10 Things You NEED to Know About Camper Van Rental in New Zealand

Video: 10 Tips for New Zealand Camper Van Rental

Like to watch videos? We’re talking about New Zealand camper van rentals all the time over on the NZ Pocket Guide YouTube Channel so take a look at some of our camper van road trip tips and subscribe for more NZ goodness!

1. Season Affects Price

A lot of tourists and locals are looking to travel by camper van during the New Zealand summer. Lounging on camping chairs outside your van in the heat of summer sounds magical, right? Well, not when hiring a camper van in summer costs twice the price!

In most cases, you can reduce the basic cost of your camper van rental in New Zealand by half if you travel during the shoulder and off-seasons in New Zealand.

You don’t even have to travel in the dead of winter to get cheaper rental prices (although, you totally can by following our tips in Renting a Campervan in Winter: New Zealand Road Trip Tips). For instance, even hiring in October when the weather vastly improves is still usually half the price of travelling from December to February.

For more reasons to travel in the off-season, check out 11 Reasons to Travel in the Shoulder and Off-Season in New Zealand.

© Tourism NZ

2. You Might Find Some Age Restrictions

Many New Zealand camper van rental companies have a young driver’s surcharge, usually if you are under 25 years old. Plus, if you are under 21, it is not likely that you will be able to be the driver of a hired motorhome.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of camper van rental companies that specialise in vehicle rental for younger drivers, meaning you can hire campercars and camper vans from the age of 18 (as long as you have a full valid driver’s license in English or a license accompanied by your approved translation or International Driving Permit).

For more information, check out Age Restrictions When Renting a Vehicle in New Zealand. Plus, find camper van rentals for young drivers in The Best New Zealand Car & Campervan Rentals for Ages 18 to 25.

Our Recommended Campervan Company Drivers Young and Old: EPIC Campers

Hit the road with your partner, best mate or solo in one of the cleverly designed 2-berth campervans of EPIC Campers, a small independent company. Available for drivers aged 18+, pick up from either Christchurch or Auckland and enjoy the benefits of freedom camping thanks to the campervan’s self-containment certification.

Not only do the vans have quality interiors, such as a fold-out kitchenette and manoeuvrable living/sleeping space, but there are thoughtful touches from the USB powerpoints front and back to the coffee plunger! Ah! Book your EPIC Campers at epiccampers.co.nz.

© EPIC Campers

3. Be Aware of the One-Way Fee

Travelling from the North Island to the South Island or vice versa? Well, you will most definitely be charged extra for that. Dropping your rental camper van in a different location from where you picked it up usually incurs a one-way fee, which can be NZ$0-1,000.

For more extra costs, take a look at our full guide: How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in New Zealand?

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4. Remember the Ferry Costs

By now, you have probably realised that New Zealand is made up of two main islands. If you want to explore both of them, then be aware that you will need to take your rental vehicle on one of the Cook Strait ferries. The larger your campervan, the more expensive this trip will be.

Get an idea of prices and how to save money on the Cook Strait ferry using our guide, Ferry Between the North Island and South Island.

Although we recommend travelling both islands, if you can only pick one, be sure to compare them using our guide: Should You Travel the North Island or South Island?

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5. Campervan Relocation Will Save You Heaps!

On the other hand, if you are travelling from the South Island and ending your trip on the North Island, then you may find yourself in a sweet camper van relocation deal. This means your camper van base price is free, and you only have a few inclusions to pay for.

However, camper van relocation deals have limited availability and other restrictions, such as a short amount of time to get the vehicle back up north.

Find out more in New Zealand Campervan Relocations: How to Get a Free Campervan Hire.

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6. There Are Actually a Lot of Inclusions

You don’t have to worry about packing too much when renting a camper van in New Zealand because most rental camper vans have all the essentials.

Towels, bedding, tea towels, cutlery, pots, pans, plates: everything you need to make your camper van a home will be there. Be sure to check out the inclusions of your camper van rental before you start packing.

Then, all you need to worry about is packing light and bringing your own essentials, which we can help you with New Zealand Packing List: What to Pack for New Zealand.

For a few extras for your campervan road trip, in particular, check out our 15 Essentials to Pack for a New Zealand Campervan Trip. Plus, you might find this video handy:

7. Know the Price of Fuel in New Zealand

Depending on where you are from, the price of fuel in New Zealand is either going to delight you or horrify you. Either way, you need to consider the price of fuel when budgeting your trip. New Zealand camper vans use either petrol or diesel.

Unleaded petrol is usually around NZ$2.50 per litre (approximately NZ$9.50 per gallon), meaning a full tank of gas for a camper van will likely be around NZ$110+ (depending on the size of the tank, of course). While diesel is cheaper, you will likely have to pay a Road Usage Charge of between $76-$82 per 1,000 km (621 mi) travelled.

Alternatively, consider renting an electric camper van with frequent charging stations around New Zealand so you don’t need to worry about the cost of fuel. Find out more in NZ EV Guide: How to Travel Around New Zealand in an Electric Car or Camper.

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8. You Have So Much Choice

Because New Zealand is such a road trip-friendly country, so many people want to rent a camper van! For that reason, you will find heaps of camper van rental choices and vehicle choices! You can have luxurious motorhomes or compact and cleverly designed minivans that you can fit your whole life into.

Choosing a camper van is fundamental to your enjoyment of driving and comfort during your road trip in New Zealand, so we can help you choose the right model for you in our guide, Campercar, Campervan or Motorhome Rental: Which is Better for New Zealand?

Did you know you can hire privately owned campervans, too? Find out more in Private Campervan & Motorhome Rentals in New Zealand: A Full Guide.

© NZPocketGuide.com

9. You Can’t Just Park Up and Sleep Anywhere

Contrary to popular belief, there are some strict freedom camping rules in New Zealand. If you really want to live in your camper van without paying for holiday parks or campsites, then you must ensure your rental vehicle is fully self-contained.

Find out more about what that is in our guide to Self-Contained Campervans in New Zealand. This will allow you to sleep in public spaces without freedom camping restrictions, usually for up to three nights.

If your vehicle is not self-contained, then you need to use holiday parks, paid campgrounds and free campgrounds that allow non-self-contained vehicles, as explained in Where Can You Camp in New Zealand if Your Campervan is Not Self-Contained?

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10. You Need to Know How to Drive in New Zealand

Not only can driving a camper van be daunting, but driving on the left side of the road in a country with different road signs and other rules just adds to the stress. Make sure you read up on How to Drive in New Zealand before hitting the road.

Oh, and because parking a motorhome can be quite the mission, be sure to check our tips in The Best Tips for Parking a Campervan or Motorhome in New Zealand.

© NZPocketGuide.com