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My Aotearoa / New Zealand campervan trip was one of the highlights of my first year of full-time travel. Taking a month to explore the North and South islands with the freedom of the self-contained campervan made for one of the most incredible trips I’ve taken.
I have plenty of posts to help you plan a trip to New Zealand, but I wanted to also share these New Zealand campervan packing list recommendations. While the list is specific to New Zealand because that is where I chose to travel by camper, I think it is a good baseline for any van life road trips.
Read my New Zealand campervan packing list below!
By the way, if you’re looking for a campervan rental company, I highly recommend Spaceships! Their self-contained campers are small but extremely efficient, and their customer service is great. They also happen to be much less expensive than other companies.
Luggage
- 40L Backpack [I recommend Osprey. I use the Fairview backpack, and my husband uses Farpoint.]
- 20-25L Daypack [I recommend Osprey or REI.]
- 1x small compression packing cube [I recommend Eagle Creek.]
- 2x clear bags for toiletries and medication
- 2x carry-on compliant liquid containers
Health & First Aid
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Antibiotics for stomach issues
- Imodium
- Emergen-C
- Antibacterial ointment (e.g., Neosporin)
- Bandaids
- Thermometer
- Cranberry supplements
- Any regular medications*
Also consider:
- Water purification tablets or filter
*If you take any regular over-the-counter medications, make sure to check with New Zealand customs to make sure you’re allowed to enter with them, or if you need a doctor’s note.
Beauty & Hygiene
- Sunscreen
- Face moisturizer
- Lip balm with sunscreen
- Baby wipes
- Toilet paper
- Bug spray
- Shampoo
- Body wash
- Hand soap
- Laundry detergent
- Razor
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Deodorant
- Menstrual products (I recommend a reusable disc)
Also consider:
- Dry shampoo
- Body/hand lotion
You should be able to purchase all of these in New Zealand. But if you have a specific brand you like, you should bring it with you.
Electronics & Entertainment
- Laptop or tablet
- Portable battery pack
- USB charging cables
- AUX cord
- Kindle
- Journal and pen
- Sketchbook
- Cards
Also consider:
- Bluetooth/portable speaker
- Travel-sized board games
- Portable WIFI
Additional Equipment
- Water bottles (recommend at least 1L/person)
- Headlamp
- Knee brace
My Clothing List (5’1” Woman)
- 11x pairs underwear
- 2x regular bras
- 1x sports bra
- 1x long johns
- 1x linen pants or jeans
- 1x pair leggings
- 2x pair shorts
- 3x shirts
- 1x tank top
- 2x rompers
- 2x dresses
- 1x sweater
- 1x down jacket
- 1x standard jacket
- 1x rain jacket
- 2x pair exercise leggings
- 2x pair exercise shorts
- 3x exercise tank tops/tee shirts
- 2x long-sleeved exercise shirts
- 1x swimsuit
- 1x beanie
- 1x sun hat
- 1x baseball cap
- 1x pair liner gloves
- 1x pair Keens sandals [link]
- 1x pair sneakers [link]
- 1x pair hiking shoes [link]
- 1x pair flip flops/shower shoes
Other
- eSim: Airalo [You can use my code for a discount – JESSIC50007]
- VPN: NordVPN [You can use my referral link for 3 months free]
- Travel insurance: SafetyWing [Note – I have not actually had to submit a claim through them yet, but they came highly recommended. You can use my referral link for $20 off if you try them.]
What do you think about my New Zealand campervan packing list? If you’ve done a similar trip, is there anything you’d add?
Pin my New Zealand campervan packing list post to save it for later!
