More and more people are choosing to travel abroad independently, and backpackers are exploring in increasingly diverse ways: by train, hiking, cycling, and more. But renting an RV for travel is also a great option — “the world is outside the vehicle, and your home is inside,” perfectly blending travel with everyday life. This edition of traveler’s diary introduces a newlywed couple’s experience of renting an RV to tour New Zealand. Over thirteen days, they drove nearly 3,000 kilometers and took in all of New Zealand’s stunning sights.
Xiaoping and Daxiong, a newlywed couple who love to travel, got married earlier this year. On the advice of friends, they chose New Zealand as their travel destination. The pristine beauty of New Zealand left a deep impression on them, and they felt it was absolutely worth the trip.
The scenery is pure, and the animals are “friendly”
Why choose New Zealand for travel? Because it offers a wealth of breathtaking landscapes — glaciers, beaches, lakes, and more. “New Zealand’s tourism slogan is ‘100% Pure,’ but you won’t truly understand what ‘pure’ means until you’ve been here.” New Zealand mainly consists of two large islands, the North Island and the South Island, with the South Island being larger and offering more natural scenery, making it especially suitable for road trips. Xiaoping said that while there are many tourist attractions, she believes the most beautiful views are along the way — that unspoiled beauty is uniquely New Zealand. A snow-capped mountain or a mirror-like lake by the roadside can make them stop and linger for a long time.
Maintaining such “purity” naturally involves excellent ecological conservation, and the animals here seem completely unafraid of human contact, making close encounters one of the best activities.
Near the Moeraki Boulders, groups of Oamaru blue penguins gather — these are the world’s smallest penguins. Sea lions lazily sunbathe on grassy mounds along the shore and seem accustomed to human presence, paying no mind to onlookers.
Thrilling views from above, and life enjoyed at campsites
Xiaoping says that one of the best ways to enjoy New Zealand’s scenery is from the air. When visiting New Zealand, you shouldn’t miss out on thrilling outdoor extreme sports. Take a helicopter ride up to 15,000 feet and skydive with an instructor. Since the New Zealand sky is always so blue, falling feels like being immersed in the ocean — the breathtaking views below make it hard to tell whether the excitement comes from awe or fear. Once the parachute opens, you slowly descend while taking in the beautiful landscape below, leaving any fear far behind.
Xiaoping says they typically drove around 200 kilometers per day. Normally, RVs can’t be parked just anywhere on the side of the road and must instead be parked at designated campgrounds. These campgrounds come in several types, but all are fully equipped. Each RV has its own parking spot, and the campgrounds offer communal kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, and laundry facilities — all available for a small fee, which is very convenient. And the most fun part is chatting with travelers from around the world.
These campgrounds are usually located in incredibly scenic spots. “One campground backs right onto a beach, where you can fall asleep listening to the waves at night. Another lets you see New Zealand’s unique glowworms at night, and yet another lets you watch yellow-eyed penguins return to their nests in the evening.”
Meals are also taken care of at these campgrounds. Xiaoping says locals tend to turn in very early, with many shops closing by 5 p.m., and the food options aren’t really to their taste, so they mostly prepared their own meals. “We’d usually buy ingredients from local supermarkets and cook ourselves. The local produce is very affordable and of excellent quality.”
Traveler’s Guide:
Cost: Around 25,000 RMB for two people over 13 days
Round-trip flights from Guangzhou to New Zealand cost around 8,000 RMB, while RV rental and fuel expenses total about 10,000 RMB. Food, activities, and accommodation add up to roughly 6,000 RMB, bringing the total cost for the trip to around 25,000 RMB. In comparison, joining a tour group usually costs nearly 20,000 RMB per person, with fewer travel days — so if you’re unafraid of the unknown and don’t mind a bit of hassle, traveling independently is definitely the better choice.
The entire trip lasted 13 days, driving around 200 kilometers per day. Although only Daxiong did the driving, the sparse local population and good road conditions made the drive not too tiring — relatively easier than driving in China.
Most notably, New Zealand is a highly developed tourism destination that is very welcoming and respectful toward visitors. Xiaoping says the locals are incredibly friendly and genuine — every time they asked for directions, people eagerly pulled out their phones and maps to help, making the journey smooth all the way.
Car Rental: Domestic C-Class License Requires Notarization for Local Driving
Renting a car in New Zealand is very convenient, as the local rental market is well-established. Just make a phone call and rental companies can even deliver the vehicle directly to the airport. There are many types of RVs to choose from, with prices varying based on size — small, medium, or large — and the onboard amenities also differ. Some luxury RVs even come with bathing facilities, though they are naturally more expensive. A typical RV rents for around 60 New Zealand dollars per day.
For driver’s licenses, as long as you have a domestic C-Class license, getting it notarized at a notary office allows you to drive legally in New Zealand. However, keep in mind that RVs are larger and harder to handle, making minor mishaps more likely, so even experienced drivers need some time to adjust.