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New Zealand is undoubtably one of the best destinations to road-trip in a campervan. With stunning scenery around every corner, the freedom to stop wherever, and the chance to wake up in some of the most beautiful spots in the world, it’s the ultimate way to travel.
In this guide, we're sharing everything you need to know about planning a campervan trip around New Zealand. We'll cover everything from choosing the right van and where to camp, to budgeting, must have apps and our insider tips.
We’ve campervanned around New Zealand twice now, exploring almost all of the South Island and parts of the North, and it’s been one of our favourite travel experiences to date!
1. Choosing the Right Campervan
One of the biggest decisions to make when planning your road trip is choosing the right campervan, which can be a bit overwhelming with all the options out there. But, there is something for everyone, whether you want a budget-friendly van or a fully-equipped home on wheels.
Self-Contained vs Non-Self-Contained
First, you'll need to decide if you want a self-contained campervan, which have a fixed toilet and waste system. Freedom camping (camping outside of designated campgrounds) requires vehicles to be certified as self-contained, so this is usually the better option.
If you're planning to camp off-grid or outside of holiday parks, you'll want to get a self-contained van. Non-self-contained vans are usually cheaper and more compact, but you'll need to stay at campgrounds with facilities (at extra cost).
Van Size & Layout
There are lots of different van sizes and layouts to choose from, so you'll need to decide how much space you need or want.
- Car-style campervans - Compact with a fold-out bed and pull-out kitchen; ideal for budget/minimalist travellers.
- Small campervans (flat roof or pop-top) - Easy to drive, with a small kitchen and convertible bed/seating setup; great for short or solo/duo trips.
- Medium-sized campervans - You can stand up inside, with a proper kitchen, bed and table; perfect for longer trips or colder weather.
- Large motorhomes (4–6 berth) - Spacious and fully equipped with beds, kitchen, bathroom, and lounge; best for families or groups, but harder to drive and park.
If there's two of you and you’re happy with something minimal, a car camper or small van might be all you need.
If you want to be able to stand up inside, cook meals or if you're travelling in the winter, a medium-sized camper could be worth the extra cost.
If you're a family or group, going for a medium van or large motorhome is the best option.
We've experienced having a small van, medium van and large motorhome. If we had to choose again, we'd go for a small to medium sized van depending on how long our trip was and the season we we're travelling.
Smaller vans are great in the summer as you'd be spending most of your time outside, whereas in winter, you'll want something you can cook and lounge in.
Transmission & Driving
Most campervans in NZ are automatic, which is great if you’re not used to driving manual. Just keep in mind that New Zealand has lots of winding, narrow roads, so the bigger the van, the more careful (and confident) you’ll need to be when driving.
Rental Companies
There are loads of companies to choose from, ranging from budget to luxury. Here are a few popular options:
- Budget: JUCY, Travellers Autobarn, Spaceships
- Mid-range: Britz, Mighty, Mad Campers
- Luxury: Wilderness, Maui, Quirky Campers
We'd recommend going with JUCY, as they have great value vans and you'll see them everywhere in New Zealand! There's plenty of different sizes, they all come fully equipped and with AA breakdown assistance.
We don't have any personal experience with any van rental companies as we are fortunate to have family that let us use their campervan, but we would choose JUCY!
Insurance
It’s tempting to skip insurance to save money, but we recommend at least basic coverage. Check what’s included with your rental company and consider if you need extra coverage for things like windscreen damage or gravel roads (common in NZ!).
2. When’s the Best Time to Campervan Around New Zealand?
Personally, I would say Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) are the best times to campervan in New Zealand. During these months you have mild weather, it's much less busy than summer and the prices will be lower.
Summer (December to February) is lovely for road-trips as you have warm, sunny days, perfect for hiking and swimming; but it's the most popular time, so it'll be busy and expensive. Campites will get booked up and popular spots will be busy.
Winter (June to August) has snowy mountains, quiet roads and is much cheaper, but it's cold, especially in the south. Lots of alpine roads will be icy and closed due to snow, and you'll want a well-insulated van.
However, our first road-trip was in the winter and we still had an incredible time, it's also much quieter than other seasons.
3. Driving in New Zealand
In New Zealand, you drive on the left-hand side. The roads, especially in the South Island, can be narrow, winding and often have one-lane bridges, as you'll be driving through mountain passes. The roads are usually very quiet when your outside of towns and cities, we often went hours without seeing another car!
That being said, always make sure you have enough fuel before a long drive, or carry extra fuel in a jerry can, as you can often go hours without passing a petrol station. Just remember to take it slow, be patient and don’t underestimate drive times.
Do You Need an International Driver’s License?
If your license isn’t in English, you’ll need either an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation. Most rental companies will also require you to have had your full license for at least a year.
4. Where can you camp in New Zealand?
You have three options on where you can camp in New Zealand, these are a Freedom Campsites, DOC Campsites and Holiday Parks (or similar).
Freedom Camping
Freedom Camping in New Zealand is when you camp overnight on public land that isn't a designated campground or holiday park. This is quite restricted in New Zealand, as most places will require you to be self contained; which means you need a fixed toilet and waste system in your van.
There are always signs that will notify you where you can and can't camp, with 'no camping' and 'self-contained only' signs. It's worth knowing that if you're caught breaking any regulations you can be fined.
The general rules of free camping are (depends on area):
- Staying for no more than two nights in one area.
- Light no fires and do not damage the nature.
- Using designated dump stations for waste water and toilet waste.
- Leave no trace
- Respecting local laws and regulations
DOC Campsites
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has hundreds of campsites all over New Zealand, that are low-cost and in beautiful nature spots. They range from basic (just a toilet) to serviced (with kitchens, showers, etc.). They’re a great budget option and a chance to camp in some truly scenic locations.
Holiday Parks
Holiday parks are a good option if you’re after a few a more comfortable site, as they usually have powered sites, clean bathrooms, hot showers, laundry, kitchens and sometimes even pools or spas.
You’ll find them all over the country, especially near towns and attractions. They’re more expensive than DOC or freedom camping spots, but great for recharging (both yourself and your van). You'll see brands like Top 10 Holiday Parks all over.
5. Apps to Download
Some apps that are really useful for finding campsites, dump stations, fuel, and more:
- CamperMate - our go-to for everything from campsites to toilets
- Rankers Camping NZ - crowd-sourced campsite reviews and rankings
- WikiCamps NZ - comprehensive and regularly updated database of campgrounds
We only used CamperMate, which was more than good enough to find everything!
We'd also recommend the Roady app for finding things to do and beautiful spots.
6. How Much Does a Campervan Trip in New Zealand Cost?
Campervanning in New Zealand can be as budget-friendly or luxury as you make it, but it helps to know what to expect cost-wise before you hit the road.
Average Daily Costs
Here’s a rough breakdown of what you might spend per day (in NZD):
- Campervan rental - $35–$250+ depending on size, season and how fancy you go
- Petrol/diesel - $30–$60 a day (it adds up fast with long drives!)
- Campsites - $0 (freedom camping) to $5–$15 (DOC) or $50–$100 (holiday parks)
- Food - $15-$30 per person if you cook most meals, more if you eat out regularly
A one week road-trip is likely to cost you anywhere between $600 to over $2000, depending on season and how budget or luxury you go.
Where to Save & Where to Splurge
You can save by cooking your own meals, staying at DOC or free campsites, and travelling in shoulder season (autumn or spring). Supermarkets often do fuel offers once you've shopped with them, we know PAK'nSAVE does (also cheaper fuel in general).
Use the Bookme.com website to book activities and attractions at a discounted price, we saved a lot of money by using this!
Splurging on a comfortable van with heating or a few nights in a holiday park can be 100% worth it, especially for longer trips, so you can shower and do laundry.
7. How to Find Water and Dump Stations
You can fill up fresh water tanks at most holiday parks, some public toilets, petrol stations, and dump stations. The CamperMate and Rankers apps are great for locating water taps and refill points.
For Dump Stations, look for the official blue dump station signs. You’ll find these in most towns and holiday parks, but they’re not everywhere, so plan ahead if you’re in remote areas. Again, use apps like CamperMate to find these!
8. Where to Find Showers and Toilets
There are free public toilets all over New Zealand, some are long drop toilets (hole in a shed) and some are well-maintained buildings.
You can find hot showers at Holiday Parks and some towns have public shower blocks that are coin operated. Again, CamperMate usually lists all toilets and showers - thats how we always found them.
9. How to do Laundry on the road
Most holiday parks and some larger petrol stations have coin-operated washing machines and dryers, or you will also come across laundromats in towns and cities. You can also use campground clotheslines or bring a small foldable drying rack for sunny days.
We would always combine a night or two at a holiday park with emptying our waste, having hot showers and doing our laundry, it's a great excuse to recharge and get everything fresh again!
10. Wi-Fi, Power & Staying Connected
Staying connected while campervanning in New Zealand is definitely possible, you just have to plan a little, especially if you’re heading off the beaten track.
Wi-Fi and data
New Zealand is often pretty good with it's free Wi-Fi Spots, but it's not always a given, especially in remote areas or basic campsites.
You'll also find that SIM card data can be quite expensive (depending on where you're from). For us, it was a lot more than UK data prices.
You'll definitely want to get a local SIM card (Spark, 2degres) or eSim, and you can either get a monthly plan or pre-paid, which is often cheaper. You can expect to pay around $20 NZD for around 1.5GB of data.
Holiday Parks always have free or paid Wi-Fi, but it's not usually the fastest. Cafe's and libraries in towns will often have free Wi-Fi, and you'll also find some free Wi-Fi hotspots at some phone booths around the country.
Reception can be patchy in remote spots, so download offline maps and important info beforehand.
Power and Charging Devices
If you’re planning to travel without using powered site hookups, you'll need to be wary of your power, especially if you’re working remotely or using camera gear.
- Most vans have a house battery that charges while you drive, use this for lights and USB ports, but it may not last more than a day or two if you’re not moving.
- To charge laptops or high-wattage devices, you’ll need either a powered site or a portable inverter that connects to the van battery.
- Bring power banks and car chargers, especially if you're freedom camping and not plugged in often.
Is it better to rent or buy a campervan in New Zealand?
If you’re staying less than 2-3 months, renting is usually easier and more cost-effective. For longer trips, buying can be cheaper if you have time to sell at the end.
Is it safe to campervan around New Zealand?
Yes, New Zealand is generally very safe, but always lock your van and avoid leaving valuables visible. We have never felt unsafe while camping in New Zealand!
Do you need to book campsites in advance?
During peak summer (Dec-Feb) and around popular areas like Queenstown or Mount Cook, yes. Otherwise, you can often book the day of or just show up, especially for DOC sites or freedom camping.
Can you take a campervan between the North and South Islands?
Yes, you can take it on the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry, but be sure to book in advance, especially in high season.
Final Thoughts
Campervanning around New Zealand has been one of the most memorable and fun ways we’ve ever travelled. From waking up next to lakes to pulling over for incredible sunsets and stargazing from the back of the van, it’s the kind of adventure that you'll never forget.
Of course, there are challenges, like rainy days in a small space, figuring out dump stations or finding Wi-Fi in the middle of nowhere, but the good far outweighs the tricky moments. If you’re even remotely considering a campervan trip through New Zealand, we 100% recommend it.
Planning your route? Check out our 1 Week South Island Itinerary that is packed with scenic drives, must-see stops and hidden gems!
Chloe Butcher
👋 We hope that you found this guide helpful! Before you go - don't forget to read our other New Zealand travel guides for more tips, suggestions & advice.
