Mr Morris and his travelling companion Peggy awoke yesterday morning to discover their locked van had been stolen from outside their hostel accommodation on Wanaka's main street.
Police are appealing for any information or sightings of the 1993 silver Mazda Bongo van, number plate ZE 4035.
Mr Morris has been travelling in the van since he left Christchurch last month.
He left his locked vehicle, which had a red mountain bike locked on the back, on Helwick St outside the Matterhorn hostel on Tuesday night.
The theft of the van left him feeling "bitter, frustrated and victimised," he said.
He was trying to remain positive when he spoke to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, but was pensive and uncertain about how the experience would affect his New Zealand travel plans.
"We still have all of our important belongings, such as our passport, electronics, and clothes, but all of our rucksacks and hiking equipment was locked in the van," he said.
The holidaymakers had been forced to cancel their planned trip to tramp the Routeburn Track and had lost a deposit with a Glenorchy backpackers, where they were scheduled to stay last night, Mr Morris said.
Constable Mike Thomas said he empathised with the pair.
"Their holiday has been ruined by this experience. We'd desperately like to get the van back for them ... this kind of theft is unusual for Wanaka," he said.
Mr Morris has been left questioning how the theft "could take place here, of all places?"
He is unsure what to do next as he waits for an insurance claim to be processed and considers his next move.
"How do you restart? That's what we're trying to get our heads around.
"Why do these people do such things?" he asked.
Advertisement
