Meet Teresa Hall, the full-time mum with a growing fleet of campervans

We recently caught up with one of our legendary community owners Teresa Hall, as she filled us in on what it takes to manage a fleet of campervans as a mum, why Camplify is the right platform for her, and some of her top tips for road tripping in Aotearoa.

Tell us a little bit about your camping journey. Why did you decide to invest in your first motorhome?

I never thought I would own a little campervan business, it’s taken me by surprise. Feeling the pressure of the costs of owning a campervan I looked for a company who would help me rent it out and recoup some of those costs. I found Camplify and I’m very grateful because it has literally taken off. Now my daughter and I have Kelvin the Camper, Karl the Camper, and Kiwi the Camper...and running a competition for naming rights of the next one (jokes) but maybe one day soon.

I bought our first campervan because I found camping in a tent hard work with the amount of gear that needed to be packed in the car, then set up, then taken down, often needing to dry it and then put it away. A simple weekend escape was never simple. I wanted a way for my daughter and me to easily go away for weekends. Coupled with this, campervanning is much cheaper than hiring Airbnb’s.

I spent 20 years overseas and came back to enjoy NZ, and doing that in a campervan whenever we want to is just perfect. Owning a campervan allows us the flexibility to leave at short notice and do short trips often. New Zealand is well equipped with campgrounds and turning up at a friend’s place with a readymade bed is easy too.

Is it usually just the two of you when you travel?

Yes, always the two of us. We enjoy exploring beaches, finding swimming holes, playing games; we’ve even taken a campervan to the snow.

Why did you decide to begin your hiring journey with Camplify and how’s it going?

The primary reason was to help offset some of the costs of the vehicle upkeep and also help to fund some of our own trips. It was also a way to make sure that it wasn’t sitting idle, which isn’t good for the vehicle and we may as well make use of the valuable asset too. Once we started hiring out our campervan I realised the great social and community potential that comes along with it. Seeing someone enjoy our country in our campervan warms our hearts, as does meeting lots of like-minded people who share a passion for travel and adventure.

We meet many people from all over the world and play a big part in their fun New Zealand adventure. It has been great learning for my daughter too. Learning what it takes to get something ready for hire, utilising assets to make money and to help make people’s adventures the best they

can be. I had thought at times we could Airbnb our house but that is a much bigger job to clear it and it is your most expensive asset you own – with campervans I feel much safer. We want our campervans but don’t need them like we do the house.

Camplify made me feel comfortable from the outset with their super friendly and supportive approach, I knew our camper was in good hands. The first time watching the camper leave down the road with travellers from Europe was a very strange and slightly scary feeling. Now I'm very used to it and just love it because I know that they are off to have the time of their lives and everyone who takes the campervans looks after them well and comes back full of stories, pictures and videos. Seeing and hearing someone enjoying New Zealand in one of our campervans warms my heart and we are a big part of their experience – memories for a lifetime.

What do you get up to when not hiring out your van?

I work part time and I’m a mum – enough said! Neither of us were made to sit idle, we live by the beach which we love and are always trying to get away as often as we can.

How is your van hiring business helping to support you financially?

After listing the first camper my daughter started to ask why other people get to have Karl all the time and we can’t use it. So luckily I was able to buy another one for us. The problem is that it’s addictive and I started renting that one out too, so with the revenue from the two campers I was able to buy a third small camper. My intention is to keep paying them off and using some of the money for our adventures too.

With 3 vans already listed on Camplify, what are your hiring plans moving forward?

Being a Premium Member, Camplify helped us set up a website and our little business called New Zealand Campervans was born. We now have a website backed by Camplify, Instagram and Facebook featuring our campers and trips people have been on.

I’ll be looking at what the next steps are for 2024 soon. I’d like to continue to expand but still need to pay for the assets I’ve put money into and parking is becoming an issue too, so I’ll just have to see how things go. I do enjoy it but mustn’t forget that it takes time to maintain a vehicle to the standard I would be happy with as a hirer and to certify and insure them etc…and also fixing the times to meet hirers at pickup and drop off. It is a full service we offer!

Why do you think your vans are proving so popular?

We’re proud of our campers and take very good care of them, we want to make sure they are well maintained for people to have the same experiences that we have when using them. We take care to clean them and organise what the travellers need.

We have three types of campervans which touch slightly different markets:

• Kelvin the Camper, the larger sized 4 berth, 3 litre Diesel which is a powerful and smart campervan with that little bit of extra space.

• Karl the Camper is a standard 4 berth camper, hitting the general tourist market.

• Kiwi the Camper is our popular 2 berth backpacker vehicle.

Campervan or caravan holiday? And why?

100% a campervan! All in one convenience with a campervan. Campervans are more compact and easier to manoeuvre than a caravan. You can go anywhere easily, on a whim.

You can’t beat local knowledge - what are the top 3 campsites to visit near you?

Sullivans Bay and Mahurangi Regional Park have stunning tranquil waters and white sand beaches. Shakespear Park, just because it is a beautiful beach, easy campground and close by. We have been known to go there straight after school and return in the morning. An old favourite is Waipu Cove camping, great beach, great cafes and plenty of people to meet.

Where’s next on your travel bucket-list?

A school holiday trip to northland. Right to the top! Stopping at all the stunning beaches along the way.

Any advice for first-time campers?

Buy a campervan not a tent! Hire one in winter when prices are cheaper to test one out. Anyone can be a first time camper in a campervan, it’s easy and fun.

Top 3 essential road trip packing items?

• USB Speaker

• A torch for bush walks.

• Binoculars.

What song is top of your road trip playlist?

The Killers ‘Human’

What's your favourite thing to cook on the road?

A smorgasbord of food for the whole family (of two). Fruit, veggies, olives, breads, oils, salmon!

Since Teresa joined Camplify in September 2022, she has already secured 43 bookings across her 3 campervans. You can find her awesome vans here:

• Karl the Camper

• Kelvin the Camper

• Kiwi the Camper

Looking to join Camplify? We’d love to have you. Earn a passive income from your campervan, caravan or motorhome and help us bring adventure to all. List your van for free and start sharing the dream.