Top Tips for Successful Campervan Living

Summer’s on its way again and that means literally thousands will be piling their belongings into the back of a van and heading off on the trip of a lifetime around the fabulous highways of New Zealand.

But while many of these travellers will have long dreamt of the freedom and endless discoveries that life on the open road will allow them, few will have thought of the (sometimes sobering) practicalities that living in a van entails. As someone who has spent a disproportionate amount of my life holed up in the back of a camper, I feel duty bound to share a few of the wisdoms I’ve learned over the years. Read on: these easy tips could make all the difference to your trip!

Spend now, not later!

While there are dozens of hiring companies willing to take the worry out of your travels for you, many still opt to buy their own vans. The idea of reselling it for a similar price when your travels are over is certainly tempting, but this route is only beneficial if you buy a van that is mechanically sound. You could end up spending lots of your holiday, and your savings, on a tour of New Zealand’s mechanics. So how can you avoid this? Shop around. Don’t just buy the first thing you see and do some research to find out ‘danger signs’ to look out for in second hand vans. Cheapest isn’t always best – spending now could save you a whole lot later on. If you’re not confident in your mechanical knowledge get the AA or a garage to do a thorough check for you. It could be the best one hundred and fifty dollars you spend!

Park Smart

In August 2011 the New Zealand Government passed laws enabling councils to dole out on the spot fines to free campers. While this was undoubtedly a measure that, at least in part was designed to cash in on the influx of tourists over the Rugby World Cup, there was some legitimate background to it. Councils and residents were becoming infuriated with the mess left by travellers in many popular destinations. As always, the actions of a few…. Park at a campsite, or prove that your self-contained (you have somewhere to poop) and you’re all good. But let’s face it, not all vans do have the space for a mini toilet, and the whole reason you bought a van in the first place was to save on accommodation costs, right? Be smart, and you’ll still be able to spend the night in some picture perfect spots free of charge without feeling like a fugitive. Don’t park in places where it specifically says you can’t. Do always park within reasonable distance of a toilet. Avoid parking in residential areas. And NEVER leave litter or anything less savoury as a sign that you were there.

Buy a Recipe Book!

Three weeks in, your skin’s gone a funny shade of yellow from a lack of vegetables and your stomach’s making a funny noise thanks to a diet of baked beans and pasta. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You may not have an oven, or even a kitchen, but if you’ve a gas burner or two you’ve enough to make a month’s worth of delicious, varied and healthy meals. Pick yourself up a ‘one pot’ recipe book, and start cooking! Mealtimes will become instantly more enjoyable. And with all the time in the world at your disposal, you may just learn a few new skills.

Get Creative with Bathtime

Most vans in the traveller budget do not come with built in showers and in my experience at least, solar showers are rarely satisfactory. Luckily for all those that may come into contact with you in the following months though, there are heaps of ways you can get clean. Some hostels and campsites will let you pay a nominal amount to use their facilities, although don’t be offended if they refuse. Never try to sneak in as consequences can be harsh. Most towns have a swimming pool, so for a few dollars you get some exercise and a wash. Similarly, squash and tennis clubs, gyms and the like will often have one off fees for non-members. Some garages have coin showers, as do public toilets in many town centres. There are public (cold) showers at most beaches, or if you really feel like getting back to nature then there’s always the lakes!

Break the Ice

Go into any hostel and within hours you’ve got a crew of new, international friends to discover the area with. Friendships among van dwellers, though, for whatever reason are not so easily forged. The physical barrier that a van unavoidably is often becomes a psychological one that must be breached in order to make friends. But miss out on meeting new people and you deny yourself one of the most enriching experiences travelling can offer. So while other travellers may seem perfectly content being self-contained in their small metal homes, it’s likely they’ll appreciate the company just as much as you. Don’t be shy – introduce yourself to your new neighbours!

Get out of it!

Everybody has a threshold and at some point you will reach yours. The moment will come when living in a cramped space that insists of smelling of everything you’ve done for the last few weeks finally becomes too much. The way to avoid this of course, is to have a break. There are dozens of ways to leave your van for a few days: Book into a hostel or treat yourself to something a bit more upmarket. Many volunteer programs offer the chance to live and work on site, and it’s well worth checking out the Wwoofing or Helpex websites for opportunities like this. A few days of space, showers and fresh smells will do wonders for your mood and help you really appreciate your next stint in the van. 

Have a System

If living in a van teaches you one thing, it’s how to be organized. Know where everything goes. Have a system. Stick to it. Your life as a van hobbit will be immeasurably better for it.

 Meet the locals

You are in one of the friendliest, most open and hospitable countries in the world. What’s more, Kiwis love to travel and they are generally fascinated and inspired when they see people doing just that in their back yard. Despite what the media might have you think, that old couple approaching your van are far more likely to want a natter about where you’ve been than to tell you to get off their land. So be open, be friendly – who knows where it might lead?

Get Technical

Purists may howl, but these days everyone is travelling with a laptop, and why not? Several cities offer free wife, and there are hotspots where you can hook up and give your family a Skype tour of your van all over the place. For those occasional rainy days, and the nights in middle of nowhere campsites, it’s well worth legally purchasing a few movies or TV series to keep you entertained.

Learn to Linger

Living in a van takes time. Breakfast may be two hours out of your day. Tasks like washing your clothes can take even longer. Allow for this and learn to enjoy it as part of the process. Don’t expect to achieve too much and don’t try and move too quickly. Slow your pace right down and the joys of living in a van will come flowing towards you.

Written by Ben Martin 2012