Campervans for hire in Queenstown - Quirky Campers New Zealand Skip to main content
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The Southern Alps and lake at Queenstown

Start your trip in Queenstown

Quirky Campers connects you with privately owned, handcrafted campervans based in the Queenstown lakes area. 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.

✓ Queenstown-wide collection

Pick up directly from the owner’s home. Your exact address and handover details are confirmed before travel.

✓ Freedom to explore without limits

Head over the Crown Range, out to Glenorchy or down toward Fiordland without kilometre limits, and ask about one-way hire if your trip finishes elsewhere.

Happy campers hiring in Queenstown

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
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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
Moke Lake near Queenstown at dusk
Moke Lake, near Queenstown. It’s an epic location for stargazing at night too!

WHY START IN QUEENSTOWN?

Alpine adventure. Spectacular views from everywhere.

Queenstown is simply a stunning place to start your South Island campervan adventure.

Queenstown Airport works as an international gateway in its own right, not just a domestic connection.

Direct flights land from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. For travellers coming from Australia, that makes Queenstown a genuine alternative for the start of a New Zealand road trip.

Collect from your van owner and get comfortable with your chosen camper. Then tackle alpine peaks, historic gold country, a mirror-still lake or the road to the epic Milford Sound.

Queenstown view from the mountains.
Looking down over Queenstown and the lake.

DISTINCTIVE QUEENSTOWN DAYS

48 hours in Queenstown: A simple plan

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

01

Looking down over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

Get up above the lake

Take the Skyline Gondola up to Bob’s Peak for views over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, then add the luge if you want a faster way down. For a calmer alternative, cruise the lake on the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm.

02

Bungy jumping over the Shotover River near Queenstown

Chase the adrenaline

Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping at the Kawarau Bridge, and jet boats run tight canyon routes on the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers most of the year. Book ahead in summer, the popular operators sell out.

03

Autumn trees and historic cottages in Arrowtown near Queenstown

Wander historic Arrowtown

Drive 20 minutes to Arrowtown, a gold-rush town of preserved miners’ cottages, an avenue of autumn trees and good cafes. It’s an easy, relaxed afternoon before you head back to Queenstown for dinner and settle into campervan pace.

TRAVEL DIFFERENTLY

Easy first nights in Queenstown

If you’re collecting your campervan straight off the plane in Queenstown, the airport sits close to town, so you won’t lose much time before you’re settled.

Driftaway Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Frankton, is minutes from the terminal and an easy first stop after a flight.

Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park is a similarly easy option closer to the town centre, if you’d rather walk to the town’s vibrant restaurants, bars and the lakefront on your first night.

Prefer to freedom camp? You can, in a Quirky certified self-contained campervan, at one of the district’s designated carparks (more on where below).

Fred's interior with wood burner and view out the back
Fred is a popular choice with guests, and is based out of Queenstown.

Good to know before you go

One-way hire options and note on roads around Queenstown

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 Queenstown, indicative one-way fees for Christchurch are around $700 and Auckland, $2,000.

For longer trips, some travellers prefer a South Island loop from Queenstown, 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.

Roads to plan around

A handful of routes near Queenstown are off-limits for our vans. Unsealed 4×4 roads are hard on a campervan, so are not covered by insurance: Skippers Canyon Road, the unsealed section of Glenorchy-Paradise Road, Mount Aspiring Road out of Wanaka, and Ball Hut Road at Aoraki/Mount Cook. Plan your route around them before you hit the road.

Also worth noting, the Crown Range and Lindis Pass suffer from black ice, making driving treacherous at times in winter and early spring. Always check conditions before you head off and drive with care – we want all our travellers to have a great time and get back in one piece.

Freedom camping around Queenstown

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. Queenstown Lakes issued more than 1,600 freedom camping fines in a single year, so please be kind to your pocket and read up before you park up ;).

Under the district’s Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025, certified self-contained vehicles can stay at one of 15 designated carparks around the district, including sites in Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown and Glenorchy, for a maximum of two nights per location. On-street parking in town is not permitted. Fines start at $400.

For more details, see Queenstown Lakes District Council’s responsible camping rules and map. We also recommend the Rankers or CamperMate apps, which are great for planning ahead.

QUICK ANSWERS FOR QUEENSTOWN HIRERS

Queenstown campervan hire FAQs

Where do I collect my campervan in Queenstown?

At the campervan owner’s home. Queenstown collection points vary by vehicle and may be central, in Frankton, or out toward Arrowtown and Glenorchy. The listing shows the approximate location before booking, and the exact address is confirmed before your trip.

Can I collect a campervan directly from Queenstown 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. Queenstown Airport is about 8 km from the town centre, in Frankton; an Uber, taxi or shuttle bus connection is normally the simplest option.

What is included with Queenstown 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 Queenstown?

Yes, Quirky Campers NZ vans are set up for off-grid travel, and many of our Queenstown 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 Queenstown flight is delayed and I’m late for my pick-up?

We understand international travel doesn’t always go to plan. If your flight to Queenstown 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.

Plan with confidence

Useful reading before you collect your campervan in Queenstown.

by James O’Hern

Driving a campervan in New Zealand is easier than most first-time visitors expect, and it’s one of the best ways to experience the country.

by James O’Hern

Every campervan in the Quirky Campers NZ fleet meets the same safety and compliance standards as the largest commercial campervan operators in New Zealand.

by James O’Hern

Every Quirky Campers NZ booking includes fully comprehensive insurance with Vero and 24/7 AA roadside assistance as standard. We offer three protection plans (Ready

Choose your Queenstown-based soul mate of a camper

Each Queenstown campervan comes decked out with its own unique personality. So check availability, find your perfect match and book your ideal travel companion today!