AI Summary
ANZAC Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026, and temeaning most Australians and New Zealanders get a long weekend without needing to take any extra leave at all, by getting a bonus Monday (27 April) as the public holiday substitute, making it even easier to stretch your trip.Whether you want a tight 4-day loop or a week-long journey across breathtaking landscapes, a campervan is the perfect way to honour the spirit of adventure that defines both nations. Below, we’ve mapped out the best road trips, organised by length, so you can pick the one that fits your calendar and wanderlust. You can also browse all of our favourite Australian road trips or check out our Australian bucket list for more inspiration.
Australia
The Great Ocean Road Sprint
Melbourne → Twelve Apostles → Warrnambool
Recomended Time: 4 days
This is Australia’s most iconic coastal drive and perfectly sized for an ANZAC long weekend. Pick up your campervan in Melbourne on Saturday morning, attend an ANZAC dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, then hit the road south. Wind along the limestone cliffs and surf beaches all the way to the Twelve Apostles, camping overnight at Princetown or Johanna Beach. Our complete Great Ocean Road guide has everything you need to plan every stop.
Don’t miss: Sunset at Gibson Steps — standing directly beneath the sea stacks on a golden ANZAC weekend evening is unforgettable.
Queensland’s Whitsunday & Hinterland Loop
Airlie Beach → Eungella → Mackay
Recommended road trip: 6 days
Swap the southern autumn chill for North Queensland warmth. Start at the Whitsundays, then head inland to Eungella National Park — one of the only places in the world you can reliably spot a wild platypus. The winding Mackay-Eungella Road rewards those who venture off the coast. If you’re already exploring Queensland by campervan, consider tacking this on to a Brisbane to Cairns road trip for the ultimate east coast journey.
Wildlife alert: Platypus sightings at Broken River are most reliable at dawn and dusk — take those ANZAC morning moments quietly by the water.
New Zealand
Marlborough & Abel Tasman
Picton → Nelson → Kaiteriteri
Recomended Time: 4 days
The South Island’s sun-drenched north is NZ’s best-kept secret for autumn road trips. Drive from the ferry at Picton through golden wine country to Nelson, consistently NZ’s sunniest city, then continue to the impossibly turquoise bays of Abel Tasman. Picking up a South Island campervan from Christchurch and driving north makes for a stunning first night in the Marlborough Sounds. Late April sees the summer crowds thin dramatically while the weather stays gorgeous.
Golden hour: The Marlborough Sounds at ANZAC dawn, misty inlets, silence, and absolute stillness — is one of New Zealand’s most moving settings.
Coromandel & Bay of Plenty
Auckland → Thames → Whitianga → Tauranga
Recomended Time: 5 days
This is the North Island’s greatest campervan loop — and April is its secret sweet spot. Pick up your Auckland campervan and drive the winding Thames Coast, cross the Coromandel hills to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, where you dig your own thermal spa in the sand at low tide. End in Tauranga and explore the orchards and surf breaks of the Bay of Plenty before looping back through the Kaimai Ranges. Exploring the North Island by campervan doesn’t get more rewarding than this.
Beach tip: Bring a spade and arrive 1–2 hours before low tide, the thermal vents only work at the right tidal window.
Central Otago & Fiordland
Queenstown → Milford Sound → Te Anau
Recommended time: 6 days
The South Island’s deep south in late April is extraordinary, the autumn leaves in Central Otago turn the landscape amber and gold, while Fiordland’s frequent rainfall means the waterfalls at Milford Sound are at their most thunderous. Hire a Queenstown campervan and drive the Milford Road, one of the world’s great alpine highways. Returning skiers should note that this route transitions beautifully into the South Island ski season, which kicks off in June , making this the perfect scouting trip.
Autumn magic: Arrowtown’s main street lined with golden poplars in late April is one of New Zealand’s most photographed scenes, and it’s right on your route.
The South Island Grand Tour
Christchurch → West Coast → Queenstown → Dunedin
Recommended time: 7 days
The South Island’s full sweep, this is New Zealand at its absolute best, done in a single epic week. Pick up your Christchurch campervan and cross the Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass (with its curious kea parrots), drop down to the wild West Coast and the glow-worm grotto at Hokitika, then push south to Franz Josef Glacier. Climb Haast Pass into the lake district — Wānaka and Queenstown in autumn colours are breathtaking, before crossing the Otago Peninsula to Dunedin and its colony of royal albatross. Exploring the South Island by campervan in a week is one of the finest road trips on earth.
The full experience: This route crosses every major terrain New Zealand offers, alpine, glacial, coastal, lake, fiord, and peninsula, in one breathtaking week.
