Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

too cold in camper at night at end march/ whole april?

Country forums / Australia, New Zealand & Antarctica / New Zealand

hi guys. we are starting a roundtrip in a self contained camper next week and i wanted to ask you if its too cold in the camper on the south part of new zealand.
wanted to start with 3 weeks south island and then switch to the warmer north on the end of april.

i have the chance to change the camper to a simple car and hostels, but wanted to stay independent. but the though of freezing at night bothers me.

thx in advance.

If you are staying in campgrounds with a 240 volt power connection there will be no problem. A very small (1000watt) and inexpensive fan heater will keep you very warm. If you are reasonably hardy souls a good sleeping bag is all that you will need.

Never, ever, leave a propane stove burning throughout the night to warm the van. You would run a very serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

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thx :)
some more opinions?

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http://www.weatherzone.co.nz/south-island/queenstown/forecast/

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I would say that you will be fine with a nice sleeping bag I stayed in a tent several times in mid winter on the South Island yes it was cold but not unbearable and once you got to sleep it was fine I also heard that if you leave the window open a fraction in a camper that it stops condensation and keeps you warmer. Is it one of those hippie campers? Sounds like a nice plan.

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Well we did South island last Easter in a hi-top, and were plenty warm enough, Easter is later this year but we have hired the same camper for North Island. Pack some warm PJ's and the odd hoodie

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