Rental Locations
You can start and end your road trip in either Auckland (North Island) or Christchurch (South Island). In fact, if you have sufficient time to visit both islands you can do a one-way hire. New Zealand's long and narrow shape makes it perfectly suited to one-way travel. Unlike most other rental companies, we don't add an extra charge for travel one way. Quite the contrary, we can even offer cheaper rates at certain times of year for one way travel. Make sure you compare the rental rates for both northbound and southbound hires using the Look & Book tool to find the best rate.
If your travel plans take you to a main centre other than Auckland or Christchurch at the end of your hire, you may be able to drop off there rather than returning to one of our main bases. All you need to do is return the vehicle to our designated drop off point, lock up, deposit the keys and then get on your way. We will send a driver to collect the vehicle later and return it to our base for you. Just click on Drop Off Only Locations on the map below then hover your mouse over the city for more details on conditions and charges.
Please click on depot location for detail.
If you are planning to hire a campervan in Australia, we can help. Although Wilderness
Motorhomes does not operate its own rental fleet in Australia, we have an affiliation
with Kea Campers Australia. Kea operates the youngest and most modern fleet of rental
vehicles in Australia. All Kea campers are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly
and are designed for Australian conditions. The must-have features for touring in
Australia that all Kea campers have include insect screens, solar power and air
conditioning, generous water storage, and self-containment certification (allowing
you to freedom camp).
Our rates for a rental motorhome from Kea Campers in Australia are very competitive.
Plus you get the bonus of the world renowned Wilderness service right up until you
collect the camper. Just contact us for more information.
More than two thirds of international flights into New Zealand land in Auckland so chances are this is where you'll get your first taste of our beautiful country. You can either pick up your rental motorhome on arrival in Auckland or transfer on to a domestic flight to Christchurch and discover the South Island first. At certain times of year, you can get better hire rates for northbound rather than southbound hires so be sure to check out that option.
Unless you've got at least six weeks to saunter around the country, we recommend you avoid a return trip taking in both North and South Islands. Some tourists make the mistake of underestimating the distances and road conditions and plan a whistle stop tour focusing on "ticking off" the notable tourist destinations as quickly as possible. They end up spending most of their vacation behind the wheel. if that's the kind of vacation you're after, why not do the Paris to Dakar rally?
If you want to experience the country during your visit rather than just see it and you've got sufficient time to cover both the North and South Islands, you should consider a one way hire. Our country is long and narrow so you don't need to back track. We don't charge any extra for one way hires and you'll save on ferry costs by just crossing the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands just once. You can use what you have saved for a bungy jump or a rafting trip through hidden glow worm caves!
We have prepared itineraries that take in all of our favourite routes to help you plan your tour whether you're planning on covering the North or South Islands or both. These vary from the quick five day jaunt to the leisurely 25 day ramble. We have packed the itineraries with ideas about what to see and where to stop so be sure to check them out.
Auckland Pick Up Options
If you plan to start your motorhome hire in Auckland, there's so much to see and do. The only limitation is your time. From a quick get-away to ambling sojourn, you've got choices to burn.
Auckland Return
We recommend picking up and returning to Auckland if you want to stay on the North Island. The Twin Coast Discovery Highway does a loop north of Auckland taking in the Bay of Islands, 90 mile beach, Cape Reinga, and Waipoua Forest. You can link up with the Pacific Coast Highway which takes you south to the Coromandel then on to the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga and Mt Maunganui) and remote East Cape before turning south to art deco Napier and Hastings. Return north via the Thermal Explorer route (Taupo and Rotorua). Don’t miss the unforgettable Waitomo Caves on your way back to Auckland.
Auckland to Christchurch One Way
Once you pick up your rental campervan in Auckland, you can either head north and take in Northland’s famous beaches, islands, and forests or go south towards more beaches, lakes, mountains, and lots more. Take the ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island and continue south to Christchurch.
Christchurch Pick Up Options
If you plan to start your motorhome hire in Christchurch, you are already in the heart of some of the world’s most dramatic scenery. Even though it’s been battered and bruised by the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, it’s still worth visiting. Check out our team’s top 10 things to do in Christchurch.
Christchurch Return
We recommend picking up and returning to Christchurch if you want to stay on the South Island. You can head west or south towards the mountains and glacial lakes or start your loop by heading north.
Christchurch to Auckland One Way
Make sure you allow enough time to take in Queenstown and the stunning southern lakes if you start your campervan hire in Christchurch. The Interisland ferry will take you over Cook Strait to Wellington in the North Island where you can explore the Capital before heading north to Auckland.
Your Welcome
We’re known for our warm welcomes so you can be sure there won’t be a line up to endure just a friendly face and lots of Kiwi hospitality. Our team will quickly and efficiently finalise the paper work with you before giving you a full briefing on your vehicle so you’ll feel confident in your home away from home. This is the point where several other companies tell you about the small print, the long list of things you aren't covered for, the roads you can't drive on, the extra fees and commissions you need to fork out for. We promise you that when you pick up from our base and return to our base, there will be no surprises. Just a genuine Kiwi welcome for an old friend.