How much to hire a campervan in NZ?

Travellers planning a New Zealand road trip always ask the same question: “how much does it cost to hire a campervan?”

The cost of hiring a campervan in New Zealand ranges from $35 - $250 per day. The rental price is generally determined by the size of the campervan, its features and seasonal demand:

• Lower Price Range ($35 - $50 per day): Generally smaller campervans that use the internal space for sleeping and the external area for cooking and entertaining. Suitable for solo explorers or couples.

• Middle Price Range ($50 - $100 per day): Slightly more spacious campervans with enough internal room for sleeping, cooking and eating. Usually have extra features such as a shower or fixed stove. Suitable for couples or small families.

• Higher Price Range ($100 - $250 per day): Normally more luxurious campervans with high-quality fittings and lots of internal space. The most comfortable option for couples or small families.

Below, we’ll break down these price ranges and additional campervan costs to consider when travelling around NZ. We also reveal a few of our money-saving tips for hiring a campervan, including how to get insurance at no extra cost!

Just some of the ways that Camplify is helping you to find the perfect campervan at the best price!

How much does it cost to hire a campervan in NZ?

Lower price range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a campervan in the lower price range is about $35 - $50 per day.

Features:

Campervans in the lower price range generally have internal living and sleeping space for 2 people. Many make the most of external awnings , which can add an additional outdoor sleeping space and entertainment area. They also generally include portable or pull-out kitchens at the rear, to save space inside the vehicle.

Lower-cost campervans are great for campers who want to spend most of their time outside of the van. They might not be as modern or feature-packed as higher-cost campervans, but they have all the essentials for a comfortable stay at a holiday park , where you can access amenities like a hot shower and toilet. Some are also self-contained and suitable for 1-2 days of freedom camping.

Best For:

Solo travellers or couples that want to use their campervan as a base camp for sleeping and outdoor living.

Examples:

• Kim’s Campervan (Christchurch- Sleeps 2)

• Vandango (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

• Bonzo (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

• Bruno (North Palmerston - Sleeps 2)

• Lyalli (Auckland - Sleeps 3)

• Pioneer 2014 Diesel (Auckland - Sleeps 3)

• Rosie the Campervan (New Plymouth - Sleeps 3)

• Rocketvan Frank (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

Middle price range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a campervan in the middle price range is around $50 - $100 per day.

Features:

Campervans in the middle price range offer comfortable living and sleeping space for 2-3 people. Many include a kitchen and dining area inside the van , meaning you don’t have to cook or eat outside on rainy days. The clever internal design also means that the dining area can often be converted into an extra-wide bed for a comfortable night's sleep. Plus, some even feature an internal shower and toilet.

Middle-cost campervans are perfect for the majority of travellers because they combine quality fittings with a comfortable living space. They’re well suited for long road trips or week-long holidays because you won’t feel cramped. Many also give you the ability to freedom camp for 2-3 days.

Best For:

Couples or small families who want extra living and sleeping space at an affordable cost.

Examples:

• Retro Rusty (Mount Maunganui - Sleeps 2)

• Silverliner 2 (Christchurch - Sleeps 2)

• Scooby (Nelson - Sleeps 1)

• A1Campervan (Auckland - Sleeps 3)

• Tuatara Campers (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

• Ourfun (Rolleston - Sleeps 3)

• Obi Van Kenobi (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

• Tapatoru 9 (Aongatete - Sleeps 3)

• Valerie (Christchurch - Sleeps 2)

• Sandy (Hawkes Bay - Sleeps 2)

Higher price range

Cost:

The cost of hiring a campervan in the higher price range is around $100 - $250+ per day.

Features:

Campervans in the higher price range usually boast the widest array of features and comfortably sleep 2 - 4 people. They tend to be modern and have high-quality fittings such as fridges, stoves, coffee machines, water systems, showers, toilets and electrics. Plus, the bedding is often super comfortable and you can move freely thanks to an abundance of internal living space.

Higher-cost hire campervans are great for travellers who want to enjoy all the same comforts that they do at home. Whether you’re on the road for months, staying at a holiday park for weeks or even freedom camping for 3+ days , these campervans are the ultimate in functionality and luxury.

Best For:

Couples, small families or groups of friends who want to travel in style and comfort.

Examples:

• Juno (Hamilton - Sleeps 4)

• Ricky Baker (Auckland - Sleeps 2)

• Kowhai (Queenstown - Sleeps 2)

• Bernie (Hamilton - Sleeps 2)

• Dub Camper 1 (Ponsonby - Sleeps 2)

• Silverliner 1 (Christchurch - Sleeps 2)

• Enola (Ramarama - Sleeps 4)

• Memory Maker (Auckland - Sleeps 3)

What about insurance?

Some of New Zealand’s most popular campervan rental businesses charge up to $70 per day for insurance - and that’s on top of your rental price!

When you hire a campervan through Camplify, there are no hidden fees. We want you to know exactly what you’re getting - that’s why all Camplify bookings include comprehensive hire insurance included.

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. 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 campervan

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 many owners on Camplify are happy to offer a lower daily price for longer bookings. If they haven’t already noted this in their campervan listing, just shoot them a message and ask!

Season and Demand

The cost of hiring a campervan 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 campervan rental companies in New Zealand have a minimum hire period of 3-5 days. However, many campervans 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.

Other campervan rental costs

Fees

When you hire a campervan in New Zealand, the rental company will charge you a booking fee. At Camplify, we keep our booking fee to 15%, which pays for:

• 24/7 Nationwide Roadside Assistance from AA

• 24/7 Customer Support Team

• The Camplify Platform

Most rental companies will also charge a service fee. At Camplify, the service fee is set by the campervan owner and generally covers:

• Cleaning the campervan

• Basic pantry items

• Gas bottle refills

• Cleaning products

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

• Other costs (e.g. road tolls)

Note that your age can also mean some extra rental fees, depending on the company. Learn more with our guide on how old you need to be to rent a campervan in New Zealand.

Fuel

Most campervans in New Zealand run on either petrol (aka gas) or diesel.

In 2020 - 21, the average price of petrol is $2.25 per litre (or $8.52 per gallon). That means that a full tank of gas in the average van (70L) will cost you $157.50.

Diesel tends to be cheaper than petrol. In 2020-21, the average price of diesel is $1.35 per litre ($5.13 per gallon). As such, a full tank of diesel (70L) will cost you $94.50.

UseNew Zealand AA’s Petrolwatch site to keep up to date with fuel prices. Also, get a freeAA Smart Fuel card, which gives a discount of about 6 cents per litre of petrol (the amount changes daily).

Campgrounds and campervan parks

The rate of your campervan campsite will largely depend on the location, crowds, facilities and whether or not the site is powered or unpowered. Campsite prices around New Zealand range from free to about $50 per night.

For more information about the cost of road tripping in a campervan, see “How to budget for your New Zealand road trip” and “How much does it cost to park a motorhome”. We've put together some tips for van or car camping on a budget. There, you’ll find heaps of in-depth guides about the cost of camping, food, activities, attractions, phone data and more!

Campervan hire vs motorhome hire costs

You now know how much it costs to rent a campervan. You also know that you can save time and money by hiring through Camplify!

But how can you be sure that a campervan is right for you? Maybe you’d prefer to travel in a motorhome?

If you still need some help deciding, read our article about campervan vs motorhome and identify which vehicle is best suited to you.

Then consider how much it costs to hire a motorhome. On average, it costs a little bit more to hire a motorhome but the added benefits might be worth it for you?

Once you’ve decided on the type of vehicle you want to travel in, use the Camplify search feature and the filter options to quickly and easily compare all the best motorhome, campervan and caravan rentals in New Zealand. It’s that simple!

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be New Zealand’s fastest-growing private campervan, caravan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• Nationwide AA roadside assistance

• 24/7 customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

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