Winter campervan tips: top 10 safety & comfort guide

Nothing compares to a winter campervan trip around New Zealand. Over the course of only a few hundred kilometres, you can go from sitting in the hot thermal pools of Rotorua to skiing the snowy alpine slopes of the Southern Island. Unreal!

To help you make the most of your trip, our team of road-travel experts have compiled this list of the top 10 winter campervan tips and tricks.

Armed with these handy hints, you’ll be ready to take on the roads of New Zealand come rain, snow or shine - there’s no such thing as a bad day when you’re in a cosy camper!

Winter Campervan Tips

Tip # 1: Choose a Campervan That Is Winter Ready and Comfortable

When hiring a campervan in New Zealand, you want to be sure of two things:

1. The campervan is designed and built to withstand chilly winter conditions (i.e. insulated and heated)

2. You are comfortable driving that particular model of campervan (i.e. its size and transmission)

Insulation and heating is key to keeping the inside of your campervan warm and dry during the worst winter days. Before hiring a campervan, check the listing to see whether it is insulated. If you can’t tell, message the Camplify owner and ask - they’ll know whether or not the campervan is a good choice for winter.

While you’re at it, also check what kind of heating and power system the campervan has. If the campervan has gas or diesel heating or air-conditioning, this is a great choice as you can likely plug it into a 240v socket at a holiday park and comfortably run the heating all night long. Alternatively, the campervan may come with a portable heater, which is great for quickly heating your campervan in short bursts.

Finally, make sure that you are comfortable driving that particular model of campervan. The last thing you want to be doing on your winter holiday is learning to drive stickshift in an unfamiliar vehicle! If you’re new to driving campervans, we highly recommend hiring a smaller campervan (e.g. 2 sleep berths) with an automatic gearbox.

Tip # 2: Make the Most of Holiday Parks and Powered Camp Sites

As mentioned in tip # 1, campervan heating is a true blessing on a winter road trip. But to make the most of the heating system, you will likely need a 240v power source. The cheapest way to access power is to stay in a holiday park or at a powered campground.

Plus, there will likely be a range of other appliances in your campervan that you want to power besides heating. Things like lights, chargers, fridges, microwaves - some of these electrical appliances may require a 240v power source.

When booking your accommodation, be sure to check which holidays parks or campgrounds have the best facilities. Most importantly, you want clean bathroom blocks with hot showers and a modern communal kitchen. Sometimes you will even come across sites with bonus amenities like thermal hot pools!

Tip # 3: Bring Snow Chains and Other Winter Campervan Essentials

Packing for a winter campervan trip requires a little more thought than your average summer holiday. There are a few essentials which you need to remember to ensure that your journey is safe and comfortable.

If you plan on driving around the South Island during winter, it is highly recommended that you carry snow chains in your campervan at all times. There are certain roads in New Zealand where you are required by law to carry snow chains, including the popular tourist road to Milford Sound. Other major roads which are subject to snow and ice include Lindis Pass, Arthur’s Pass, Lewis Pass and Porter’s Pass.

However, you should not fit the snow chains to your campervan unless the road is snowy/icy or you are requested to. We recommend learning how to fit snow chains before you embark on your winter road trip, as this will save you from a painfully cold learning experience on the side of a wet slushy road!

If you plan on doing some serious off-grid camping and want to stay overnight in alpine regions, we also recommend a few other winter campervan essentials:

• An ice scraper - for quickly and easily clearing your windscreen on frosty mornings.

• A snow shovel - in case you need to dig your campervan out of the snow.

• A bottle of antifreeze - in case your engine runs low and you need to top up.

Tip # 4: Pack Warm Winter Clothes and Extra Blankets

You’ve probably heard this from your parents a million times, but we’re going to tell you again - the easiest and cheapest way to stay warm in winter is to rug up! That means packing a tonne of warm winter clothes and even a few extra blankets.

On your winter road trip packing list, we always recommend including:

• Thermal underwear

• Gloves

• Beanie or balaclava

• Thick socks

• Boots

• Extra blankets

• Skin cream and chapstick

• A hot water bottle

Tip # 5: Eat a Winter Diet

If you want to both stay warm and save a tonne of cash during your winter campervan trip, try to avoid eating out and instead cook your own hearty meals at camp.

The campervan that you hire will likely come with all the kitchen equipment that you need to cook your own meals, including a gas stove, sink, workspace, utensils and pantry space. Make the most of your campervan kitchen and grab groceries at local supermarkets. The best winter foods are often easy-to-cook soups, stews, pies, pasta and alike.

While you’re at the shops, don’t forget to grab a packet of marshmallows and hot drink mixes. Nothing beats roasting a marshmallow over a campfire, with a hot cup of cocoa or coffee in hand and the starry NZ night sky overhead!

Tip # 6: Pack Your Campervan So That It’s Easier to Drive

When picking up your hire van, ask the owner whether the vehicle is FWD, RWD or AWD. Then when it comes time to pack your van, try to place your heavier items over the powered wheels (either the front, rear or equally distributed throughout). The added weight over the powered wheels helps your tyres to gain traction on slippery roads.

Tip # 7: Prepare for Cosy Nights in Your Campervan

With just a little bit of planning, you can make your campervan just like home. This is important if you plan on spending weeks or months away on the road.

To make your “home on wheels” extra cosy at night, download a few movies to your laptop or tablet before you leave. Also, consider bringing a hot water bottle that you can fill up using the kettle at the camp kitchen. You can even pop some popcorn if the kitchen has a microwave. Then snuggle into bed, safe and warm from the outside elements. It’ll almost be like you never left home!

Tip # 8: Keep Your Campervan Warm and Dry

Insulation and heating is only one part of keeping your campervan warm and dry. The other part of the puzzle is ventilation.

If your campervan has a heating system, check to see whether it also has a timing feature. This can come in handy if you don’t want the heater to run all night but would like it to turn on or off at a certain time (i.e. an hour before you wake up). It can also be useful if you want to start warming the campervan up before returning from a long day out in the cold.

Your campervan will likely also have a roof fan or ventilation hatch. It might seem crazy given the temperature outside, but you must let some fresh air flow through your campervan. This will prevent condensation and moisture from building up inside and forming mould. If you don’t have a hatch or fan, consider slightly opening a door or window now and then.

Tip # 9: Drive Your Campervan to the Conditions

Before you pack up your campervan in the morning and set off to your next destination, it’s always wise to check the weather and road conditions. The easiest way to do this is to use the Journey Planner on the New Zealand Transport Agency website which provides 24/7 updates on road closures and warnings.

When driving on wet and icy roads, always take it slow. If you’re driving a manual vehicle, stay in a lower gear as this will help to prevent your wheels from spinning. Further, you can downshift through the gears to help slow your vehicle instead of relying on your brakes, which can sometimes cause you to slide.

Finally, be sure to blast your internal windscreen with cool air conditioning now and then to prevent it from fogging over. Similarly, turn on the rear window defroster to keep it clear.

Tip # 10: Plan Attractions Around the Weather

When travelling around New Zealand in your campervan, research the weather conditions for the coming few days and plan your activities accordingly. Whilst you can’t rely on the weather app 100% of the time, it will give you a rough idea of what days are best reserved for outdoor or indoor activities.

During particularly chilly, rainy or windy days, make the most of NZ’s outstanding indoor attractions such as museums, cave tours, wineries, galleries, cultural experiences and restaurants. Reserve the sunny days for outdoor activities such as visiting national parks, beaches and walking trails.

Discover some more fun things to do while camping in the rain!

Planning a Winter Campervan Road Trip

Armed with the above winter campervan tips, you’re almost ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

But perhaps the most important tip is this - plan your road trip route well before you leave! If you start driving around New Zealand without a clue as to where you’re going or what you want to see, you are bound to miss the best bits and spend the majority of your trip stressing.

When planning your journey, check out our guide to a New Zealand road trip in winter. It’s packed full of awesome places to visit in winter and even includes a few extra campervan tips to help you out along the way! Plus, check out these campervan tips and tricks for a smooth road trip!