Photos: Yoal Desurmont, Brayden, Rodrigo Kammer, David Tip, Colin Watts
Itinerary · New Zealand
Campervan New Zealand: 2 weeks on the South Island
Fjords, glaciers and volcanic landscapes from Christchurch to Queenstown
New Zealand's South Island is one of the most popular campervan destinations in the world. Over two weeks, State Highway 1 and the back roads take you through fjords, glaciers, turquoise lakes and alpine meadows. An itinerary to see the main sights without rushing.
The route
Indicative route, in straight lines between the stops, in travel order.
View on Google Maps →The 10 stops
Good to know before you go
The real budget for 14 days
Allow around €1,180 to €2,930 for 14 days, for two. This budget covers three items only: rental, fuel and nights (one campsite night each evening). Flights, food, the Milford Sound cruise and activities are extra. Prices checked in October 2026, converted at €1 = NZ$1.9823 on 29/10/2026 (OFX). The low end is 14 days in November or April at DOC campsites; the high end is 14 days in January at holiday parks.
- Van rental: a self-contained 2-berth van costs roughly NZ$45 to NZ$90 per day from May to September and NZ$200 to NZ$300 per day from December to February (Campervan Planet, October 2026). We count NZ$90 per day in November or April (the top of the low season, our estimate for those months) and NZ$300 in January: NZ$1,260 to NZ$4,200 for 14 days, or €636 to €2,119.
- Fuel: NZ$3.23 per litre of diesel on average on 16/10/2026 (1News, from Gaspy). For 1,800 km at 9 to 11 litres per 100 km, so 162 to 198 litres: NZ$523 to NZ$640. A diesel van also pays Road User Charges, about NZ$76 per 1,000 km (same source as rental), so NZ$137. Total: NZ$660 to NZ$776, or €333 to €392.
- Nights: NZ$10 to NZ$20 per adult at a DOC "standard" campsite (Department of Conservation); about NZ$20 to NZ$30 per adult for a powered site at a holiday park, more in peak season (CamperChamp, 12/10/2026). At NZ$15 to NZ$30 per person, for two, over 14 nights: NZ$420 to NZ$840, or €212 to €424.
- Total: NZ$2,340 to NZ$5,816, or €1,181 to €2,934, so around €1,180 to €2,930.
Where to sleep in your van
- Freedom camping: only in a certified self-contained van with the green warrant. Since 7 June 2026, the old blue warrant no longer counts (1News, 03/06/2026). Certification requires a fixed toilet, a water supply, a wastewater tank, ventilation and rubbish storage.
- Non-self-contained van: it can only stay at a campground, a DOC campsite that accepts it, or a site a council or DOC has opened to these vans (CamperChamp, 12/10/2026).
- Fines: usually NZ$200 to NZ$400, up to NZ$1,200 in court (same source).
- Before you book: ask the rental company whether the van has the green warrant. Many cheap small vans do not.
Updated 30 October 2026
When to go
November to April
- Jan : Best time
- Feb : Best time
- Mar : Best time
- Apr : Best time
- May : Outside the best time
- Jun : Outside the best time
- Jul : Outside the best time
- Aug : Outside the best time
- Sep : Outside the best time
- Oct : Outside the best time
- Nov : Best time
- Dec : Best time
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