Between the end of February until the beginning of April, we were in New Zealand with our The RVers TV show co-hosts John & Peter from The RV Geeks. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Just as things rapidly changed for millions of people around the world, and we found ourselves traveling internationally during Covid-19.

Traveling to New Zealand
Shortly after the release of our final Go North series episode (Episode 20) at the end of February, we hopped on a plane with friends and co-hosts John & Peter heading for New Zealand. We had 5 weeks planned for RVing around the country and filming for The RVers TV Show, as well as our own YouTube channel.
We rented a couple of RVs from Wilderness Motorhome Rentals and set off on our trip to tour both the North Island and the South Island of this beautiful island nation. Little did we know that our 5 weeks of exploration would be interrupted by Covid-19.
Us and our Wilderness Rental Motorhomes along Lake Pukaki
Pandemic Declared
When we first arrived in NZ at the end of February, coronavirus had not yet been declared a pandemic. But just a couple of weeks into our touring it was, which made the last few weeks interesting, to say the least.
The New Zealand government responded very swiftly and strictly in locking down the country, starting with foreign nationals being prohibited from entry starting March 19th. When they reached response Level 4 on March 25th, ferries were also locked down, domestic flights were canceled, and only essential travel by emergency services was allowed. Traveling during Covid-19 was getting progressively harder.
New Zealand Lockdown
When the ferries were announced to be closing, we were on the South Island. Our flight was out of Auckland on the North Island. The ferry is the only way to drive from one island to the other, so if we didn’t get back North fast we would be in trouble.
Fortunately, within a span of 48 hours from the Level 4 announcement we were able to get from the southern end of the South Island, across on one of the last ferries to the North Island. We found an RV Park just 2 hours outside of Auckland before everything was locked down, and we were there for just over a week.
Catching one of the last ferries to the North Island before the shutdown
Our sites at the Cambridge Top 10 Holiday Park during the lockdown, waiting for our flight
Isolating In Our Rental RVs
Foreign nationals on the South Island were stuck as they could not ferry or fly to the North Island to reach international flights. The rental RVs enabled us to stay self-isolated pretty easily in the time leading up to the full lockdown and during.
We were able to be outside and still hang out with John & Peter who were part of our “isolation group.” It was great to have friends with us so we could support each other and distract each other as we waited for our flight day.

Because of the essential travel order, we couldn’t leave the RV Park until the day of our flight, when we could provide proof that we had a flight out the same day should we be pulled over. We were only allowed into the airport with proof of flight.
Just a couple of days before we were to fly, they opened domestic flights to foreign nationals so travelers on the South Island could connect to International Flights out of Auckland. Because of this, our flight was predicted to be 100% full – something that wasn’t ideal for traveling during Covid.
…Should We Risk Traveling During Covid?
Fortunately, Covid-19 case numbers in New Zealand were still very low. Unfortunately, we were heading back to the United States, whose cases were skyrocketing. This was going to be like flying directly to Wuhan at the beginning of the outbreak, as US cases had at that time already exceeded every other country outbreak and were on the rise.
The days leading up to our flight and the day-of were honestly pretty scary. The choice to travel during Covid and come home or stay in New Zealand was a personal one. We debated it daily.
Between us and our travel companions, we had tons of reasons for and against either choice. If need-be we could have rented an AirBnB and stayed. The NZ government had policies in place to assist stranded travelers during Covid-19 in finding housing and extending visas, but the future was so unknown to be able to create a solid plan.
In the end, we decided to come home.
Traveling From New Zealand To LAX During Covid

We wore masks, kept our distance (as much as we could), used disinfecting wipes on our seats and tray tables. Still there was little you could do as there were people all around you.

It ended up being 100% full. We wore our masks the whole 12+ hours except to eat and drink. Upon landing in LA, the airport was dead. Going through Customs was fast – no questions on how we were feeling, no temperature checks. Short lines, social distancing, about half the workforce wore masks, fewer passengers wore them.

Flight to Chicago – American Airlines reassigned seats to physically distance people. The flight was about half full so we each had our own row of seats.


Flight to Florida – American Airlines again reassigned seats to distance people, which was easy since we were 2 of the only 6 passengers on ~150 passenger plane.


We Made It Back To Florida
Upon arrival in Florida, we went straight into a 14-day self-quarantine without any contact with anyone. We came home, immediately showered, and bagged our travel clothes. We sanitized handles and the outsides of bags, devices, anything we could think of.

At the time of this blog writing, we are halfway through our self-quarantine here at home in our fifth wheel RV. It has been stressful in its own way — besides the jet lag recovery. We don’t know if we were exposed to coronavirus during our journey home, so it has been a waiting game to see if symptoms arise. The average incubation (that we know of now) is 2-6 days. We are hopeful that since neither of us has symptoms today 🤞 that we didn’t get it.
We were so careful with washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and wearing our masks that we think we might be OK…but we just can’t know for sure. Regardless, we are doing our part to stay home, stay isolated, and avoid any role in the spreading of this disease.
New Zealand

We are happy to see that the rapid and strict lockdown New Zealand imposed is not only flattening their curve, but “squashing it.”
Before the lockdown, we were able to see and film some of the incredible things this country has to offer. We expect to share the videos of our New Zealand adventure in early 2021.
Watch the teaser below:
Hanging in there & Thank You
As we were driving through NZ during our lockdown, signs in NZ had helpful and grounding reminders. We’ve been using them as a mantra of sorts to get through this:
Be Kind. Stay Calm. Stay Home. Save Lives. We’re all in this together.
We are grateful to have work that we can do from home, and have lots of projects coming up that require little to no travel. This isn’t the case for many people around the country and the world, and our hearts go out to them.
Thank you
Before we sign off we want to say “thank you.”
Thank you to the people on the front lines all around the world. Thank you to the people helping from the sidelines. And thank you to everyone who is staying home from parties, churches, events, and non-essential activities to stop the spread of this disease and avoid diverting emergency services resources.
Hang in there, everyone! Wishing you & your families health,
~ Cait & Tom
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We are glad you made it home safely and we are looking forward to the videos. We are in day 12 of our 14-day quarantine upon our return to Canada. Stay safe. Stay healthy!
Thanks! Glad you were able to make it home safe and sound too!
Last I heard of you folks was from John And Peter’s live Q & A and they needed to stay an additional week because your flight was full. Its good to see that you all made it back and are infection free. I hope Peter and John are also free of this virus, although I haven’t heard how they’re doing. Stay safe and I look forward to your future videos and blog posts. I missed you guys.
So far so good, looks like we all squeaked through without infection, but we still cannot be sure so we’re all waiting through the full 14 days before taking any chances. It’s good to be missed, but also feels so good to be back and productive again! Thanks for the note and hope you stay safe too!
Very happy that you could get back home safe and without the covid-19 .
Thanks, Pierre! Hope you and your family are staying safe.
Thanks for this update – and we are glad you are OK. It must have been a stressful last few weeks in NZ… but you were honestly probably in one of the safest places on earth. You took all the right precautions… and glad you are home safe and sound. Am sure laying low for the coming weeks and months will actually be a welcome break. Loved the NZ preview trailer! Can’t wait to see it this summer! Take care friends – J&M xo
Thank you, Julie & Marc! It was, but we are grateful to be home now and it seems we made it through without getting sick 🤞 which is such a relief. So good to be home, and it feels good to be getting back into the swing of things – as close to normal as is possible right now. Best wishes to you both!
Welcome back! Look forward to seeing the NZ footage. Stay healthy.
Thank you, Nel! Hope you are staying healthy, too!
we have been following your channel since your Alaska journey, and we are glad you made it home safely. We look forward to your upcoming program on New Zealand as we spent three weeks there several years ago. Enjoy your time back HOME.
Thanks, Pete and Ali! So good to be home 🙂 NZ was amazing, and we would love to go back sometime sans pandemic but are so grateful that we got so see what we did.
So glad you got to enjoy at least some of New Zealand. It is a favorite of ours and we want to get back to it soon! Would love to see you again if you are heading through the panhandle on your next adventure towards Michigan or westward!
We followed closely glad you all made it back. Where did the pups stay and when do you get them back? Obvious dig lover. Take care.
Hi Ross, Our pups stayed with Tom’s parents while we were in NZ. We got them back a week after we returned – we wanted to wait a little longer to see if we developed symptoms of the virus. Felt sooo good to get home to them!
I’m glad to hear you are safe and well. Loved the ‘teaser’ video and I’m looking forward to your future releases.
My own self isolation since the frantic return from holiday has been a time of calm and sunshine – the weather has been glorious until the drought broke yesterday.
Arohanui from New Zealand.
Hello Robin, Thanks for your comment! Glad you’ve been enjoying your self-isolation, we rather enjoyed the calm and quiet when we got home too after the stress of upcoming travel & the travel itself. We saw NZ is going to be returning to a Level 3 next week – wishing you all the success in stepping back towards “normal.”
I have been following your adventures for years. I was at Nettles when you got there. I was looking forward to meeting you, but all of a sudden you were gone. Glad you made it back safely and look forward to upcoming adventures.
I will be back at Nettles next year. If you will be there I will be sure to look you up.
Happy trails!
Hi Jim, sorry we missed you! Yes we weren’t at Nettles long before we left for New Zealand, and now everyone is in self-isolation. Hope you made it home safely and without much incident. Maybe we’ll see you next year (plans are still up in the air!) Stay safe!
Thank you for the update! So glad you made it home. We will look forward to seeing your videos as always!
Best, Viki and Roger (Rambling Roos)
Hi Viki, Thanks for the comment! Hope you are safe and healthy!
Thank you for this update! So glad you’re back home safe and doing well. I fell in love with your videos and are so excited for each episode. I shared your Northern Lights epi with my 79-year young Aunt Faith, who dreams of going there someday. Thank you for bringing the world to us, and sharing your adventures! God bless! -April
Hi April, I’m so glad you and your aunt enjoyed the Northern Lights! It’s magical to see it from that far north 🙂 Hope you are well and safe, too!
We are not RV’ers yet but have been actively shopping and learning. We discovered your adventures on “The RV’ers” are now in the midst of watching your fascinating Alaska videos. How crazy that you were in NZ when this pandemic started, happy to hear that you are home (we are Floridians too!). Looking forward to all the videos we’ve yet to watch and those which you’ve yet to make!