What to Pack for a Motorhome or Campervan Holiday in New Zealand

If you have decided to travel in New Zealand on holiday in a hired motorhome, campervan or 4WD camper, you will need to figure out what to bring along on your trip.

Even with the smallest hired vehicles, you should have ample storage space available onboard. And if you hire a larger motorhome, you can pack quite a few supplies and still have room left over.

But you probably are not used to packing for trips in hired vehicles and are more used to eating at restaurants and sleeping in hotels.

So, you may wonder what additional supplies you need to pack that you would not normally bring on a typical vacation.

In this guide, we will discuss what you do and do not need to bring with you to enjoy a comfortable motorhome or campervan holiday in New Zealand.

Items That Will Be Provided For You With Your Rental

When you hire a motorhome or other vehicle for a New Zealand holiday, certain supplies will be provided to you as part of your rental. You do not need to pack these supplies yourself as they will be waiting for you onboard.

• Basic bedding including sheets, pillows, and blankets will already be waiting for you if you hire a motorhome.
• A hired motorhome also will come with towels to use in the bathroom along with soaps, shampoos and conditioners (like in a hotel).
• In the kitchen, you should find cookware, dishes, utensils and even some basic appliances. You do not need to pack anything for the kitchen in most cases beyond specialty items that you want to bring.
• Closets come equipped with hangers for your clothes.
• Cleaning supplies such as liquid soap, dishtowels, dust pans, brushes and brooms tend to be onboard.
• Both matches and at least one fire extinguisher will probably be onboard as well.
• You may be able to pay extra for add-on supplies like bicycles, outdoor equipment, binoculars, and so on.

A small campervan will not include the same amenities and supplies as a large motorhome. Also, different companies offer different supplies. Find out what is included in your rental agreement. Otherwise, you might forget to pack something you need.

What You Need to Pack for Your NZ Motorhome Holiday

So, assuming all of the items listed above are waiting for you in your hired vehicle, what do you need to pack for your New Zealand holiday?

Bathroom Supplies

Whether or not soaps, shampoos and conditioners are provided by the rental company, you may still want to bring those you prefer. You also should pack your hair products, shaving cream, razors, deodorant, makeup, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and any other supplies you use to get ready for your day.

Kitchen Supplies

If the vehicle you are hiring has a basic kitchen, you likely will not need to pack things like forks and knives. But if there are any special utensils you need, you should bring those.

Ask what appliances are included. If any are missing that you want to bring, you can consider doing so. While a small kitchen appliance may be unwieldy in your luggage, once it is in one of the kitchen cabinets, it will be out of the way.

In terms of foodstuffs, plan some meals around dry and canned ingredients, and pack them. You can also bring snacks, and if you are travelling with a baby, toddler or pet, you will need to pack any special foods or supplies they need. Also, don’t forget to bring foods for special dietary requirements.

Pet Supplies

Taking your cat or dog to New Zealand with you? You’ll have to bring everything that your pet requires for the trip.

Supplies to pack include your pet’s bed, a crate, rain boots, feline spray, leashes, tags, collars, food, medications and toys. If your pet is not yet micro-chipped, consider taking care of that. Bringing along a GPS tracker for your pet is a good idea as well.

Medical Supplies

On any vacation, it is wise to pack some essential medical supplies, and a trip in a campervan or 4WD vehicle is no exception.

You should bring a basic first aid kit. Along with that, pack your prescription medications, painkillers and supplements. You also should bring copies of your prescriptions and contact information for your healthcare provider. Bug spray is a smart supply too.

Outdoor Supplies

One of the main draws of New Zealand is its stunning scenery. You won’t want to look out at those views solely through the windows of your hired vehicle. You are going to want to get out there!

So, you should pack the necessary outdoor supplies. We already mentioned bug spray. You also are going to want to be ready for the weather. That means packing sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and visors for bright days. For rainy days, you will want to remember to bring an umbrella. To be ready for unpredictable weather conditions, you should pack clothing which you can layer up or down.

Some additional outdoor supplies which can be helpful to bring on a motorhome holiday in New Zealand include flip-flops, outdoor toys, pool toys, binoculars, hiking boots, sandals, backpacks, and bicycles. If you will be camping outdoors at any point, you may also want to bring sleeping bags, tarps, and other camping supplies.

Important Documents

Here are some documents you need to make sure you have with you for your holiday:

• Your passports and visas
• Vaccination certifications (don’t forget about your pets)
• Insurance documents
• Travel tickets
• Traveller’s checks
• Currencies
• Debit and credit cards
• Rental agreement

Miscellaneous Supplies

Finally, along with the supplies in the categories above, you also need to pack all the basic clothing you will need, watches, accessories, and so forth.

Do not forget to pack everything you need in terms of electronics either. That includes laptops, tablets, smartphones, adapters, spare batteries, chargers, power cords, and your camera.

You will probably be hanging out in your hired vehicle at least some of the time, so consider packing a few Blu-ray discs or DVDs to stay entertained.

Finally, a couple more miscellaneous supplies to bring on your vacation include a flashlight and some bags for your laundry.

Make an Inventory List

While there are many storage spaces available onboard a hired campervan or motorhome, the potential downside of using them is that you can easily misplace items or forget them entirely at the end of your trip.

The best way to prevent that from happening is to make an inventory list of all of the supplies you are bringing along and where you are putting them for the duration of your stay. When you pack up to leave again, you can check off all the items on your list so that you do not leave anything behind.

Pack Well for the Perfect Motorhome Holiday in NZ

While some time and work go into packing everything you need for your motorhome holiday in New Zealand, the effort will pay off when you enjoy a safe and comfortable trip. Have fun exploring all NZ has to offer!