Not all vehicles may be available. Use the search tool to check availability for your travel dates.
Yes, many companies have depots in both the North and South Islands and allow one-way trips.
If planning this type of trip, you will need to pay the cost of the ferry. Our support team can help with your booking.
Additional one-way fees may apply. The comparison tool will automatically factor this into your total.
If you wish to go freedom camping in New Zealand, your vehicle must be self-contained and certified.
This means you must be able to live in the vehicle for 3 days without needing additional water or needing to dump the waste.
In addition, the vehicle must have:
The vehicle must have been checked by a qualified officer to ensure that it meets these requirements. Self-contained motorhomes have a sticker displayed on the vehicle proving their certification.
A good idea is to plan for a minimum of 7 days. However, even a 2- or 3-week road trip around the South Island will easily be filled.
Popular attractions include Mount Cook, UNESCO-designated Fiordland National Park with Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, and the adventure capital of Queenstown.
Yes, unlimited kilometres are generally included for standard vehicle rentals in New Zealand. The comparison tool will show you whether your preferred vehicle has unlimited or restricted kilometres.
Note: policies vary from supplier to supplier. Always check the T&Cs for your rental.
A smaller, family-owned camper hire company with two rental options available, Adventurer Rentals (formerly Nomad Rentals) offers an older sleepervan and a newer 2-berth hi-top. Adventurer Rentals has depots in Auckland and Christchurch and offers pickup and drop-off services with its rentals.
One of the larger motorhome rental suppliers, Apollo has been operating since 1985 and is well known among the RV rental community. Apollo vehicles are available in multiple locations around the world. An Apollo motorhome is generally less than 3 years old. The company has a wide variety of vehicles, from smaller vans to larger luxury motorhomes.
Britz is one of the larger campervan brands, with multiple depots in different countries and a wide selection of vehicles. Britz maintains a fleet of newer vehicles, with campervans generally being less than 3 years old. Britz is part of the THL group, which also includes Maui, Mighty Campers and other international motorhome hire brands.
Budget Campers is part of a family of brands that includes Budget Campers, Freedom and Tui Campers as well as other international brands. The company is aimed at a cheaper market, offering older vehicles at an affordable price.
Cheapa Campa is part of the Apollo group and rents vehicles that are considered too old to be part of the main Apollo brand. Cheapa remains a very popular choice and is available practically everywhere Apollo is. It offers slightly older, quality campers at a lower price.
Discover NZ is a privately owned Nelson-based motorhome hire company established in 2003 with depots on the North Island and South Island. The company has newer-model vehicles for groups of 2–6. Most are self-contained and come with some additional luxuries.
Escape Rentals is a budget backpacker-style brand with vehicles for hire on both the South Island and North Island. Two campervan models are available, one being fully self-contained.
Freedom Campers is part of a family of campervan hire brands that also includes Tui and Budget Campers as well as other international brands. Freedom Campers is aimed at the midrange market, with 2- to 6-berth vehicles available at a reasonable price point.
Hippie is a budget camper brand that is part of the Apollo Group. It caters to the young traveller and allows drivers under 21. A Hippie camper is a small vehicle with beds for 2–4 people.
A popular campervan rental company operating in New Zealand, Australia and USA, Jucy offers smaller campervans (2-berth and 4-berth) and will rent to drivers over 18. While not extremely cheap, Jucy still offers reasonably attractive prices for the budget traveller.
A family-owned business established over 20 years ago, Kiwi Autohomes has vehicles to suit groups of 2–6. The directors of the company have over 35 years of experience in the NZ motorhome industry. Kiwi Autohomes rentals are available in both Auckland and Christchurch.
A budget campervan hire company with 2 vehicle options available, Lucky Rentals has vehicles to suit groups of 2 or 3. Lucky Rentals’ fleet is comprised of older Jucy vehicles.
A new supplier in New Zealand (established in 2017), Mad Campers has two vehicles available: the 2-berth MAD 2 and a single-berth MAD 1 for solo travellers, both of which are certified self-contained.
Maui is another well-known NZ motorhome hire brand that is part of the THL group (Britz, Mighty and other international brands). Maui specialises in larger luxury motorhomes, with all its vehicles being less than 2 years old. A Maui campervan is often a good choice for larger groups and those looking for a comfortable road trip holiday.
One of the largest motorhome rental companies in Europe, McRent has expanded to New Zealand, with depots on the South Island and North Island. McRent generally supplies larger luxury motorhomes at a more premium price. Motorhomes are good for larger families and those with comfort as a priority.
Mighty is another campervan hire brand that is part of the THL motorhome rental group (Britz, Maui and other international brands). Mighty Rentals has vehicles for groups from 2 to 6. Mighty's camper fleet is made up of ex Britz and Maui vehicles that are considered too old to fit the main brands. It offers quality older vehicles at a cheaper price.
Nomad is a family-owned and operated campervan hire brand based in Clevedon, a rural part of NZ. The company has 2–5 berth vehicles available. Nomad’s vehicles are generally older and come at a budget price point.
Pacific Horizon is a New Zealand–owned and operated campervan rental company specialising in premium motorhomes. All of its motorhomes are designed and built in New Zealand. The company has motorhomes for groups of 2–6, all of which are fully self-contained.
Another part of the Tui family, Sleepavanz is aimed at the backpacker market. It supplies the sleepervan style of camper at a budget price point.
This is a well-known budget campervan rental brand offering a sleepervan camper. Spaceships are popular with backpackers and smaller groups (2–4) looking to travel on a budget. Spaceships also rent to drivers under 21.
A budget RV rental brand aimed at backpackers, Travellers Autobarn has campervans in multiple international locations. The company offers a wide variety of vehicles, from station wagons to 5-berth family models.
Tui is part of a family of brands that includes Tui, Freedom and Budget Campers as well as other international brands. The company has depots in Auckland and Christchurch as well as pickup locations throughout the country. Tui has newer, more premium vehicles, from sleepervans up to 6-berth motorhomes.
The Church of the Good Shepherd was the first church built in the Mackenzie Basin, in 1935, and it serves as a memorial to early pioneers of the region.
Due to the views of the Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo is a favourite stop for many travellers to the South Island.
Lake Matheson sits just 7.4 miles from Fox Glacier surrounded by an ancient forest of rimu and kahikatea trees. Māori people used this spot as a mahinga kai (food gathering place).
Milford Sound is, perhaps, New Zealand’s most famous tourist attraction, despite being one of the country’s least explored corners until the 20th century.
Carved by ice age glaciers, Milford is a proper fiord – an inlet of the Tasman Sea.
Queenstown is known for being a winter holiday destination, but it offers attractions year-round.
In winter, enjoy the ski-fields and breathtaking alpine views, while in the summer take in the long sunny days and relaxed atmosphere of the area.
