Eco-Friendly Camping Gear to Bring on a Road Trip

When camping in the beautiful green nature of New Zealand it is important to bring eco-friendly camping gear with you to make sure you don’t disturb the natural environment and ecosystem. From reusable water bottles to solar panel phone chargers, there’s a lot of eco-friendly camping gear you can take with you on your future road trips to keep your travels eco-friendly. 

1. Sleeping Mat 

Especially when travelling in the rear of the Travellers Autobarn Station Wagon or in a tent, a sleeping mat can help to improve your sleep. An inflatable sleeping mat is not only easy to pack into compact spaces, it’s a lot comfier than a foam mat that also takes up more space in your travel bags.  

You can purchase self-inflatable sleeping mats from Vaude (a sustainable outdoor clothing & gear company) that are made from sustainable materials. There are many sizes and styles to choose from to suit your needs.  

2. Reusable Water Bottle  

When travelling and being in the great outdoors keeping hydrated is important! Make sure you bring with you an eco-friendly water bottle, as using plastic water bottles are: 

• Bad for the environment as they don’t break down  
• A hazard to marine wildlife and birds 
• They have toxic partials when burned and left in the ocean for long periods of time 

Stainless steel is one of the most eco-friendly water bottle materials as it is not only safe for the environment but also durable and indefinitely recyclable. You can browse through the Flora & Fauna website for sustainable water bottles.  

3. Eco-Friendly Sunscreen 

When exploring out in nature, keeping sunscreen safe is a must! Even better, using eco-friendly sunscreen to protect the environment around you as well as yourself. Especially when swimming at the Beaches in New Zealand, using the eco-friendly sunscreen can help to protect the corals and reefs. 

Always check the sunscreen label and prefer brands that exclusively use physical filters which include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Sun Butter is an Australian brand that makes and sells eco-friendly sunscreen with certified sustainable ingredients and stored in recyclable tins.    

Make sure to pack your eco-friendly sunscreen in your travel bags for your next road trip! 

4. Toiletries 

Toiletry bags can be full of small unnecessary products that can be of negative impact to the environment if not disposed properly.  

Below are some toiletries that you can take with you that are eco-friendly: 

• Bamboo toothbrush – they are biodegradable and very effective.  
• Wooden hairbrush with nylon brushes 
• Plastic free hair ties  
• Zero waste shampoo 

The advantages of eco-friendly toiletries are that most are biodegradable or reusable, healthier for you and the environment, and reduces your plastic waste, creating an eco-camping experience. BAMKINI is a brand that makes eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes. They are biodegradable and compostable, so make sure to check them out! 

5. Solar Powered Phone Charger 

You are out on a hike in the mountains and your phone is running out of charge, but you done have a power point to charge your phone? Get yourself a solar powered phone charger! This will also be helpful when Freedom Camping for long periods of time, if the secondary battery in the campervan goes flat, with no available electricity connection.  

They are eco-friendly as solar panels don’t consumer fuel or use electricity, and whenever there is sunlight, you can have your phone charging. The BigBlue 28W Solar Charger is a solar panel phone charger that is widely compatible most iPhone and Samsung galaxy, LG etc. It is easy to fold and put in your backpack.  

Make sure you take eco-friendly camping gear on your next road trip for a sustainable camping experience. Doing this will mean you are helping the environment and preserving the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of New Zealand.  

Check out the latest deals on our campervan hire in New Zealand, where you can also check out our locations in Auckland and Christchurch.

To learn more about sustainable travel in New Zealand, check out our How To Travel New Zealand Sustainably article.