‘Freedom is Mighty’.
That’s one of the slogans of Mighty Campers; a company which offers campervan hire throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Following my 28-day adventure in ‘Mighty Joe’ the campervan, which saw us exploring the north and south islands of New Zealand, I can confidently agree with that statement.
On a sunny morning in April 2015, it was noticeably cold and crisp in Queenstown, and I felt a true sense of anticipation before we collected our ‘Double Down’ four-berth camper.
We were met by extremely friendly and welcoming staff. The Queenstown head quarters of Mighty is based conveniently close to the airport for those flying in and collecting their camper immediately, and the company offers a complimentary pick-up service from the terminals. For those who are already in the centre of Queenstown, the airport is just a short bus ride away.
I was struck by the modern feel and cleanliness of the Mighty base, and this immediately filled me with promise. The staff, as mentioned, were very efficient and made sure we had everything we required. These two aspects certainly showed good signs that our campervan would be impressive, too.
I wasn’t disappointed, that’s for sure. The first thing that struck me was how spacious it was. You could stand up and move around freely; there was a good sized table area and comfortable chairs, plenty of cupboard space with all necessary equipment and utensils, a two-hob gas stove, microwave and kettle. This was a perfectly equipped kitchen area!
What’s more, the camper was cleverly designed to allow 
space for two double beds. The first was made neatly from the seating area at the back of the van, and the second slid out to form a type of bunk bed. This also provided useful storage space during the day.
We had plenty of bedding to ensure we were warm at night, including duvets and pillows. The nights were sometimes cold and it was so cosy to be able to snuggle up in the warm campervan with a hot water bottle and cup of tea. To be able to make our cups of tea inside the van was very useful! We also woke up and enjoyed a warming bowl of porridge on a regular basis. Just perfect!
We were even presented with our own little cardboard campervan, which we had great fun with! We got some wonderful photos of 'Mini Joe' in various scenic locations.
In the past, I have driven various vehicles but nothing of this size. The length was the most noticeable aspect. However, I felt the van drove very well and it didn’t take me long to get used to the size and the automatic controls. Despite it being a heavy van, it managed steep incline
s well, which aren’t uncommon throughout New Zealand! It also navigated around the many mountainous bends that we encountered on our travels, especially in Abel Tasman, which sits in the northern area of the south island.
Overall, we completed around 3,500 kilometres in 28 days. This included trips to Queenstown, Wanaka, Haast, Franz Josef, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Picton, then over to Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo, Whitianga, Helensville and Auckland.
So, we did manage to see a large amount of New Zealand, which pleases me immensely. From the stunning snow-dusted mountainous views of Queenstown, to the calm untouched lake in Wanaka, the farmland and winding roads in Abel Tasman, the vast natural volcanic creation that is Lake Taupo and the busy city atmosphere of amazing Auckland, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in everything.
Our wonderfully unforgettable experience wouldn’t have been so magical without the reliability and flexibility offered by ‘Mighty Joe’. We did not have one issue when driving it, it drove smoothly throughout, and really did become a companion on our travels!
Campervan travel has provided me with so many memories and I would recommend it to all who are backpacking or just generally wishing to venture around on their adventures, however long the duration may be. I believe the flexibility you gain from this transport method cannot be beaten.
Sometimes, we decided to drive a few kilometres off the main road to explore a nearby look-out point or beach. Our itinerary was tweaked regularly and we stayed at various hidden away places. These aspects would not have happened if we had travelled via another method; on an organised bus tour, for example.
Mighty Campers really do provide a ‘room with a view’. I lost count of the amount of incredible sunrises we awoke to. I’d just have to peer outside the back window of the van to view breath taking countryside and mountainous scenery. It was stuff dreams are made of, and I’d often whisper to myself ‘wow’ in response to the view before me, although I was frequently lost for words, too.
Anyone who is wanting the freedom and the flexibility to truly immerse themselves in a country in their own way, then campervan travel is for you; and, with Mighty Campers, you are guaranteed comfort and reliability on top of this.
There is a world out there, and what better way to experience it than driving your own way around, camping in uniquely stunning locations, and creating wonderful memories everyday. Freedom certainly is Mighty!
