Life of Van NZ FB Page is a private group with a positive vibe, giving everyone from weekend warriors to van life veterans a place to connect.

We feel so privileged and fortunate to have made this journey a year ago, gathering such beautiful memories of the landscape as it was.

Sharing our best hacks which made life so much easier on a recent Matariki vanning trip.

Baby Bear, Mama Bear and Papa Bear campers

We love freedom camping, and great charity recycle shops. My vintage-clothes-obsessed daughter and I did a wee roadie and filled her with treasures (lower North Island).

This super affordable camp ground close to Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti is situated on a former farm and a significant historical site.

A gaze into the green crystal ball of hope for a consistent, reliable freedom camping vehicle certification system, reveals an extremely stormy and very cloudy future.

SH 35 is a magical journey. Put it on your list.

After 21 days #vanlife freedom camping…

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All Points Camping at Morisons Bush, Waitangi Weekend 2024.

What an eclectic bunch of lovely people camping all sorts of ways.

Between them they have over 240 years of camping experience.

Family camping… part of my DNA for 60 years.

Let one person in authority know you want to protect your right to freedom camp on public land.

Haere rā everyone. Shame we can’t stay longer.

No more freedom camping for these responsible campers. No room for a fixed loo…

The original camper truck in 1973 was aFord Trader .

Hammock time, Tokomaru Bay

Six solo camping women gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening at the Viking Odyssey Weekend in Norsewood.

Packing the van for a weekend at the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2024. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove

There are multiple fixed toilet options to meet your space and budget.

You may be surprised to learn when you are and aren’t actually freedom camping

I’m about to swap out my portable toilet for a composting waterless toilet in my camper van.

Fire circle on a still Autumn night. Magical. 
©2024 Bette Cosgrove

Freedom van camping ©2023 Bette Cosgrove

A multi-generation caravan and great great grandchild. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove

Q. What’s better than a gourmet snag on some fresh Turkish bread, with relish, cooked and eaten outdoors while freedom camping?

Camping at the Eketahuna campground, April 2024 ©2024 Bette Cosgrove

The Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation 2023 / revised Freedom Camping Act 2011 presents significant challenges for councils across New Zealand as they strive to comply.