Buying a caravan, as a solo-female traveller... freedom camping New Zealand!
- whereintheworldsar
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 22
You don't need to own a bloke, to own a caravan! I know they do come in handy, (blokes, that is), but when it comes to travelling in a caravan, you can do it as a solo-female with fun, skill and pizzazz! And even get complimented on how well you can back into a parking spot. Thanks dad for teaching me!
What is a caravan?
You may be familiar with RV, Camper Trailer or Travel Trailer; a non-motorised, solid-walled recreational vehicle (RV) towed by another vehicle. In New Zealand we call these caravans. And I bought one. She was a 2011, UK Elddis 302 and she was perfect. Although not large, she came with all the bells and whistles that one requires when travelling in comfort and with the added bonus of not being over-heavy, I could move her around with ease. So I set off on a remarkable road-trip around New Zealand to visit all the ski fields and more.
Was it scarier than jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge?
No! Don't believe the old bloke's tale that 'a woman can't back a trailer,' because, fellas, we can! Hooking her up was as easy as pouring a glass of your favourite Chardonnay and towing was a delight, I hardly knew that she was attached. And when it comes to backing, just think in reverse and go as slow as you want. You're on holiday, afterall.
Arriving at site, I simply plugged in the electrical cable, filled the water tank if needed, attached the grey water outlet and everything was ready to go. Being registered as a vehicle suitable to freedom camp, I had battery power to run off and the option to stop wherever worked best with my itinerary. Leaving site, well, just do the above in reverse and empty your waste at the dump station. How simple is the life of a solo-woman caravaner!
Sure, it looks like fun, but was it worth it?
I can't describe how good it felt on a cold night or in some rain to not be in a tent! After many years of camping, and loving it, I am not ashamed to say that I had a moment of utter joy when, on a rainy evening I was sitting in my caravan, sipping a glass of Pinot Gris, delightedly watching as others were running to their tents and scrambling inside. So yes, it was worth it.
The ease of it, the fun of it, the freedom with it, the adventures in it and the added joy of op shopping to stock her up with goodies to make her into a home, was well worth the purchase price and when you no longer are in the caravanning mood, you can resell and recoup your money. Priceless!
Coming up: Travels in New Zealand as a solo-woman caravan owner
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