Solo Travel in New Zealand: Campervan Diaries

When researching any trip to New Zealand, so many of the itineraries talk about it being the perfect country to hire a campervan and go on a road trip. Undoubtedly, this is the best way to see some of the off-the-beaten-track parts that make New Zealand so great. But if you are embarking on solo travel in New Zealand, this comes with other considerations – will it be lonely? How safe will you feel? How will it work logistically?

This post covers what it is like to solo travel in New Zealand, as a solo female traveller, specifically focusing on travelling as a female traveller solo in a campervan!

Why Campervan travel is so iconic in New Zealand

New Zealand is a country that is completely geared up for roadtripping, and it really feels like the logistics of many people driving around have been considered. Things such as the size of the roads and the apps that have been created (more on that below!) make it an easy country to drive in. But logistics aside, New Zealand is such an unbelievably beautiful country that more often than not, the journey to get somewhere is just as much a part of the adventure as the destination.

Some of these iconic drives include the roads on the way to Milford Sound and the approach to Mount Cook.

Everywhere you drive, you are met with stunning mountains, gorgeous lakeside views, windy roads overlooking valleys, simply epic scenery, and so many other places you are going to want to pull over and just take in. Having your own set of wheels allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience of being in New Zealand, giving you the freedom to soak it up as you want.

Why Choose a Campervan for Solo Travel in New Zealand

The first and foremost reason for choosing to travel around in New Zealand in a campervan is that, as mentioned above, it gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel as you want. You aren’t tied to any bus timetables or having to join group tours to get to locations. But why choose a campervan over a car?

While neither is cheap in New Zealand, having a campervan means that you can save money on having to fork out for both a vehicle and accommodation. Also, particularly in peak seasons, hotels and hostels get very booked up, so you do have to plan. Having a campervan, particularly one that you can freedom camp in, gives you much more of an opportunity to be flexible.

Is Solo Campervan travel lonely?

The biggest consideration for considering a campervan as a way to solo travel in New Zealand – will you be lonely?

Undoubtedly, by choosing this way of travel, there are going to be long periods of time when you are alone. So I would say, perhaps consider an alternative option if you are not good with your own company. On a basic level, some of the drives are long, and this will be the time that you spend alone. However, solo campervanning does not have to be a lonely experience.

How to Avoid Feeling Lonely – Solo Travel in New Zealand

Chat to people in your campsite

The campsites in New Zealand are social places. They are busy and friendly, and you will find people cooking outside or in the shared kitchen. It doesn’t take much to start up a conversation.

Top Tip: This post has loads of helpful ways to make friends when solo travelling, which doesn’t include staying in a hostel!

How to make friends while solo travelling

Choose a pitch in a hostel

There are campsites all over New Zealand that are part of hostels. This means you can often use the communal areas, giving you an ideal way to meet other travellers.

Don’t start your trip with campervanning

I ended up spending quite a bit of time during my solo campervan journey travelling with someone I had met in a hostel previously. We got to chatting and found our routes were fairly similar, so we slightly changed plans to travel together. It was the perfect balance; I had some time alone, but also had company for part of the journey.

A lot of people will be doing very similar routes, so you are likely to come across people again and again. Have a conversation with people you meet on day trips, in campsites and cafes and find out where they are heading.

Join Facebook groups

There are loads of Facebook groups designed to help solo travellers connect, and many of these are dedicated to the exact experience of campervanning in New Zealand. These groups are a great way to meet people with a similar itinerary.

Safety Considerations for Solo Travel in New Zealand for Female Travellers

New Zealand is considered a very safe country, with low crime rates, strict gun laws and a strong sense of community. Of course, petty crime can occur, particularly in tourist areas, but in general, solo travel in New Zealand is very safe. Making it a wonderful place to campervan alone, particularly as a solo female. However, campervans can be seen as a target, so there are precautions to be taken.

Campervan security basics

Some basic things to do when you are solo travelling in a campervan, to help protect your safety.

Lock up every time – even if you’re just popping into a shop or using the facilities on a campsite, always lock the van.

Keep valuables out of sight – store cameras, laptops, and passports in cupboards or under the bed when not in use. Curtains or blinds are also helpful when parked.

Choose safe spots – stick to official campsites or well-populated freedom camping areas. Avoid parking up in deserted lay-bys.

Trust your instincts – if a location feels off, don’t stay. It’s easy enough to move on to the next spot.

Use a small day bag – keep essentials like money, phone, and documents with you if you leave the van for walks or sightseeing.

Don’t advertise you’re solo – if you feel uncomfortable, it’s fine to say “we” rather than “I” in conversations with strangers.

Know the emergency numbers – 111 in New Zealand is for police, fire, and ambulance. Always handy to have saved in your phone.

Where to Park your Van

Personally, I felt very safe both in remote camping spots and in more populated campsites. I stayed in both during my time in my van and slept soundly every night.

If you are feeling vulnerable about being alone overnight, then I would suggest choosing campsites, rather than freedom camping spots. I would also recommend staying in more popular areas, but not necessarily in city centres. For example, Lakeside DOC or holiday parks such as Lake Tekapo Holiday Park in the South Island or Lake Taupō Holiday Resort (North Island). Both are popular, scenic, and attract lots of other travellers. Or places like well-frequented coastal towns, like Paihia in the Bay of Islands (a MUST VISIT) or Kaikōura. Both feel lively and safe without being overwhelming.

Consider your driving hours

As a solo traveller, you will obviously be doing all the driving yourself! This is something you need to factor in when planning your route. You will know your own limits, but don’t be overly ambitious about how far you can travel in a day when there is no one to share the journey with. The best bit of being in a campervan, though? When you feel you need to stop for a tea, you can just pull over and make yourself one!

Choosing the Right Campervan as a Solo Traveller

When it is just yourself in a campervan, you don’t need to go for the biggest! A smaller campervan is easier to park, easier to manoeuvre and easier to keep tidy. As well as being cheaper to hire and more economical with how much you will spend on fuel.

Make sure you still have everything you need – cooking facilities, storage, an onboard toilet (if you want to freedom camp), and a double bed. Even though you are solo, you should still have that luxury! Choose one that can be easily stowed away, so you have space during the day.

Driving in New Zealand

Driving is on the left-hand side in New Zealand, which is great if you are from the UK. While the roads are nearly always single-carriageway and often wind through steep passes, the roads aren’t narrow and are easy to navigate.

Allow more time than the sat nav suggests, partly because you will want to keep pulling over to take in the views! But also because you will be slower in a campervan than in a car, and if you are new to driving a vehicle of this size, you don’t want to feel rushed. There are plenty of laybys to pull into, and if you have a queue of people building up behind you, it is courteous to do so.

Planning your route vs. being spontaneous

New Zealand is known for its freedom camping culture. Check the rules on the DOC website for what this entails. You do need to have a ‘self-contained’ vehicle for this, and from June 2026, this means a green warrant and a toilet that is fixed to the floor of the vehicle.

There are plenty of designated freedom camping spots, which you will often be able to turn up to. But for campsites and freedom camping spots in popular areas, they can fill up very quickly, particularly in high season. So you either need to book in advance or get there early. You will also need to factor in how often you need power, and for these campsites, make sure to book in advance.

A mix of both works well. Book for the “must-see” areas, but keep a few nights open for spontaneity.

Essentials to pack for solo Travel in New Zealand: campervan living

Head torch or small lantern – campsite lighting can be limited, and you’ll need your hands free for cooking or setting up in the dark.

Reusable water bottle & water container – some campsites don’t have drinking taps right by your pitch.

Power bank – vital if you are freedom camping and are away from mains power for a night or two.

Flip-flops or slip-on shoes – useful for showers at holiday parks and quick trips outside the van.

Microfibre towel – dries quickly and doesn’t take up much space.

Useful Apps

Signal can be patchy in some of the more remote locations, so make sure to download maps offline to ensure you have navigation.

Download the CamperMate and Rankers apps – they are invaluable for working out where to camp. They list campsites, freedom camping spots, and you can filter to your requirements, whether it is power, showers, toilets or dump stations. They also have reviews from other travellers, which is great for safety.

The Best Things About a Campervan for Solo Travel in New Zealand

Despite potential challenges, the rewards of choosing to drive a campervan for solo travel in New Zealand are incredible. And specifically as a solo female traveller.

Freedom to set your own pace

The beauty of solo travelling is that you are completely in charge of your own time, and don’t have to factor anyone else into your decisions. You have total control of how far you want to drive, how much time you want to spend in one place, and change your plans if you want to stay somewhere longer.

Enjoy the Peace and Quiet

New Zealand is the perfect place to do this, with the stunning scenery all around you. It really is a chance to be mindful, to enjoy your own company and feel so grateful to have the chance to be in a place as beautiful as this.

Empowerment and confidence gained

If you are a little nervous about embarking on this adventure solo, this is an even greater reason to do it. The feeling of accomplishment I felt by taking this on solo was such a confidence boost. It made me realise how much I could do if I put my mind to it. The feeling of empowerment and confidence is second to none.

Potential challenges – Solo Travel in New Zealand

Solo travel in New Zealand in a campervan is hugely rewarding, but there are possible challenges and being ready for them helps mitigate how stressful these situations might be.

Navigation, breakdowns, or bad weather

Always make sure to have maps downloaded offline, so that even without signal, you have route guidance. Likewise, carry two power banks, so that you can keep your phone charged if you haven’t parked somewhere with power.

With a rental campervan, breakdowns should be rare – the vans are always checked. But they can happen. When you pick up the van, make sure you have a contact number for this situation. They will explain the process to you.

Bad weather can also be a factor; heavy rain, fog or snow can affect driving conditions. Particularly if you are travelling in the colder seasons, it can even occur during shoulder seasons. Always check the weather apps before you set off, and allow a few days in your itinerary if you can’t drive for a day or two. The weather can be extreme; it’s not uncommon to see heavy snow, high winds, or flash flooding. Only drive in weather you’re comfortable driving in. If the weather changes, pull over at a safe spot and wait it out.

Budgeting for fuel and campsites

The costs can really add up when you are solo travelling, so make sure you have budgeted appropriately. Expect fuel to be more than you think, and try to fill up in more populated areas as the cost can be higher in rural and small petrol stations.

The cost of campsites can also become a large expense, especially if you are booking places with full facilities. Mix in DOC sites, which are cheaper and often in beautiful settings, as well as freedom camping spots. This helps to balance costs.

Where to go! Solo Travel in New Zealand

This section could go on forever, and this post isn’t about an ideal itinerary in a campervan. But the beauty of self-driving, rather than being beholden to public transport, is that you can visit some of the more remote places.

Some of these include:

North Island

Coromandel Peninsula: Stunning beaches like Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, perfect for a slower pace.
Tongariro National Park: Home to the famous Alpine Crossing, one of the best one-day hikes in the world.
East Cape: Rugged coastline and quiet roads where you’ll often feel like you have the place to yourself.
Cape Reinga: The northern tip of New Zealand, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

South Island

Mount Sunday: Instantly recognisable as Edoras from The Lord of the Rings, with sweeping plains and mountain backdrops.
Aoraki/Mount Cook: New Zealand’s highest peak, with excellent short walks and jaw-dropping views.
Lake Ōhau: Quieter than its famous neighbours (Tekapo and Pukaki), with a peaceful, remote feel.

Catlins: Waterfalls, sea lions on the beach, and a wild, unspoilt coastline well worth the detour.
Golden Bay: Past Abel Tasman, offering secluded beaches and a creative, laid-back vibe.
Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers: Dramatic landscapes where you can walk close to ancient ice.

Other Options for Solo Travel in New Zealand

If you still aren’t sure that solo travel in New Zealand in a campervan is for you, consider some of these options:

Group travel tours: Companies such as G Adventures offer tours in varying lengths, allowing you to see the best of the country with a ready-made group of friends.

See all the tours G Adventures has in New Zealand:

G Adventures New Zealand tours

Hop-on-Hop-off buses: Kiwi Experience offers a perfect solution, think of a hybrid between a group travel tour and a bus network.

Read my honest review of Kiwi Experience to find if it will work for you:

Kiwi Experience review: what it is really like to travel around New Zealand with Kiwi Experience

Hire a car: Perfect if you want the independence of self-driving, but want to have the comfort of sleeping in hotels or hostels each night. Check out Discover Cars for great deals.

Public buses: There is a network of buses that travel around New Zealand. The InterCity buses offer flexible bus passes for backpackers, starting from $140.

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