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Just ten minutes from Whangārei’s city centre and an easy drive from Auckland, Otuihau Whangārei Falls is the classic Northland stop that fits perfectly into a campervan itinerary. The Hātea River drops 26.3 metres over dark basalt cliffs into a fern-fringed pool, all wrapped in native bush and birdsong. With short, well-kept tracks, generous viewpoints and grassy picnic spots, it is a low effort, high reward nature fix that suits families, photographers, and anyone chasing fresh air between coastal highlights. 

Pick up your Britz campervan in Auckland, and you can be parked beneath the trees, coffee in hand, watching morning light strike the cascade in around two and a half hours.

Saturday mornings in Matakana feel made for road trips. Just an hour north of Auckland, this riverside village wakes to the aroma of award-winning coffee, sizzling brunch dishes and the strum of local musicians. The Matakana Village Farmers' Market is the heart of it all, a friendly, zero-waste gathering of growers, bakers and makers that draws food lovers from Auckland and the wider region. It is the perfect excuse to pick up a Britz NZ campervan, roll out of the city early and arrive near opening, ready to graze, shop and explore beaches and vineyards nearby.

In May 2026, the global surfing spotlight will turn to Aotearoa New Zealand as the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour lands in Raglan for the New Zealand Pro. From 15 to 25 May 2026, the world’s top surfers will take on the legendary left-hand point break at Manu Bay, a jewel on the rugged west coast. More than a competition, this moment signals New Zealand’s arrival on surfing’s biggest stage. As millions tune in, they will see why this country is not just a great surf trip, but one of the ultimate surfing destinations on Earth. 

New Zealand feels like it was built for campervan travel. In a couple of hours, you can roll from wild beaches to alpine passes, from glowworm caves to geothermal pools. Park up by a lake, cook dinner with the doors open and be close to big ticket adventures in the morning.

This guide pulls together some of the best places to visit by campervan in NZ, with a focus on the iconic experiences many travellers have on their list – glowworms, fiords, glaciers, whales and more. For each region, you’ll get a sense of why it works so well in a campervan, plus the kind of adventures you can add to your road trip.

Rising above the Port Hills with sweeping views across the city, the Canterbury Plains, and the blue curve of the Pacific, the Christchurch Gondola is one of the most effortless ways to fall in love with Ōtautahi. In minutes, you glide from the Heathcote Valley up to Mt Cavendish, where a world of lookouts, short walks, and a cosy summit café awaits.

It is the perfect add-on to a South Island road trip and an easy win for anyone exploring in a Britz campervan, thanks to simple access, family-friendly facilities, and year-round operation.