Fast becoming the most popular way to see New Zealand, renting a campervan, aka. a Motorhome, can be the best way to experience the beauties of this country. There are several different companies from the deluxe to the basic with sizes accommodating up to 10 (albeit tight). Prices range depending on seasons and camper quality, but expect prices to range anywhere from $12 to $40 per person, per day. A few good places to start are with these companies:Maui Campervans, Britz, Tui and Wicked.

If you have two weeks or more to explore New Zealand, I would highly recommend this form of travel to see the country. You will get to enjoy the small towns and the little jewels of the country that are off the ‘tourist itinerary’. Tour unspoiled small beach towns, roadside hotsprings, trendy ski villages, rolling hills peppered with sheep and picturesque lakes nestled between snowy mountains.

Driving on the left-hand side took a little while to adjust to, especially since this was quite a bulky vehicle. Fortunately most camper vans have automatic transmission. Mirrors and height can be a bit tricky too, but don’t let any of this scare you, it is quite easy to get comfortable with and in a couple days it will all feel natural.

New Zealand makes it really easy for campervan travelers with their collection of ‘i’ sites. These tourist/travel information centers provide everything you could possibly need from where to find a shower, waste dump site, or directions to booking a skydive jump and are in just about every town you could possibly visit.

Campervan Rental Prices:

Budget:
basic- bed, stove, sink
• High Season (Spring & Summer) – about $18 pp/per day
• Low Season (Fall & Winter) – about $12 pp/per day

Comfortable:
typical- shower, bathroom, stove, sink, high roof, microwave and heater (when plugged in)
• High Season (Spring & Summer) – about $30 pp/per day
• Low Season (Fall & Winter) – about $20 pp/per day

Campervan Tips:

• Water can go fast if you use the shower and wash dishes. Expect 3 short (2-3 min) showers to exhaust your water supply. Gas stations and campgrounds are good water resupply spots, but be sure it is drinking water you are filling up with!
• Your gas canister will probably last the whole trip, unless you are taking a lot of showers or cooking like Martha Stewart. Ours lasted the full 3 weeks and was still 1/3 full by return.
• Plan your trip and arrive before dark. Finding a camping/parking spot at night can be very difficult and may leave you with a very unpleasant surprise in the morning.
• Spend more time enjoying than driving. Don’t overextend yourself by underestimating distances and drive times or you will miss out on the spots you are visiting.
• Be mindful of fuel levels. NZ can be very rural in places (especially the South Island) leaving you without fuel stops on very long and hilly deserted stretches. I stopped for fuel whenever it dropped below 1/3 a tank, just to be safe.
• Let others pass. A quick way to spoil the experience is to gum up the roads for the locals. Be polite and pull over to let others pass, especially on those windy hills.
• Enjoy the experience! You will camp and wake up in some of the most beautiful places, often all by yourself

Almost everything was provided with our campervan, including sheets, comforters, pillows, towels, dish towels, silverware, cooking utensils, pots/pans, cups and mugs. You may want to purchase a few items for your campervan adventure including: Toilet paper, dish soap, matches or a lighter (for the stove) and shower toiletries. Additionally, a sleeping bag is recommended for a little extra warmth if you are traveling in the winter, it can get quite cold at night in the mountains. Be sure to bring a nice collection of road trip CDs as radio stations can be difficult to pick up and all the whistles and noise of a land boat can sometimes get to you.

Hidden expenses:
Watch for these as they can creep up and blow your budget!

• Diesel Tax: A surprise upon returning the vehicle, this is calculated from your mileage and can be in the hundreds of dollars if you have driven both islands.
• Camping Fees & Hookup charges: Camping can be cheap, but not always free. I recommend buying a motorhome camping guidebook from one of the ‘i’ sites to help you find these sometimes elusive parks. General rule of thumb, if you are in-town, you are probably going to have to pay, and it is usually a per-person fee. To keep it cheap or free, head at least 10k outside of town and find a rest stop or safe turnoff. Stay away from houses, private property and private drives, and obviously, no camping signs.
• Waste Discharge Fees: Not generally a huge expense, there are free dump sites if you know where to look for them (buy a motorhome camping book).

Give it a shot and let the adventure begin!