In New Zealand, exploring its landscape by looking through a campervan’s windows has become a norm for travelers, especially due to its awesome and diverse scenery.

This has led so many companies to offer cars and vans for rental to visitors coming to explore the country.

As a result of the amusement people derive from Campervanning, it’s already added to the bucket list of a lot of travelers, and this is the main reason we’ve decided to showcase some of the helpful tips that’ll guide you toward getting a campervan for your trip in New Zealand.

Top 5 Tips To Consider Before Going on a Campervan Trip in New Zealand

Parking With a Campervan

Even though you’re on a tour, there are some parking restrictions that you need to be aware of. You can’t park your vehicle in any place you wish to, regardless of the type and size of the vehicle you are using.

However, motorhome travel parking lots are indicated along tourist routes and towns.

Therefore, you must locate a parking spot for your vehicle before parking it. However, it is important to note that the larger your vehicle, the more difficult it will be to find a parking space nearby.

Although a larger vehicle has the advantage of being luxurious, you still have to think about the size of your self-contained Campervan if you don’t want to roam the streets in search of a parking space.

Restore Your Dump Stations

Since self-contained campervans are equipped with toilets, whenever you flush them, the bowl or container remains in your vehicle until disposed of. Hence, you must empty them regularly and dispose of them at an appropriate dump station.

In New Zealand, dump stations can be easily found by the roadside or within various campsites. Most importantly, their fees are usually included in the camping site fee or are mostly free of cost.

Even though your van’s toilet has a significant advantage, you may decide to use it as a “B” option if you can locate public toilets around or use the toilets at the campsite or cafés, especially when you aren’t good at maintaining the one in your camper, to prevent it from stinking all over.

Many travelers use the toilets in their self-contained campervans when necessary, like at night or when they feel like it’s an emergency.

Purchase or Hire it?

This might solely depend on your preference and how long you are willing to stay in New Zealand, but let’s perform a rough analysis.

It may take up to one week or more to find a campervan, buy it, and register it, among other minor issues. Afterward, you can spend up to a month looking for a buyer, especially during the summer when you may be forced to sell it at almost half the price you bought it, if indeed you come across any buyer.

However, buying a camper may be handy if you can sell it for close to the price you paid and without much hassle.

As for the rentals, you might spend just 25NZD per day to rent a cheap camper, and an expensive one might cost you above 500NZD per day, but this depends on the season from which you are traveling.

This shows that it is much better to rent a camper if you are spending less than three months camping.

Should I Go for Self-contained Campervans or not?

Opting for self-contained campervans is beyond just having your toilet on the go, but most parking sites that host self-contained campervans are primarily free for the whole night you’ll be spending.

Unlikely, if your vehicle is not self-contained, finding a free parking spot for the night will be challenging. In addition, if you’re not self-contained, you will most likely be parking in paid campsites with toilets, which may cost you $5-50 extra.

While choosing a vehicle type, you need to pay attention to the above, as self-contained vehicles are more expensive but can still cut your campsite charges along the lane.

What Size is Preferred?

Suppose you’re looking for luxurious camping while being more comfortable. In that case, a larger camper, such as the 5m luxury van, is the way to go, especially when you’re in a group (some big motorhomes can bed up to six people).

The larger your camper is, the more comfortable you get, but there are other cons we can’t afford to sideline. These facts will incur more costs, in addition to difficulty in driving and parking with larger vehicles.

Perhaps you should opt for a tiny or two-person van, as it is easy to park and drive and can be secured at a lower cost.

We hope this guide will help you find the best campervan for your next trip to New Zealand.