Coming to New Zealand was a dream come true, but the hotel industry neither suited my budget nor did car rental give me the comfort and access I wanted to enjoy while exploring New Zealand.
Hi, I am Sarah from England. Bristol is my home. In late March 2026, I decided to rent a campervan in Christchurch, and budget was my first problem at the end of my 2-year-long journey from the USA to Australia via New Zealand, to end it in Bali.
Why Self-Contained Campervan Hire Made a Difference
Now, most campervans I looked at under ‘freedom camping NZ rules’ were old, built with pallet wood, foam mattresses with odour, and curtains already flying into my face during my viewing to select a road companion for my one-month trip in New Zealand. Bad smells made me sick, and nothing was helping until I visited Rent-A-Camper business in Christchurch by Myst Enterprise Ltd.
At first sight, most of my questions were answered. The curtains this certified self-contained campervan had, I had never seen before anywhere in Australia or in New Zealand—simple, beautiful, all the way back, and providing complete privacy with total blackout. I was sold already but feared there might be some hidden prices.
Finding the Right Campervan for Couples and Families or Solo Soul.
The campervan bed looked only 160 cm long when the staff was showing me around. Then they stretched it out like a puzzle case by turning it into 2 metres long, with a complete day-setting sofa-bed campervan. The cleanliness was saying that it had never been used before, but interestingly, another 2 renters had it for over 2 months. It was a 2 berth campervan so ample space for a solo soul.
What I Expected from an Affordable Campervan Hire
The self-containment campervan kitchen was my concern, and this van gave me 3 options to cook and prepare my food. A sleek and fancy slide-out kitchen from underneath the bed at the rear end (tailgate), one small slide-out kitchenette from behind the driver’s seat, and within the campervan belly, ample space to put my stove in worse weather conditions.
The toilet was supposed to be filthy and smelly, but what made my decision to go with Rent-A-Camper was that the toilet was clean as new. They said if it generated any odour, they threw away the waste cassette and replaced it with a new one for each customer. I was shocked.
Comparing Campervan Hire Cost and Campervan Hire Price
On top of my daily booking rates, insurance was a disaster for my limited budget. The company helped me with the best insurance through their policy, and instead of paying over 1,300 NZD for 30 days, it hardly cost me around $400 NZD.
A few things were missing to meet my little demands, like a dust-cleaning brush, some bags and an extra 4th blanket, lol, as I get super cold and, in late March, nights were getting slightly colder. Within the next 30 minutes, my wish list was provided at no extra cost.
I had my massive backpack to store, millions of life-saving jackets, shoes, clothing and stuff, and found 16+ storage options in this campervan. The RV fridge in this campervan was available along with a power station to go off grid.
10 Questions to Ask Before Campervan Rental in New Zealand
My questions list that I was searching on ChatGPT to find a campervan for hire in New Zealand before I committed was as below, and I found them all here. If your list is the same or similar, you know where to go to find your dream campervan.
How much does campervan hire in New Zealand cost, and what should I expect to pay for my campervan hire?
Is this a self-contained campervan, and will I be able to enjoy freedom camping in New Zealand?
Does the campervan come with a toilet, and is a campervan with a toilet better for travelling and freedom camping in New Zealand?
Is it an automatic campervan, and will an automatic campervan make driving around New Zealand easier and more comfortable?
What is included with the campervan rental—bedding, a campervan kitchen, fridge, camping equipment and everything I need for my journey?
What campervan insurance options are available, and what would happen if something went wrong during my campervan hire?
How much space and campervan storage will I have for my luggage, clothes and everything I need for a New Zealand road trip?
Is this campervan suitable for couples and families, and will we have enough space to sleep and live comfortably during our New Zealand road trip?
Is this a good option for South Island campervan hire, and can I take the campervan to the places I want to see during my New Zealand road trip?
What happens if the campervan breaks down while I am travelling, and is campervan roadside assistance or 24-hour roadside assistance included?
Other than the fact that each and every one of my concerns was answered with the products, services and quality, the most important thing I wanted to share is that, during my one-month trip in New Zealand, the staff kept checking on me from time to time, asking if everything was okay, if I was comfortable, or if I needed any assistance or help at all.
I felt so comfortable, like at home, and kind of encouraged that I didn’t have a sense of being lonely there. These people do care about their customers in every possible way they can.
The trip ended with my big hugs to the beautiful campervan, a warm cup of coffee from the friendly staff and a free ride to the next bus stop. A 5-star rating I offered in return as a big thanks to their main company homepage, Myst Enterprise Ltd.
Where did I go during my campervan trip in south Island in New Zealand?
This campervan took me to Wanaka—oh, That Wanaka Tree. I loved hiking Roy’s Peak, but, man, my legs kept crying for days after that. Lake Te Anau kept my soul there and sent my body back to come back again. Milford Sound, its waterfalls and its magical drive left my eyes wide open and not blinking in case I missed anything.
Queenstown was beautiful, but I kept going in and out to places from there. For sure, Fergburger’s long waiting line was somehow an exciting experience for me. Arrowtown was so silent, quiet and peaceful that I thought it was a living ghost town. I would certainly do gold panning in Arrowtown next time I happen to be there.
I went to Nelson, taking the long route from Wanaka via Fox Glacier, and stayed there a few days before landing in Nelson via Pancake Rocks. Bloody great experience, man. Fox Glacier has so much to offer, but you would need to find it out for yourself.
I made a long U-turn towards Arthur’s Pass and back to Greymouth on my way to Nelson. The Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall there was epic. Please try the hike there. Nelson was something amazing. Split Apple Rock and Kaiteriteri Beach gave the vibes you get nowhere else.
I tried a one-day walk instead of 3 nights in the huts from Marahau in Abel Tasman. They call it one of the Great Walks in New Zealand. It was a breathtaking view and experience I will never forget.
On my way back, I had no time to stay in lovely Christchurch, as I had already spent almost a week searching for the right campervan there before I found this gem. There is a place near Castle Hill, near Christchurch, called Cave Stream. I heard a lot about it but couldn’t do it. Well, next one.
I wish you the best of luck with your travelling in New Zealand, and I hope you have a fabulous experience like I had in New Zealand with the help and cooperation of the Rent-A-Camper team.