WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU GO TO NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTH ISLAND! (Van Life Travel Guide & Itinerary)

Watch this video before you go to New Zealand’s South Island! We’ve tried to jam pack everything you need to know about traveling around New Zealand in a camper van in this ultimate New Zealand summer travel guide from the process of getting there, when to visit New Zealand, weather, budget, camping AND a full itinerary of stops around the South Island that we would 100% recommend adding to your route. This was one of our favorite road trips we have ever done - from the incredible hikes, to the scenic waterfalls and glaciers, to the beautiful mountains and piercing blue lakes.
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//AMAZING TOURS TO ADD TO YOUR NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIP:
🚣‍♂️ Milford Sound Cruise & Kayak: gyg.me/i4r9Fgrr (exact one we did!)
✈️ Milford Sound Scenic Flights: gyg.me/W0I566y5
🪢 Queenstown Bungee Jumping: shorturl.at/dJK67
🚤 Queenstown Shotover Boat: gyg.me/ibzbazdh
🚁 Fox Glacier Heli Hiking: gyg.me/Df67ef00
🚁 Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hiking: gyg.me/9TbMCh4T
🪱 Te Anau Glow Worm Caves: gyg.me/8JDZwG1V
//HELPFUL NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL LINKS:
🚐 JUCY Camper Van Rental: t.cfjump.com/88847/t/71828 | Get 5% OFF using the code LoversPP24
📱 Camper Mate: campermate.com/
🚧 Milford Sound Road Closures & Conditions: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh9...
⛅️ New Zealand Weather: www.metservice.com/
💳 Our Fave Travel Credit Cards: travelfreely.com/best-offers-...
✈️ Find Cheap Flight Drops to New Zealand with Thrifty Traveler! Use the code PASSPORT10 for $10 off: thriftytraveler.com/premium/
🚙 The Best Road Trip Stops Through from Te Anau to Milford Sound: theloverspassport.com/best-ne...
//TIMESTAMPS:
00:00-01:36: Intro
01:36-02:39: Best Time to Visit New Zealand
02:40-03:20: How Long to Visit
03:21-08:55: Things to Know BEFORE You Go (Visas, nzETAs, Bugs)
08:56-09:42: New Zealand North Island vs. South Island
09:43-09:56: Tipping
09:57-10:36: Sheep & Wildlife
10:37-11:13: Booking in Advance
11:14-11:58: Emergencies & Precautions
11:59-13:42: New Zealand Packing List
13:43-14:31: Budget & Costs
//ACTUAL VANLIFE VLOG & SOUTH ISLAND ITINERARY:
14:32-18:16: Full Van Rental Tour
18:17-19:56: Travel Day, Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo
19:57-22:55: Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park
22:56-25:32: Wanaka & Roy’s Peak
25:33-26:39: Queenstown & Bob’s Peak
26:40-27:25: Fergburger & Perky’s Floating Bar
27:26-28:23: Nevis Bungy Jump
28:24-34:20: Fiordland National Park & Milford Sound (Viewpoints, Hikes, Kayaking, Cruises & Scenic Flights)
34:21-35:42: Mt. Aspiring National Park (Blue Pools, Haast Highway, Thunder Creek Falls)
35:43-37:53: Fox Glacier & Franz Josef Glacier
37:54-39:40: Hokitika Gorge, Arthur’s Pass, Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall, Castle Hill
39:41-39:59: Outro
✈️ Sign up for Incredible Cheap Flight Drop Emails! Use the code PASSPORT10 for $10 off: thriftytraveler.com/premium/
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○ LTK: www.shopltk.com/explore/thelo...
○ Amazon Storefront: amzn.to/46Ym9EF
○ Get Incredible Royalty Free Music: shorturl.at/hTYZ9
○ The Best Stock Footage Platform: shorturl.at/lpKLO
//FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES
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○ Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@theloverspass...
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**FTC Disclosure: This video is not sponsored. All opinions are honest and our own. Above are affiliate links which means we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products via those links. All of these links are generated by Amazon or Avantlink and provide us with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items we use.
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[@PaulSmith-bb7lv]

Very informative and mostly very accurate. A few mispronunciations of Tekapo and Wanaka but no big deal. Yes, sandflies can be very annoying especially if you let them bite you. The answer is to use lots of insect repellent (bug spray in the USA), cover as much of your bare skin as possible and they will stay away. The West Coast gets a lot of rain so slips (landslides) are common and having a backup plan is a good idea. Great video. (From a Kiwi.)

[@jonnybowdenfitness9558]

One of the best nz travel guides ive seen. Looking forward to getting back there later this year!

[@thewildlylife]

You guys this video was awesome!!! SUPER helpful. We’re definitely hoping to visit New Zealand soon! Also the weather and construction issues you guys had 🤯🫠😵‍💫 we had a similar experience with flies in the outback of Australia and now Caleb is triggered whenever we see one 😂

[@TheLoversPassport]

THANKS FRIENDS!!!

[@ahmedaly13245]

Great video You deserve more views 🤍

[@TheJeff4X4]

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here. I live in New Zealand and this was very well done.

[@tim.muangkeo]

Been wanting to go to New Zealand. I prefer to do van life when traveling so this is perfect for me. Thanks!

[@TheLoversPassport]

You will LOVE IT! It's an incredible country!

[@smclean121]

Great video! If hearing “highly recommend” was a drinking game, I would be sloppy drunk by the end of the video 😂

[@TheLoversPassport]

HAHAHA we'll get a thesaurus for next time

[@richardcaldwell9160]

This is so informative, but wait, I live here. their is is so much to learn

[@buckgrind]

@TheLoversPassport what Canon lens was that in 30:26?

[@TheLoversPassport]

That is the RF 100-500mm 🙂

[@buckgrind]

Sweet. Do you ever miss the option to go down to f/2.8 on it?

[@lukeshieldsnature]

If you want to save money just skip queenstown and do more hikes instead, while I think the stuff in Queenstown is very cool why not spend more time in thw world class nature

[@TheLoversPassport]

Every traveler has different styles! We like to give a variety of options for everyone :)

[@lukeshieldsnature]

@@TheLoversPassport Yup just wanted to point it out as Queenstown is expensive

[@KelseyCrowther]

Also I’ve been planning a trip in the South Island and every time I’ve looked up the drive into Milford sound from te Anau it’s said about an hour and 45 min MAYBE 2 hours- your experience was 3 hours?!?!

[@TheLoversPassport]

I mean if you get caught behind a slow bus/driver and it's raining it's very easy to get delayed!! Most of the times it was closer to 2-2.5 hours and we did it 4 times.

[@TheLoversPassport]

Oh also bc of the tunnel closures and stoplight system LOL

[@jenniferblakeney1581]

In addition to comments above, this drive is exceptionally gorgeous, and you'll want to stop all the time to take photos and take in the views.

[@KelseyCrowther]

How were flights so cheap?!?!

[@TheLoversPassport]

We got a flight drop from Thrifty Traveler that alerted us of an insane Delta Skymiles Deal!

[@buckgrind]

Cardfuel in the South Island (verified Feb 2024) no pin needed😎

[@TheLoversPassport]

Ohh great to know!

[@shawnf9032]

Hey! Wages in New Zealand are not great. Everyone that works in hospitality relies on tips to get by. Saying that you don’t need to tip was correct a very long time ago, but these days it simply isn’t true.

[@user-rs2es1of6d]

I don't think ANYONE encourages you to hit animals on the road - even possums. Cheapo laugh - and wrong.

[@TheLoversPassport]

www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests-and-threats/possums/