Renting a motorhome in New Zealand
From Wikitravel
Contents
This article is a travel topic.
Hiring a motorhome and travelling around New Zealand is a popular and relaxing way of seeing the country.
[edit] Overview
Campervans in New Zealand are available with either automatic or manual transmission, with diesel or petrol engines. They will accommodate 2-6 people, and are a great way to travel New Zealand. Some models are as small as a car, while other are fully loaded with a full sized fridge, shower and toilet.
The minimum rental period is generally 5 days. In high season (especially over Christmas/New Year) the minimum is general 10 days.
A normal driver's licence is sufficient, provided it is accepted within New Zealand[1]. A heavy-duty licence is not required. The minimum driver's age is normally 25, but some companies specialize in renting to younger travellers.
[edit] Rental Depots
The major locations for Rental Depots are Auckland and Christchurch, often near the airports. Some companies also have depots in Wellington, Queenstown and Nelson. One way trips are general permitted (e.g. pick up in Auckland and drop-off in Christchurch), however a fee may apply.
Most of the suppliers have depots near the airports and will pick you up. If arriving by car, cars can normally be left at the depot. Before taking the motorhome, you will be given a half hour instruction / introduction so that you know how everything works.
The fuel tank should be full and the toilet should be empty. The vehicle must be returned in this state otherwise extra charges will be levied.
If travelling between the North and South Island, you will need to book the three hour Cook Strait ferry trip [2][3]. The ferries charge per vehicle, plus a fee for each passenger. The ferries are set up to keep you entertained with plenty of shops, cafes, and even a movie theatre! Check with your motorhome rental company, as they may have a partnership with a ferry company to get a better rate. It may be better and cheaper to drop off the motorhome in Wellington, fly to Christchurch and pick up another motorhome there.
Some suppliers and brokers:
| Title | Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Abuzzy Motorhomes [4] | Auckland Airport | |
| Alpha Campervans [5] | Auckland, Christchurch | Operated by the same folks who operate United (Alpha offers older equipment at lower rates). |
| Apollo Motorhomes [6] | Auckland City, Christchurch | |
| Backpacker Campervans [7] | Auckland City, Auckland Airport, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington | Operated by the same folks who operate Britz (Backpacker offers older equipment and lower rates). |
| Bedmobils [8] | Auckland City | |
| Britz [9] | Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown, Wellington | Operated by the same folks who operate Maui. |
| Camper Travel [10] | Campervan broker dealing with several companies. | |
| Discover NZ Motorhome Rentals[11] | Nelson | |
| Driftaway Campers [12] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Easy Go Campervans [13] | Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington (after Oct 1), Pickton (after Oct 1) | Operated by the same folks who operate Pacific Horizons (Easy Go offers older equipment and lower rates). |
| Escape Camper Hire [14] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Explore More Campervans [15] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Explore New Zealand Motor Homes[16] | Christchurch | |
| Find A Camper [17] | Campervan broker dealing with Apollo, BackPacker, Discover NZ, Easy Go, Explore New Zealand, Happy Campers, Jucy, Kea, Kiwi, Maui, Walkabout, Wendekreisen, and Wilderness (as of June/2009). | |
| Jucy Camper Vans [18] | Auckland City, Auckland Airport, Christchurch, Queenstown | |
| Happy Campers [19] | Auckland, Christchurch | Operated by the same folks who operate Kiwi Campers (Happy Campers offers older equipment and lower rates). |
| Jucy Rentals[20] | Auckland City, Auckland Airport, Christchurch, Queenstown | |
| Kea Campers [21] | Auckland Christchurch | |
| Kiwi Autohomes Ltd [22] | Auckland, Christchurch. | |
| Kiwi Campers [23] | Auckland, Christchurch | Operated by the same folks who operate Happy Campers (Kiwi offers newer equipment and higher rates). |
| Maui [24] | Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown, Wellington | Operated by the same folks who operate Britz (Maui offers newer equipment and higher rates). |
| Pacific Horizon Motorhomes [25] | Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch | Operated by the same folks who operate Easy Go (Pacific Horizons offers newer equipment and higher rates). |
| Quality Motorhomes [26] | Campervan broker dealing with United, Alpha and Kea Campervan. | |
| Rental Car Village [27] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Spaceships [28] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| United Vehicle Rentals[29] | Auckland, Christchurch | Operated by the same folks who operate Alpha (United offers newer equipment and higher rates). |
| Walkabout Rentals [30] | Auckland Airport, Christchurch | |
| Wendekreisen[31] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Wicked Campers [32] | Auckland, Christchurch | |
| Wilderness Motorhomes [33] | Auckland, Christchurch |
[edit] Categories
The most common configurations are:
| Configuration | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|
| Two berth with no shower/toilet | 50 (100) | 190 (240) |
| Two berth with shower/toilet | 70 (120) | 240 (290) |
| Four berth with shower/toilet | 80 (130) | 280 (330) |
| Six berth with shower/toilet | 100 (150) | 300 (360) |
The rates are approximate guides in New Zealand dollars. Low season is May to September and the high season is December to February. Booking is advised over the high season as most suppliers will rent out their entire stock.
The first figure will normally include unlimited km, GST (local tax), insurance, nationwide road side service, free phone helpline and a "Travel Wallet" including road maps. The second figure in brackets is the full cover insurance (assuming no excess) and includes diesel tax recovery fee, 1 camping table and 2 chairs and baby or booster seat(s).
[edit] Insurance
If not using full coverage, a bond will be required. This is generally equal to the excess on the insurance option chosen. The standard insurance excess is around $2500 (The standard full coverage insurance costs around $15-25 per day). The bond is fully refundable if the vehicle has not been involved in an accident / break-in and is returned in a clean and undamaged condition.
IMPORTANT - You are advised to check your credit card card company's insurance or to include this on your travel insurance to reduce or avoid the high rates.
[edit] Equipment
Most motorhomes will include stove, fridge, sink and bedding (often sleeping bags). The stove is gas-powered while the fridge normally has a gas/ mains option. The motorhome has an outside power lead to plug into the mains in camping grounds. In this mode, everything (except the stove) will be mains powered. Hot water is mains heated. Some motorhomes also include a shower and/or toilet.
[edit] Camping grounds
Ask for a fully-serviced (powered) motorhome site. This will normally have a plug-in power point, drain and water. A number of camping grounds have dump points to dump the toilet cassette. Remember to fill up the water tank. Most will have a communal kitchen, laundering and bathing facilities if you find that the motorhome facilities are a bit cramped. Most also have a TV / games room. The cost is around $10 - $17 per person per day. Over school holidays and especially during the high season, it is a good idea to book before hand.
[edit] Dump points
Some motor camps only allow use for overnighting travellers, others will charge for the service. Grey waste (shower / sink) should also be poured into these or down a drain in the motor camp. Do not empty grey water into any watercourse, stormwater drain, swampy ground, sea foreshore etc. as this is environmentally damaging.
- Complete list of all New Zealand dump points [37]
[edit] Free camping
This is camping away from official camping grounds e.g. the side of the road. In this mode, everything runs off gas. Only some of the internal lights will work. These are battery powered – the rest are mains powered. Hot water is heated by the engine heat. In the mornings, hot water can be obtained by running the motor for a while. Normally, there is enough battery power and gas to camp for two to three days before topping up and emptying the toilet.
Free camping is permitted in most of New Zealand. Sadly, because some people are dumping their rubbish and (even worse) the toilet contents, signs forbidding this are increasing.
There is some risk in camping in isolated places although physical attacks are few and far between.
[edit] Theft
There have been some reports of thefts from motorhomes. Ensure that valuables are secure and hidden from view. Thefts occur in the cities as well as in the country.
[edit] Roads
Roads in New Zealand twist and turn and passing lanes are not always present. Remember that you are driving a truck and so will not be able to travel that fast anyway. Allow for a normal speed of 80 km per hour. Please be courteous and pull over where possible to allow the queue of traffic behind to pass. Being self-contained, you can stretch your legs and brew a cuppa at the same time while admiring the view.
Many rental companies include clauses in the rental agreement that the campers can not be taken on Skippers Road (Queenstown), Ninety Mile Beach (Northland), Ball Hut Road (Mt. Cook) and North of Colville Township (Coromandel Peninsula).
[edit] Towns
The larger the motorhome, the less chance it will fit into a standard parking place. You may need to find two adjoining ones or else walk to the supermarket. Be aware of the vertical height of your motorhome if parking in a parkade.
[edit] See also
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
