A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Hanmer Springs to Rakaia in New Zealand.
NZ: Hammer Springs to Rakaia
We traveled south from Hammer Springs to Rakaia.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with a grocery stop marked:
A nice shower at the Hanmer Springs Top 10:
Back over the one lane Waiau Ferry Bridge:
Waiau Uwha River:
Hills:
Morning coffee and snack at Red Post Cafe in Culverden:
Interesting rocks:
We stopped for groceries at Woolworths in Amberley. It was nice to be able to load groceries directly into the van:
Fanfare sculpture in Christchurch:
Arriving at Rakaia River Holiday Park:
They had a TARDIS by the office:
Campground map:
Outdoor kitchen:
Indoor kitchen:
Shower:
We headed out again to go into town; the iconic Rakaia salmon sculpture:
We got dinner from Rakaia Takeaways:
Rakaia buildings:
We opened some Christmas crackers:
And had mini pavlovas for dessert:
NZ video: Murchison to Hanmer Springs campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Murchison to Hanmer Springs in New Zealand.
NZ: Murchison to Hammer Springs
We continued south from Murchison to Hammer Springs.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
We used the campground kitchen to make breakfast, since we felt like having toast, but didn’t have a toaster in the van:
A caravan / trailer chicken coop out the front of the campground:
We stopped at RD Petroleum to fill up:
Matakitaki River:
“Feel the warmth of Buller”:
An unusual one way bridge, with a traffic light, no doubt due to being too long and curved to see if anyone is coming the other way:
Maruia River:
Picnic lunch at Lewis Park Scenic Reserve:
A helicopter and concrete mixer doing construction:
Hope River:
Waiau River:
Looking back at the bridge we just crossed, the Waiau Ferry Bridge of 1887:
Hanmer Springs:
We were a little early to check in to our campground, so decided to visit Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools first, and another private pool (not as nice as the one in Rotorua, and the front desk staff were a bit clueless; book online to save hassle):
Then we checked in to Hanmer Springs Top 10:
Our first sighting of another McRent camper (we later saw many more; they seemed to be more common the further south we went):
Our site:
Our towels were still damp from the pool, so we hung them on the clothesline (you can see our site in the background):
Later, we walked to Fire & Ice for dinner:
NZ video: Collingwood to Murchison campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Collingwood to Murchison in New Zealand.
NZ: Collingwood to Murchison
We traveled south from Collingwood to Murchison.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
A sunny morning view from our site:
A seagull on the skylight:
Leaving Collingwood:
Since it was rainy when we visited Te Waikoropupu Springs the previous day, we decided to stop by again on the way past; very glad we did, as it was much more clear without rain:
Takaka mural:
Old farmhouse:
Takaka valley:
Weka:
Interesting rocks:
Hawkes Lookout track and viewpoint:
Suspension bridge:
Kohatu Flat Rock Cafe for lunch:
Snow-capped mountains:
Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre:
The very iconic Lake Rotoiti Jetty:
Eels:
Arriving at Murchison Motorhome Park:
Buller River below the campground:
Our site:
NZ video: Nelson to Collingwood campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Nelson to Collingwood in New Zealand.
NZ: Nelson to Collingwood
We traveled northwest from Nelson to Collingwood.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
I like campgrounds that have separate rooms for each bathroom:
Free shower with timer:
Heading out in the rain:
Dumping waste tanks on the way out:
Motueka valley:
Roadworks, with time to green light:
Curvy road:
Nikau Cafe for lunch:
Interesting rocks:
Welcome to Collingwood:
Our site:
We walked into town to get fish & chips takeaways from Collingwood Tavern:
Then took it back to our site, and enjoyed eating with a nice view:
NZ video: Picton to Nelson campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Picton to Nelson in New Zealand.
NZ: Picton to Nelson
We traveled from Picton to Nelson.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
Vineyards:
One lane bridge:
Cows:
Welcome to Nelson:
Maitai River:
Old Electricity Department building:
Waterfront houses:
Beach Cafe for lunch:
Boardwalk to beach:
A walk on Tahunanui Beach:
Whakatu Marae:
We visited Jens Hansen Jeweler, makers of the One Ring from Lord of the Rings:
We checked in at Tahuna Beach Holiday Park:
Then pretty much immediately did some laundry:
That evening, we went out to Nahm for dinner:
Our table was on the outdoor balcony, so we enjoyed watching a sailing school during dinner:
Back to our site:
