Auckland Ben & Jillian: newfound love boosts income

We caught up with Auckland father of two, Ben Gaines about his family’s new passion for camping, and how they’re building a caravan hiring business with Camplify.

New to caravanning, Ben and his wife Jillian invested in their first caravan and began sharing it on Camplify in late 2020. With demand so high, they were able to upgrade to a larger and more modern caravan, now available to hire: The Adventure Before Dementia. Less than six months into their hiring journey, they have already received over $15,000 in bookings.

If you’re eager to learn more about caravan sharing in NZ, read on as Ben shares future business plans (spoiler alert: more vans!), his favourite NZ family campsites and why he loves the experience of it all!

Tell us more about your caravan journey...

Our caravan journey only started in 2020. With COVID restrictions, we reevaluated our family travel plans and thought it would be a great opportunity to see some of our own country for a change. The thought of flying to tropical islands was off the cards with our two little kids in tow, so we decided to embrace local driving holidays.

You now have two caravans on Camplify. How’s it all going?

That’s right, we first joined in September with our 4-berth Bailey caravan, and began receiving bookings almost immediately. As a family, we realised we wanted a little more space and decided to invest in a modern 6-berth caravan.

With so many great bookings coming in for both vans, continued sharing them both on Camplify for a while - in just 6 months, we’ve received over $15,000 in bookings.

Camplify is such an easy platform to use, and that’s why we are on it. One of the best parts is Elle who looks after the platform in NZ - she is sooo helpful if you need anything at all. We even have all our insurance wrapped up with Camplify too.

Any future plans for your hiring business?

More vans! As soon as we can find some extra space to store them, we want to get more. We love to travel, so we want at least another couple, so that there’s one available for us to holiday in, whilst the others are out with hirers.

We’re learning about so many great spots that we didn’t even know by other families booking and sharing their plans with us.

How is your family embracing the van sharing life?

I work remotely, and often on the road, so having a caravan enables my Canadian wife (Jillian) and our two daughters, aged 3 and 1, to travel with me and spend heaps of time at the beach. When not travelling, it’s fantastic being able to earn some money sharing our vans with others. There really is no easier way to create some extra income than from renting your caravan out.

Caravan or motorhome?

Caravan! So you can get to your location and then you’re still able to use your car to explore or, in our case, get ice cream for the kids

Why do you think your caravans are proving so popular?

We get heaps of people who are thinking of buying a caravan, but want to try before they buy. Our lovely 6-berth van is fully self-contained and with solar, so it gives people lots of options for campsite locations and number of guests.

Any fave family-friendly campsites in NZ?

• Whangateau Holiday Park - It’s close to Auckland, has amazing facilities and is right on the beachfront. It’s a hidden gem and one of the best holiday parks we have ever been to!

• Otamure Bay Campsite - It's a slice of paradise, you really need a caravan like ours with everything in it as facilities are limited with no power. Our van comes with everything you need to enjoy a comfortable getaway here

• Matauri Bay - It's amazing, basic but tucked away and what a view when you drive down the hill

Where’s next on your family’s bucket list?

Next up is East Cape, another hidden secret in NZ but such a cool spot!

Any advice for first-time campers?

Just do it! Make a little list of the things you think you’ll need, and then just get out and go. Book something on Camplify and get away.

What song is at the top of your road trip playlist?

Waggon Wheel by Darius Rucker, for some reason it comes on all the time and people in campsites play it. Classic, makes me want to grab a cold beer and sing!

Anything else to add...

Camplify is sooo simple, I would highly recommend it to anyone with a caravan sitting in their drive as a great way to make some money, or to someone who wants to head away in one. It’s just Kiwis dealing with Kiwis, and we love it!

If Ben’s fave camping spots have got you itching to head on an adventure, you can book his van here. Or perhaps you’ve got your own van and considering sharing with others - find out more here.