Renting a Campervan in New Zealand? Read This Before Booking and Hitting the Road
There are a plethora of things to consider before renting a campervan in New Zealand. Read this guide carefully to be prepared for your NZ road trip.
🇳🇿 This post is a part of my New Zealand Travel Guide.
If you’ve never rented a campervan in New Zealand before, this post contains everything you need to know before you go and what you need to buy when you pick up your campervan.
When my husband and I rented a campervan for three weeks, there was a bit of a learning curve at the beginning. We bought several things we wouldn’t have realized we needed until we picked up the van and took stock of what was provided with the rental.
➡️ Read my complete 21-Day New Zealand South Island itinerary with road map included. Plan your trip without all the research hassle.
There was a bit of scrambling as we went to several shops in Christchurch to purchase last-minute items before heading out on our adventure. You’ll find that this campervan supplies list has everything you need, so you don’t need to panic-buy any unnecessary things.
➡️ If you want to prepare for traveling internationally, check out my 21+ things to do before going overseas checklist. Soothe pre-travel stress and use this checklist as a guide for any international trip.
Discover everything about renting a campervan in New Zealand and travel with confidence.
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Is it Worth Renting a Campervan in New Zealand?
Short answer, yes. Renting a campervan in New Zealand is by far the best way to explore the country and get the most out of your time in Aotearoa.
The ability to drive around and stop to cook, take a nap, use the restroom, and more gives you ultimate freedom. Campervans are all-in-one solutions. Think about it as a tiny house on wheels.
Many areas we drove through didn’t have much in the way of accommodations or restaurants. We were able to park the campervan at a DOC campsite for the night (read my post to learn how to book a DOC campsite) and cook our meals on the hob without electric hookups.
If we had to rely solely on traditional hotels or B&Bs, we’d have to stay farther away from the things we came to see and drive even more than we already planned.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some incredible-looking hotels in New Zealand, but if you want an immersive outdoor experience with convenience, nothing beats a campervan.
Which NZ campervan should I hire?
Before renting a campervan in New Zealand, ask yourself:
- How much do I want to spend per day/night on a rental?
- How long am I traveling in New Zealand?
- What do I need in a space to be comfortable?
- Am I confident driving a larger vehicle?
- Will I be cooking a lot in my campervan?
- Do I need a self-contained camper?
These questions will help narrow down your rental options. For us, our budget and necessary amenities were limiting factors.
We didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on our 3-week South Island adventure, and we knew the campervan had to be self-contained, so we could freedom camp. Learn the difference between a self-contained and a non-self-contained campervan to make the right choice for your rental.
There are tons of van rental companies in New Zealand. Do your research and scroll their websites to compare amenities and cost. Ultimately, you know what experience you’d like to have, so rent a campervan that complements your priorities.
Restrictions for Driving a Campervan in New Zealand
How old do you need to be to rent a campervan?
Most van rental companies will accept 21-year-old drivers, but a select few will not rent to drivers under 25. My partner and I were both 24 when we were looking to rent a van.
There was an extra fee because we were under 25. If you’re younger than 25, refer to any campervan rental policies to ensure you can rent from the place you’re considering, or if there’s a fee.
Can you drive a manual transmission?
Not all campervans have automatic transmissions. On our rental request, we asked for an automatic, but said we would be alright with a manual since my husband grew up driving manuals.
The rental company ended up giving us a manual transmission campervan. If you’re not confident with manual driving, make sure your rental is an automatic before signing any paperwork.
Do you need a special driver’s license for renting a campervan in New Zealand?
If your original driver’s license is in English, you don’t need to apply for an international driving permit. Since we are from the United States, we didn’t need to do anything but show up with our valid driver’s licenses.
If your license isn’t in English, you can apply for an international driving permit, OR get a certified English translation of your original license that you’ll carry with you in addition to your physical card.
Be sure to thoroughly read the van rental auto insurance policy, as your home auto insurance likely won’t cover you in an international accident.
New Zealand Road Rules
Review the rules of the road before driving in New Zealand. Understand who has the right of way and interpret road signs correctly. Don’t skip this!
You drive on the left side of the road in New Zealand. Drill that into your mind and don’t forget it. We got honked at a few times while out and about, but drove around generally unscathed.
Arrange an Airport Shuttle
➡️ We spent several days in Auckland before flying down to Christchurch on the South Island to pick up our campervan. Take a peek at my post if you’re looking for free things to do in West Auckland.
Our rental company was kind enough to provide free transportation from the airport. When you’re booking your flight, consider what time you need to pick up and drop off your campervan. Don’t arrive after hours and expect to drive away with your rental!
How long to travel New Zealand in a campervan?
Obviously, this depends on your budget and what you’d like to see, but I’d say plan as much time as you possibly can. If your time is limited (1-3 weeks), stick to one island. Don’t stretch yourself thin by trying to complete both islands — it’s not happening.
New Zealand might look small on a map, but driving from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island would take you about 30 hours, with a 4-hour ferry ride between the islands, and that’s with no stops and perfect driving conditions.
We completed a 3-week loop on the South Island and didn’t even see the northern or southernmost places on the one island! I felt like we could have even stayed another week on just our loop and still had plenty to do.
During my research for our trip, I had to cut a lot out because it wasn’t going to be feasible with the time we had. It’s better to take your time and see less than to be rushing around and not soaking in your experiences.
The First Night in Your Campervan
Alright, you’ve picked up your campervan, and you’re ready to drive off into the sunset! Not so fast… Do you have toilet paper? Rubbish bags? Drinking water?
I compiled a complete campervan checklist for you to follow so you don’t drive hours away from the nearest shops and realize you missed some essentials. The first night you stay in your van, don’t stray too far from the city.
It will become apparent after a little bit of time that you might have forgotten some things or wished you had a certain piece of gear. Luckily, if you’re within a few minutes’ drive of practically anything you need, this isn’t much of a problem.
We made some stops at stores like Bivouac Outdoor and Kathmandu to search for last-minute camping items.
Grilled cheese in the parking lot of Franz Josef Glacier walk
New Zealand Campervan Supplies List
Check your campervan rental company’s website to get a list of what’s included with your rental. If you’re not sure what’s included, call ahead of time so you don’t have to go through every cabinet when you pick up your van.
By knowing what you need to buy when you get there, you can limit stress and shopping trips. Follow this campervan checklist for a comprehensive overview.
➡️ Looking for a complete packing list for 3 weeks in New Zealand? I’ve got you covered. Read the post and get your checklist.
What is included with NZ campervan rental?
Here’s what was included with our van rental. Yours might be different, so double-check with your campervan rental company.
In the kitchen:
- Sponge and a tiny amount of dish soap (we ended up buying a full-size dish soap)
- Cutting board
- Chopping knives
- 2 mugs
- 2 plates
- 2 bowls
- 2 forks, spoons, knives
- Pots and pans
- Coffee press
- Tea kettle
- Toaster
- Spatula
- Serving spoon
- Towels for drying dishes and hands
- Bottle and can opener
- Rubbish bin (needed to purchase bag liners)
Bedding and bath:
- Sheets
- Blankets/comforter
- Pillows
- Bath towels
We paid for an extra package to get the following outdoor equipment:
- Propane stove
- Folding table
- Camp chairs
Our campervan came with a pretty basic setup. We knew we’d have to supplement with a few items we either brought with us or would need to purchase.
Your freshwater tank should also be full when you get your campervan. Ask the rental company staff to walk you through anything with the camper that you’re unsure about, like how to dump greywater, use the appliances, fill the cooking gas tank, and more.
Pancakes at the beach in Wanaka
What do I need to buy for an NZ campervan trip?
These are things we purchased after arriving in New Zealand. Depending on how long your trip is, you might not find some of these things necessary.
- Toilet paper
- Water jugs — you can refill these with potable water for drinking
- Paper towels
- Paper plates and bowls — for times you don’t want to do dishes
- Rubbish bags
- Measuring cups and spoons — we did a lot of cooking in the van
- Extra spoons and forks — the two provided forks and spoons were not enough for us
- Disinfectant cleaning spray — for cleaning the toilet, floor, sink, counters, etc.
- Dish soap
- Hand soap
- Spices — again, we cooked practically every meal ourselves
- Salt and pepper
- Food storage containers — stored leftovers in our fridge
- Chip clips for snack bags
- Bug spray and itch cream — trust me on this, you’ll want these before you set off
- Sunscreen
- Stock up on snacks and groceries before you leave town. Buy enough food to last you until your next grocery run, plus a little extra in case you get sidetracked.
When we left New Zealand, we took some of these things, like the measuring cups and sunscreen, with us. Others, like the dish soap and spices, we put on the “free shelf” in the van rental office or gave away to other campers after our last night in the campervan.
If you have extra things people can use, give them away rather than throwing them in the rubbish bin. They’ll be grateful to have something for free, and you know the items are going to be used. We even gave away some leftover food we had!
New Zealand Campervan Packing List
There were some items that weren’t provided, and that we didn’t want to purchase while in New Zealand, so we packed them and brought them from home. We tried to keep this minimal and pack things we truly needed.
- Water filter — we used this during our backpacking trip to the Welcome Flat Hut, and it’s always good to have a way to filter water for drinking
- Water bottles — it’s nice to have your own reusable water bottles for travel
- Stasher bags — used these to pack snacks for hiking and for leftovers
- Outlet converter — we had two of these for convenience
- Cigarette outlet chargers — we brought two, and these saved us. Being able to charge electronics while driving and not draining the camper battery was fantastic.
- Headlamp — for walking around camp
- Lightweight towel — I like to bring a towel that’s my “outdoor towel” that I can sit on
- Laundry bag — this was so nice to have when going to the laundromat. It doesn’t take up much space in your suitcase and makes carrying all your clothes easy.
- Reusable grocery bags — these were really nice to pack with us. We even used one as a “personal item” bag during a flight when we had to rearrange some things to save weight in a checked bag.
That sums up the list of campervan essentials for beginners. Read (and re-read) this list closely and make sure you have these items before driving away from shopping centers.
Places to Explore With Your Campervan
What to Expect on a Milford Sound Boat Tour
Outdoor Things to Do in Queenstown and Wanaka
7+ Things to Do Near Fox Glacier and Franz Josef
Plus, if you want a night out of the van, book a New Zealand backcountry hut. It’s an experience like no other and if you’re familiar with backpacking, you’ll absolutely love it.
