Frequently Asked Questions

Which currency are prices listed in?

All Quirky Campers NZ prices are listed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) – including rental prices, ‘Add-ons’, insurance offerings and security bond amounts. You can check currency conversion rates online to get a sense of pricing in your local currency.

Do you Quirky Campers do one-way hires? (pick up in one location and drop off in another)

We can help organise one-way hires, but all our vans are privately owned and one-of-a-kind… so they need to get home after each trip. It is possible – if the van owner is up for it – but we need to add a fair charge to relocate the van which covers the owner flights, taxis, fuel, road user charges, ferry, and their time (Auckland to Christchurch is 14+ hours of driving!). For shorter trips, it often isn’t cost-effective for you, but for longer trips it can make sense and has been done many times before. Here are some examples of additional one-way fees for common routes (and yes, we know it’s a little eye-watering but there’s no mark-up… it’s what it actually costs to relocate a van privately):

• Auckland – Queenstown (or vice-versa): approx. $2000
• Auckland – Christchurch (or vice-versa): approx. $1800
• Auckland – Nelson (or vice-versa): approx. $1450
• Auckland – Wellington (or vice-versa): approx. $850
• Christchurch – Queenstown (or vice-versa): approx. $700
• Nelson – Christchurch (or vice-versa): approx. $650

Drop us a line to bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com if you need any more info or would like to ask one of our owners for a one-way trip.

The other alternative we suggest is a North Island loop in one Quirky van (say Auckland – Auckland) and then fly down to do a South Island loop (say, Christchurch – Christchurch). That way you also get to experience two different campervans and avoid a one-way fee. The cost of flights can be less than the ferry! 

How much does it cost to hire a Quirky campervan?

Prices vary by campervan, booking length and season. Click the ‘BOOK NOW’ button on the website to get an instant quote for your preferred dates and campervan. Without adding dates, the price displayed is the daily rate (in NZD) for today, which may vary from the daily rate you are quoted because your preferred dates may be in a different season. After selecting your campervan, you have the option of adding additional insurance cover to reduce your excess and security bond (as well as windscreen and tyre cover options). These add-ons can be included at check-out for a daily fee (between $25-$29). See more on insurance in our FAQ below.

We occasionally have special offers, which are available to those on our mailing list and our Facebook page.

Is there a minimum booking length?

Quirky Campers NZ has a minimum booking length of 7 days during High and Peak season (Dec-Feb). Our minimum booking length is normally 3 days in the Low and Mid seasons, however some owners prefer 4 days. You can check minimum booking periods for each van on the website. You can request a shorter booking period by getting in touch at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com, however our owners don’t tend to allow for shorter bookings, especially during the busier summer seasons. 

Do you offer discounts for longer hires?

Examples of discounts for some of our vans: 

• For trips of 14 – 20 days: 5% off
• For trips of 21 – 27 days: 10% off
• For trips of 28 days or more: 15% off

Check the profile of each van under the section ‘Long Hire Discount’ to learn more. Long booking discounts are applied automatically to the daily hire price shown on our website.

What are the age and driving licence requirements to hire a Quirky campervan? 

All drivers must be at least 21 years old, hold a full driving licence (not a learner or restricted licence), and have held that licence for at least 1 year. Quirky Campers NZ accepts overseas licences from any country, provided they are in English, or accompanied by a certified English translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP). UK, EU, North American, Australian, and most Asian licences are all valid for driving in New Zealand for up to 12 months from arrival. If you have any specific medical conditions, previous driving offences, or prior insurance claims, please let us know at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com so we can check with our insurer before confirming your booking. No heavy vehicle or motorhome license is required for any of our vehicles.

Is insurance included in my Quirky campervan booking?

Yes! Every Quirky Campers NZ booking comes with specialist comprehensive campervan insurance and 24/7 AA roadside assistance included as standard with every booking.

Customers can upgrade their protection plan at checkout to reduce what they’d pay in the event of an incident. We offer three options:

🛡️ Ready Traveller: Every Quirky rental includes fully comprehensive campervan insurance and 24/7 AA roadside assistance as standard. With Ready Traveller, your insurance excess is $3,500 per damage event and a $2,000 security bond is held on your card for the duration of your trip, released on safe return. Tyre and windscreen repairs are at your own cost up to the excess amount. 

🛡️🛡️ Relaxed Traveller: $25 NZD per day. Reduces your insurance excess and security bond to $500 – meaningfully limiting what you’d pay if something happened on the road. Tyre and windscreen damage are not included, so repair costs would be at your own expense up to the $500 excess. 💡 This option is ideal for travellers who want to reduce their risk during a trip. (For long bookings: maximum charge $975)

🛡️🛡️🛡️ Carefree Traveller: $29 NZD per day. Total peace of mind on the road. $0 insurance excess, $0 security bond, and full tyre and windscreen protection included. No out-of-pocket costs in the event of a road incident, so you can focus entirely on the adventure. 💡 The most popular choice. Travel care-free, knowing you’re completely covered, whatever the road throws at you. (For long bookings: maximum charge $975)

Who does insurance cover?

All named drivers over 21 years old who are legally allowed to drive in New Zealand and have held a full licence for a minimum of 1 year. Unfortunately we do not rent to drivers under the age of 21 due to insurance restrictions. We will also ask several ‘Yes/No’ questions at the point of booking about licence type, previous driving offences, previous insurance claims and any medical conditions that may affect driving. If you answer Yes to any of these, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t hire a van, it just means we will need to check with our insurer about any additional conditions or restrictions that may apply. Please get in touch at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com if you need to answer yes to any of these questions, or if you have further questions or need to let us know about anything.

What is not covered by insurance?

All our protection plans cover road-related vehicle damage. The following are not covered under any plan and remain the customer’s responsibility:

• Interior damage – caused by customers beyond *fair wear and tear, such as spills on upholstery or bedding, broken mirrors or fittings, or water damage. Repair or replacement costs will be charged separately.
• Personal belongings – your personal items should be covered by your own travel insurance policy.

*Fair wear and tear means minor, unavoidable deterioration that comes from using the campervan as intended. This includes things like light surface scuffs, small marks on high-contact areas, or minor fading over time. It does not include significant stains, burns, cuts, cracks, breakages, or damage that would not have occurred with reasonable care – these issues remain the customer’s responsibility regardless of the protection plan selected.

When do I pay for my Quirky Campers booking?

Quirky Campers NZ takes a 20% deposit at the time of booking to secure your van and dates. The remaining 80% (the Remaining Fee) is automatically charged 4 weeks before your trip start date. If you book within 14 days of your start date (a Short Notice Booking under our April 2026 booking conditions), the full Booking Fee is taken at the time of booking. International cards are subject to a 3% transaction fee from our payment gateway, which can be avoided by paying the balance via direct bank transfer. Information on paying the balance will be shared via email. Full details in our Booking Conditions.

What is included in the price?

The booking price includes everything you need to simply pick up and drive off. The booking price includes bedding and towels, unlimited mileage, additional drivers, breakdown cover, kitchen equipment, gas/LPG (if applicable), booking fees and much more. Our Ready Traveller insurance is included as standard, with the option to upgrade to have the right level of cover for you (see insurance section above).  You can check the individual campervan pages for exact details of what else is included because all our vans are unique! There are also optional ‘Extras’ that can be added to bookings such as bike racks, awnings, snow chains and BBQs, depending on the van/owner.

Note: we also do not charge extra for pets (in pet-friendly campervans). Only humans can drive though! 😀 

What is not included in the price?

Upgraded Insurance – customers have the option to upgrade their cover to reduce the insurance excess and security bond, as well as including additional cover for tyres and windscreens. See the ‘Is Insurance Included?’ section above for more details on protection levels.

“Road User Charges” (RUCs) – for diesel vehicles only – are charged for all kilometres travelled multiplied by the rate set by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) – currently $0.08 NZD/km. For example, a trip of 1000km will attract a charge of $80, which will be charged after the trip to the credit card held on the booking record. This is standard for all diesel vehicles in New Zealand.

International Card Fees – if the card you are paying with is registered to an address outside of NZ you will be charged a separate international transaction fee of 3% by our payment gateway (Stripe). If you would like to pay the balance of your trip directly to us, to avoid the 3% charge, you can do so using the following bank details:

QUIRKY CAMPERS NZ ACCOUNT DETAILS:

• Account Name: Quirky NZ Limited
• Bank name: Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)
• Full Account Number/IBAN: 02-0492-0277662-025
• SWIFT/BIC: BKNZNZ
• Clearing Code: NZ020492
• BSB Number: 020492
• Account Number: 0277662

 

What are the Extras?

These are things you don’t necessarily need… but may want! They are campervan-specific – availability and cost will vary. Examples are: bike rack, outdoor furniture, awning tent, stand-up paddleboard. If there is anything else that you’d like, please just ask and we will see what we can do.

How does the security deposit work? 

72 hours before you collect your Quirky Campers NZ van, a security deposit is placed on hold against your credit card (not charged) for the duration of your trip. The amount depends on your protection plan: $2,000 NZD with Ready Traveller (our standard included cover), $500 NZD with Relaxed Traveller, or $0 NZD with Carefree Traveller. The hold appears as a pending transaction on your card statement during your trip. The hold is released after the van is returned safely and inspected. 

What documents do I need to bring when I collect?

Each Driver needs the following:

• Driving licence – noting that your licence must be in English or must have an accurate English translation or be an International Driving Permit (IDP)
• Passport/proof of ID – if not resident in NZ

What if I crash or damage something?

Nobody likes to think about incidents, but they do happen from time to time. In the event of an incident, the driver will be liable up to the insurance excess in the event of any damage… regardless of who is at fault. Anything beyond that is covered by Quirky and our insurance where a claim can be made. The driver is responsible for getting the contact details of any third parties involved.

We reserve the right to charge you for damage to the interior or exterior, fixtures and fittings (outside of regular wear and tear).

The standard insurance excess is $3,500 per damage event. This is the maximum you will be liable for in the event of the vehicle being damaged and or a claim being made. If you upgrade your insurance, the insurance excess is reduced to $500 per damage event for our Relaxed Traveller cover, or $0 for our Carefree Traveller cover. See the ‘Is Insurance Included’ section above for more details.

In the event that no driver was operating the vehicle when the damage occurred the main hirer will be named as responsible for the vehicle at that time.

What about tyre damage or windscreen chips/cracks?

Tyre and glass damage is subject to your insurance excess. If on our Ready Traveller ($3,500 excess) or Relaxed Traveller ($500 excess) options, you will be liable up to your excess amount for a replacement tyre, windscreen or window if it is damaged beyond repair or broken while the vehicle is in your care as a hirer (outside of fair wear & tear). If you have the Carefree Traveller cover, windscreen and tyre cover is included with a $0 excess.

To try to avoid further windscreen damage, however, we do cover the cost of windscreen chip repairs while you are on the road. If the van suffers a windscreen chip that can be (and is) filled while on its trip, Quirky will cover the costs (generally around $100-$120).

The purpose of this approach is to encourage you to act promptly and address a chip, with no cost to you, before it becomes a crack and needs a windscreen replacement, which you would then be liable for. We ask our Carefree Traveller customers to do the same, in the interest of safety and respect for our owners.

What happens if the van breaks down?

All our campervans have breakdown cover, including roadside assistance and recovery. It is rare but mechanical issues do happen from time to time. Our primary aim is to get you back on the road as soon as possible but if the vehicle issue is more serious then it may need to be towed. Depending where in the country you are, this could be to a local mechanic or one at the home location of the van. Again, our aim is to minimise disruption to your trip, so if a local mechanic can fix the issue within a day or so, we’ll arrange overnight accommodation until you can be reunited with the van. However, if the issue is a showstopper, we will try to arrange an alternative van and if that isn’t possible, you will be returned to a convenient location for you. You will, of course, have any remaining nights refunded and be compensated for the disruption and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

What happens if I need to cancel my booking?

Once you have booked a campervan, based on our Terms & Conditions, your deposit – which is normally 20% of the booking value – is non-refundable, regardless of when you cancel. And if you cancel within 4 weeks of your trip after the remaining balance has been paid, the full hire fee is non-refundable. However, in practice, we will endeavour to replace your cancelled booking with another customer, and where we can do so, we will refund you minus an administration fee. 

Can I stay off-grid in a Quirky campervan? 

Yes, many Quirky Campers NZ vans are set up for off-grid travel with 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. 

Are Quirky campervans suitable for winter trips in New Zealand? 

Yes, Quirky Campers NZ vans can be hired year-round, and winter (June to August) is one of the most rewarding times to travel in New Zealand: quieter roads, smaller crowds, and snow-capped alpine scenery. Most of our vans are fitted with diesel heaters or other interior heating systems suitable for cold nights, and individual van pages list the specifics. Alpine and mountain pass routes (such as Crown Range, Lindis Pass, Arthur’s Pass, and Milford Road) can be icy and snow covered. Vans should never be driven in snow without proper equipment. If you’re planning a winter trip into the Southern Alps, get in touch and we’ll talk you through what to expect. 

Can I take a Quirky campervan to a festival?

This shouldn’t be a problem but just double check the specific van details. Remember, you will need to bring the campervan back in the condition you found it!

How many people can travel?

It depends on the campervan. See ‘The Vehicle’ section on the individual campervan page for a description of the number of people permitted to sleep in the van. Your van choice must be appropriate for your group size. Many of our smaller vans have 3 belted front seats, but are only set up to sleep two people, so 3 people would not be permitted to sleep in this van. Each van is “self-contained” for a specific number of people, so you can freedom camp without breaking the rules and risking a fine.

What are the standard pick-up and drop-off times?

We work on a daily rate where the default pick-up time is 9am and the default drop-off time is 5pm. You can request other times to suit your plans and van owners will do their best to accommodate you. Note: the owner will reach out to you close to your trip start/end to agree specific times and locations as application.

How do I get to the campervan pick-up location?

As our campervans are all privately-owned, you’re generally picking up from the owners home address. The distance and travel time by car from the most common start points (airport and city centre) are outlined by vehicle on our website. We recommend hopping in a taxi (Uber is widely available in NZ) and you can roughly budget on $3-4 NZD per km. Speak to the Quirky team or your owner if you have any questions and we can help you get organised.

Can a Quirky campervan be delivered to me?

Some campervan owners may provide a delivery service. It will either be listed as an Extra or the owner will quote a price on request to cover their transport costs and time. A rough estimate would be about $3-4 NZD per km from the home location of the van… which is generally the same price as a taxi/Uber so it’s often easier just to do that!

Can I bring my dog/cat/lizard?

Many of our campers are pet-friendly, but this is campervan specific, so check the van page before you book – you can use the filters. Where pets are accepted, it is always as long as they don’t go on the seats or bed, and if the campervan is brought back covered in dog hair, you will be charged for cleaning (see cleaning).

Can I fit a child seat?

Most of the campervans have passenger seats suitable for child car seats or boosters, but please do your research beforehand and adhere to New Zealand’s safety guidelines. Many campervans only have front seats which may not be appropriate for the youngest travellers. Reach out to us on bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com to discuss if required. Please note: many of our vans are two-berth vehicles and a child is counted as a person for freedom camping… so unless the trip is one adult and one child (or the van has been certified self-contained for 3 people) you won’t be able to “freedom camp”.

Are your vans certified self-contained for freedom camping?

Yes! New rules came into effect in recent years, which state that all self-containment certification must include a “fixed toilet” and they will get a green sticker. There are HEAPS of places to stay in a van that is self-contained but do be aware that many destinations have local rules restricting freedom camping. The fines can be huge ($400), so we recommend checking the local bylaws and adhering to local rules – they are pretty hot on this.

Do your vans have an electrical hook-up?

Most of our campervans have electric hook-up – please check individual campervan pages. A hook up means there is a 230v sockets available in the vehicle and a lead to plug in to campsite electrical point. The socket can be used to power mains voltage appliances such as laptop charge or hairdryer.

Are bedding and towels included with my Quirky Campers booking?

No, bedding and towels are included at no additional charge. If you would prefer to bring your own bedding or linen, just let us know so we can remove it from the van to save space for you. We also ask that you bring your own bedding if you are bring a pet on the trip… and a blanket for seats etc.

Do Quirky campervans have a toilet and shower?

All but 2 of our vans are certified self-contained, so have a toilet. Please check the individual campervan pages for details. Some also come with built-in shower cubicles or outdoor showers, sometimes as an added extra at a small cost.

Do Quirky Campers bookings include unlimited kilometres?

No! Bookings include unlimited kilometres.

Please bear in mind the age, size and cruising speed of the vehicle when planning your journey. Some older and/or larger vehicles travel more slowly than others. But then again, there shouldn’t be too much of a rush!

Where am I not allowed to drive a Quirky campervan in New Zealand?

You are not limited to driving on the Island that you pick up the van – so you can take your van on the ferry between Islands to explore the whole country.

Our campervans should only be driven on sealed roads… with the only exception to this being well-maintained access roads of less than 10km to a campground or tourist attraction.

Permission must be sought should you wish to travel on an unsealed road that is greater than 10km – the decision will be based on the time of year, weather conditions and length of unsealed road. Please contact bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com as needed.

The following unsealed roads are forbidden: 90 Mile Beach (Northland), North of Colville Township (Coromandel Peninsula), SH38 Te Urewera Rainforest Route (Bay of Plenty/Hawkes Bay), Cobb Dam Road (Kahurangi National Park), Ball Hut Road (Mount Cook), Mount Aspiring Road (nr. Wanaka), Glenorchy to Paradise and Skippers Canyon (nr. Queenstown). Note: if a van drives on one of these roads a fee of $250 will apply for each occasion that is identified via GPS, plus the cost of any damage. These charges also apply if the van has been driven on non-forbidden unsealed roads greater than 10km where no permission was sought.

Do I need to refuel the campervan before returning it?

No. You pick up the campervan with a full tank and bring it back the same way. If for any reason you were not able to use a nearby fuel station, the owners will fill it up for you and you will be charged for the actual fuel price and a small charge for their time. Do please let us know if this has happened so we don’t inadvertently give it to the next customer with a partially empty fuel tank.

Note: For diesel vehicles, “Road User Charges” (RUCs) will apply and be charged for all kilometers travelled multiplied by the rate set by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) – currently $0.08/km i.e. a round trip of 1000km will attract a charge of $80 NZD – which will be charged immediately after the trip.

What happens if my flight is delayed and I arrive late for pick-up? 

We understand international travel doesn’t always go to plan. If your flight is delayed, please contact your van owner directly as soon as possible (their phone number will be on your booking confirmation). Quirky Campers NZ owners are generally flexible and will do their best to accommodate a later collection on the same day, 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 at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com if you’d like to discuss specific arrangements.

What happens if I return late?

Firstly, please let the owners know ASAP. We reserve the right to charge you for late return at up to $50 NZD per hour but would always try to avoid this. Communication and respect are key in these situations!

Do I need to clean the campervan after use?

We ask that you bring the campervan back clean – as you found it – with grey/black water tanks emptied and free from rubbish… a cleaning fee of $150 NZD will be applied if not. Don’t worry about laundering the bedding or washing the outside of the vehicle. We reserve the right to charge you if deep/professional cleaning is required e.g. to remove make-up on pillow covers or spills on upholstery or in/on cabinetry etc.

What should I pack?

Most of our campers have plenty of storage space but it pays to use soft bags (rather than hard cases) and travel as light as possible. Kitchen equipment is included as well as pantry basics and a few little extras. Each van has a detailed list of what it includes as standard so have a peek at those.

How does Quirky Campers compare to traditional campervan rental companies in New Zealand? 

Quirky Campers NZ is a peer-to-peer platform connecting travellers with privately owned, one-of-a-kind campervans, hand-built and lovingly maintained by their owners. Traditional New Zealand rental companies (such as Britz, Maui, Jucy, and Apollo) operate large fleets of standardised vehicles collected from depots. The key differences with Quirky Campers NZ are: unique handcrafted vans rather than uniform fleet vehicles; a personal walkthrough from the owner rather than a counter handover; direct contact with the owner by phone throughout your trip; and a portion of every rental supporting an independent Kiwi van owner rather than a corporate operator. Quirky suits travellers who want personality, character, and human connection.

How long has Quirky Campers been operating, and how large is the New Zealand fleet? 

Quirky Campers was founded in the UK in 2010 by husband-and-wife team David and Lindsay, who began by renting out their own self-built campervan while volunteering overseas. The New Zealand operation, Quirky NZ Limited (NZBN 9429052492112), is registered in Auckland and run by Simon and James. The New Zealand fleet currently includes around 55 vans across both islands, with hubs in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Queenstown, Dunedin and Hamilton. We’re a deliberately curated platform: more vans are turned away than accepted, with strict quality criteria applied to every listing.

You say you’re ethical. How?

Quirky Campers takes its social responsibility very seriously. We promote holidaying locally, use ecological cleaning products, encourage you to offset the CO2 of your trip and wherever possible we try to be really nice. Have a look at our about us page for more details.

Why do the dates I want not work?

The most likely reason for this is that all our vans are booked for those dates already (this will be shown on the availability calendar). If you want to be added to our priority list so you’re notified about cancellations or newly listed vans, please email us at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com

Can I list my campervan with Quirky Campers?

Yes please! If you have a beautiful handmade campervan, then we’d be very interested in hearing from you. We’ve had customers enquire from far and wide so whether you’re in Whangarei or Invercargill do get in touch. We’ll send you our owner FAQs and handhold you through the process. See this page for more info.

If you don’t yet own a campervan but are thinking about doing a conversion, we highly recommend hiring one first to find out what will work for you.

Do I need to read all the FAQs?

Only the ones you don’t know the answer to.