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A motorhome is a motor vehicle with more living space and amenities than most other recreational vehicle (RV) options. Motorhomes have a kitchen and bathroom with a fixed toilet and shower. Some motorhomes have more than one bed.

On the other hand, a campervan is a panel van that has smaller living quarters than a motorhome. It usually has just one bed and may have a portable toilet rather than a bathroom. While motorhomes and campervans are technically different, the terms are often used interchangeably in New Zealand.

Most campervan rental operators, including Wilderness Motorhomes, have bases in Auckland and Christchurch. That’s because Auckland and Christchurch are home to New Zealand’s two main airports. In fact, 85% of international visitors disembark in either Auckland or Christchurch.

You can pick up a campervan rental from other cities and regional centres but you’ll find far fewer rental operators in these locations. 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 you can rent a motorhome here.

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

All our campervans are built on high performing European vehicles. These fuel-efficient vehicles use around 12 litres/100km (20mpg). Diesel is less expensive than petrol in New Zealand. You can check the current prices of diesel at various locations on price comparison apps such as Gaspy.

You have several options when choosing a place to stay in your motorhome overnight. These include 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.

You can stay in any of these types of campsites in a Wilderness motorhome as they are certified self-contained (CSC) meaning they can 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.

No. Visitors with a current driver's licence for a vehicle of the same class as our campervans from their home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP) can legally drive in New Zealand. If you plan to use a foreign licence that is not in English, you will need an English translation or an IDP. Click here for a list of translators. Licences are valid for one year from the date you enter New Zealand.

Yes, we offer one way campervan rentals. If you want to cover as much of New Zealand as possible without doubling back, we highly recommend a one way hire. New Zealand’s geography is perfectly suited to one way travel as the country is long and relatively narrow.

If you have some flexibility with your pick up or drop off location, you may be able to save money on your New Zealand holiday if you head in the opposite direction to other tourists. Make sure you check our rates for both Auckland and Christchurch locations. Then view our recommended itineraries in the guides section for some great trip ideas.

You will need to take the interisland ferry between the North Island and South Island. You can add your ferry tickets to your motorhome rental booking.

There’s lots to consider when choosing a campervan rental in New Zealand including your budget, itinerary and what's important to you in a campervan. Check out our full guide on choosing a campervan rental in New Zealand to get started.