Hiring A Campervan In New Zealand – Mad Campers & Escape Rentals Review

Last Updated on 6th January 2026

AD | This post about hiring a campervan in New Zealand contains mentions of collaborative work with Mad Campers and Escape Rentals. No obligation to post. See my disclaimer for more.

When it comes to hiring a campervan in New Zealand, Matt and I have had a fair bit of experience knowing which companies to choose, the different road trip routes to take, plus what to look out for when hiring a campervan.

If you’ve got a New Zealand road trip planned and you want to know more about hiring a campervan in New Zealand, how to find the best campervan rental in New Zealand, or you’re just curious as to how it works, check out my extensive guide below!

P.S. This post also includes an amazing deal for Mad Campers in New Zealand so continue reading to find it!

Read more: The Ultimate New Zealand Bucket List – 70 Best NZ Bucket List Ideas

Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – which company is best?

Choosing a campervan company in New Zealand to rent from can be quite overwhelming and somewhat stressful.

For however long you plan to hire it, it’s going to be your base for the foreseeable future. You’ll cook in it, sleep in it, drive many miles and spend an awful lot of time generally pottering around in it. Therefore, it’s imperative that you’re well-equipped with the necessary knowledge before making your decision on which company to hire a campervan from.

Thankfully, during our 5 week South Island New Zealand road trip, Matt and I worked with both Escape Rentals (3 weeks) and Mad Campers (just over 2 weeks) to see how they both faired when it came to embarking on a long-distance road trip.

Check out my reviews of both companies below, including features, pros and cons of each to see which is the best campervan rental in New Zealand!

Mad Campers

Our adventure with Mad Campers began on the second leg of our South Island New Zealand road trip and we worked with them for just over two weeks.

*(In terms of full disclosure, Mad Campers offered us a reduced media rate on the total cost of our hire purchase and insurance).*

Mad Campers were an incredible company to work with and their staff and helpline were second to none; we had an issue with our car keys and the alarm system on our van for the first couple of days but they sorted it out as soon as we could get to the nearest garage in Kaikoura! They were so responsive and helpful and really couldn’t have done more to sort it out straight away.

As for the van itself, it was noticeably smaller than the Escape Rentals van but it was still perfectly ideal for two people. The lack of storage proved to be a slight hindrance to us at first but I think that was largely just because it was winter. While there’s very little storage inside the van, there is a hugely spacious roof rack which would be ideal in the summer, but slightly harder in the winter as it rained a lot which meant we didn’t want to keep having to go up and get things out!

The bed was easier to convert back into the seats and table position and while the fridge is located underneath one of the seats, it was really nice to have somewhere constantly cool to keep our perishables!

I think the main stand-out feature that I loved about Mad Campers is that their vans come equipped with USB power points, LED lighting and the ability to run the fridge near-constantly thanks to the innovative second battery.

This meant that we didn’t have to stay at powered sites as much as we were able to just charge all our electronics while we were driving (driving just a few miles also charges the second battery so we never, ever run out!).

I love how modern the Mad Campers vans are and how innovative their features are; they’re a great campervan hire company in New Zealand and I’m so glad we got the chance to work with them on our South Island road trip!

Average prices for a 22-day trip

Summer prices: From Christchurch to Christchurch: daily rate of $160 (plus a daily rate of $30 for fully comped insurance).

Winter prices: From Christchurch to Christchurch: daily rate of $50 (plus a daily rate of $30 for fully comped insurance).

Use ‘GIRL5’ and receive 5% off your Mad Campers booking!

Features

• Sink with an extendable hose
• Pull-out drawer for a kitchen with a built-in gas cooker
• Crockery, cutlery, pots and pans included as standard
• LPG bottle
• Portable toilet
• USB ports inside the van which work from the second battery
• Roll-down curtains which kept almost every bit of light out at night
• Safe hidden inside the van
• Fleece blanket and hot water bottles (for when it’s cold!)

Remember to use ‘GIRL5’ and receive 5% off your booking!

Pros

• Lighting is SO much better inside the van
• Easier to set up the bed
• A second battery that the fridge and power runs on
• No real need to stay at powered sites as long as your second battery doesn’t run out

Cons

• Very limited storage space
• A smaller bed and the sink gets in the way quite a bit when you’re lying down
• Not as comfortable to drive; the seats are quite rigid
• Unable to stand up inside
• No heater or extension cable to plug in at powered sites

Remember to use ‘GIRL5’ for your Mad Campers campervan hire booking!

Escape Rentals

*In terms of full disclosure throughout this post, we were very kindly offered our Escape Rentals van for free for three weeks; we did however pay for the insurance ourselves.*

Escape Rentals offer both standard and self-contained campervans which both sleep up to 3 people.

All Escape Rental’s vans are Nissan Caravans with a 2L petrol engine. While the vans are all the same make and model, every single one is spray-painted with an entirely unique and artistic design. This was definitely a stand-out feature for me when choosing a campervan company in New Zealand as every single other company all have the same designs on every van. It also meant that our particular van (aptly named Wax Eye due to the giant Wax Eye birds spray-painted all over the van) was incredibly photogenic and made for some awesome Instagram snaps!

The van was relatively easy and comfortable to drive and it did pretty well on petrol (between 300km and 400km depending on the road conditions/routes we took).

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me talk (read: complain) about the numerous days we woke up to icicles inside the actual van. While this was certainly an adventure and a funny story to look back on, at the time it was almost unbearable.

Temperatures dropped to -6° on some nights in the van and even though it was the middle of the winter when we were doing our South Island road trip, it was still pretty unexpected for it to get that cold inside!

I still wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again but I do think that Escape should consider looking into better insulation for the vans; I’m sure they’re fine in summer but it was remarkably cold in the winter!

Other than that, we really loved our time in the Escape Rentals van; they’re affordable, the staff are so friendly and helpful and the designs on every single van are unique, fun and so cool!

Estimated prices for a 22-day trip

Summer prices: From Christchurch to Christchurch: daily rate of $123.14 (plus a daily rate of $35 for fully comped insurance).

Winter prices: From Christchurch to Christchurch: daily rate of $51 (plus a daily rate of $35 for fully comped insurance).

As you can see, it’s significantly cheaper to hire a campervan in winter so if you can cope with the cold, I would always recommend a winter road trip!

Features

• Standard insurance (with the option to upgrade)
• 300+ litres of storage
• Queen-sized bed, 2 duvets, 3 pillows as standard
• Gas stove and gas container
• Sink with running water
• Mains powered heater and lamp
• Additional drivers at no extra cost
• Crockery, cutlery, pans and pots are all included
• 3 free beach chairs
• 240V powered cable for connection at powered sites
• Cool box
• Portable toilet

Pros

• Incredibly cool and unique vans (over 200 vans in Auckland and Christchurch depots and each one has an individual design)
• So much storage space (300+ litres throughout the van!)
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Super friendly staff who are incredibly helpful with any questions you have
• Much bigger bed space
• Comfier seats (and a more comfortable driver’s seat)
• Very fuel efficient (between 300km and 400km depending on where you’ll be driving)

Cons

• No fridge but there is a cool box
• The seat/bed covers were a bit old and tattered in our van; they just need a bit of an upholstery job!
• Very cold during the winter months inside the van as there’s very little insulation
• Can’t stand up inside

Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – Escape Rentals or Mad Campers?

When people ask me which company I preferred when it comes to hiring a campervan in New Zealand, I genuinely couldn’t give a straight answer.

Both companies are incredible in their own unique ways and each company had pros and cons when it comes to hiring a van from them.

Escape Rentals will always have a special place in my heart, particularly the Wax Eye campervan, as that was the first ever camper I spent a prolonged period of time in. It was incredibly roomy, comfortable to both drive and sleep in and came equipped with plenty of necessary camping essentials. However, it was also very old and a bit tattered and it was remarkably cold in the winter.

On the other hand, Mad Campers’ vans are much more modern and have so many nooks and crannies as well as incredibly cool features such as LED lighting, a built-in fridge and USB slots. However, the inside of the van was smaller, there was much less storage space and it was slightly less comfortable to drive.

It really depends on what you’re looking for in your campervan when choosing a company to hire from in New Zealand. Hopefully, I’ve helped you to weigh up the pros and cons of both companies to make your decision a bit easier!

For further research (or just to confuse you even more!) I’ve also included a list of other companies for campervan hire in New Zealand below.

Remember to use ‘GIRL5’ and receive 5% off your booking!

Other companies to consider – hiring a campervan in New Zealand

Jucy Rentals

Jucy Rentals are one the most popular companies for campervan hire in New Zealand; we saw so many varieties of the Jucy vans while we were travelling through New Zealand and while I don’t have experience of using them myself, I know that they come very highly recommended by fellow travellers.

They have so many different vehicles including basic non-self-contained cars, high-top campervans as well as vans that are an incredibly similar shape and size to Escape Rentals!

Average summer hire prices for 22 days: between $86 for a standard Toyota car to $152 for a Toyota high-top van (excl insurance).

Average winter hire prices for 22 days: between $25 for a standard Toyota car to $41 for a Toyota high-top van (excl insurance).

Maui

As you’ll see from the expensive prices below, Maui and Britz are on the very expensive end of the campervan price range.

While their vans are incredibly lush and often come with a shower and a toilet (think luxury motorhome as opposed to campervan!), the prices are just way too expensive for my liking!

Having said that, they did seem incredibly popular throughout New Zealand, but I would definitely say they’re more suited to older travellers, as opposed to backpackers.

Average summer hire prices for 22 days: $387 a day for 2 people (excl insurance).

Average winter hire prices for 22 days: $142 a day for 2 people (excl insurance).

Britz

As I mentioned above, Britz is one of the most expensive campervan companies in New Zealand.

Their vans are incredibly well designed though and will definitely provide you with luxury accommodation and transport throughout your road trip!

Average summer hire prices for 22 days: between $177 and $344 a day for 2 people (excl insurance).

Average winter hire prices for 22 days: $85 a day for 2 people (excl insurance).

Spaceship

Spaceship Rentals are similar to Jucy Rentals in that they offer a vast range of different campervan options. However, their main “selling point” is that they’re not self-contained and are essentially just converted cars with a bed inside.

This kind of campervan is great if you’re looking for something much smaller and a lot easier to drive than the likes of Escape vans or Britz and Maui. However, you should be prepared that you can’t freedom camp in New Zealand with a Spaceships campervan and you will also likely be pretty limited on space!

Average summer hire prices for 22 days: between $90 and $141 a day (excl insurance).

Average winter hire prices for 22 days: between $20 and $52 a day (excl insurance).

*All prices shown are in New Zealand Dollars.

Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – my top tips

1. Start researching well in advance of your trip

One of the top tips you need to bear in mind when hiring a campervan in New Zealand is to start your research well in advance of your trip.

Escape Rentals were telling us that during the summer months (so December, January and February) in New Zealand, there’s always a huge waiting list and there’s a constant stream of vans being hired in and out.

In order to avoid disappointment (and to get the best van that you want), make sure you start researching in plenty of time before your trip commences.

2. Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – self-contained or non-self-contained campervan?

Another thing to consider is whether you’re looking for a self-contained or non-self-contained van in New Zealand.

Self-contained: “A self-contained campervan is a vehicle that can function without outside resources. Certified motorhomes include a toilet and water container that holds greywater (from the sink and shower if applicable) and septic waste.”

Non-self-contained: No contained waste or water facilities. These types of campervans are usually much smaller and less spacious.

Deciding which type of van to go for is really dependent on your budget, expectations and what type of camping experience you’re looking for. Escape Rentals offer great self-contained and standard vehicles, whereas Mad Campers only offer self-contained and in my opinion, you should aim to go self-contained as there are fewer restrictions on where you can park and what you can do with your van.

3. Get quotes from different companies

While you’re conducting your research on which campervan hire company you might want to go for, it’s a good idea to get quotes from a few different companies.

Before we secured our collaboration with either Escape Rentals or Mad Campers, I did plenty of research and got quotes from many different companies, including Britz and Jucy as well.

While every campervan will be different and have its own unique features, if you’re just looking for a pretty standard self-contained van (such as the ones that Escape, Mad and Jucy offer), then you can be pretty flexible with the company you choose.

Check out their prices for the dates you want and see if there’s any huge difference. The best campervan companies in New Zealand (in my opinion!) such as Escape, Spaceships, Jucy and Mad Campers are all quite similarly competitively priced. Whereas the likes of Maui, Britz and Mighty are all on the more expensive range of campervan hire costs in New Zealand.

Read more: 3 Months In New Zealand Cost – Is New Zealand Expensive?

4. Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – be realistic with your expectations

Another top tip to bear in mind when hiring a campervan in New Zealand is that you should be realistic with your expectations.

Ultimately, you’re going to be living in a campervan; it’s not going to be a luxurious stay in a lavish hotel. Managing your expectations and being realistic about what you want out of #vanlife means that you’ll be more prepared for any mishaps or disappointments when it comes to hiring your van.

It might be a good idea to lay out some of your expectations beforehand so you know exactly what you’re looking for when doing research; do you want it to be self-contained? Does it need to have a fridge? Are you looking for more storage space or would you prefer something smaller and easier to drive?

Asking yourself these questions before you start researching and booking your campervan hire will put you in good stead.

5. Take a look at the extras

Depending on which campervan company you hire your vehicle through, will depend on the inclusions and extras that come with the hire.

For example, Escape Rentals vans include things such as beach chairs, gas cookers and a chilly bin. Whereas with Mad Campers, you’ll have to hire them separately.

This is an important factor to bear in mind when looking at hiring a campervan in New Zealand as having to pay for extras is likely to drive the hire cost up quite significantly.

6. Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – check out the pickup and drop-off locations

While New Zealand is a fairly sizeable country, there are very limited places throughout the country where you can actually pick up a campervan.

Escape Rentals and Mad Campers both only have pick-up and drop-off locations in Auckland and Christchurch, whereas Jucy has pick-up and drop-off in Queenstown and Wellington as well as Auckland and Christchurch.

Consider the length of your trip and how far you’re going to travel across the country. Our New Zealand road trip was only around the South Island so it made sense for us to pick up and drop off our van in Christchurch.

7. Be aware of the diesel tax

In New Zealand, various taxes and levies are included in the price of petrol when you buy it at the petrol station.

However, for diesel vehicles, there’s something called the ‘diesel tax’ in which road users are required to contribute to the taxes slightly differently.

According to the AA, “Owners of diesel-powered vehicles (and other fuels that aren’t taxed at the pump) are charged for road use in accordance to how many kilometres they travel and the type and weight of the vehicle. They pay a set amount for every 1,000 kilometres travelled.”

I’m not entirely sure how the diesel tax works when it comes to hiring campervans in New Zealand as the two vans we hired were both petrol but it’s important to bear this fact in mind and double-check with your campervan hire company.

Diesel is significantly cheaper than petrol in New Zealand which may seem like a great thing throughout your entire trip, but once you have to hand your campervan back and pay a hefty tax on the number of kilometres you’ve travelled, you’ll soon be wishing you’d checked beforehand!

Read more: 33 Fun Facts About New Zealand

8. Hiring a campervan in New Zealand – there are seasonal fluctuations in price

This point is a fairly obvious one I think as you can see from the price quotations and estimations above, there’s a significant difference in the price of hiring a campervan in New Zealand between summer and winter!

Despite our winter road trip being incredibly cold a lot of the time, I really don’t think I’d do it any differently and if you can hack the cold weather, I’d definitely recommend a road trip in winter rather than summer; just look at all the money you’ll be saving!

Not only that, but the roads are remarkably quieter in the winter months and campsites across the country are also much cheaper and quieter as well!

Read more: How Much Money We Spent Travelling NZ, Australia & Southeast Asia

9. Think about whether you’ll be using the ferry crossing on your road trip

As I’m sure you’ll know, New Zealand is split into two main islands; the North and the South. We spent 6 weeks on the North Island at the beginning of our time in New Zealand but then we flew to Christchurch to begin our campervan road trip.

However, if you’ll be traversing across both islands on your New Zealand road trip, you’ll need to remember to factor in the cost of crossing the ferry.

Prices for the ferry vary immensely depending on different vans, the time of year, how many people are crossing, plus numerous other factors.

If you plan to drive from Auckland to Christchurch for example, make sure you remember to factor in the cost of your ferry crossing (or look out for campervan companies who offer discounts when you hire through them!).

Read more: North Island vs South Island New Zealand – Which Island Is Better?

This post turned out to be significantly longer than I intended but I really wanted to ensure that I included as much information as possible about hiring a campervan in New Zealand so that you’re fully prepared for your trip!

Related posts:

• The Ultimate 5-Week South Island New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary
• 15 Best Freedom Camping Spots In South Island New Zealand
• The Best Paid Campsites in South Island New Zealand
• How To Make The Most Out Of Your New Zealand Road Trip
• What Is New Zealand Famous For? 40 Things That Make New Zealand Special
• The Ultimate Guide To House Sitting In New Zealand

Pin for later – hiring a campervan in New Zealand

Is hiring a campervan in New Zealand on your travel bucket list? Do you have any more questions or want to know more about our road trip to New Zealand? Let me know in the comments, via email or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.