Life on the road: Update
Today, we have been on the road just short of nine months. It’s that old cliche of feeling like no time at all but also feeling like a lifetime. We set off with the vague plan to “see New Zealand” and to “heal from the past few years”, without any real concept of what that would look like. We also had no concept of what kind of year 2020 was planning to be.
So, what’s it like?
A lot of people ask us what it’s like living on the road and whether we like it. The short answer is it’s the most incredible thing we have ever experienced and we love it. Of course there are boring days, bland parking locations, weird people and howling winds. Eating beans on toast parked in the car park behind a dodgy pub outside of Palmy isn’t exactly the hashtag “living the dream” but it’s all part of it.
We are now in a really comfortable rhythm with our van and how life works in it. The kitchen is small but has never stopped Dan whipping up any recipe he set his mind to. I can use the dinette for sewing projects. We have a good-quality mattress on the luton bed which allows us to sleep well. The loo/shower is small, but serviceable when needed and we are both absolutely unfazed by using public or campground facilities. The back seating area has huge windows so we can always see what’s going on. It takes about 30 minutes to completely deep-clean the van, which is excellent as I hate housework with a passion. Finally, Kratos is completely used to life on board the van, and knows that if he wants to sneak on the couch, he’d best only use Mum’s side!
The most surprising thing I think about living in the van has been that our 18 square metres doesn’t feel confined or small. Not once have we felt cooped up or claustrophobic. It’s truthfully the most comfortable I have ever been, anywhere.
So, what’s the best place you’ve been?
It is nearly impossible to answer this question. New Zealand is LITTERED with amazing places to see and visit and it would be doing the country a vast disservice to choose just one location. But to avoid leaving you with that deeply unsatisfactory answer, here’s a highlights reel, in no particular order:
The Hokitika Sandwich Company. Boy oh boy, these sandwiches are to DIE for. Avoid the Wild Food Festival and just come here instead. You will not be disappointed.
The Redwoods Tree walk is a stunning experience. You can do both day and night - the day is a more serene communion with nature and night time is a more touristy light show, but both are amazing.
The mountain walk behind Makarora Wonderland is absolutely gorgeous. Vertical, exhausting, but beautiful.
Geraldine in its entirety stole our hearts. It was a fantastic place to be for lockdown, the people are awesome, and the bacon from the butchery is second to none.
Glenorchy is stunner of a place which should be on everybody’s bucket list, whether you’re a LOTR fan or not. You’re on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by mountains and a half an hour drive from Paradise. For real, though. It’s a place just up the road.
Reefton is a tiny wee town that’s brimful of old-school charm but the gem in the crown is their distillery there. Little Biddy Gin is hands down the best gin I have ever tasted and it’s made with local botanicals foraged by a couple of octagenarian twins.
Napier - for its architecture, for its wineries, for its sense of community, for that coastline.
Mt Potts Lodge, down kilometres of gravel road and in the midst of glorious mountains was a definite highlight. Just down from Mt Sunday, better known to LOTR fans as Edoras and sleeping under a curtain of stars, it’s hard to beat.
The TSS Earnslaw is a magical experience. Make sure you go hungry - the buffet is legit!
The Doubtful Sound cruise or the Milford Sound cruise? Both are fabulous but don’t take my word for it. Do both.
