New Zealand in Winter: 10 Tips for Your Road Trip

Marion Haerty is one of the world’s strongest and most successful snowboard freeriders. But the quadruple Freeride World Tour champ and SUNLIGHT Adventure Crew member is also an insatiable explorer. In winter, she embarked on a roadtrip through New Zealand.

Table of Contents

Vehicle
CLIFF 640 Adventure, Camper Van

Route
New Zealand, South Island

New Zealand had been on my list for years. I came for winter, snowboarding and exploration, but what I found was much bigger than just another snowboard trip. Traveling across the South Island in a camper van gave me an incredible feeling of freedom: waking up somewhere new, chasing snow, changing plans with the weather and discovering how much diversity can fit into one island. But freedom also comes with challenges. From driving on the other side of the road to unexpected problems, lonely nights and plans that simply didn’t work out, this trip taught me a lot.

1. Don’t underestimate jet lag

When you arrive in New Zealand from Europe, your body is completely upside down. Add unfamiliar roads and driving on the opposite side, and the first few days can be more tiring than expected. My advice: take your time in the first few days – sleep, adapt and get comfortable driving. A slow first day is much better than starting your adventure exhausted.

2. New Zealand roads are part of the adventure

Coming from the Alps, I thought I was pretty comfortable driving on mountain roads. New Zealand proved me wrong. Some ski field access roads are completely different from what we’re used to in Europe: unsealed roads, steep sections, narrow passages, big drops and conditions that can change quickly with snow and weather. It can feel pretty intimidating. I quickly learned that you don’t always have to prove you can drive everywhere yourself. If the access looks stressful, taking a ski shuttle or bus can be the smarter and much more relaxing option. You want to save your energy for snowboarding, not arrive at the mountain exhausted because the drive scared you more than the line you’re about to ride.

3. Having a plan is good. Not following it can be even better.

II arrived with an itinerary in my head, but New Zealand quickly reminded me that weather, snow and opportunities don’t care about your schedule. Some of my favourite moments happened because I changed my plans. Sometimes someone tells you about a place, sometimes the weather pushes you somewhere else, and sometimes you simply feel like staying another day. Having a direction is useful. Leaving enough space for spontaneity is what makes it an adventure.

4. Ask stupid questions BEFORE leaving

This one comes from experience! A camper van gives you an amazing amount of freedom, but you’re also responsible for water, gas, electricity, toilets, batteries etc. Take 20 minutes before leaving the rental company and understand how everything works. Ask the stupid questions. Take pictures. Know what goes where. It might save you time and a mistake later.

5. Things will go wrong. That’s part of the trip.

No matter how organized you are, something unexpected will happen. A mechanical issue, bad weather, a closed road, a wrong turn, changing snow conditions or something else. At first, these moments feel like they’re ruining your trip. A few days later, they’re often the stories you’re laughing about. Travelling taught me to stop trying to control everything and become better at adapting.

6. Sleeping alone in the middle of nowhere isn’t always as romantic as Instagram makes it look

Vanlife looks incredibly peaceful online: a beautiful lake, mountains, sunset and nobody around. Then it gets dark. And suddenly being all by yourself can feel very different. I learned to listen to that feeling. Apps such as WikiCamps New Zealand can help you check camping spots, read recent reviews and understand where you’re actually spending the night. Sometimes I loved being completely isolated. Other nights, I preferred knowing there were a few other vans nearby. Solo travel isn’t about proving you’re fearless. It’s about learning what makes you feel comfortable.

7. New Zealand makes you rethink what a snowboard resort can be

Coming from the Alps, I had a very specific image of a ski resort. New Zealand completely challenged that. The club fields, access roads, small communities and terrain can feel incredibly different from European skiing. Sometimes getting to the mountain is already part of the adventure. I loved discovering this different culture around snowboarding: smaller communities, passionate riders and a feeling that everyone is there because they really want to be there.

8. Some of the best freeride days start by walking

One of the things I wanted from this trip was to get away from only riding lifts and competitions. Taking my splitboard into the mountains and spending time in remote places reminded me why I fell in love with freeride in the first place. When you’ve spent hours moving through the mountains to reach a line, you experience the descent differently. The run isn’t the whole adventure anymore. It’s just one part of it.

Don't just travel with Google Maps—travel with the people.

9. Talk to people: they might completely change your trip

One of the best ways to discover New Zealand is through the people you meet. Local riders know where to go, when conditions are good and which places are worth changing your plans for. Competitions were also a great way for me to connect with the local freeride community. I went to some Freeride World Qualifier events as a forerunner, and beyond the riding itself, I loved discovering the people and the diversity of the faces. Don’t travel only with Google Maps. Ask questions.

10. You don’t need to fill every day

When you’ve travelled to the other side of the planet, there’s a temptation to optimize everything: snowboard today, hike tomorrow, drive 4 hours, catch sunrise, visit another place… But sometimes the best thing you can do is stop. Have a coffee, go for a swim, read or stay somewhere simply because you like it. Exploration doesn’t have to mean constantly moving. New Zealand reminded me that sometimes the best trips happen when you have a rough plan, enough time and the freedom to change everything along the way.

Ready for Your Own New Zealand Road Trip?

Marion has shown how it’s done: with a camper van, you can travel independently across New Zealand and adapt your route spontaneously to the weather, conditions, and your plans. With McRent, you can rent a range of campers for your New Zealand adventure, from compact camper vans to larger motorhomes.

Explore campers in New Zealand now