Living in a car in New Zealand

I wake up in the morning, open the back doors and the sea is in front of me. I make coffee on the stove in the boot, tui birds flit about outside and I wonder where I'll drive today. That's what most of my mornings in New Zealand looked like. Living in a car is freedom, but also daily logistics. Here's my experience.

Where to sleep

The New Zealand system is simple: a campsite, or freedom camping.

• Freedom camping: places where you may sleep for free. Usually only with a certified self-contained car. The rules are set by local councils and change often.
• DOC campsites: the Department of Conservation's campsites in beautiful places, often cheap and with simple facilities.
• Holiday parks: paid campsites with showers, a kitchen and a washing machine. Handy once every few days.

The CamperMate and Rankers apps show you where you may sleep, with reviews from other travellers.

Where to wash

There are showers in holiday parks, at some beaches, in swimming pools and in gyms. I bought a cheap membership with a gym chain with branches all over the country: a shower every day for a few dollars a week. In summer the sea and a solar shower were enough.

How to cook

In the car I had a small gas stove, a cool box and water in a jerrycan. I cooked simply: pasta, rice, vegetables, eggs. For shopping, the Pak'nSave and Woolworths chains are worth it. Bigger campsites have a shared kitchen where you can cook properly, and meet people.

Power and editing photos

For a photographer, power is essential. Batteries for the camera, the drone, the laptop: all of it needs electricity. I had a second battery in the car that charged while driving, and a solar panel. I charged the laptop in libraries and cafés, where I also edited photos and uploaded them to the web. New Zealand's libraries are great: free Wi‑Fi, sockets and quiet. For editing I use a MacBook, which I write about in my MacBook Pro M1 Pro review.

Winter in the car

In summer, life in a car is idyllic. In winter (June–August) it's a challenge. On the South Island it freezes, and moisture condenses in the car. A good sleeping bag, wool blankets and a window left slightly open against condensation helped me. Sometimes I paid for a hostel for a few nights, just to warm up.

What living in a car gave me

I learned to live with little. My whole life fitted into a few boxes, and I was happier than ever. A different place every day, sunrise from bed and the freedom to drive anywhere. For a photographer it's ideal: you can sleep right by the place you want to shoot in the morning. And I met hundreds of people living the same way; more in the backpacker community.

Faq