Your Complete Guide to Social Distancing & Self-Isolating in a Motorhome in NZ

How To Escape While Staying Right Here

Our self-contained motorhomes are ideal for Kiwis looking for alternative ideas where they don’t need to worry about being close to others in motel or hotel environments. And we’re also here to help those returning home from overseas who need to self-isolate for the required 14 days.

So whether it’s self-isolation, social distancing, or the fun of a ‘stay-cation’ around your local area, our fully self-contained motorhomes are one of the most practical (and enjoyable!) ways to have a mini-holiday or take some time out without being stuck in one place.

What is social distancing?

This is a practical way of helping to ensure you don’t get infected or risk infecting anybody else. General advice is to stay 1-2 metres away from others in public areas.

What is self-isolation?

Self-isolation means avoiding close contact with others as much as possible, other than the family members/companions you travelled with (if you’ve returned from overseas). You must avoid malls, supermarkets and any gathering of people (i.e cafés, restaurants) where you cannot keep a distance of 2 metres and may need to be in the area for more than 15 minutes.

Read the NZ government's guide to self-isolation.

Why choose a self-contained motorhome?

A self-contained motorhome is a perfect way to holiday or self-isolate in New Zealand because:

They are like a mini house on wheels. You have all the facilities you need on board to live comfortably while easily keeping your distance from others if required.
You aren’t stuck in a hotel room and can still enjoy your local surroundings while keeping within the self-isolation requirements.
You can find freedom camping spots away from busy areas and enjoy being outside (walks, bike riding etc) as long as you keep your distance from others around you if self-isolating.

Why choose a Wilderness motorhome?

All our Wilderness motorhomes are fully self-contained with full bathrooms (toilets and showers), well-equipped kitchens (with fridge/freezer), comfortable beds with quality linen, and dining areas. They also have double glazing and central heating to keep you cosy.

Our motorhomes are all certified self-contained, which means they have everything you need to be fully self-sufficient in terms of power and water for up to three days before you need to top up supplies and recharge the battery. You can even add WiFi to your booking to stay in touch.

You’ll also enjoy the freedom of going pretty much anywhere you want to in a Wilderness motorhome as we don’t have any specific road restrictions (unlike many other motorhome rental companies). So it’s time to go further than you’ve gone before - with Wilderness you can drive on named gravel roads and even ski access roads and our standard insurance will cover you (with an applicable excess of NZ$7500).

For your peace of mind, we have a range of liability reduction options that reduce your excess/deductible should something happen to the campervan when you’re on the road.

Check out our Guide to Choosing a Wilderness Motorhome for more on exactly what you’ll find inside a Wilderness motorhome.

How Wilderness Makes A Staycation Easy

Collecting and returning your Wilderness motorhome

We have introduced new procedures at our Auckland and Christchurch Wilderness bases to help protect our guests and staff during motorhome collection and drop-off. So, while we won’t shake your hand, you’ll still find a friendly welcome at Wilderness!

We’ll minimise the time you need to spend with us at the base, but will make sure you have everything you need. Every motorhome has a comprehensive user manual and our on-road support team is just a phone call away.

If you need any health advice while you’re travelling then you can call the free Healthline in New Zealand on 0800 358 5453 or (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs).

Read the Covid-19 response from Wilderness.

Shopping for groceries

Most supermarkets offer a ‘Click and Collect’ service which is ideal if you’re self-isolating and also handy if you’d just prefer to avoid crowds. This is a good way to keep your supplies topped up while travelling.

You can even have your initial grocery order delivered to our Auckland or Christchurch bases and we’ll have it waiting for you when you collect your motorhome. Give us a call or email us to let us know if you’d like to arrange this.

You’ll find the three major supermarket websites here:

Woolworths (nationwide)
New World (nationwide)
Pak'n'Save (North Island only)

You can even support the local community by going to the diary and cafés that are self-isolation friendly.

Filling the tank

As most of our petrol stations are self-service you can easily pay at the pump and fill the tank with diesel without needing to go inside the petrol station.

Where can I stay in my motorhome?

Luckily, some of the most spectacular spots can be found right at your doorstep, and with fewer visitors around it will be easy to find somewhere to park for the night.

The free Campermate app will give you the confidence to explore the country well off-the-beaten-track. It’s ideal for planning where you want to park up each night on your journey. Download Campermate from the App Store or Google Play.

There are also freedom camping sites, campgrounds and holiday parks (just remember to use only your onboard facilities and avoid communal kitchens, lounge areas and bathrooms if you’re self-isolating).

And here are 5 Great Reasons Your Next Holiday Should Be A Motorhome Staycation.

What can I do in my motorhome?

See the sights! If you’re holidaying then you can get out and about and support local businesses such as cafés and shops. If you’re self-isolating you need to be careful to avoid contact with others, so walks/day hikes are in, but cafés, restaurants and indoor or group tourist attractions are out.

A break in a Wilderness motorhome is also a great time to catch up on reading, binge watch some Netflix (add WiFi to your booking), or get work done remotely.

Or, you could simply park up in front of a spectacular view, take a deep breath and relax. Who knew self-isolation could be so enjoyable?

Important:

The Covid-19 situation is evolving day by day, so check for the latest information from the New Zealand government.
If you or someone you are travelling with starts to feel unwell contact Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453. The symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, and shortness of breath.