Long road trip planning NZ: 10 expert tips guide

Not sure how to plan a long trip? Organising an extended adventure can feel a little daunting at first. Before you set off, you’ll need to think about everything from campsites and attractions to fuel and food for your whole trip.

But you’ll also have to go with the flow at times to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way! The key here is striking a balance between essential preparation and flexible exploration.

With our expert advice, you’ll be able to make the most of your lengthy holiday without the stress. Here are 10 tips on how to plan a long road trip!

How to plan a long road trip: 10 useful tips

1. Plan the route with Google Maps

Are you going to sort out campervan hire on the North Island? Or would you prefer to arrange campervan hire on the South Island? These questions are pivotal when it comes to organising your road trip and setting some plans in place.

In fact, the best thing you can do is learn how to make a road trip map and mark down your entire journey from start to finish. Make a list of places you want to go and start plotting them on Google Maps. From here, you can work out a rough route and order to see things to help you plan.

Sure, you might decide to stay extra nights in places you love, detour along the way and even skip places, but with a road trip map you have a general skeleton drive to follow that will get you from start to finish - instead of zigzagging across New Zealand, losing valuable time in transit.

2. Plan campsites and pit stops in advance

If you want to be extra organised, plan all your campsites and pit stops in advance. This means you don’t have to worry about not being able to find a place to park each night, and know exactly where you’ll be.

It doesn’t mean you can’t go off plan if something comes up, but at least you know where you’ll be resting each night. This allows you to be even more spontaneous and make the most of fun detours during day drives, knowing you have the night sorted.

3. Break down the budget

The last thing you want is to make it halfway through your trip, only to discover you have drained your finances. It’s easy to do if you don’t plan your road trip budget beforehand!

Sit down and break down your daily budget, and work out how much you can afford to spend each day without eating up your entire savings.

Can’t seem to make your budget stretch? You might consider ways you can make money while road tripping. There are so many different ways you can put your talents to use to bring in a little extra cash, from selling your photos to freelance writing, or even renting out your house while you’re on the road.

4. Plan fuel stops in advance

There’s little worse on a road trip than coming face-to-face with an empty fuel gauge - and no petrol station in sight. As soon as you hit the road each day, it helps to plan your fuel stops, so you never find yourself without.

Apps are great for this. Gapsy will help you find the cheapest fuel prices closest to you, saving you money and keeping you fueled up.

• Gapsy: Android download and iOs download

5. Download helpful apps

With the best free camping apps on hand, you can find the perfect spots to stay at throughout your travels. Know what to pack, where to visit, where to fill up fuel and so much more. No matter where you are, with the right apps on your phone, you will be able to make the most of your time and find the help you need.

Getting bored on those long drives? There are also some great apps to keep you busy on a road trip. Whether you want to keep the kids occupied on the road, or are looking for a little bit of entertainment at the campsite after a long day of travelling, there’s an app for that! Just do your research and find what you enjoy.

Our top picks:

• Audible: iOs download and Android download

• Wordsearch Crossword Game: iOs download and Android download

• Spotify: Download Spotify

• CamperMate App: iOs download and Android download

• Camping NZ: iOs download and Android download

6. Prep some on-road entertainment

Want to avoid those inevitable “are we there yet?” whines coming from the back seat? Come prepared with some great road trip activities for kids guaranteed to keep them busy. Our favourites are magnetic board games, car trays for Lego on the go, and games like Car Cricket!

Travelling on your own? Check out these tips for long road trips aloneto help you plan for your journey.

7. Make a packing checklist

When you’re looking at how to plan a long road trip, a camping checklist is a must to ensure you have everything you need on hand.

While you have a bit more freedom when it comes to packing for a campervan (versus going in a small car or on a plane), you still want to ensure you pack light, so you aren’t overcrowded with unnecessary items on your trip.

8. Sort out insurance

The last thing you want is to be stressed with every corner you take, knowing you have no insurance to help you out if you find yourself in an accident.

Insurance is an important part of any travel, even when you’re on the road in a campervan. The great news is, Camplify works with Australia & NZ’s leading insurers, to give you peace of mind during your adventure. Every booking made through our platform has insurance included at no additional cost.

9. Bring lots of food and snacks

Long road trips call for plenty of food and nibbles. The last thing you want is to find yourself stopping every 30 minutes just to fill up your stomach. Plan plenty of road trip friendly snacks in advance, including fruit, nuts, muesli bars, muffins and more.

When you do make stops for lunch or sightseeing, be sure to stock up on more snacks to keep you going until your next stop.

10. Take plenty of photos

With so many jaw-dropping vistas and bucket list experiences to capture, it’d almost be remiss to set off on a New Zealand road trip without a camera! Be sure to keep yours on hand and take plenty of snaps to document your adventure.

You can even have a go at keeping a journal for you to look back on to remember your trip in full. It’s the perfect keepsake to bring home!

Hire a van for your road trip through New Zealand

With just a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, spending a long time on the road doesn’t need to be stressful. And now that you know how to plan a long road trip, you need the perfect van to take you! Hitting the road in a Camplify campervan is one of the best ways to travel, offering the freedom to go at your own pace, take detours and craft a once-in-a-lifetime trip - like this New Zealand road trip itinerary for 3 weeks!

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be New Zealand’s fastest-growing private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• Nationwide AA roadside assistance

• 24/7 customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.