5 tips for Camping in New Zealand [South Island] with a Toddler from a mom of two

If you have kids, and are hesitant to travel with them, my best advice is to just do it. We were living in Australia and were planning to move back to the States, but we realized we had not fulfilled our dream of camping around New Zealand's South Island. Over the years, we stored iCloud notes of hiking locations, iconic spots to visit and must-try restaurants. It was finally our time to go - but one thing had changed: we had a baby, and she was not just under two years old. Could we still do a two-week trip with her in tow? Better yet, could we travel around New Zealand and incorporate her into the trip, making it meaningful for ALL of us? I was hesitant at first, but as we laid out new plans, scratched old plans and let go of some of our previous expectations, we made it work.

Here is my best advice for campervanning around New Zealand's South Island with your child(ren).

1. Bring your own car seat (if you’re able). You will be driving, a lot. The destinations are beautiful, but the roads are winding, hilly, somewhat tumultuous and long. Your child will feel at home in a car seat they’re used to, and if you're anything like me, you will feel safer in a car seat they are used to as well. Here is a link to the car seat bag we travelled with; if you didn't know, most airlines allow you to check your car seat for free.

Note: I spent a lot of time in the back seat with her as the front and back seats are far apart in a campervan (my husband was the hero driver). We downloaded a few shows for our toddler to watch while we drove (reception is spotty - best to buy the show and download to your phone/iPad so it can be watched anytime). I also recommend some sort of media holder for the car - here is the one we use at home. Any holder that goes over the front seat and allows them to view handsfree in the back should do!

2. Pack light & pack layers. Much of the South Island is considered Alpine climate, meaning temps could rise or drop at anytime. It is best to be prepared with layers for you and bubba. Campervans are limited for space, the smarter you can pack, the better. Here are packing cubes that I love; they helped me feel organized and prepared with minimal space.

Note: depending on where you stay, some campsites offer laundry services for a small fee. We paid to do laundry once while we were traveling (around halfway through - we washed Flo's clothes, our bedding and towels); this helped us refresh for the latter end of the trip. It cost around $8 total for a load of washing and drying to be done.

3. Pack or Buy Sunscreen and Bugspray. The UV in New Zealand is much higher, you will need to pack quality sunscreen, head and eye protection for your whole family. While you're at it, also pack some bug spray. The sand flies can be horrible depending on what time of year you are traveling.

4. Have a plan; map out your route and google map estimate the drive times. Then look for playgrounds or fun stops in between destinations to give your child a break from the car. Include your toddler as much as possible in stops for petrol, food, candy, etc! We printed out maps of New Zealand, drew in our routes, calculated driving distance and made notes for each day. Do you want to see our itinerary?

Note: Google maps has a feature that allows you to download a map for a region. We downloaded the entire South Island and it was SO helpful as we didn't pay for a phone service (eeks) while we were there - this allowed us to access routes to anywhere along the way because they were downloaded to our phones.

5. Stock up on groceries and gas; both can be hard to find in some of the most remote locations. As you head toward Milford Sound (a must-see if you are in the South Island), stop and get the groceries (and bug spray) as the nearest stop is around 60-70 minutes away from the campsite. Here are my husband and daughter filing up on petrol at the last gas station before we made the decent to the Sound.

Thank you for reading! Comment below if you have any questions or want to read more.