We Bought a Van

Meet Goliath!

He's a 1991 Mitsubushi Delica, 5-speed diesel engine. He sleeps two, came complete with kitchen shelving, a propane 2-burner stove, tent, cooler, table, 2 chairs, silverware and dishes, a solar shower, and complete atlases of both islands (among other extras).

We both knew this van was exactly what we wanted when we saw it. We'd like to thank Pamela and David, the previous owners from Scotland who made the deal incredibly easy, and helped talk Steve through driving a 5-speed diesel van on the left side of the road in Christchurch proper.

It is very common for travelers in NZ to purchase a campervan, and sell it to another traveler upon leaving. It's nothing like purchasing a car in the US. You just go to the post office with a US drivers license and fill out a change of ownership form. They mail you the registration in 10 business days. Additionally, there is a required 6-month inspection for every vehicle, but we're not up for one until June.

Goliath was put to the true test in our trip through the Banks Peninsula, an extremely mountainous region with narrow switchbacks and extreme slopes. Steve did a great job navigating these difficult roads, even through Alyssa's dramatic gasps when the van approach the edge of the cliff, a little too close for comfort.



In an effort to save money, we've been doing something called “Freedom Camping,” which is a very common practice around NZ where you park your campervan by a beach, scenic preserve, or on the side of the road to set up camp for the night. We spent two nights on the Banks Peninsula, each on a different bay with panoramic views on the Pacific flanked by sea cliffs.

We're currently in Kairkoura, with a post above.