What To Eat On Your Campervan Road Trip

What kitchen supplies are included in your campervan hire

Whatever Britz campervan hire you choose for your holiday, you will have a full kitchen at your disposal. We supply all the tools of the trade including plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, drinking glasses, a coffee plunger, bottle/can opener, mixing bowls, colander, saucepans, frying pans, chopping board, electric jug, gas kettle, and a toaster. 

Your camper is even stocked with decent wine glasses so you can enjoy some famous New Zealand wine as you cook your evening meal. And to make cooking even easier, you’ll also have a microwave and gas cooker. To keep your ingredients fresh and cool, your campervan also includes a fridge (with freezer box).

 

 

What to bring for cooking in your campervan

Depending on what you like to cook, you may like to bring along a few favourite items from home. These could include:

• Slow cooker 

• Blender 

• Portable barbecue (some Britz campers include this)

• Toasted sandwich maker

• Oils and seasonings

• Containers for leftovers

• Paper towels

Top tip: Read more about what to pack for a campervan road trip.

Tips for buying food on your campervan trip

It’s good to bring along your must-haves and favourite ingredients to create your campervan meals. You’ll also find lots of opportunities to stock up on fresh and in-season produce and other goodies as you travel.  

Visit local farmers markets

Most New Zealand towns, big and small, have a weekend farmers market. These markets are ideal for filling the campervan fridge and pantry with seasonal produce and fresh ingredients. The produce is often organic, locally grown, and available at good prices. You may find tasty honey, freshly baked treats, and other yummy goods that you wouldn’t normally buy. It’s also a good way to support local communities – and treat yourself too! 

Buy from local food producers

Everything from nuts and chocolate to meat and cheese is available direct from food producers in New Zealand. A quick online search of local producers in the destinations you’re visiting will help you find a few. Here are some of our favourites:

• Barrys Bay Cheese (Akaroa)

Stock up on tasty, handcrafted cheeses from this award-winning South Island cheesemaker.   

• Makana Confections (Kerikeri and Blenheim)

Indulge your sweet tooth with the range of chocolate, truffles, and toffee crunch at this delicious store. Watch chocolate being made, try out some samples, then pick out your favourite to take home. 

• Arataki Honey (Havelock North)

Arataki is New Zealand’s most popular honey brand. Plan a stop at the visitor centre to buy honey at factory prices. 

Visit local wineries

The perfect accompaniment to a great camper meal is a great glass of wine. Fortunately, New Zealand has loads of world-class wineries to visit where you can sample and stock up on your favourites. Here are a few worth adding to your travel itinerary:

• Church Road (Hawke’s Bay)

Renowned for being the first in New Zealand to craft exceptional Bordeaux-style red wine, Church Road is one of the oldest wineries in New Zealand. The cellar door is open from 10.30 am – 4 pm. 

• Lake Hayes (Queenstown)

Known for their impressive pinot noir and pinot gris, this South Island winery describes their wines as young and lively, yet balanced and sophisticated. 

• Kumeu River Wines (Auckland)

This outstanding winery was established in 1944 and is well known for its award-winning chardonnay. 

One of the best ways to sample New Zealand’s range of wines is with a winetasting tour. Chances are, whatever region of the country you’re in, there’s a tasting tour on offer.

 

What to eat on your campervan trip

Looking for ideas for easy camping meals? We’ve got you covered. Spark up the gas hob, set the table, and get ready to enjoy! 

 

 

Campervan breakfast ideas

Whether you prefer a simple serving of toast-and-jam with coffee, or can’t go past a mouth-watering meal of bacon and eggs, breakfast is always a special meal when you’re on holiday. Here are a few breakfast ideas to help you plan your pantry packing list:

Full-cooked breakfast

Got a big day of adventure planned? It’s always good to start off with a hearty breakfast. There’s nothing quite like the smell of sizzling bacon as you start your day. If possible, source free-range eggs and bacon and/or sausages from a local market. Add in some seasonal market produce such as spinach, mushrooms, or avocado. Cook everything on your campervan cooker and serve on lightly toasted fresh market bread. Now, that’s what we call breakfast!

Muesli with fresh fruit

In the mood for something light, fresh, and filling? You can’t go past a bowl of good quality muesli, a dollop of fresh yoghurt, and a few pieces of fresh seasonal fruit. 

Campervan snack ideas

If you find you’re hungrier than usual when you’re on holiday, you’re not alone! All that fresh air and activity demands a little extra energy. We suggest having a good selection of campervan snack ingredients onboard. Here are a few easy snack ideas:

Charcuterie board

A charcuterie board is the perfect snack idea for campervan travel. Add your favourite goodies, top up as needed, and you’re good to go all day! Some must-haves include:

• Crackers and artisan bread

• Cheeses and pâté

• Cured meats such as salami, ham, and sliced sausage 

• Dips, hummus, and fruit paste

• Grapes and olives

• Sauerkraut and pickles

• Veggie sticks such as carrots and celery

 

Superfood smoothie

Need a quick, nutritious, and filling snack to get you through the afternoon? Smoothies are a great option. Bring along your blender, plug it into your camper kitchen and throw in your favourite ingredients such as:

• Milk or a milk alternative

• Banana

• Seasonal fruits e.g., strawberries, kiwifruit etc

• Honey

• Spinach 

• A handful of nuts

• Yoghurt

Campervan lunch ideas

Looking for some quick and easy lunch ideas? Here are a few that take just minutes to make and are super tasty too. 

 

 

Smashed avocado

So easy and nutritious, you can’t go past avo on toast for lunch. To make it a bit special, opt for some sourdough bread from a local market. Mash your avocado on top then season with salt and pepper. For an extra special touch, crumble some feta on top and drizzle with olive oil. Yum!

Veggie pizzas

Pizza in less than five minutes… in a camper? Easy! Just toast some English muffins. Then add your favourite toppings such as tomatoes, sweetcorn, ham, cheese etc. Pop them under the camper grill to melt the cheese. Too easy!

Omelette

They say if you have an egg in the house, you have a meal. And the same goes for your motorhome. Be sure to pick up some farm-fresh, free-range eggs on your travels. Whip up the eggs with your favourite omelette ingredients such as ham and mushroom or capsicum and cheese. Cook in the frying pan and you’ll have lunch sorted in a matter of minutes. 

Campervan dinner ideas

When you’re travelling by campervan, quick and simple dinners are sometimes the best. Especially when you’ve had a full day of activity, and everyone wants dinner… now! Here are a few ideas to get dinner on the table in no time. 

BBQ and salad

The quintessential Kiwi barbie is a campervan dinner classic. It’s quick and easy, and cleaning up is a breeze too. Simply throw together your favourite salad ingredients, pop some chops or sausages on the grill, and dinner is sorted. Your Britz campervan may come with a portable barbecue, otherwise, you may like to bring along your own.  

Sliders

Hamburgers or sliders are another family favourite. All you need is some fresh buns, tomato and lettuce, and some grilled meat patties or portobello mushrooms. Don’t forget to pack your favourite sauces.

Chicken stir-fry

Colourful, nutritious, and super tasty, a good old stir-fry ticks all the boxes when it comes to a quick and easy dinner. Pick up some sliced chicken from the local supermarket, dice your favourite veggies, then just throw it all together in the frying pan with some stir-fry sauce. You might like to make extra for lunch the next day.

Ready to cook up a storm in the camper?

We hope our easy meal ideas have got your mouth watering! As you can see, eating well on holiday is a breeze when you travel in a Britz campervan. Treat yourself with something special or enjoy the simplicity of quick and easy cooking. It’s also a great way to sample New Zealand’s rich variety of fresh produce and artisan foods. 

Now that you’ve got a few ideas on what to cook in your motorhome, take the next step and book your Britz camper online. Pick your campervan hire up from any one of our three branches in Auckland, Christchurch, or Queenstown. 

Bon Appétit!