Campervans for hire in Christchurch - Quirky Campers New Zealand Skip to main content
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Start your trip in Christchurch

Quirky Campers connects you with privately owned, handcrafted campervans based across Christchurch and Canterbury. Every hire includes comprehensive insurance, 24/7 AA roadside assistance, unlimited kilometres and a personal handover from the van owner.

✓ Real vans, real character

No depot and no anonymous fleet vehicle. Choose a one-of-a-kind campervan designed and cared for by its owner in Christchurch.

✓ Christchurch-wide collection

Pick up directly from the owner’s home in Christchurch. The specific address and handover details are confirmed before travel.

✓ Freedom to explore

Head into the mountains or up the coast without kilometre limits, and ask about one-way hire if your trip finishes elsewhere.

Happy campers hiring in Christchurch

Independent Google reviews from people who have travelled with Quirky Campers NZ.

Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My second time renting with Quirky did not disappoint! These vans are truly instagram-worthy and each detail is thoughtfully curated and purposeful. Especially great for first timers or van-life "curious" - the experts have designed these vans and thought of everything! Vallery was a gallery of curated art, very unique, eclectic and beautiful. Had everything I needed for my first time "freedom camping"! Simon was awesome to rent from and always responsive if I were to need help! Already looking forward to my next trip with a quirky van.
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Amelia Bauer
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Vallery is such a fun van to take on the road. Small enough to park in town but spacious enough to feel like a mini home away from home. She is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable holiday. Host Simon was also really helpful in explaining the relevant details and providing tips for the trip.
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Kaf M
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I had the best week away in Mary Rose! Matt was really helpful and accommodating, helping me to make my trip work quite last-minute, and he gave me lots of really helpful recommendations. Mary Rose is a beautiful and very-thoughtfully set up van with everything I could have needed. She was very comfortable to stay in and straightforward to handle. I would definitely recommend her, and Quirky Campers, for a trip away!
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Alice Gadsby
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had an absolutely fantastic experience renting a campervan through Quirky Campers for our 10-day South Island adventure in New Zealand (March 9–18). From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Our van—a Toyota Hiace named Moana—was in impeccable condition: spotlessly clean, thoughtfully designed, and clearly very well cared for despite having some miles on it. It was also incredibly easy to drive, which made a big difference since it felt just as manageable as a regular car. The bed was especially comfortable and more than spacious enough for the two of us, making for great nights of sleep after long days exploring. One of the standout features was the clever storage design. The pullout shelves beneath the bed were perfect for stowing our backpacks and hiking poles, keeping everything organized and easily accessible without cluttering the living space. Pickup and drop-off couldn’t have been smoother. It was just a quick 20-minute Uber from the airport to the owners’ home, where Ronnie and Rebecca welcomed us warmly. They took the time to walk us through every feature of the van and even shared their personal contact information in case we needed help on the road. When we returned the van, they were genuinely excited to hear about our journey and even invited us in for coffee—an offer we would have loved to accept if not for a flight to catch. Customer service was excellent throughout. Even before arriving in New Zealand, the team at Quirky Campers was quick to respond to our questions and made sure we had everything we needed. We explored an incredible route through the South Island—Christchurch, Franz Josef Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, and Lake Tekapo—and having such a reliable, comfortable campervan made the entire experience that much better. We had zero issues during the trip and would rent Moana from Ronnie and Rebecca again in a heartbeat. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a painless, memorable campervan adventure in New Zealand!
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Sean Taylor
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When I was searching the many camper-van hire options, I kept coming back to Quirky Campers and I am so glad I did! My friend and I hired 'Vallery' - a camper van with artistic flair! The two bed camper (one large queen-size bed and smaller single bed) was equipped with everything we needed including cooking pots and utensils, super comfortable pillows and doonas, deck chairs for lazing on, towels, fully functional camp kitchen, 'proper' coffee with stove top percolator, USB ports, power-points for laptop charging, and creatively decked out with artwork in every corner, draw and cupboard! And not to forget the lighting! - stars on the ceiling, dimmable lights ... yep, Vallery has it all! AND is super easy to drive, handles the roads well - not too big for tackling windy NZ roads. The booking process was quick and easy and Simon was great to deal with. If we were unsure about how anything worked, he was there to help. I'm already planning my next trip and will definitely book through Quirky Campers again - can't recommend them highly enough!
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Willow Conway
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We spent 6 nights in Juniper and had a fantastic time exploring the north island. She’s well equipped with everything you could need, and very comfortable to spend time in. Pick up and drop-off was super easy with Kim and everything we needed to know was shown to us. Would highly recommend a trip in Juniper!
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Matt Guest profile picture
Matt Guest
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Such an easy and smooth process - thank you so much! The campervans are clearly well maintained and looked after - a lot of thought has gone into them. Really responsive to all my queries, I could not fault anything!
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Thompson-Hall Family
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Great experience - smooth pick up and drop off, great van, and prompt support for all of my questions throughout! We rented Mary Rose for a one way trip from Queenstown to Christchurch and would highly recommend!
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Sonja Peterson
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Sunny is incredible. Fully reliable for a month in the South Island, exceptionally well thought through and equipped, spacious (plenty of room for myself and my 6’3 partner! He could stand up fully with no issues- hooray!), and a very comfortable bed. Sunny’s owner gave us a full run through so that we started the trip fully confident. She was only a text or phone call away if we ever needed assistance or further information, and she is just an incredible host! Because quirky campers aren’t a mainstream brand like Maui or Jucy, you get a better van. Better equipment, it’s more thought through, more loved, and truly unique. Quirky campers have also been amazing to contact throughout the rental process, providing all the answers no matter how many questions we asked! Super friendly and super helpful staff, especially James who gave quick and informative responses to all emails! Could not recommend this van more, truly made our trip the amazing experience it was.
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Hannah G profile picture
Hannah G
Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula near Christchurch

WHY START IN CHRISTCHURCH?

South Island gateway. Alps and ocean within easy reach.

Christchurch makes arrivals easy without making the adventure ordinary. Quirky Campers are available to hire across the wider Christchurch region, and all are within easy reach of the airport or the central city:

  • Central Christchurch
  • Sumner & the Bays
  • North Canterbury
  • Selwyn
  • Banks Peninsula

Collect from your van owner and get comfortable with your chosen camper. Then toggle alpine passes, wild coastline, a volcanic harbour or Christchurch’s rebuilt city centre, all before your longer South Island roadie begins.

DISTINCTIVE CHRISTCHURCH DAYS

48 hours in Christchurch: A simple plan

After your personal handover, stock up locally, then pick the Christchurch experience that suits the weather, your energy and the direction of your wider trip.

01
Lyttelton Harbour viewed from the Port Hills

Head for the hills and the harbour

Loop through the Port Hills to Lyttelton, a compact volcanic harbour town of cafes and boat trips, then finish at Sumner Beach for lunch by the sand. Take the Gondola up Mt Cavendish first to see the whole city, the plains and the Southern Alps in one view. The full loop is under an hour’s drive.

02
Akaroa lighthouse and harbour at sunset

Cross to Akaroa

If a slower day appeals, drive over Banks Peninsula to Akaroa, a French-founded township wrapped around a volcanic harbour. Cruise the water for a chance at spotting Hector’s dolphins, browse the waterfront shops, then return to Christchurch before collecting your route north or south.

03
Christchurch tram in the central city

Make an day of it in the city

Head into the rebuilt centre for Riverside Market, New Regent Street’s pastel laneway cafes, and a walk along the Avon River past Cathedral Square. It’s an easy first day or evening before you leave the city behind and settle into camper life.

TRAVEL DIFFERENTLY

Easy first nights in Christchurch

If you’re collecting your campervan straight off the plane in Christchurch, we’d recommend staying close to the airport for your first night.

North South Holiday Park and Tasman Holiday Parks Christchurch are both a short drive from the terminal and easy to reach after a long flight, with hot showers and a powered site waiting for you.

Prefer to freedom camp? You can, in our certified self-contained campervans, provided you stick to permitted areas under the Christchurch City Council’s freedom camping rules (more on that below).

Prefer to stay central? Christchurch’s rebuilt CBD has plenty on offer. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens sit a short walk from laneway bars and restaurants around Riverside Market and New Regent Street, so it’s an easy first evening before the open road.

A handcrafted Quirky campervan interior looking out over the landscape at sunset

Good to know before you go

One-way hire options out of Christchurch

Because every Quirky van is privately owned, one-way hires need to cover the cost of getting the van home. We also need to check in with our owners to make sure they can accommodate collecting the vehicle.

For our vans in Christchurch, indicative one-way fees are as follows:

  • Queenstown around $700
  • Nelson around $650
  • Auckland around $1,800.

For longer trips, some travellers prefer a South Island loop from Christchurch, then a flight north to pick up a second van for a North Island loop. It’s often no more expensive than the one-way fee, and you get two different campervans out of the trip.

Please talk to us first if you are interested in a one-way option.

Freedom camping around Christchurch

While Quirky’s campers are certified for freedom camping, be warned: NZ’s freedom camping rules can be complex! They vary by region, change frequently, and rangers do enforce them. Fines run to several hundred dollars, so please be kind to your pocket and read up before you park up ;).

You can freedom camp in a certified self-countained camper in Christchurch City for a maximum stay of 2 nights in any 30-day period. This includes all Council-owned or managed land in the greater City urban areas, as well as Lyttleton, Cass Bay, Corsair Bay, Rāpaki and Governors Bay. However, it excludes and is bounded by prohibited areas, so check the map and local signage. Fines run up to $800.

For more details, see Christchurch City Council’s freedom camping rules. We also recommend the Rankers Camping NZ or CamperMate apps, which are great for planning ahead.

QUICK ANSWERS FOR CHRISTCHURCH HIRERS

Christchurch campervan hire FAQs

Where do I collect my campervan in Christchurch?

At the campervan owner’s home. Christchurch collection points vary by vehicle and may be central, coastal, in North Canterbury or out toward Selwyn. The listing shows the approximate location before booking, and the exact address is confirmed before your trip.

Can I collect a campervan directly from Christchurch Airport?

Possibly, but it would be subject to owner approval and an additional fee. Quirky Campers has no airport depot as each campervan is privately owned. Christchurch Airport is about 12 km from the city centre; an Uber, taxi or public transport connection is normally the simplest option.

What is included with Christchurch campervan hire?

Every booking includes comprehensive insurance, 24/7 AA roadside assistance and unlimited kilometres. Each camper also comes with all the cookware you need, plus bedding and towels at no additional cost.

Can I stay off grid in a campervan from Christchurch?

Yes, Quirky Campers NZ vans are set up for off-grid travel, and many of our Christchurch vans include solar panels, leisure batteries, and inverters that keep your lights, fridge, water pump, phones, and laptops running without needing a powered campsite. The exact off-grid duration depends on the specific van’s setup (battery capacity, solar size, fridge load, and the time of year), and is detailed on each individual van profile.

What happens if my Christchurch flight is delayed and I’m late for my pick-up?

We understand air travel doesn’t always go to plan. If your flight to Christchurch is delayed, please contact your van owner directly as soon as possible (their phone number will be on your booking confirmation). Quirky NZ owners are generally flexible and will do their best to accommodate a later collection, including evening pick-ups where reasonable. If a same-day handover isn’t possible, we’ll work with you and the owner to arrange collection the following morning. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss specific arrangements.

Choose your Christchurch-based soul mate of a camper

Every one of our Christchurch campervans comes decked out with its own unique personality. So check availability, find your perfect match and book your ideal travel companion today!

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