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Campervan Hire

Campervan Rental Guide

A campervan is one of the best ways to see New Zealand. You set the route, stop where you like and travel at your own pace, with no timetables to keep. This guide covers each stage of the trip, from choosing a van to handing back the keys.

DriveNow compares campervans and motorhomes from rental companies across New Zealand. The company you book with supplies the vehicle, and its rental terms apply to your hire. If you can't find what you need here, contact our team.

Need help during your trip?

  • If anyone is injured, call 111.
  • Breakdown or a fault with the vehicle? Call your rental company's roadside assistance number. You'll find it in your rental documents.
  • Running late for pick-up or drop-off? Call the branch as soon as you know. Branches close at set times, and a late return can attract extra charges.

How Campervan Hire Works

If you haven't hired a campervan before, these are the main steps:

  1. Search and compare. Enter your dates and your pick-up and drop-off locations. You can compare vehicles, inclusions and prices from different companies side by side.
  2. Choose your vehicle. Pick a van that suits your group, your budget and where you plan to sleep. Types of Campervans below explains the main options.
  3. Book. Complete your booking online. Each company sets its own deposit and cancellation terms, so check them in your quote. Decide on excess reduction at this stage.
  4. Collect. Pick up the van from the company's branch. Staff will take you through the rental agreement and show you how the van works. Bring your driver's licence and a credit card for the bond.
  5. Travel. Stay at holiday parks, Department of Conservation campsites or, in a certified self-contained vehicle, at council freedom camping areas.
  6. Return. Drop the van off at the agreed branch and time, in the condition you received it, to avoid extra charges.

Before You Book

Choose the right van, check that every driver meets the company's age and licence rules, and plan your route around the seasons and the ferry.

Driver age. The minimum age is between 18 and 21 at most companies. Some set a higher age for larger motorhomes, so a company that takes 18-year-olds in a campervan may want drivers of 21 or more for a motorhome. Check the age rules for every driver before you book.

Licence. You need a full, current car licence. If it isn't in English, carry an accurate English translation or an International Driving Permit with it. Some companies set extra conditions, such as how long you've held the licence.

Automatic or manual. Most campervans in New Zealand are automatic. Some models are manual, including several from Wendekreisen, Kiwi, Escape and Freedom. Check the transmission in the vehicle details if you only drive automatics.

Types of Campervans

The words campervan, motorhome and RV are often used for the same thing. These are the main types you'll see when you compare vans for New Zealand. Features vary between companies and models, so treat these as a guide and check the vehicle details before you book.

Sleeper vans and compact campers

The smallest and usually cheapest option. These are converted people movers, around 4.6 to 4.9 metres long, so they drive and park much like a large car. Most run on petrol. Expect a bed for two, a small kitchen and limited storage. Many have no toilet, so you'll rely on campsite facilities. Examples include the JUCY Crib, Spaceships Beta, Happy Trail and Lucky Rodeo. Versions with a fixed toilet, such as the Spaceships Sigma and the Tui Sleepervans Deluxe Sleepervan, are worth a look if you want to freedom camp.

Hitop campervans

A high-roof van of around 6 to 6.7 metres with a double bed, a kitchen and room to stand up inside. There's no shower. Hitops suit couples who are happy to use holiday park bathrooms and want a van that's easy to drive. Examples include the Britz HiTop, Apollo HiTop, Mighty Highball and Mighty Lite HiLITE.

2–3 berth motorhomes with shower and toilet

At around 7 metres, these have a bathroom with a shower and toilet, a full kitchen and a comfortable bed for two. Some fit a third person. The bathroom gives you more freedom on longer trips. Examples include the Maui Ultima, Britz Venturer, Apollo Euro Tourer and Mighty Deuce.

4-berth motorhomes

Built for families or two couples, with two beds, a full kitchen and a bathroom. They're around 6.7 to 7.6 metres long, so allow more room on narrow and winding roads. Examples include the Maui Cascade, Britz Wanderer, Apollo Euro Quest, Mighty Fortune and Star RV Polaris 4 Berth.

6-berth motorhomes

The largest vans, sleeping up to six across three beds, with the most living space and a bathroom. At around 7.1 to 7.9 metres, they take more confidence to drive and park. Examples include the Maui River, Apollo Euro Deluxe, Mighty Big Six and JUCY Big Kahuna.

When to Book

Summer (December to February) is peak season. The Christmas and January school holidays are the busiest weeks, and popular vans and ferry sailings can book out well ahead.

Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are the shoulder seasons. You'll usually find better availability and often lower rates, with milder weather in most regions.

Winter (June to August) is the quietest time for campervans in most of the country, though Queenstown is busy with the ski season. Expect cold nights, and snow and ice on alpine passes. Ask your rental company about snow chains before you travel.

If your dates are fixed or you want a particular vehicle, start looking as soon as you know your route.

What Does Campervan Hire Cost?

The daily rate depends on the vehicle, the company, the season and the length of your trip. Larger vans with a bathroom cost more than a sleeper van or hitop. Rates rise in summer and over school holidays, and longer hires often get a better daily rate. Some companies set a minimum hire period at busy times or on one-way trips.

Usually included: most companies include unlimited kilometres, bedding and basic kitchen equipment. Not all do, so check the inclusions in your quote.

On top of the daily rate, budget for:

  • fuel, campsite fees and food
  • excess reduction, if you choose it
  • optional extras such as an outdoor table and chairs or child seats
  • the ferry, if you're crossing between the islands
  • one-way fees, where they apply
  • location fees at some branches, such as Queenstown
  • road user charges on diesel vans

Road user charges. In New Zealand, diesel vehicles pay a government road user charge based on distance, because diesel isn't taxed at the pump the way petrol is. Most rental companies recover it when you return the van, based on the kilometres you've driven. A few include it in the daily rate. Most hitops and larger motorhomes run on diesel, while many sleeper vans run on petrol. The road user charge recovery fee is worth adding to your budget if you're covering long distances.

Insurance, excess and bonds

Every rental includes basic cover, but you're liable for damage up to the excess. The excess and the bond vary between companies and vehicles. Most companies offer excess reduction for a daily charge, which also lowers the bond. You pay the bond to the rental company at pick-up, usually on a credit card, and it's released after you return the van. Check the excess, the bond and what excess reduction covers in your quote before you book.

Picking Up Your Campervan

Allow time for collection. Staff will go through the rental agreement and walk you around the van to show you how the gas, water, power and toilet work. Arrive well before the branch closes, and don't plan a long drive straight after a long-haul flight.

Bring:

  • a driver's licence for every driver, plus a translation or International Driving Permit if needed
  • a credit card in the main driver's name for the bond
  • your booking confirmation

During Your Trip

Where to stay overnight

You can stay at commercial holiday parks, Department of Conservation campsites and council freedom camping areas. Each council sets its own freedom camping rules, and many sites are for certified self-contained vehicles only. A certified self-contained vehicle has a fixed toilet, fresh and waste water tanks and a current certification. Fines apply if you camp where you're not allowed. If you plan to freedom camp, check that your vehicle is certified self-contained before you book, and look for the signs at each site.

Crossing between the islands

The Interislander and Bluebridge ferries carry campervans across Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton. The fare depends on your vehicle's length, so have its length and height handy when you book. Check that your rental company allows its vans on the ferry, and book early for summer. Some travellers instead pick up on one island and drop off on the other, if their company has branches on both.

On the road

  • New Zealand drives on the left.
  • Roads are often narrow, winding and hilly, so journeys take longer than the distance suggests.
  • Most rental companies restrict 2WD campervans from unsealed roads, with some exceptions for short access roads to campgrounds and attractions. Check your company's terms before you go off the seal.
  • Use the slow-vehicle bays and pull over safely to let traffic pass.

What's in the van

Vans come equipped for the trip, though the exact kit varies by company and vehicle. You can usually expect:

  • Kitchen: plates and bowls, cups and glasses, cutlery, a bottle and can opener, cooking utensils, pots and a frying pan, a kettle and tea towels.
  • Living: toilet chemicals where the van has a toilet, a dustpan and brush, a fire extinguisher, a bucket and hose, coat hangers and a vehicle guide.
  • Bedding: pillows, sheets, duvets or sleeping bags and bath towels, where bedding is included.

Optional extras vary between companies and are usually charged per hire. They include outdoor tables and chairs, child seats, heaters and GPS units.

Tips for the road

  • Pack in soft bags. They're much easier to store than hard suitcases.
  • Bring a torch and spare batteries.
  • Microwaves and some heaters only work when you're plugged in to mains power at a powered site.
  • Unplug the power cable before you drive off a powered site.
  • Stock up on food and supplies before heading into remote areas, where shops are few.
  • Fill the fresh water tank and empty the waste tanks before long stretches between towns.
  • Some companies let you prepay for gas or fuel.

Returning Your Campervan

Return the van to the agreed branch on time. Check your rental agreement for the return time and what condition the van should be in, such as the fuel level and whether the toilet and waste water tanks need to be emptied. The company will inspect the van, then calculate any road user charges and extra costs before releasing your bond.

  • Auckland is New Zealand's main international arrival point. It's a good start for Northland, the Coromandel and a trip south through the North Island.
  • Christchurch is the South Island's main international airport, with Kaikōura, Arthur's Pass and the Southern Alps within a few hours' drive.
  • Queenstown puts you close to Fiordland and Central Otago. Several companies charge a location fee to pick up or drop off here.
  • Wellington is the North Island ferry terminal, so it works well for one-way trips or as a stop between the islands.

New Zealand Campervan Rental Companies

You can compare vehicles from these New Zealand campervan and motorhome rental companies on DriveNow. Each company page describes its fleet, and many link to a side-by-side fleet comparison.

More Help

To talk through your options or get help with a booking, contact our team.