New Zealand in a campervan: tips from a seasoned expert

15.09.2024 - 08:19 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 14, 2024 • 8 min read

Campervanning has always been a popular way to get around New Zealand, especially for travelers on a budget. This is in part thanks to the popularity of “freedom camping” (a system that allows parking overnight in designated areas at no cost across the country).

Having traveled the considerable length of Aotearoa (New Zealand’s Māori language name) in my own van, I have spent many nights in free camping spots. Some are right by the ocean; others high in the mountains. Even staying in urban free camping sites feels like an adventure, and it leaves you more money to spend on getting to new places in New Zealand.

It’s relatively easy to rent a van from a range of providers and get a taste of this lifestyle on a shorter trip. However, soaring fuel and rental costs, along with changes to freedom camping laws in 2023, mean it’s no longer the budget-friendly mode of transportation it once was.

With this in mind: here’s how to plan a campervan trip in New Zealand.

Trying out van life in New Zealand used to be about freedom and a low cost way of travel. More recently, it has morphed into a lifestyle that comes with a price tag. If you’re traveling in peak summer season from late December to late February, the costs of campervan hire can run from NZ$200 a day for a budget camper to more than NZ$500 a day for a motor home style (RV) vehicle. 

There are other costs that can come with campervan hire, too. Diesel vehicles are cheaper to fill up (from around NZ$1.75/liter) but you’ll need to pay Road User Charges (RUCs). These charges are based on a government fee passed on by rental companies, typically between NZ$0.07 to 0.09 per kilometer. 

With a petrol vehicle you avoid these charges but you can expect to pay a lot at the pump when you fill up – powering a campervan over New Zealand’s hilly landscapes takes more gas than a smaller, more nimble car, and at the time of publication, petrol cost upwards of NZ$2.53/liter. Use the Gaspy app to find the best prices on fuel.  

Compare this to a rental car, which can cost just NZ$80 a day in peak season and comes with the option of sleeping in a real bed every night. In fact, it can work out to be almost as cost-effective to rent a car and stay in hotels. (The exception may be in larger cities like Wellington or Auckland, where hotel rooms in central areas come at a premium and parking costs around NZ$50 per night.) 

However, there are some ways that campervans come out on top. Porting your own kitchen around means you can make more of your own meals and save on the cost of eating out. Car travel means sacrificing flexibility as you’ll need book accommodation in advance. And with a campervan, the trip is the experience. 

Once you’ve parked up in one of