Our family adventure began with a dream: to share our children’s childhood exploring the world together. Riley and Alba were still little when we hit the road for the second time during COVID. Halfway through travelling the west coast of Australia, we discovered we were expecting our third baby daughter. Life in our tiny kombi on airbeds suddenly felt even smaller. But the universe had other plans — it sent us Bella, our vintage caravan.
Not quite adventure-ready, we headed home to welcome the baby and rebuild Bella. This time, the plan was to ship both the kombi and caravan to New Zealand. Off we set in 2022.
How We Shipped
We chose RORO (Roll-on Roll-off) shipping. It was safe, reliable, and surprisingly straightforward for both our kombi and caravan. Because of their combined heights and lengths, shipping costs were less than sending a single high-top van or large caravan.
To travel internationally with vehicles, we also needed a Carnet de Passage — essentially a passport for your vehicle. It guarantees customs authorities that you won’t sell your vehicle abroad. Along with this, insurance was required, both during shipping and while driving in each country.
Australia to New Zealand
We shipped our Kombi and caravan with Dolphin Shipping, sending them from Wollongong across the Tasman Sea to Auckland. What should have been a relatively straightforward journey stretched into nearly four weeks, with rough weather and the Christmas period slowing everything down.
Watching our little home on wheels sail away was surreal — and waiting for it to arrive felt even longer. But when we were finally reunited on New Zealand soil, the excitement made the delays melt away. Having our own familiar set-up gave us both freedom and comfort as we explored.
New Zealand felt a little like Australia, yet the differences stood out quickly — shorter drives, narrower winding roads, and a gentler pace of travel that pulled us in right from the start.
New Zealand to Japan
Next, we shipped from Christchurch to Yokohama with Dolphin Shipping. The crossing took around four weeks, and while the voyage itself went smoothly, things moved a little slower once we reached Japan. Paperwork and customs in Yokohama required extra patience, including certification for road tolls to support our Carnet de Passage, but in the end everything came together.
Japan already felt like home in many ways — we had lived there as expats for nearly ten years, making it our third home. We knew and loved the culture, yet this time we wanted to dig deeper, exploring their quiet appreciation for nature and their unique take on camping in Japan.
Travelling in our Kombi and caravan as a family of five opened the door to some unforgettable experiences. Japan tested us with tight city streets, different camping rules, and the challenges of language, but it also gave us the chance to discover hidden campgrounds, hot springs, and stunning natural landscapes that most tourists never see. These became some of the richest and most memorable travel experiences of our journey.
Japan to Hawaii
From Japan, we made the spontaneous decision to ship to Hawai‘i as winter snow began to fall. Unlike Japan and New Zealand, the USA isn’t part of the Carnet de Passage system, which meant extra paperwork and a few tricky hoops to navigate. We needed a tourer visa for our vehicles, submitting all the documents in advance but having to wait nervously until their arrival for final approval.
The shipping itself took around three weeks, and while the ocean crossing went smoothly, the uncertainty made it feel much longer. Items we had easily brought into other countries now required special exemptions — and there was always the chance they could still be declined at the border. Watching our Kombi and caravan disappear once again onto a ship felt far more uncertain this time.
Thankfully, approval came through, and we were reunited on Hawaiian soil. From there, we were able to begin our Hawai‘i road trip, discovering hidden beaches, lush campgrounds, and the slower island pace of life. Experiencing camping in Hawai‘i with our Kombi and caravan became one of the most unique chapters of our journey.
Hawaii to Mainland USA
From Honolulu to San Diego, we faced our highest shipping cost yet — around $8,000 USD. It was a big jump, but arriving on the U.S. mainland opened the door to an entirely new chapter of adventure, from endless highways to desert landscapes and world-famous national parks.
Before that crossing, though, we spent nearly six months in Hawai‘i, and we loved every moment. Camping under palm trees, swimming in warm waters, and discovering hidden spots through Hipcamp gave us some of the most relaxed and memorable experiences of our journey.
Life in the U.S. brought new lessons, too — from understanding the tipping culture to adjusting to different camping rules — but we embraced it all and grew to love the rhythm of life on the road in America.
Shipping Timeline & Costs
Here’s a quick look at how our shipping costs, not including visa’s, carnet or insurance.
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Australia → New Zealand: $6,000 USD
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New Zealand → Japan: approx. $7,000 USD
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Japan → Hawaii: approx. $7,500 USD
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Hawaii → San Diego: $8,000 USD
This journey has been full of logistical puzzles, costs, and paperwork — but also endless rewards. Shipping our kombi and caravan has let us chase seasons, cultures, and experiences as a family. And while the costs have been steep, the value of the memories has been priceless.