9 Tips for Renting a Campervan in New Zealand
New Zealand is arguably one of the best countries in the world to explore by campervan.
The right camper will provide both cost-effective transport and comfortable accommodation, giving you complete freedom to explore this incredible country on your terms.
With an overwhelming choice of different vehicles available for hire from different companies, it can be tough to figure out exactly what kind of camper to hire, and which company to go with.
We’ve put together this list of tips to help you hire the best campervan for your New Zealand trip:
Disclaimer: Here at Epic Campers we are somewhat biased (because we think our own campers are the shiz), but we want to give you the best advice possible so if you do end up choosing us, you’ll have made an informed decision, and will end up being a happy customer (and we only want happy customers!).
1. Rent from a company with lots of excellent reviews on Google Maps
Like most things search related, Google rules supreme. Google Maps is the absolute best place to quickly find the top reviewed companies in any chosen location, or compare reviews of similar companies. While there are lots of places to read online reviews, Google Maps is really the only website you will find every company listed, including smaller ones, and also has a much higher overall number of reviews, meaning companies with very few or poor reviews will be easy to spot.
To use Google Maps to find the best campervan rentals companies based on reviews, simply head to Google Maps, search for “Campervan Hire Auckland Airport (or your chosen pick up location). The first few results will be sponsored i.e paid for but below those you will then see a list of all campervan hire companies in or near that location ordered based on the following factors; Total reviews, average score of reviews, distance from location.
Google reviews are out of 5 stars, meaning a company with a 4.4 rating is 10% worse than a company with a 4.9 which is quite a bit. It’s also worth looking at the breakdown of reviews and reading a few of them to see why one company’s score is lower than another’s. If a company has lots of 3 star or below reviews, then in our experience it’s worth steering clear if at all possible.
The companies with the best scores are there for good reason - because they genuinely care about the experience of every customer and go the extra mile to never let anyone down. If a company already has a lot of bad reviews, they probably won’t care too much about getting one more.
2. Contact smaller rentals companies direct for the best deals and service
Don’t send a quote request or book through aggregator / comparison sites, otherwise operators have to pay a commission, which gives you less power to negotiate. Instead, request a quote via rental company websites or email direct. It’s worth asking if they can make the deal any better by throwing in some extras for free or shaving some money of the price if your booking is a long one. Smaller companies tend to be able to negotiate more than large ones, as you’ll likely be dealing directly with the decision maker.
3. Book your campervan early, and before you book your flights
Demand for campers far outstrips supply in the peak summer months so it’s a good idea to secure your camper before you book your flights. Ideally start researching campervans 6+ months before your trip and have something locked down no later than 4 months out in order to get the best deal - especially if you’re travelling in peak season and / or are thinking of doing a one way rental.
4. Plan your pickup / drop off points based on time available and what you want to see most
If you have 4+ weeks, we recommend visiting both islands and doing a round trip back to the same location. This way you'll save on relocation fees and internal flights, plus get to see more of the best bits of the country with less driving. This is because you can do a figure of eight loop of NZ around both coasts, rather than having to criss-cross to see the same things on a one way rental.
If you have less than 3 weeks, we recommend just picking either North or South island as there is more than enough to see on each. With 2 to 5 weeks you may decide a one-way rental makes sense if you really want to see both islands but want to spend most of your time in just one or other island.
5. Figure out what kind of features you feel are worth paying more for
This is a chunky point so bare with me.
Like most things, there’s always a trade-off between features / quality and price, but you don’t want to be paying for features you don’t need so it’s worth thinking a bit about what is important to you, as well as what your budget constraints are.
Here’s some good questions to ask yourself:
Do you plan to stay at paid-for campsites 100% of the time, or are you hoping to stay at free camping spots some of the time?
This is a big one as if you want to ‘freedom camp’ in NZ, you’ll need a van that’s certified as self-contained. This essentially means you have a toilet and adequate fresh / waste water tanks on board, but it means you can save a lot of money on expensive campsites and have the freedom to stay wherever you like (apart from restricted zones). At Epic Campers, all of our vehicles are certified self contained.
Do you want to be able to stand up and cook meals inside the van, or would you be happy to stand outside the van and cook under the tailgate?
Are you comfortable driving a larger high-top vehicle which may limit where you go, be tricky to park, and wobble about in high winds?
If cooking inside the van isn’t a priority and the idea of driving a bigger van doesn’t appeal, it’s probably not worth spending the extra dollars required to get a high-top camper you can stand up in.
Do you want a van with a separate sleeping / living area to the vehicle’s cab?
If you aren’t fussed about being in a much smaller vehicle and reorganising things each day, it’s worth looking at a sleeper car type camper which are the cheapest option if you’re on a budget. These are essentially station wagons which convert to a bed and have kitchen facilities in the boot.
Do you want a powered fridge to keep your food and drinks cold or would a cool box be Ok?
Do you want to be able to charge your phones and other devices overnight without risking getting a flat battery?
If a fridge and a proper power source is important then look for a camper with a dual battery system. USB ports and a decent fridge.
Your answers to these kinds of questions will help you narrow down which features are likely to be worth paying a bit extra for, and which aren't.
6. Choose a lower mileage campervan (ideally under 200,000 kms / 10 years old)
It goes without saying that a lower mileage and younger vehicle will be in much better condition than an older one. Older vehicles are far more likely to suffer mechanical problems on the road, which is the ultimate buzz-kill (and is what keeps us rental operators awake at night).
7. Choose a van that was fitted into a campervan recently
It is possible to find a 10 year old vehicle which was fitted out as a campervan this year. Or it could have been done 10 years ago, which will make a huge difference to how modern it feels and how worn everything inside is.
8. Travel in Oct-Nov or Mar-Apr for the best price + weather combo
During those months the weather is still warm but prices are a lot lower than in high season. Try to avoid Christmas and New Years as NZ gets silly busy with all the locals holidaying on top of the international tourists. This means prices can spike to 4x what they are in winter!
9. Research the insurance options, other hidden costs and extras carefully
Many companies will charge $40-$60 NZD / day to upgrade your insurance to zero excess in the event of an accident (we charge $25 / day if you’re aged 26+ or $30 / day if you’re 21-25).
Sometimes zero excess doesn't even cover windscreens and tyres which are the most likely things to go wrong (ours does). Also be aware that if you don’t upgrade your insurance you’ll usually have to pay a bond of between $2500-$5000 which gets returned at the end of the rental.
Other things to watch out for include fees to add extra drivers, pay by credit card or for basic items like towels and bedding. A good rental operator will ensure that all costs are disclosed up front, the camper comes with everything you need and there are no nasty surprises.
Whatever vehicle you choose for your New Zealand trip, it’s worth doing some research beforehand, and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is (unless you’re booking an Epic Camper of course 😝)
Andy Ford
Founder @ Epic Campers
Epic Campers is a an independent owner-operated company with a small fleet of modern, self-contained 2-person campervans. We offer rentals from Auckland, and Christchurch.
Check us out at www.epiccampers.co.nz get an instant quote here, or feel free to drop me an email direct to: hq@epiccampers.co.nz
