NZ campervan checklist: 88 essential items guide

Putting together a camping checklist for NZ? Not sure what to take in a campervan? Look no further!

If you plan on road tripping around New Zealand, use this camping checklist and tick each item off one by one. It’s important to pack everything before you leave so that your holiday is stress-free. You don’t want to be left in the cold near Mount Cook or ravenous in Rotorua!

The checklist contains the 88 essentials that every NZ holidaymaker should take on their camping trip and is broken down to include:

• Campervan essentials

• Technology

• Health and hygiene

• Cooking and camping

• Clothing and apparel

• Linen

• Entertainment

Camping checklist NZ - what to take in a campervan

Campervan essentials for New Zealand

Don’t forget to pack these camping essentials for NZ in your campervan. They are crucial in ensuring that you’re travelling legally, safely, comfortably and stress-free.

• Drivers licence and passenger ID: You’ll need your licence if you’re pulled over by the police. Plus, your passengers will likely need IDs to enter age-restricted venues.

• Campervan manual: In the unlikely event that your campervan breaks down, you’ll need the manual to identify and fix the problem. However, if you hired the campervan through Camplify, you’ll be covered with nationwide roadside assistance!

• Spare tyre: Check that your campervan’s spare tyre is inflated to the right pressure and ready to go should you get a flat.

• Jumper cables : A set of jumper cables can be a lifesaver in the unlikely event that your campervan’s battery goes flat.

• Wallet and spare money: Obviously, you never want to leave home without your wallet. But when setting off on a road trip in a campervan, it’s a wise idea to also carry some spare cash or a credit card in a separate bag should you lose your wallet.

• Travel insurance (optional): If you own your campervan, it’s best to take out an insurance policy and carry your policy papers with you. Alternatively, if you’re hiring a campervan through Camplify, you’re covered by comprehensive hire insurance at no extra cost - if you get into an accident, simply call our New Zealand-based support team and we’ll talk you through the resolution process.

• 240v power cable (optional): If your campervan is wired to include a 240v power system (in addition to the 12v power system), you’ll need a cable to connect your campervan to the mains power outlet.

• Ice scraper (optional): Planning on using your campervan in winter? Take an ice scraper to clear snow and ice off of your windows and windshield.

• Snow chains or tyres (optional): If you plan on driving through New Zealand’s alpine regions in winter, it is essential (and mandated by law in some regions) that you carry snow chains or have snow tyres fitted.

• Antifreeze (optional): Prevent your radiator from freezing or overheating by taking antifreeze and routinely topping up the engine’s coolant reservoir.

• Disposable gloves (optional): If your campervan has a cassette toilet, you will want to wear disposable gloves when emptying it at a dump station.

• Levelling chocks (optional): If you’re concerned about sleeping on a sloping campsite, take levelling chocks so that your campervan sits flat.

• Fire extinguisher : It’s always wise to have a fire extinguisher or blanket in your campervan in case of an emergency. In fact, this is a requirement for all Camplify campervans, so if you’re hiring, ask the owner where it is stored.

Technology

Everyone should include these pieces of technology on their camping checklist for NZ. These items make it easier to navigate whilst on the road and make long drives in your campervan more enjoyable. They also allow you to take advantage of the ability to power and charge your appliances in a campervan!

• Mobile phone

• GPS or navigation app: If you don’t already own a GPS navigation system, we recommend downloading an app like Waze or maps.me to help you navigate your trip.

• Charging cables

• Smartphone mount : Take a smartphone holder that can be mounted to the dashboard of your campervan, making it easier to make calls and navigate hands-free whilst driving.

• Earphones

• Torch: Whilst you could take a traditional torch and a heap of spare batteries, you might find it less fussy to take a USB rechargeable torch.

• Camera

• AUX cable (optional): Depending on what sort of sound system your campervan has, you may need an AUX cable to connect your phone to the stereo.

Health and hygiene

It’s important to take care of your health and hygiene whilst camping so that you don’t fall sick and ruin your trip. You should also carry the camping essentials required to respond quickly and appropriately in a medical emergency. Here are the health and hygiene products that you should take in a campervan when camping in NZ.

• First aid kit: see what is in a first aid kit for camping here! All camplify campervans are required to include a first aid kit, so it’s just a matter of asking the owner where it is kept!

• Toilet roll: Not all campgrounds in New Zealand provide loo roll, so be sure to take your own in the campervan.

• Wet wipes

• Sunblock

• Mosquito repellent

• Zip-lock bags: Keep all your small items together and prevent your toilet roll from getting wet. Also great for carrying toiletries and lunch in your backpack.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste

• Soap

• Deodorant

• Razor and shaving cream

• Sanitiser

• Multi-tool pocket knife (including tweezers and scissors): you should include a small knife and tweezers on your camping checklist so that you can cut bandages and remove splinters.

• Prescriptions for medications

• Medicines and vitamins

• Vaccination certificates: Ensure that you have your vaccination certificates with you (particularly Covid), as they are necessary to enter some premises and holiday parks.

Cooking and camping

It’s often cheaper to do your own cooking whilst camping, as opposed to eating out all the time. Not to mention, there’ll be times when you are camping at a site far from the nearest town or restaurant. So don’t forget to add these cooking and campground items to your camping checklist for NZ. But remember, many Camplify rentals include all the cooking and camping essentials that you’ll need, so you may not need to take extra stuff in the campervan.

• Waterproof matches or lighter

• Firelighters: Make it easier to get the campfire roaring and take a packet of firelighters in your campervan.

• Newspaper: Carry some old newspapers in the back of your campervan for starting fires or cleaning up the camp barbecue.

• Camping lantern (including batteries or charger): Don’t always rely on the lights in your campervan, as this can drain the battery. Use a lantern to light your camp at night.

• Spare batteries

• Camping stove or portable BBQ with fuel canisters (optional): If you don’t have a stove already fitted in your campervan, you are going to want to pack a portable camping stove. Also, take a full liquid fuel canister and store it safely in the back of your vehicle. For more information, see the best stoves for campervans.

• Pots and pans

• Utensils and cutlery: Put together a campervan cutlery kit with knives, forks and spoons. And don’t forget to also take spatulas, tongs, scissors, a bottle opener, can opener, etc.

• Plates and bowls

• Mugs

• Thermos

• Food and snacks

• Large water bottle

• Chopping board

• Foil: When cooking on the barbecue (particularly public barbecues), you’re going to want to wrap meat in foil.

• Paper towel

• Dishcloth or tea towel

• Bin bags

• Plastic bags: Keep a heap of plastic bags in your campervan. Not only for carrying your groceries but also for storing wet clothes and towels.

• Washing up liquid

• Foldable camping chairs

• Foldable camping table

• Picnic blanket

• Camping clothesline and pegs: Not all campsites will provide a clothesline or dryer. Take a simple clothesline in your campervan that can be hung between two trees. Don’t forget the pegs.

Again, a lot of these items will already be included if you hire a campervan on Camplify. Simply send its owner a message before your booking to confirm exactly what’s provided!

Clothing and apparel

Much of your camping checklist for NZ will consist of the different clothing and accessories that you should take. Pack according to the time of year you’ll be travelling in. Dress lightly in summer and wear layers in winter to avoid body-temperature related illnesses such as heat stroke and sunburn. For more information, see what to wear camping in NZ in winter.

• Soft carry bags : Soft carry bags are much easier to store in your campervan cupboards than bulky wheely bags or suitcases.

• Underwear

• Swimwear

• Jeans or trousers

• Shorts or skirts

• Dress shirts

• Casual tee shirts

• Athletic shoe

• Jandals or slides

• Socks

• Rainproof jacket or poncho

• Jumper, jacket or sweater

• Handbag

• Sunglasses

• Reading glasses

• Lip balm

• Hat

• Backpack

• Gloves (optional)

• Beanie or balaclava (optional)

Linen

Many Camplify rentals include linen or offer linen at an additional cost. However, you can take your own linen in the campervan if you want to get extra warm and cosy on chilly NZ nights. A good night’s sleep is crucial in maintaining your energy levels whilst camping.

• Pillows and blankets

• Towels

Entertainment

If you’re travelling with kids or you’re worried you might get bored around the campfire at night, include these entertainment items on your camping checklist for NZ. They’re guaranteed to keep you amused at even the most remote campsites.

• Pack of playing cards

• A ball: Kill some time by kicking a rugby or soccer ball around (an essential on every family road trip packing list).

• Gaming console (including charger)

• eReader or iPad (including charger)

• Books: If you don’t want to invest in an eReader or iPad, take a few books you’ve been meaning to read.

• Board games

Tips to perfect your camping checklist for NZ

Tip # 1: Don’t take too much in your campervan as it will only weigh you down and get in your way. Improve your fuel efficiency and keep your campervan clutter-free by only packing the essentials.

Tip # 2: Carefully consider your route, the season, the activities you’ll be partaking in, the length of your camping trip and the facilities available at the campsite. These factors will largely dictate what you should and shouldn’t include on your camping checklist for NZ.

Tip # 3: Use Camplify to find and hire a campervan. Look at the pictures and description to find a van that has heaps of storage for your camping trip.

Hire a campervan for your NZ road trip

Now that you know what to take in a campervan, it’s time to book one! If you hire a campervan through Camplify, chances are that the owner will provide you with most of the camping essentials. But if you have any questions about what else you need to include on your camping checklist for NZ, just send the owner a message and ask.

And don’t forget, Camplify also provides you with a heap of other benefits when hiring a campervan…

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.

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