When I told friends I was traveling with my parents in a campervan around New Zealand for a month there were a few raised eyebrows. “Really?…With your parents, for an entire month….in a campervan?!”, “Yes, why not!”. Sure I had some concerns about whether I would cope in such a small space with them, but what an opportunity to share some amazing experiences and create some great family memories.
Mum and Dad outside the van, aka ‘Crunchy’ due to the gearbox, in Wanaka.
Note: I’m currently writing this 16 days into our NZ adventure and happy to report that we’re all still enjoying each other’s company and no one has been abandoned by the roadside yet!
Our transport and accommodation for our month in NZ is a 2006 reg Mitsubishi campervan with the following specs:
- Length: 5.8 meters. Height: 3.1 meters.
- Berths: Six – but in reality only six very small and extreamely tidy people could happily share this space.
- Engine size: Gutless, we are the slowest vehicle on the road, this at least means that you don’t have to worry about overtaking anything!^
- Gearbox: Very crunchy, especially from 4th to 3rd. I am yet to master the art of the double-declutch, but there is still time.^
Our home and wheels for our month in NZ! Crunchy the campervan.
Our van is possibly the tattiest and slowest campervan on the road, however it has one key feature that none of the other newer vans have – it seats 3 people up front! Not only does this mean that we get to experience the amazing NZ scenery together it also facilitates better family sing-a-longs and conversations and also allows Mum to deliver ‘helpful’ asides about what the current speed limit is!
One of the key features of the van – three seats up front in the cab.
Dad and I have been sharing the driving and, although it’s slow, it’s actually fun to drive, especially when trying to gun it up and around mountain hairpin bends to avoid having to crunch down into third gear!
Road tripping. Driving along Wakatipu lake on our way to Milford Sound.
Pretending to be serious and concentrate on driving.
^Another update: I drove from Wellington to Taupo today and managed two double-declutches resulting in the smoothest 4th to 3rd gear change since records began. We also overtook our first vehicle today, a large tanker type lorry. We were going downhill, in third, my foot to the floor with a helpful tailwind and it was still touch and go whether we would make it. It was a little emotional!
Adventures in life, travel and teaching 