New Zealand Campervan Adventure - South Island

[@PaulSmith-bb7lv]

As a kiwi, watching many of these videos about travelling the South Island I can usually pick out some errors, poor naming of towns, etc. This one was perfect. Glad you had such a good time and enjoyed sharing your holiday. One note of caution (if I may) don't leave it too late to descend from Roys Peak. The track is tricky in the dark. Sarah was justified in being worried.

[@advanturest]

Thanks mate. I'm known to pronounce things wrong so to hear this is nice. Ever since this trip i've been desperate to go back. Your country is a beautiful place. Even in the dark 😉 I was surprised at how many animals came out on the walk down in the dark, There was so many sheep on the trail. I felt like i was intruding. It was kind of a little spooky. Apart from that it wasn't too bad. from memory i had a head torch. Sarah was probably more worried about being alone haha. Cheers!

[@Andy_M986]

I had to chuckle when you said "They've got room!!!!" Too funny mate

[@troybaker5772]

Great video. We are in Queenstown now and watched it several times before and during our trip. Great photography and really personal video. Fantastic.

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate, going back through some old comments I missed and noticed this. Hope you had a great time in NZ. This trip was a bit over 2 years ago now and I still can’t stop thinking about heading back. I loved it over there. Thanks for the kind words. Cheers 👍

[@senorbart]

Best selfies ever!! So cool. Great photos.

[@advanturest]

Haha, this is a few years old and still my favourite selfies ever 😂 so lucky not to have a crowd.

[@daver7867]

the photo you took with the wanaka tree was epic.....turns out the fog backdrop worked in your favour i thought, & the tree reflecting off the lake....awsome.

[@advanturest]

I think your spot on. At the time I wanted the shot that I had seen so many times online. But now over 2 years later I absolutely love the shot of the tree in the fog. Very happy I got those conditions. Cheers mate!

[@misterkingofvlogvikas9866]

Very beautiful thanks for sharing

[@davidorr6627]

We had the exact same model Maui van last year when we did a 3 week, 6,000km trip around the South Island. Big problem with the vans is they don't have fog lights. Not a great idea when you're driving around the South Island in the middle of winter. Also, the seats are as hard as church pews. I highly recommend getting some extra padding. Bit of a squeeze in the back of the van, but it's serviceable. Don't bother using the shower. Just stop at a campground every few days. We managed 3 nights in a row freedom camping. The batteries stayed charged up enough as it has solar panels on the roof to boost it a bit. We left the bed made up, then on the last day found the extra table stashed behind the 3rd seat. Wish we'd known that was there.

[@eatwanderexplore]

Gorgeous video footage and commentary. Thank you!

[@datractor]

Beautiful photos mate, glad you loved NZ 🙌

[@AT_TREX]

Another great video!

[@advanturest]

Thanks mate! So keen to get back over there but with a bike next time! So pretty!

[@lucykitson7264]

This awesome help! Great shots :)

[@advanturest]

Thanks, such a beautiful place. I can’t wait to head back! 👍

[@mycyclingobsession7002]

Wow!! Amazing video. The Photography and videography is amazing. Now that is a epic adventure!! Great job. The helicopter ride is like a cherry on top of the cake! Congrats on your awesome adventure. Cheers!!

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate. NZ is such a beautiful country. I think it would be hard to make something that wasn’t visually pleasing. That helicopter ride was such a surprise, I was really happy we got to do it! Sooooo good 😁 Cheers

[@joshdegrassi1477]

Amazing! So lucky you got this trip in during the past few years.

[@advanturest]

Definitely jagged the timing on this one! My fingers are crossed that nothing happens for your up coming trip 🤞

[@GPMcGee]

Another great edit mate 👍 Slick transition from the tunnel to the title text. And the Milford sound section was mint, great shots perfect music. Makes me desperately want to travel again. Was planning to go to nz in sep/Oct but I guess it's not happening 😢

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate! I’d love to work cool transitions into shots all the time but it’s very tricky. This was a simple little something. Glad you noticed 😄You should go watch Benn TK and Jamie TK. Their transitions blow my mind. Life goals 😂 Also music choice is a pain. I’m always struggling with it, that song at Milford sound just popped up in suggested songs and seemed perfect, I was pretty chuffed I found it. Nearly bought a tear to my eye 😂 And lastly, travel this year is looking doubtful. I feel so grateful I got away just in time. My fingers are crossed that things clear up and you can get away. Im still stinging to go on a big bike trip with you all. Even when the lockdown has eased I’d be keen to take some time off work and go anywhere for a ride and some beers!

[@vaughantutty2227]

I used to work for the van rental company, very fortunate to of had our kea, alpine parrots sit on top of our van, all 6 of them Cheeky buggers didn't get off, one thing you would of loved to of experience, these cheeky but awesome birds

[@brianward7724]

Tim, you are a videographer par excellence! No doubt about it! Not only is each scene pretty nice but the way you have melded it all together.....well, superb is the only adjective I can think of! Well done! It stands comparison with any of the big-money tourism productions that I've seen. Some really nice stills, as well. It must have taken you many hours to complete the job, I reckon. The time at Milford Sound is especially poignant - and galling - for me, because, when I was a young bloke and on a cruise on the SS Oriana, we were heading from Hobart to the Marlborough Sound and there was an announcement that, IF the weather was suitable, the Oriana would head into Milford Sound!! Unfortunately, there was a 70 mph gale, so it didn't happen. Booo! My had had been a seafaring man when he was single and he was a keen photographer, too, so I have one or two images scanned from the photos he took in Milford Sound in the 1920s or 30s. I made a really nice shot of you and Sarah on the boat but I don't know how to get it to you, because I'm not on Instagram. Thanks so much for this, Tim!

[@advanturest]

Thanks Brian, I appreciate the kind words. I flew home too 4 months of lockdowns, I was still working but all my spare time was spent at home so had plenty of time to go through the footage. The hardest part was keeping up the story telling on the trip. After a day or 2 I started to loose motivation but kept at it, Glad I did because I love watching it back. Some great memories. I also have (probably too many) great photos. I've been working on a photobook and its so hard to pick what to use because I have so many nice shots. As for your trip, I can imagine the disappointment all those years ago, finding out you had to miss sailing into Milford Sound. It would have been heart breaking. Well I know I would have been very disappointed. It would have been a great detour. I'm sure sailing around the top of the south island would have been nice as well. It's crazy to think you have some photographs of Milford Sound that would be close to 100 years old. Just thinking about the type of camera used excites me. I'm interested to know what you have made me. My email is [e-mail] if you wanted to send it? Cheers Tim

[@brianward7724]

@@advanturest Thanks, Tim. I don't know about the top of the South Island (Cook Strait) because I would have been asleep, as we arrived in Marlborough Sound (off Picton) early morning. I'll send that photo now.

[@DougieL]

Takes me back to an epic trip to the Sth Island with wifey, pre kids. Stopping off at trails and bridges and marvelling at the blue waters and overall stunning scenery. Great work, captured some awesome moments that's for sure!

[@advanturest]

Thanks Dougie It's definitely an amazing place. So lucky to get over there just before the borders closed. Next time I'll definitely have to take a bike 😀

[@markgandy3270]

Great video Tim. I'm a recent convert to your channel and really enjoy your adventures. I agree NZ looks a great place to cycle with the added bonus of no snakes!

[@advanturest]

Thanks Mark, I appreciate it. I’m surprised they don’t advertise the fact they don’t have snakes more often. It’s a real selling point 😂 I may have seen one add at some point but it could have been on one of their flights. NZ is such a great place! Since doing this trip I’ve done a little research on cycle tracks and there are heaps. I now have a goal to bikepack across one of the islands for my 40th. (Less than 3 years away) I can’t wait!

[@MylensPerspective]

Great video! Nice shots and informative - I like the honest take on van life and its pros and cons. Good to point out the differences in 2 people wanting to do different activities sharing the one van. Keen for our trip in Sep :D

[@advanturest]

Thanks for watching, and all the way to the end it seems 😀. Sarah and I were considering buying a Van to travel around Aus so doing the trip in NZ was a bit of a test. We had a great time in it and would absolutely do it again. The van we got had bike racks on the back. I think even a bike would be handy. Sarah loves to relax and read etc and I’m more the type of person that can’t sit still. I always have to be doing something. I would have loved to go for a bike ride down some of the many cycle trails while Sarah relaxes and reads a book. Next time! 😀 I think if we did it around Aus I’d take a motorbike on the back. 👍 Enjoy your upcoming trip! I’m very jealous. It’s so beautiful over there!

[@IzharJumadi]

What an amazing video! Love the storytelling pace. Pretty excited to travel to NZ soon for honeymoon

[@advanturest]

Firstly congratulations on the Marriage 😀 NZ really is a beautiful part of the world, what an awesome spot for a honeymoon. Thanks for the nice comment. I really didn’t know what I was making while I was over there but I’m pretty happy how it turned out. Cheers! And enjoy the honeymoon ✌️

[@cherriewaaka6206]

Cute couple love your videos thank you for sharing.

[@advanturest]

Thanks for watching 😀 A year now since we were in NZ, I’d love to be back in that van right now 😁

[@HansumRob100]

cud never get over the otago region town...so beautiful...

[@rowdywombatadventures8755]

Got over there just in time. Love the South Island NZ especially in a motor home.

[@advanturest]

We certainly jagged the timing! We were originally meant to go a week later, So glad we changed our plans. Motor home is a good option but I can’t believe how many cycle trails I saw, I’m so keen to do a multi week tour by bike. That’s all I could think about over there 😂

[@Valura4545]

Your video so awesome

[@advanturest]

It was an awesome trip. Thanks 👍

[@wedgett1]

You've done such an awesome job putting this together. We were lucky enough to get over there last year as well - almost had the place to ourselves (COVID is good for one thing it seems). All the best!

[@advanturest]

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. I love watching this back. The memories are great. It was definitely worth the effort to film a heap of shots throughout the trip. I agree about the covid situation. Roy’s peak being empty was amazing, I’ve heard about hour long wait times just to get a photo. At Milford sound there was about 5 couples on the boat so we could just walk around and sit wherever. No problem finding a place to camp. Thank you Covid 😂 Cheers 👍

[@daniellaprado3169]

So nice! 😊

[@advanturest]

You and Mitch should do it. Everywhere was looking for staff! Part of me wanted to stay and work. Then I could go explore all the time.😀 Actually you might think it’s too cold 🤣

[@solsouth]

Sarah must be a very patient sole, people with caneras like you are a pain in the butt to travel with….I mean it in the nicest way of course. 🙂 I have a Nikon SLR but only take a few photos when I travel now. Most photographers are so busy focusing on getting the right shot that they see everything through a lens and only enjoy the scenery when they get back home at look at the photos.

[@advanturest]

That sounds like me, to make matters worse I now want photos and video. Sarah is very patient but I definitely push the boundaries a little too often. On the flip side, it’s easy to get lazy and I find wanting to get nice photos gets me out doing things I may not have done. I like that. I’ve been doing a lot of Bikepacking trips lately and everyone that wants to come I warn them well in advance that it will be a slow trip. 😂 Thanks for watching 👍

[@livin4adventure_aus584]

now thats a bonfire. this footage is amazing so much more picturesque than when i was there on contiki. probs cos i was either tired or intoxicated. id love to go live there. was the luge slippery?. being wet...

[@advanturest]

Speaking of that fire and being intoxicated, the next day I was a wreck haha. It was super nice over there, snow covered mountains everywhere we drove. I could definitely live there. Maybe one day. Surprisingly the luge was still very grippy, the wet track didn't make it slippery at all.

[@maracservices]

So cool!

[@advanturest]

Not as cool as MARAC refrigeration services 😜

[@stevennecic8465]

Hi looks tops we planning to go June 2023 20 days trip can you tell my abut your camera bag what did you take up on your holiday.. what sort off camera and the lens.. i can see you had 2 cameras 📸 can you tell me more abut your cameras please thanks 🙏

[@advanturest]

Hi Steven. Most of this was shot with a Canon R6 with an EF 24-70mm 2.8 lens and a GoPro 8. There are some phone clips too spread throughout the video. Before this trip I was using my Canon EOSr for photo and video. I had wanted to start filming in 4K, especially for this trip. The EOSr has a massive crop when filming in 4K which is not usable if you want to do any Vlog style content as the crop zooms in way too much. Just before going to NZ I decided to buy the Canon R6 to replace the EOSr as it has 4K video without the crop and some other features I liked. I was planning to sell the EOSr but held off so I could have 2 cameras in NZ. It was kind of pointless though because the new canon Mirrorless cameras have the new RF mount and I didn’t have any RF lenses so I could only use one camera at a time with my lens adaptor. Saying that I did use both cameras but I really only needed the R6. I much prefer it over the EOSr mainly because of the button layout and the 4K crop. The GoPro was very handy as well, especially with the more action type shots. I didn’t have a wide lens for the R6 so the GoPro was great inside the helicopter etc. As for camera bag. I took a massive hiking / camera bag. It’s the Wandrd Fernweh. I like it for hikes as I can carry camera gear and plenty of space for food and clothes etc. it also has a water bladder location which a lot of camera bags don’t have. wandrd-pacific.com/products/fernweh Hope that helps.

[@stevennecic8465]

@@advanturest thank you so much it was very helpful you information very useful for me. I got GoPro black 10 and fujifilm s- x10 i think it will do the job i hope 🤞 won’t be getting any camera yet maybe late next year to upgrade… thanks again tolk to your soon… 👍😎

[@fj418]

love New Zealand, where materialistic vanity seems out of place and you can enjoy nature and life for what they should be

[@rrocketman]

NZ is awesome😎

[@davidlatt999]

It is really beautiful and awesome video. Could I ask what month did you visit there? Thanks

[@advanturest]

Thanks David! We flew in 20th June and left 3rd July. I think there is often more snow this time of year because all the ski resorts were still closed when they should have been open. They all started to open after the big snowfall at the end of our trip. Cheers!

[@davidlatt999]

Thanks for the response. Much appreciated.

[@glennd3750]

Impressive!

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate! 🤙

[@Andy_M986]

There is a cycle track that goes from the top to the Bottom, about 1000 miles I think.

[@niroshansamarasinghe7391]

This is amazing! which month was this?

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate. This was the end of June. Im pretty sure we flew home on the 3rd of July.

[@idzardkruizinga]

Awesome vid!! In what month were you guys there?

[@advanturest]

Cheers mate! It was Late June. I think we flew to NZ on the 20th June and flew home 3rd July.

[@idzardkruizinga]

@@advanturest nice! I am planning to go during May and June. New Zealand is such a beautiful place any time of the year. But love the rugged feel that autumn and winter brings.

[@advanturest]

@@idzardkruizinga I absolutely agree with you and too be honest your dates will probably be perfect. I love the colder Autumn months. When we were there the snow season was delayed because winter was late. I know the ski resorts where closed for a few weeks because there just wasn’t enough snow. There was finally the big snow storm when we were in Milford Sound and that’s when all the ski resorts opened. I wouldn’t be surprised if you go in May you will have very similar conditions to us. Enjoy your trip!

[@av8199]

hi what month when u guys visiting thre in this video?

[@advanturest]

2nd half of June. We got there on the 20th June and flew home the 3rd of July. 👍

[@isaacjohnson2402]

Was it cold in the van? Enough to stay comfortable?

[@advanturest]

Not at all. The van had a diesel heater which works extremely well. It also had an electric heater in the cupboard which can only be used if the van is plugged into mains power at a caravan park. The beauty of the diesel heater is it can be used off grid and uses next to no fuel. It’s supplied from the main fuel tank so we didn’t need to worry about it. It would get so warm in the van that we would turn it off when we went to sleep.

[@VarinderSimran]

Which camera you use??

[@advanturest]

Canon r6 and GoPro 8

[@ooiks5397]

Which month was this trip taken?

[@advanturest]

Mid June for 2 weeks. We flew home on the 3rd July.

[@sigmaoctantis4706]

All those sheep giving me you the side eye have clearly heard about the what you buggers infected your koalas with ;o

[@jakeweir5164]

Mate great visuals but dude… you’re a hard man to please… that van was ace and so were the places.. never known a bloke moan so much.