Motorhome Hire New Zealand

A campervan is a panel van that has small living quarters. It typically has one bed and is more likely to have a portable toilet rather than a fixed bathroom.

On the other hand, a motorhome has more living space and amenities than a campervan. Motorhomes have a kitchen and bathroom with a fixed toilet and shower. Some motorhomes even have more than one bed. While motorhomes and campervans are technically different, the terms are often used interchangeably in New Zealand.

You can find the most motorhome hire options in Auckland and Christchurch, the cities where New Zealand’s two main airports are. In fact, 85% of international visitors disembark in either Auckland or Christchurch.

If you hire a motorhome in NZ outside of Auckland and Christchurch you’ll find less rental operators to choose from. Even Queenstown, the city with the fourth busiest airport in New Zealand, only has one major motorhome rental operator. You can find out more about where to find a motorhome rental here.

The price to rent a motorhome in NZ varies depending on the type of motorhome, level of service you prefer, how far in advance you book and when you want to travel. You can explore the prices to hire a Wilderness motorhome on your preferred dates here.

Wilderness motorhomes are fuel-efficient, using around 11 litres/100km (21mpg). They are built on high-performing European vehicles that run on diesel. In New Zealand, diesel costs less than petrol. For an idea of current diesel prices in New Zealand, check out the local fuel price comparison app Gaspy.

You can park your motorhome rental overnight at various locations including commercial campgrounds and holiday parks, Department of Conservation (DOC) and regional park campsites, freedom camping sites, and Campable sites. These choices vary in location, the type of amenities they offer and how many other campers you can expect to find there.

Any campsite is an option when travelling in a Wilderness motorhome as they are certified self-contained (CSC). This means all of our motorhomes meet the ablutionary and sanitary needs of the occupants for at least three days, are equipped with water storage tanks for drinking and cooking, and have wastewater holding tanks. You can read more about camping options here.

Yes. Most motorhome rental operators have a minimum hire period of five days. That's because unlike a car, a motorhome takes quite a lot of time and resources to prepare for each rental. Not only are mechanical and safety checks required, the interior has a full clean, linen, crockery and utensils are washed and the exterior of the motorhome is usually washed as well. In fact, preparing a motorhome for rental is more like giving your house a spring clean than washing your car. Rental operators recoup the cost of preparing the motorhome through minimum hire periods. The minimum length of hire is usually longer (up to 10 days) over the peak Christmas and New Year period. You can still rent a motorhome for fewer days than the minimum hire period - you just need to pay for the minimum number of days.

If you're comfortable driving a car, you'll find that our motorhomes are similar. They have high performing turbo diesel engines and all the added features of a modern European vehicle including ABS and airbags. If you're worried about size, we suggest you go for a compact motorhome. Just talk to our reservations team about options. For more information about driving, read our guide to Driving in New Zealand.

By law, every passenger must wear a seatbelt when travelling in any vehicle including your hired motorhome. This means you are not allowed to get up, walk around or engage in any other activity without a seatbelt while the motorhome is travelling.