Campervanning in New Zealand: Insider Tips & Everything You Need to Know

Where do you rent your campervan in New Zealand?

The best place to rent a campervan is right there on location. Shipping one over is technically an option — but it’s seriously expensive and really only makes sense for long-term travelers bringing their own vehicle.

New Zealand’s campervan rental stations are located in Auckland and Christchurch — perfect for the classic route from New Zealand’s North Island to New Zealand’s South Island. Some providers also have stations in Wellington and Queenstown.

If you — like most travelers and New Zealanders themselves — want to visit during the New Zealand summer (December through February), you should book your campervan well in advance.

You can book flights about a year out, and from that point it makes sense to start looking for a camper too.

The most common rental providers in New Zealand are:

• Apollo Camper: One of the largest providers, with vehicles of every size
• Britz: Large vehicle fleet, especially strong on bigger models
• Maui: Large fleet in the premium segment
• Travellers Autobarn: A solid option for young families
• Jucy: A hip, budget-friendly pick for backpackers and young families

There are plenty more options out there too. If the research feels overwhelming, we recommend reaching out to CamperOase — a specialist travel agency that knows the campervan rental scene in New Zealand inside and out. They’ll advise you and send you a handful of offers from suitable rental companies.

How much does a campervan in New Zealand cost?

New Zealand knows exactly what it offers tourists in terms of camping infrastructure — which is why renting a motorhome or mini camper is comparatively expensive.

Just as a rough benchmark: we paid around 170 NZD per day for our Toyota Hiace Hitop — a truly beat-up old clunker with over 300,000 kilometers on it, pretty worn interior, sleeping space for three people, and no wet room — which works out to about 100 euros.

That’s actually still relatively affordable, since the Toyota is a smaller model. As soon as you want more features or a bit more space, the price naturally goes up. And there’s almost no upper limit.

If you really want to save money, travel during the New Zealand winter in the off-season. Prices can be up to 75 percent lower than in summer.

The big downside of the off-season: it’s noticeably colder and wetter, the days are shorter, mountain roads are partially closed, and many tourist attractions are shut.

A good compromise for renting a motorhome in New Zealand is the shoulder season in fall or spring. Prices are lower than during peak season, and the weather — especially in fall — is still fairly stable.

What features should your campervan in New Zealand have?

This is, of course, completely personal — everyone values different things, and rental companies charge for extras in very different ways.

You’re better off focusing on a sensible overall package rather than getting hung up on individual wish-list items.

Here are our tips on camper features:

• Self-contained waste system: The camper should be self-contained. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to stay at the many free freedom camping spots. Self-contained means the camper has its own waste system — a tank for fresh water and one for wastewater — plus an onboard toilet. You can easily tell whether a motorhome is self-contained by the certification sticker that must be visibly displayed on the vehicle.
• Onboard toilet or Porta Potti: Most motorhomes have their own toilet on board. In mini campers, this is typically a Porta Potti — a portable camping toilet. You’re required to have it on board, but you don’t necessarily have to use it, since almost every campsite has its own restrooms. That said, it’s required for staying at freedom camping spots.
• Solar panel on the roof: Generating your own power via a rooftop solar panel is super practical and makes you much less dependent on shore power at campsites. The refrigerator and water pump need power continuously, and without solar you’ll have to pull into a powered campsite far more often.
• Keep it to the essentials: Skip the add-ons where you can — they just cost more money. In New Zealand, vacation life mostly happens outdoors anyway, and the camper is primarily there for driving and sleeping, maybe a little cooking.

What should you bring for camping in New Zealand?

This is completely personal, and you can basically buy everything you need for a camping trip in New Zealand on location (as long as you’re in Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington at the time).

Our top picks for what you absolutely should bring on a campervan road trip through New Zealand:

• Moka pot: It fits in virtually any bag and guarantees a decent cup of coffee in the morning. You can find espresso grounds in any New Zealand supermarket — a good café, not so much.
• Headlamp: Even in summer, the sun sets in New Zealand at some point — by 9:00 PM at the latest, depending on your latitude. After that, there’s no lighting at free camping spots, and the walk to the restroom can be a long one.
• Pocket knife: Whether as a kitchen knife for chopping vegetables, a picnic knife on a hike, or a whittling knife for carving sticks — a multi-function pocket knife gets used almost non-stop.
• Gaffer tape: The ultimate camping tool — for sealing opened granola packages, fixing a broken camping chair, repairing a rattling bumper, and much more.
• Zip ties: Everything that gaffer tape can’t fix, a zip tie will take care of.

For even more ideas on what to pack, check out our packing list for a motorhome vacation.

Where can you camp in New Zealand?

In New Zealand there are three categories of campsites: commercial campsites, DOC campsites, and free campsites. What’s the difference? In short: the amenities and the price.

Commercial Campsites

Commercial campsites are usually run by chains — such as Top 10 Holiday Parks or Kiwi Holiday Parks — and offer plenty of extras and amenities. In addition to powered campervan pitches, they have proper bathroom facilities, washers and dryers, a communal kitchen, a playground, a dump station, often a common room, and sometimes even a pool.

Prices vary considerably depending on amenities and location — you can expect to pay between 20 and 40 NZD per person (roughly 12 to 25 euros). It can sometimes be cheaper if you don’t need electricity, and the unpowered pitches are usually the more charming ones anyway. In general, it’s worth simply asking nicely at check-in for a good spot.

The shower is usually included in the price, though sometimes you have to pay separately via coin meter (1 to 2 NZD for five minutes). It’s a good idea to always keep a few coins in the glove compartment — saves you the hassle of making change.

If you want to do laundry: the washers and dryers also run on coins. A wash cycle costs 3 to 4 NZD, and a dryer cycle the same. You pay for your pitch upon arrival at the reception desk by credit card.

DOC Campsites

DOC campsites are managed by the Department of Conservation. These are basic sites with toilets and water, sometimes with picnic tables, cold-water showers, trash disposal, a basic kitchen, or a BBQ area.

At these campsites, you check yourself in upon arrival by filling out a DOC form at the entrance and depositing the camping fee into the designated box. The fee is typically 10 NZD, or about 6 euros per person.

Freedom Campsites

The most scenically stunning spots are the so-called freedom campsites. And the best part: as the name suggests, they’re free!

Only self-contained vehicles are allowed — otherwise you risk hefty fines.

Spots are allocated on a first come, first served basis. In terms of facilities, these sites often have nothing but a toilet. You’re expected to take all your trash with you, of course.

In general, appreciate this privilege of free overnight stays and leave nothing dirty or damaged. In return, you won’t find anywhere else that gets you closer to New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes at night.

How spontaneously can you show up at campsites in New Zealand?

In our experience, there’s always something available — even during peak season. Only at the most popular spots in New Zealand — Abel Tasman National Park and Queenstown — did we book our campsite a few days in advance online and guarantee it with a credit card.

If you know you’ll be arriving somewhere particularly late — say, after 6:00 or 7:00 PM — a reservation is recommended. As for free camping spots, there’s almost always a space somewhere.

Only on the Coromandel Peninsula and in Wellington can things get tight, because the number of spots there is limited.

As a general rule: the earlier you arrive, the better positioned and more scenic your spot will be. If you’re staying by a lake, river, or right on the coast, aim to arrive around midday or early afternoon.

A few more helpful tips for your campervan trip through New Zealand

Here are some additional pointers to take with you on your road trip through New Zealand by motorhome.

#1 Download offline maps

It’s incredibly handy to download Google offline maps of New Zealand to your smartphone before you leave home. That way, you can easily use your phone as a navigation device in the camper.

And when you’re exploring New Zealand’s cities, you can navigate with your smartphone too. There’s no pedestrian mode in the offline maps, but for general orientation it’s more than enough.

#2 Driving on the left and road conditions in New Zealand

Driving on the left is less of a big deal than you might think. You’ll need to concentrate a bit more during the first few turns, but then it becomes second nature.

Road conditions in New Zealand are also excellent — only in the far south in the Catlins will you occasionally encounter a well-maintained gravel road. Otherwise, the country roads are a relaxed drive at a maximum of 100 kilometers per hour, and even in the cities there’s little traffic. Super convenient: the recommended speed posted before every curve on rural roads.

Looking for more info on driving in New Zealand? Our travel tips have plenty of practical advice!

#3 Get an international driver’s license

To drive in New Zealand, you’ll also need an International Driver’s License. It’s only valid in combination with your national driver’s license. You’ll need to apply for it before your trip at your local licensing authority. It’s valid for two years from the date of issue.

#4 Useful travel guides for your motorhome trip through New Zealand

So how do you find all those great campsites and overnight spots? And everything else you need for life on the road? Here are the travel guides we recommend for a campervan trip through New Zealand:

New Zealand: Lonely Planet – A good old-school travel guide is always worth packing. For New Zealand, the classic options range from Lonely Planet to Rough Guides. Content-wise, they’re all pretty similar — pick whichever is most up to date at the time of your trip.

New Zealand – Lonely Planet Travel Guide
By Motorhome through New Zealand: North Island – The design of this guide might feel a little dated, but the content is outstanding. The authors have traveled everything themselves and present dozens of routes through the country — with incredibly detailed campsite and overnight spot recommendations. You could spend hours just browsing the photos for inspiration.

By Motorhome through New Zealand: North Island
By Motorhome through New Zealand: South Island – This is the companion volume to the guide above, from the same publisher. If you’re planning to explore both islands, you’ll naturally want to pick up both.

By Motorhome through New Zealand: South Island

For more detailed information on both islands, be sure to check out our articles on New Zealand’s North and South Islands.

Our tip: The two free apps CamperMate and Rankers are incredibly handy. With these apps you can find everything you need: campsites, supermarkets and sightseeing tips, ATMs, tourist information, dump stations, even the nearest public restroom and the nearest Wi-Fi.

With CamperMate you can navigate directly via Google Maps. And everything is rated and reviewed by users.

#5 Avoid New Zealand’s winter with your camper

Most campervans in New Zealand are not insulated. And in winter, temperatures regularly drop below freezing.

So if you don’t want to spend super cold nights in the camper, we’d strongly advise planning your trip outside of the winter months.

Important: In New Zealand, the seasons are reversed. Winter runs from June through August.

You can find out more about the best months to visit New Zealand in this article.