Life on a Campground: The Good and the Bad

I’ve been living on a campground for more than two months now, so I thought it’s time for an update.

In case you’re new here or missed the news, let me catch you up. In January, I bought a caravan and am currently living in it on a campground in Christchurch. The plan is to go travelling in it eventually, but after six years of full-time travel, I want to stay put for a while and establish a home base.

Obviously, in the years I travelled around New Zealand in my campervan, I’ve spent plenty of time on campgrounds. However, I would rarely be anywhere for more than a few nights. So, what is it like to live in a caravan on a campground?

Let’s start with the best parts.

I LOVE my caravan and setup

I absolutely LOVE living in my caravan. It’s the perfect home for me right now. It’s much bigger than my campervans, and I really value that extra space. I love having a permanent bed, full-size fridge, and proper bathroom. I also value that I have enough space for a decent work setup with a big screen and an ergonomic chair. At the same time, I love how compact and cosy my home is and how easy it is to clean.

And it’s warm! I think lots of people think of caravans as cold and drafty. But Eddy (the name I gave my caravan) is very well insulated. In addition, Eddy has something called ALDE heating which is just amazing. It works similar to central heating in a house. It’s quiet, warms up the caravan quickly and maintains an even warmth throughout the space. During my housesitting days, I stayed in many homes that were nowhere near as warm and cosy as Eddy is!

It’s not just the caravan that’s perfect. The closed-in awning gives me that extra space I need for storage and yoga. I think without that, I would maybe find the caravan a bit small at times. But as it is, it’s perfect for my needs right now.

The location is AMAZING

The main reason I chose this campground is for the location – and it hasn’t disappointed. I love living so close to the ocean. I love being able to carry my paddle board to the estuary right behind the campground, and thanks to a beach trolly I got from Kmart, I can also walk to the beach with all my kiting gear.

On top of that, a café, supermarket and other facilities are all within easy cycling distance, and there are many excellent walks. I often only use my car once a week, getting by on foot and bike the rest of the time, and I love that. And with Christchurch at my doorstep, just about everything I could want and need is close by. The location is definitely hard to beat.

Paddle boarding on the estuary

My favourite spot at the beach

The kitesurfing wagon

I feel very safe

Another thing I love about living on a campground is that it feels very safe. There are always people around, and I’ve made friends with some of the other long-termers and gotten to know the lovely campground owners. It’s comforting to know that, should I ever need help, there are people nearby I could turn to.

I also like that the campground owners and managers are looking after the place and guests well. They make sure there are no parties at night, and should anyone behave poorly, they would be asked to leave pretty quickly. Plus, there are security cameras, and the gates lock at 7 pm. After that, only those with the code can drive in.

You don’t have that level of oversight, safety and care in a regular neighbourhood.

It’s super low-maintenance

I live on a park-like property, surrounded by green – but I don’t have to maintain it. That’s another big perk for me. The owners look after everything, from mowing and watering the lawns to cutting back the trees and disposing of rubbish. This also extends to the shared facilities like the laundry and bathrooms, which get cleaned daily.

So, lots of perks of living on a campground. But, of course, it’s not perfect…

It’s busy. Very busy!

As you might remember, the number one thing I was nervous about when moving here was the business and noise. It’s definitely been a challenge. The campground is still really busy, and I find that hard at times. The fact that there are constantly new people around does create a bit of anxiety for this introvert.

When I got here at the end of January, the owners said that by mid-March, it would quiet down quickly. But that hasn’t happened yet this year. The campground is still full a few nights each week. Luckily, my site is tucked away on the edge, and I don’t see many people, and they can’t see me. Unfortunately, the bushes don’t block noise.

I might not be able to see other campers, but I can definitely hear them. To be fair, it’s not that bad most of the time. By 10 pm at the latest, the camp is quiet. And on the rare occasion that it’s not, the manager will shut down the party people pretty quickly. If you live in an ordinary neighbourhood and the people next door like blasting music late at night, there is often very little you can do. So, in that regard, living on a campground is a good thing. And, like I said, most of the time, it’s really not that bad – with one exception.

The playground…

I love my site, tucked away and surrounded by trees and bushes. There is just one problem. The playground is only about 20 meters away. And as everyone knows, screaming loud enough to cover 20 meters is no challenge for most kids.

Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting kids shouldn’t be allowed to play and scream. Of course not! It’s nice to know they are having fun. I especially love seeing kids from different countries coming together and somehow figuring out how to communicate even though they don’t speak the same language.

But that doesn’t change the fact that the noise is annoying at times. It’s Easter Weekend, and the kids have been at it more or less non-stop for three days. Luckily, it’s not like this all of the time and with winter coming, there should be fewer and fewer kids on the campground. Still, sometimes I can’t help but wish I had lived in the times when “kids should be seen, not hear” was a thing 

As a result of the proximity to the playground, I’m not 100% sold on my specific site yet. I love the privacy, and right now, there is no better option available. But I’m keeping my eyes and ears open in case another site opens up.

It’s the noise and busyness that leave me with some doubts about how long I’ll be here. However, I love living in the caravan, and the great thing about a home on wheels is that I could easily move to a different location should I not be able to get used to the crowds and screaming kids.

So, there you have it: the best and worst about life on a campground.

I’m thinking of doing a post to answer some of the questions I’ve been getting, so if there is anything specific you want to know about life in a caravan and/or on a campground, put it in the comments below.