As far as road trippers are concerned, only Iceland comes close to how a great destination for road trips New Zealand is. The country, which lies southwest of Australia, boasts of challenging but scenic landscapes and is becoming increasingly popular for those road trippers who want a different kind of flavour with their road travels. Here are some ways to make your New Zealand tours with your family a great one:

Preparations

Firstly, picking the right camper van and/or car for your needs is essential to making the road trip an enjoyable one for your family. You need to consider the fact that despite being a popular destination for freedom camping, New Zealand has a very strict fining system should there be violations. For this, you may want to get the 4WD camper vans from a company offering New Zealand tours. For a more luxurious road trip experience, you can try 8-seaters as well as 12-seaters, the use of which can be maximized by also availing of their top-notch luggage trailers. For areas which still have snow, you may want to remember to request that a snow chain would be added. Otherwise, you will be having trouble traveling through roads filled with gravel and snow.

Always check the weather before your family heads out. The weather, especially in the South Island, can grow quite intense. When the weather bulletin predicts strong rains or a monster storm, do not attempt to continue with your road trip. The landscape most of the highways and roads in New Zealand were built on are incredibly difficult. In fact, landslides in mountain passes during bad weather conditions are a regular occurrence.

Destinations to visit:

Hobbiton

Due to the popularity of the New Zealand-shot “Lord of the Rings” franchise, no road trip in this country would be complete without a visit to the set. Located in the northern half of the North Island, get ready to be delighted by the circular doors of the earthen homes of the hobbits in Tolkien-lore.

Christchurch

South Island is the bigger island among the two main components of New Zealand, but most or the urban centres are in the North Island. Christchurch is the biggest area in the South Island, so if you want to drop by and enjoy good food before you head out to the wilderness again, this great city is a perfect tour stop.

Southern Lakes

Composed of a total of 13 bodies of water, the Southern Lakes are picturesque in their beauty and becoming increasingly popular among road trip enthusiasts in the South Island. Not only is the area lightly populated, the broad valleys in the area are also good for camping stops during the night. Definitely, this place is a must-go for quite a few travellers.

Auckland

The biggest city in the country is ideal for those who want to experience both cosmopolitan as well as traditional New Zealand culture in one setting. It is a perfect starting point for those who want to have their road trips in the North Island.

Follow the tips above to make your tour in New Zealand with your loved ones a great one.