Touring Brain guides
Plain-English guides for getting around New Zealand by caravan, campervan or motorhome — the rules, the safety basics and the things that catch people out. No fluff, no ads, written by people who actually tour.
Green Warrant 2026: is your van still legal to freedom camp?
Blue warrants stop being valid on 7 June 2026, and the new green warrant needs a permanently fixed toilet. Here's what's changed, who's affected, and a quick check of whether your setup still qualifies.
Read the guide → NewNZ towing capacity explained: how much can you really tow?
The brochure says 3,500 kg — but that's rarely your real limit. The weight terms, the licence and brake rules, a tow-rating chart by vehicle type, and a calculator to check your exact setup.
Read the guide →NZ road safety for big rigs
Mountain passes, one-lane bridges, metal roads and Cook Strait — how to drive a caravan or motorhome safely on New Zealand roads.
How to read a weather briefing
Gusts at cab height matter more than the headline wind speed. How to use a three-day briefing to decide whether to drive, wait or reroute.
Touring New Zealand: your questions answered
Freedom camping, dump stations, ferries, fuel and the rest — the questions first-time NZ tourers (and visitors in a rental) ask most.