Motorhome hire costs NZ: complete pricing guide

The first question that many travellers ask when planning a New Zealand road trip is “how much does it cost to hire a motorhome?”

The cost of hiring a motorhome in New Zealand can range anywhere from NZ$50 - NZ$350 per day. The rental price is generally determined by the size of the motorhome, its features and seasonal demand:

• Lower Price Range ($50 - $150 per day): Generally smaller motorhomes that have all the essentials. Best for solo travellers, couples or small families.

• Middle Price Range ($150 - $250 per day): Larger motorhomes that provide plenty of comfortable living and sleeping space. Best for the average couple or family.

• Higher Price Range ($250 - $350 per day): The largest and most luxurious high-end motorhomes that have more than enough room for a family. Extra features normally included.

However, many other factors may affect how much it costs to hire a motorhome. Below, our travel experts will explain how to budget for those additional costs and how to save money by getting insurance and roadside assistance included in the price of your motorhome.

Cost to Hire a Motorhome in New Zealand

Lower Price Range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a motorhome in the lower price range is about $100 - $150 per day.

Features:

Motorhome’s in the lower price range generally have:

• Comfortable living space for 2 - 4 people.

• A sleeping berth of 2 - 6 people.

• Travel seats and seatbelts for 2 - 6 people.

Motorhomes in the lower price range generally have sufficient space for a couple or small family. Normally, they have one dinette area at the rear which transforms into a large double bed and an additional bedding option for young kids (e.g. bunk beds or an overcab bed).

Lower-cost motorhomes are great if you plan on spending most of your day out and about. They have all the essential features you need to go freedom camping for a night (including a small bathroom and kitchen). But they are also perfect if you want to stay in holiday parks, where you can use the provided amenities blocks if things get a little too crowded inside the motorhome.

Best For:

Solo explorers, couples or young families that want to use their motorhome as a fully self-contained base camp.

Examples:

• Freedom (Christchurch - Sleeps 2)

• Family and Friends (Auckland - Sleeps 3)

• The Funmobile (Auckland - Sleeps 4)

• R&R (Auckland - Sleeps 6)

Middle Price Range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a motorhome in the middle price range is around $150 - $250 per day.

Features:

Motorhomes in the middle price range generally have:

• A more spacious living area that’s suitable for 2 - 6 people.

• A sleeping berth of 2 - 6 people.

• Travel seats and seatbelts for 2 - 6 people.

Motorhomes in the middle price range usually have enough room for up to 5 or 6 people. Generally, these motorhomes have a fixed bedding option in the rear, an over cabin bedding option and a dinette at the front which transforms into a third bed.

Middle-range hire motorhomes are perfect for the average family who want a bit of extra space inside. They have all the same features as a motorhome in the lower price range but provide extra living, dining and sleeping space. Further, they’re suitable for spending a few days off-grid freedom camping (i.e. 2 -3 days).

Best For:

Couples, families or groups of friends who want extra living and sleeping space at an affordable cost.

Examples:

• Alba Adventures (Bulls - Sleeps 6)

• Road Tripper’s Dream (Orewa - Sleeps 6)

• Tipi Haere (Auckland - Sleeps 4)

• Emphe (Porirua - Sleeps 6)

• Zeffer (Waimate - Sleeps 6)

• Kiwi Luxury (Nelson - Sleeps 5)

• Tremaindous (Tauranga - Sleeps 6)

Higher Price Range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a motorhome in the higher price range is around $250 - $350 per day.

Features:

Motorhomes in the higher price range generally have:

• A large living space that comfortably fits 4 - 6 people.

• A sleeping berth of 4 - 6 people.

• Travel seats and seatbelts for 4 - 6 people.

Motorhomes in the higher price range have more than enough space for the average family and usually boast a wide array of extra features. Generally, these motorhomes have extra-large high-quality bedding options in the rear and overcabin areas. They also have large additional bedding options for both children and adults (e.g. private bunk beds or convertible dinette).

Higher-cost hire motorhomes are great for couples or families who want a 5-star road trip experience with all the comforts they enjoy at home. They normally have a luxury interior, quality furnishings and top-notch appliances. These motorhomes are perfect for road trips where you will be spending multiple days at one campsite.

Best For:

Couples or large families who want to travel in style and comfort.

Examples:

• Dream Big (Buckland - Sleeps 4)

• Frisky (Pukekohe - Sleeps 4)

• Brand New Premier Motorhome (Christchurch - Sleeps 4)

• Wendy (Wellington - Sleeps 4)

How to Get Insurance and Roadside Assistance Included

When you hire a motorhome in NZ, you usually have to account for the cost of rental insurance and roadside assistance. Some of New Zealand’s most popular motorhome rental businesses charge up to $70 per day for insurance - and that’s on top of your rental price! Others say that rental insurance is “free” but then charge ridiculously high excess if you’re involved in an accident.

When you hire a motorhome through Camplify, there are no hidden insurance fees or secret costs. We want you to know exactly what you’re getting - that’s why all Camplify bookings include comprehensive hire insurance included within the booking fee. Enjoy total peace of mind knowing that you’re covered if anything goes wrong on your road trip. Plus, we also have options to reduce your excess if you’d like even more security.

In addition to comprehensive insurance, all Camplify bookings also include:

• Roadside Assistance: Camplify is partnered with the AA to provide all bookings with 24/7 nationwide breakdown coverage. No matter where your road trip takes you, we’ll always have someone on hand to help in an emergency.

• Local Support Team: Our New Zealand-based support team is always here to help you. If anything goes wrong, just give them a call and they’ll walk you through the resolution step-by-step.

How to Save Costs When Hiring a Motorhome

Long Term Hire Rates

If you’re planning on travelling for a week or more, you can save a lot each day by asking for long-term hire rates. You’ll find that most owners on Camplify are happy to offer a lower daily price for longer bookings. If they haven’t already noted this in their motorhome listing, just shoot them a message and ask!

Season and Demand

The cost of hiring a motorhome is highest during summer (December to March) because this is New Zealand's busiest tourism period. To lower your costs and escape the crowds, try to travel during quieter periods like winter (June to August), spring (September to October) or autumn (April to May).

Minimum Hire Period

Most motorhome hire companies in New Zealand have a minimum hire period of 3-5 days. However, the majority of motorhomes on Camplify only have a minimum hire period of 2-3 days. If you’re only planning on a short road trip, you may save up to 2 days of hire fees by booking through Camplify. To check the minimum hire period, look under “The Important Stuff” on the listing.

Other Costs to Consider When Hiring a Motorhome

Booking Fees

When you hire a motorhome in New Zealand, the rental company will charge you a booking fee. Camplify applies a 15% fee to all bookings, which pays for:

• 24/7 Nationwide Roadside Assistance from AA

• 24/7 Customer Support Team

• The Camplify Platform

You can see the booking fee by entering the dates of your travel on the listing page (before you finalise the booking).

Service and Cleaning Fees

Most rental companies in New Zealand will also charge a service fee when you hire a motorhome. At Camplify, the service fee is set by the campervan owner and generally covers:

• Cleaning the RV

• Basic Pantry Items

• Gas Bottle Refills

• Cleaning Products

• Customer Surprises (e.g. champagne and cheeses)

• Other Costs (e.g. road tolls)

You can see the service fee under the “Pricing” section on each Camplify listing.

Delivery Fees

Maybe you’d like to have your rental motorhome delivered to your accommodation or the airport? Many owners on Camplify offer the option to deliver the motorhome to you. If the listing states a “Delivery Range”, it will tell you where the campervan can be set up and the additional delivery fee.

Optional Extras

Some motorhome hire companies don’t disclose the cost of optional extras until after you book. On Camplify, the cost of additional extras like linen are listed on the listing page.

Other Cost-Saving Tips When Hiring a Motorhome

Now that you’ve got a solid idea of how much it costs to hire a motorhome in NZ, it’s time that we share a few extra tips to save you time and money!

Regardless of how large your budget is, you’ll always find an affordable motorhome for hire on Camplify. If none of the motorhomes mentioned above take your fancy, you can always check out our list of the best motorhomes for hire.

If you’re new to driving a motorhome, it’s also wise to check out our motorhome tips for beginners. This will give you an idea of which features will make your life easier when road tripping around NZ.

Also, you’ll need to start thinking about accommodation. Obviously, you want campgrounds that are both scenically stunning and packed with amenities. However, this doesn’t always have to mean paying more - read how much it costs to park a motorhome for more information on awesome campsites at affordable rates (some are even free)!

Want some more money-saving advice? Check out our guide to van or car camping on a budget.