldly.

[@exploreearth6275]

Amazing guide video

[@waynethomas9957]

Great video ❤

[@hollyholt-qe1gg]

so helpful

[@jimkelly2272]

On point. Worthy information..Thanks

[@Lfilpo]

One place that is in my bucket list

[@keithabados4826]

Thanks Hannah!! I think you might’ve sold me into booking that heli tour in Milford Sound 😄

[@sam920811]

Welcome to NZ Hannah!

[@firelightinferno]

Very helpful and informative video. Maybe one day I can use all your tips for a trip in New Zealand.

[@donbennett5353]

Great video very interesting and informative. Your pronounciation of place names was very good too. Kia ora !

[@saucelover]

Definitely come back to do a heli ride over the fiords or Franz Josef. Beautiful.

[@caroundthomas9063]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Beautiful video. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@Aldraen]

I love what you are doing, please be safe and continue as long as it makes you happy. 🎉😂❤

[@jenniferkhavari2011]

Thank you!

[@MissionaryBushPilot]

It was great. Would have liked the names of the places on the screen when you mentioned them so I could write them down on my list and go look them up more after the video. Thanks for the video

[@KillerTacos54]

Amazing video

[@joelgillham5284]

I would love to visit New Zealand one day.

[@singaporevibe1965]

Thank you Hannah for the information. I will be going during winter as well. Will checkout your googlemap. Cheers

[@Markus_Berglund]

Love New Zeeland! Great video! 😍 When i Oamaru - dont miss their Victorian precinct and the Steampunk HQ! 🤖

[@billweis7638]

Great vlog. I cannot remember the last one I saw from you. Hope all is well

[@paiiininthebuttt2477]

Awesome video! Thank you I’m a Kiwi. Live in the North Waikato. I’m seriously contemplating buying a motor home or caravan and going to explore. This would mean a huge life change, but I’m 99% sure I’m just going to go for it. Very helpful video ❤

[@rangeltv700]

Very good, congratulations.

[@diyanaroslan8240]

OMG New Zealand is very beautiful perfect amazing

[@justiadykalvianto1064]

thanks for the best guide. i've always wanted to travel NZ in camper van. it's my dream.. just checked out the camper van website, they actually charge you extra for GPS and other features unlike what you mentioned in the video. but anw, really nice guide. appreciate it.

[@paulaogawa]

sweeeet, new video

[@philiphodgesnz]

Oh - you're the girl I bought the guide from for Japan! Have been watching this video and only just realised 🙂

[@kiwihunter2011]

Abel Tasman National Park close to Nelson as someone already mentioned. Marlborough sounds queen Charlotte track, Kaikoura whale watching, Marlborough for wine drinking (biggest region for wine in NZ and the wine trail can be done with a bike ) Tramping (every where) there are huts all through the back country you can use without booking for $5 NZ per night. St James Conservation Area is also great! That's only the South island 😅

[@nevaaisaka4777]

The nz winters have been rainy a lot within the last few years, hope you catch the summer next time around cheers⛱

[@romerort]

You are amazing! ❤❤❤❤

[@aRVeesBlog]

wow very helpful content friend

[@Alexomator]

Thanks for the video. We did a 3 months stay end of last year and had a Jucy campervan for 10 weeks. We´ve been almost the first ones to enter NZ after they allowed it last year. Jucy was a horror show. If anyone reads this: don´t go for Jucy. We had the 4th van in week 4 and in week 8 we had our 8th stop at a mechanic. We had everything fail: brakes, engines, electrics, roof. Spend some more money and enjoy the country.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Omg I'm glad you wrote this! The car/van that we used from Jucy also broke down multiple times. So many flat batteries even though we'd leave no lights on or anything to drain it. Absolute nightmare and they wouldn't pay for the cost of bringing someone out to jumpstart us :(

[@larryrayner3826]

I'm a Kiwi and yes they are just shit boxes!

[@livelife50plus]

Matt and Dan started to build my own van today.

[@michellepatterson5487]

Great video thanks but I hope you come back to see the top of the island. It is completely different and super special

[@diyanaroslan8240]

I hope I will go to New Zealand one day 🥺💙

[@bridgetsmith3546]

Super impressed by your Māori word pronunciation!

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh thanks! It's very similar to Japanese pronounciation so that helps.

[@rachelrueli6423]

Great info! Definitely going to put some to use for our November trip. Any discount codes you can share? That van looks amazing!

[@tanyazuger1727]

Great tips, thank you for making this video! Curious, why did you drive to Aoraki via the West Coast vs directly via lake Tekapo from Christchurch?

[@sitizubeidahkadir8672]

Thank you so much for this video! We will be there early June 2024. What is a good weather app to refer to while we are there?

[@cjc6649]

very insgithful espcially the costing

[@akirahojo2]

I’ve always enjoyed your videos, Hannah, and this one is another gem. Do you have a video that explains your gears and vlogging tips? I will be travelling to Japan soon and want to do a combo of solo hikes and discreet/silent vlogging of visiting ryokan, restaurants and book/collectible stores in Akira/Mandarake, mostly for my personal travel album. With recent incidents by Kick streamers and overcrowded tourism, I am mindful of not disturbing local residents and want to respect the social etiquettes. Any advise? For gears I’m torn between getting an OM6 + iPhone Pro vs Pocket 3 (discreet but not weather proof) vs GoPro11 (perfect for hike and water adventure, but how discreet is it for store visits)?

[@NZDLo]

Great video! Unfortunately, petrol prices have gone up a bit since you were here, due to the increase in oil prices and the end of a govt subsidy. Regular petrol is now an average of $3/litre, and diesel over $2 now. :-/ Still! You’ve given us north islanders something to consider when touring the south island. :)

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Nooooo :( I remember someone saying that it'll go up after we leave because the government subsidies are going down or something. Sorry to hear that for you guys!

[@gabrielflores1431]

Great video! How were the roads and traffic?

[@echterwel]

Thanks a lot for this video, I'm leaving the 7th of November till the 8th of December and I love your tips and tricks. Nice to see that I already thought of the most you talked about but still I got some very helpfull tips!! One question: When you're talking about prices in Dollars I asume you're talking about American Dollar except when you explicitly mentioned New Zealand Dollars?

[@CurrentlyHannah]

I was using New Zealand dollars :)

[@thatjillgirl]

That's actually a great price on the van! I was expecting much worse. XD

[@ppoletto]

amazing video, very helpful. One question: I imagine there's no electricity on the DOC campsite, was it a problem as for the campervan battery? Did it manage well the overnights without power supply? How has it for charging camera batteries and so on? . greetings from Brazil

[@jamessnow811]

👍

[@stephen129]

12:08 "Penglings! Pengwings!" - Benedict Cumberbatch

[@kiwionarope]

Matt and Dans Campervans have great Campervans but you pay for it, they are allot more then Jucy Campervans. I just did a month in NZ in a Jucy and it cost $6700, for the same Van through M & D, its $11700.

[@thegr8stm8]

Hi Hannah n Chris… gr8 vlog… what happened to Chris’s drone footage??? No drone zones! Or special permits required?… Ok, this Olde Fart just remembered what you said earlier about Copter tours… understandable! NZ Tourist Board ought to pay you for a real promo Tour Guide to NZ and so should Taiwan. Well done! Chris… you got to propose…❤😊

[@CurrentlyHannah]

There are a LOT of drone rules which was very sad 😔 I wish I knew in advance or I wouldn’t have brought it hahah

[@palinachannel]

Hello nice Video cool 🌼🌺🏵🍀💛❤💜

[@link2299]

Can you tent at the campsites? Is another option to do cheap car rental and tent? If so, looks like it could be possible to get the price down to $1500 NZD range right?