Campervan Hire FAQs

Yes, all our campervans are privately owned. This means each campervan is unique, with its own features, layout, location and booking criteria. Things like optional extras, features, minimum stays and prices can vary from van to van, so please check the individual campervan page before booking.

The best campervan for your trip depends on who is travelling, where you’re going and what features matter most to you. Think about the number of belted seats, beds, toilet or shower facilities, heating, storage and vehicle size. You can use the filters on our website to narrow down your options to find the best fit for you.

The right size campervan depends on your group, driving confidence and how much space you want. Smaller campervans can be easier to drive and park, while larger vans may offer more storage, bigger beds and extra facilities. Check the number of belted seats, sleeping arrangements and layout before booking. You can apply certain filters such as ‘1.8m bed’ if needed.

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.

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”.

Many of our campers are pet-friendly, use the filters and check the van page to make sure before you book. When pets are accepted, it’s on the condition the campervan is brought back in the condition it left, otherwise you risk a cleaning fee. Pets aren’t allowed on the seats or bed… and they’re not allowed to drive either!

Please check the individual campervan pages for details. All our campervans have a toilet, some also come with built-in shower cubicles or outdoor showers.

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.

Most of our campervans have electric hook-up – please check individual campervan pages. A hook up means there is a 230v socket 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 charger or hairdryer.

Yes, most 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.

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.

Yes, our campervans are suitable for first-time campervan hirers. Each owner will give you a handover before you set off, so you know how everything works. We recommend choosing a campervan that suits your confidence level, checking the vehicle details carefully and asking any questions before you travel.

No, you don’t need previous experience driving a campervan. Many customers are first-time campervan hirers, and the owner will show you how the vehicle works before you set off. If you’re nervous, it’s worth choosing a smaller campervan or one that feels closer to a car to drive.

Yes, you can ask questions about a specific campervan before booking. Please get in touch with our customer service team and we’ll do our best to help or pass your question on to the owner. This is especially useful for questions about layout, extras, pick-up, pets or suitability for your trip.

All Quirky Campers NZ prices are listed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). You can check currency conversion rates online to get a sense of pricing in your local currency.

Prices vary by campervan, booking length and season. Click ‘BOOK NOW’ 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 dates may sit 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. See more on insurance in our FAQ below.

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.

Some of our campers have long booking discounts available. 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.

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!

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): 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, look out for our emails before the balance payment is due.

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 30 days before your trip start date. If you book within 30 days of your start date 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. Note the 3% international card surcharge is not refundable. That fee goes to our payment provider at the time of payment and isn’t returned to us when we issue a refund.

We know plans can change, so our cancellation policy tries to be fair to everyone involved, including the owner, who has held their van off the market for your dates.

You can cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of making your booking, or until your trip starts if that comes sooner. After that, how much you get back depends on how far ahead of your trip you cancel:

• 90 days or more before your trip starts: a *full refund of everything you have paid, including your 20% deposit.
• 89-31 days before your trip starts: the 20% deposit is non-refundable. Your balance isn’t due until 30 days before your trip, so in most cases there’s nothing further to pay. If you have already paid the full balance we’ll refund that portion (80%).
• 30 days or fewer before your trip starts: the full hire fee is payable and no refund is given.

We always try to be fair, so if you cancel inside 90 days and we manage to rebook your van for the same dates, we will refund you in full. We can’t promise it, especially at short notice or over the summer peak, but we will try our best. If the owner hasn’t lost out, we don’t think you should either.

*Two things to note:

If you have booked a one-way trip, owners book the Cook Strait ferry (and occasionally flights) well in advance so they can get the van home, especially over summer when sailings sell out. Once that is paid it cannot be recovered, so it is not refundable at any stage, including more than 90 days out. Anything in your one-way fee that has not been spent will be refunded, and we will send you the receipts so you can see exactly what was paid.

If you paid with a card registered outside New Zealand: the 3% international card fee isn’t refundable when you cancel. That fee goes to our payment provider at the time of payment and isn’t returned to us when a refund is issued.

To cancel, email us at bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com. Your cancellation takes effect from the date we receive it.

We’d also recommend travel insurance to cover the things none of us can control, like illness, flight disruption or a change in circumstances at home.

Yes, 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 bringing a pet on the trip… and a blanket for seats etc.

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 paddle-board. If there is anything else that you’d like, please just ask and we will see what we can do.

To book a campervan, choose your dates, select your campervan and follow the booking steps online. You’ll need to provide your booking information and pay either the deposit or full booking fee, depending on how soon your trip starts. Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive the details you need for the next steps including contact information for the owner.

Instant book allows you to make a booking without waiting for the owner to accept the booking request. For last minute enquiries, instant book is not always available but this depends on season and the individual van owner preferences.

Quirky Campers NZ banks with Bank of New Zealand (BNZ). Please contact us to ask for bank details and we will be happy to provide them. Many customers choose to use services such as Wise.com to make lower cost international payments, and to save the 3% international credit card fee on their balance payment. Note that initial deposits must be completed by credit card using our booking system. For anything payment related, drop us an email on bookingsnz@quirkycampers.com and we’ll help.

Every Quirky Campers NZ van must meet the same New Zealand government safety and maintenance standards as any commercial rental vehicle, whether hired directly or through a peer-to-peer platform. Each van holds a current Certificate of Fitness (CoF) and vehicle registration, with the CoF inspected and reissued every six months to confirm the vehicle remains safe for New Zealand’s roads. Owners also complete a visual pre-hire check before every booking to confirm the van is in safe working order. Vans with a 230V connection carry an Electrical Warrant of Fitness (EWoF), and any van with fixed LPG appliances, such as a gas hob or water heater, holds a current gas safety certificate issued by a registered gasfitter. Safety underpins everything we do, and New Zealand’s regulatory framework helps keep visitors confident on our roads. You can read more about the Certificate of Fitness (CoF) on the New Zealand Transport Agency website.

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 licence is required for any of our vehicles.

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. This option suits travellers who already have rental vehicle excess cover through their personal travel insurance. Many travel insurance policies include this, and you can claim the excess back from your insurer if there’s an incident. Worth checking your existing policy before you book.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Before your campervan hire starts, the Quirky Campers team can help with booking details, payment questions and general advice. For questions about the specific campervan, such as handover, features or pick-up arrangements, it’s best to contact the owner directly using the details in your booking confirmation, as they know their van best.

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

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.

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 applicable.

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.

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!

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.

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’s 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, 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 the price is high but there’s no mark-up… it’s what it actually costs to relocate a van privately). All prices in New Zealand Dollars:

• 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
• Nelson – Queenstown (or vice-versa): approx. $850

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!

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.

Yes, all bookings include unlimited kilometres. Please bear in mind the age, size and cruising speed of the vehicle when planning your journey. Some larger vehicles travel more slowly than others. But then again, there shouldn’t be too much of a rush on holiday.

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 (even if you think the new glitter adds something!).

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.

Yes, 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 kilometres 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.

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.

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!

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 60 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.

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.

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