A roadtrip through the northern Germany – from alpaca farms to a lake camps

Hi, we are Anna and Mario, coming from Braunschweig, and we usually love to go camping with our car and rooftop tent. From Lapland to Sweden and all the way to the Dolomites, we have already done quite a few trips. However, for our Hinterland road trip, we are exploring local areas and using the VW Grand California to embark on a small journey through Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.

On the first night of our road trip, we spend it south of Bremen on a farm. The friendly owner provides us with a large meadow right next to his farm, which impresses us with its magnificent views over the fields. We thoroughly enjoy the tranquility of this idyllic spot at the end of a scarcely traveled road. But above all, the hospitable host family makes our stay particularly pleasant, and we are even allowed to use the toilet and shower facilities on the farm the next morning.

After a quick breakfast, we continue our journey towards the North Sea on the second day. And our excitement is high: Awaiting us at the Bockhorner Moor in Friesland is an alpaca farm! As soon as we arrive, the fluffy animals warmly welcome us, and we get to park the Grand California right by the pasture. The friendly hosts, Nicole and Thomas, tell us more about the alpacas, which are practically part of the family here, and we even get to assist with feeding them.

In the evening, another animal surprise awaits us: the family's Labrador dog had given birth to puppies two weeks ago, and we get to cuddle and play with them. So adorable! Our conclusion of the day: At the alpaca farm, we felt warmly welcomed and were able to fully enjoy the relaxed country life.

Day three and onwards to the next campsite in the far north of Germany, in beautiful East Frisia. At Vanessa's place, located on a secluded property, we park right by the water, next to our "private" lake. It's a truly idyllic spot! In the summer, you can surely enjoy swimming, stand-up paddling, or fishing in the lake.

We prefer to make ourselves comfortable with a small campfire in the cooler temperatures and grill some patties for homemade burgers. We enjoy them in the spacious seating area of the Grand California, protected from the approaching rain. Delicious!

The next morning, we drive to our next and unfortunately already the last campsite of our Hinterland journey in Porta Westfalica. The approach to the spot through a small, densely overgrown path evokes feelings of adventure in us. However, in the next moment, a small slope that should lead us directly to the water causes us a bit of despair: on the rain-soaked ground, we get stuck, and the tires of the large van keep spinning on the slippery leaves. But with a little patience, we manage to roll down the small hill and are rewarded with a dreamlike spot!

We park the van right by the Weser with a beautiful panoramic view over the water. Even the sun makes an appearance in the afternoon, and we quickly set up the chairs and table to enjoy a coffee break in the fresh air on the spacious grounds. Fortunately, it stays dry at night, so the next morning, with a little "momentum" and the gas pedal pressed, we manage to make our way back up the slope. With enough momentum, (almost) anything is possible! Due to the weather conditions, the spot is currently not accessible and offline, but it will be available for booking online again in the coming weeks.

We discovered numerous unique spots on our journey and are looking forward to another Hinterland tour soon. We will especially remember the kind hosts who warmly welcomed us and sometimes even invited us for an after-work drink. For further insights into our tour, check out our YouTube video about the road trip:

As seen in the video review, we thoroughly enjoyed traveling with the Grand California. In summary, compared to traveling with a roof tent, the clear advantage is having a toilet, shower, cooking area, and a cozy seating area always on board. The heating was also a lifesaver at temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius. However, for our next (summer) trip to the Hinterland, we are planning to use our roof tent again – and of course, we will happily share our experiences here once more!

Until then,

Anna & Mario