12 Reasons to travel New Zealand in a Campervan

1. Tea Breaks

No no you don't have to be confined to the little roadside cafes. Pull up where you like, by a lake, the sea, next to a mountain and enjoy that cuppa.

2. Scenery

So pretty. 

3. DOC Campsites

Conservation campsites that only cost about 7 Dollars per person a night, that are located in the most beautiful spots. 

4. Raglan Beach

Black Volcanic Sand on this surf beach on North Island.

5. Lakes

I've never seen so many lakes, Paringa, Wanaka, Tekapo, Taupo.

6. Glaciers

Theres not too many places where you can see TWO glaciers on route from a sky dive in Abel Tasman to a Bungy jump in Queenstown. 

7. The Catlins

Beaches and tranquility at the Southern most point of South Island - next stop Antartica. 

8. Jurassic Park

On the West Coast and the Hasst Pass you wouldn't be surprised to see a T-Rex strolling through the glacial rivers and a teradactal flying overhead. 

9. Food

Fried Bananas for brekky, fried egg sarnie for lunch and a Kiwi pie for a road trip snack (even from McDonalds). 

10. Road Trip Music

Blur, Arcade Fire, Bombay Bicycle Club, Mystery Jets, Stevie Wonder, REM.

11. Juicy Game

A Kiwi take on the British Classic - Punch if you see an Eddie Stobart Lorry. See one of these jazzy vans and first one to punch the other in the arm is the winner. There's lots of them - arms get bruised.  

12. The Kiwi Experience

Just because you aren't one of them.

Rio De Janerio

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After a long journey of being sat next to a snoring Brazilian women we arrived in Rio. We got a bus into the city and passed thousands upon thousands of Favelas, we both knew there were a lot but this took us both by surprise. On the main motorway into the city there are what seems to be Perspex walls in front of the Favelas, with many satellite dishes scattered across the distance and a few chickens too. 

We stayed in Botafogo and around were the homes and workplaces of locals so although there weren't lots of bars to go out in right by your doorstep, it was nice to see Rio from a non touristy angle. We ate at a restaurant on our road that all day is always full locals and the food was lovely and loads of it, with a portion of rice and chips so was carbelicous! 

The next day we went to Copacabana beach because Steff couldn't wait to get into those Speedos! The beach is 4km long and baking it's been about 36 degrees average all day and hitting about 30 at 9am. The beach was basically also a walking market every 30 seconds you had the choice to purchase the normal selection of beers, fresh coconuts or even cupcakes or a rug if you wished.

The next day we ticked off one of our touristy check boxes and went to Corcavado Mountain which is where Christ the Redeemer Statue lives. This tour was very insightful and free as it was kindly booked as a present before we left for our trip. However, we were not aware that we would be joining 45 other elderly people on this visit to one of the seven wonders of the worlds. It was like being on coach trip.