Motorhome hire in New Zealand
 

DetourNZ offers a wide range of vehicles that will allow you to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand with freedom and safety. We also offer the best prices and promotions, with a price match guarantee. Let our friendly experts help you plan an unforgettable motorhome holiday !

We have compiled here our most asked questions for you to find the perfect motorhome for your holidays.

1 - What is the difference between a campervan and a motorhome?
2 - What models of motorhomes can you rent in New Zealand?
3 - How to choose the ideal motorhome for your trip to New Zealand?
4 - What budget should you plan for renting a campervan in New Zealand?
5 - What insurance should I take?
6 - Why is motorhome rental so popular in New Zealand?
7 - What is the best season to visit New Zealand ?
8 - Where to sleep with your motorhome in New Zealand?
9 - Which circuit to choose for a campervan trip in New Zealand?
 

A campervan is a compact vehicle, generally up to 4 passengers with or without a toilet but never with a shower. The main differences are :
Size: motorhomes are a bigger and more spacious. You can have up to 6 persons sleeping in.
Confort: Motorhomes are a lot more confortable and well appointed, campervans are basic and practical
Equipement: Motorhome are fully equipped with bedding, a real kitchen with all the ustensils and with toilet and shower.


 

There are models for 2 people, 4 persons and up to 6 travellers. You can have permanent beds fitted inside or make your beds when needed, some have seperate bedrooms, some don't.  As you realise there are many different layouts, with many options, with a multitude of motorhome rental companies as well so it can be difficult to choose the perfect vehicle for your trip.

At DetourNZ, we work closely with a large majority of rental companies, offering a variety of models classified according to the number of passengers, the general quality of the vehicle and price.
 
So please contact our local advisor in Auckland, who will help you find the best options for your stay.
You can contact your advisor here and we will respond within 48 hours.
 

 

We have more 2 berth motorhomes available

 

We have more 4 berth motorhomes available

We have more 6 berth motorhomes available

Size: There are 3 sizes of motorhome, the 2 berth for 1 or 2 people, the 4 berth which are for 4 people maximum and finally the 6 berth. The bigger the size, the more expensive the price. Note that the prices for 4 and 6 berth are quite similar but there is a significant price difference between 2 and 4 berth

Age of vehicle: The newer the camper, the more expensive the price.
We have divided them into 3 categories to simplify your research. The "platinum" range which offers motorhomes between 0 and 3 years old, the "silver" category which are motorhomes between 3 and 5 years old and finally the "Bronze" category which are motorhomes older than 5 years.

Season: If you travel in winter, between May and August, the prices are the most interesting. Between September and November, it is spring, prices increase slowly but remain interesting. In summer, between December and March, it is the high season, the prices are the most expensive. In Autumn, prices remain quite high but fall slowly.

Supply and demand: The earlier you book, the cheaper the prices are. In fact, if you book 90 days in advance, you generally have between 3 and 5% reduction included. By booking early there are also all vehicles available, so it is possible to reserve recent motorhomes at very good prices. The further we go in time, the fewer vehicles remain and generally it is not the cheapest ones that remain. Likewise, as the travel date approaches, prices change and increase like plane tickets. The majority of rental companies review their prices every week and change them based on their remaining availability and competition.

All motorhome rental companies include standard/minimum insurance in the base price but you must pay an excess of between 5000 and 7500NZD. This means that in the event of an accident, whether it is your fault or not, you must pay for repairs equal to the maximum amount of the excess.

If you do not want to have an excess to pay in the event of an accident, even if it is not your fault, it is preferable to take out all-inclusive insurance from the rental company which buys back the excess in its entirety. Note that I'm talking about insurance but it's more of a liability reduction option. This “insurance” generally also includes paid options such as camping table and chairs, chemical tablets for toilets, etc.
 
The rental company may also offer partial excess reduction options. For example, instead of paying $65 for all-inclusive insurance, you only pay $45 and your excess is now $4000 instead of $7500. We do not recommend this option because it is the worst of both worlds, you pay insurance but in the event of an accident you also have to pay a high excess.

We therefore advise either taking the all-inclusive "insurance" or only the standard "insurance" included in the price.

Please note that we offer a similar cover from the motorhome company at a fraction of the price. Please ask about this option.
 

 

Traveling by motorhome in New Zealand is undeniably the best way to discover this magnificent country. Given the immensity of New Zealand's territory, the road is an integral part of the adventure.

Having your own "home" on wheels offers you complete freedom, unforgettable experiences, unique adventure and discovery of the true beauty of both islands.
Whether you are with family, a couple or friends, a campervan or motorhome is the ideal choice for exploring New Zealand.
The infrastructures for motorhomes are also very numerous. There are lots of campsites, both paid and free, lots of dump stations all over the country to empty your waste waters and plenty of place to stop and unwind.

Likewise, the large cities being few in number, it is not difficult to move around the country.
Generally, the country makes it very easy to travel in a motorhome.

 

New Zealand can be visited all year round and each season has its advantages and disadvantages.
It all depends on what you are looking for: summer for exceptional weather, autumn for a calm and relaxing New Zealand, winter for skiing and discovering the country from another angle or spring to be dazzled by the nature waking up.
But if we had to prioritize two periods, we would advise:

The end of summer and the beginning of autumn (April / May).
The weather is still very good, temperatures are pleasant during the day, there are few tourists on the roads and rental prices are attractive.

Late spring (mid-October/November)
Nature takes back its rights and it is an explosion of color and life during this period. There are rain showers but they pass quickly. It's still cool but it's a pleasant and invigorating freshness. The rental price is also attractive.

For more information, visit our page "Weather in New Zealand"
 

 
New Zealand is full of magnificent places to spend your night in a motorhome, whether in a paid campsite, on a farm, on the banks of a river or in a regional or national park. Here are the 4 types of campsite you find in New Zealand.
 
PAID CAMPSITES
The 2 major camping chains of paid campsite, Top 10 and Kiwi Holiday Park.
The Top 10 are the equivalent of 4**** campsites.  They have excellent infrastructure and are located in magnificent areas
The Kiwi Holiday parks are simpler but still very well equipped.
There are also paid campsites which are not part of these two chains but which are of very good quality.

PRIVATE PROPERTIES
Being a specialist in motorhome rental in New Zealand, we have a specific partner network for this type of trip. Our partner Okay To Stay offers a subscription to stay on farms, vineyards, local producers, and with locals in general. There are more than a hundred addresses that allow you to discover New Zealand in a different way.

FREEDOM CAMPING
It is possible to go freedom camping in New Zealand if your vehicle is "self contained". To be "self contained", your vehicle must have a fixed toilet inside, a waste water tank, a fresh water tank, a sink and a trash can with lid.
In addition to being able to do freedom camping, New Zealand has made hundreds of free camping places available to travelers across the country. Ask us to find out more.

DOC CAMPSITES
DOC (Department Of Conservation) campsites are a state-run organization that looks after national and regional parks. The DOC offers campers the possibility of staying on their site. Infrastructure is generally basic. There are no showers, few toilets, few or no play areas but they are located in nature, at the edge of lakes, forests, rivers.
DOC campsites are classified as Basic, Standard or Serviced (with infrastructure) and prices are set accordingly, from free for basic to $20/adult for Serviced. You can also subscribe for a 30 days memberships for 95NZD  /adult and 47.5NZD / child. It is free for infant

 

 

Putting together an itinerary for a trip to New Zealand can seem complicated. It is important to make your itinerary based on your travel time in the country. Too often we get feedback from travelers who tell us that they overextended, that they were too ambitious.

We offer all travelers an itinerary for their stay in New Zealand.

If you are traveling for 21 days or more, you have time to visit both islands without problem.
If you travel between 15 and 21 days, you can visit both New Zealand islands but you will have to make compromises.
If you are traveling between 10 days and 15 days, you can visit the South Island or the North Island of New Zealand.
If you are traveling less than 10 days, we advise you to visit the North Island only

You can find here the best itineraries for a holiday in New Zealand