Support - Travel Information

Yes, some of the motorhomes have a Smart/satellite TV and/or a DVD player and Flat screen TV monitor with HDMI or USB-C inputs. This will be detailed on the specific vehicles page and will be listed in Features.

Yes, If you have multiple bookings with the same company (even if it is relating to New Zealand and Australia) these can be combined to give you a long term hire discount on both rentals. To do this you will have to email us as the system will not know about your other bookings. Some terms & conditions apply to multiple hires.

A hire can be amendment subject to availability. There is a NZ$25 admin charge for this.

Cancellation fees, prior to pick-up are as follows:
40 Days and over: $250 Admin Fee
29 - 39 Days: 50% of deposit retained Min $250
20 - 28 Days: 25% of Total Reservation cost
10 - 19 Days: 50% of Total Reservation cost
1 - 9 Days: 75% of Total Reservation cost
No Show: 100% of Total Reservation cost

Yes, every hire company insists on at least Third Party and Public Liability insurance, some fully comprehensive.  However, New Zealanders do not legally require any insurance and therefore every company insists on a bond which is fully refundable if the vehicle is returned in a clean and undamaged position.

Check out Insurance Options

During the booking process, the most common questions we get relate to insurance. Understanding the insurance options available to you is necessary for you to be able to get the best deal you can get.

When it comes to insurance, we at Motorhome Holidays offer you flexible options, with in most cases, three choices available to you. Minimal Insurance involves high liability/ bond. Liability reduction options reduce the liability to a minimal amount or nothing at all. Some companies also offer an “All Inclusive” package that contains insurance reducing the liability/bond to zero and also including extras such as table and chairs and baby/seats.

It is strongly recommended that Bond Waiver insurance is taken out. These options are made available to you when making a reservation.

Make sure to read Insurance Terminology in Useful Terminology.

About Insurance and Bond/Excess Reduction Options

You cannot book a motorhome without insurance and the price for each motorhome on our website includes a basic (default) level of insurance with a bond between $1500 - $7500 depending on the motorhome. This amount is what you would be liable for (the excess) in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle, regardless of who is at fault. Sometimes the bond is debited (and then refunded at the end of the hire if no damage) and sometimes it is a credit card imprint (it depends on the company)

Generally there are 3 options to reduce bond/excess. Options 1 and 2 require payment of an additional daily amount on top of the basic price and will reduce or eliminate the bond/excess. These options are payable at the depot but can be booked when the reserving the motorhome by selecting the appropriate option. The site will then show the price with that option included. (The exact additional daily amount and how much the bond is reduced depends on the company /vehicle being quoted).

Option 3 is All Inclusive (sometimes called Value Pack, or Premium Pack depending on the company/vehicle). All Inclusive has a Nil bond/excess and typically includes extras such as child/booster seats and picnic table and chairs. All Inclusive should be booked when the booking is made by selecting that option (the site will then display the All Inclusive rate)

Travel Insurance

Even if you do reduce your liability by we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before you leave home, for total peace of mind. Insurance policies cover cancellation fees, medical expenses, baggage and much more.

Make sure to read Insurance Terminology in Useful Terminology.

You can hire a range of optional extras to make your motorhome holiday more comfortable, but options and pricing vary by company. Here’s a consolidated summary:

Common Optional Hire Items

• Table and chairs (sometimes included for free)
• Baby/child/booster seats
• Snow chains
• GPS units (if not included)
• Extra bedding/linen
• Portable heater/fan

Other Items (availability varies)

• Bike racks
• BBQ equipment
• WiFi hotspot (mainly in newer vehicles)
• Cleaning and refuelling packs

Packages

• All Inclusive/Value Packs: Bundle multiple items like table, chairs, child seats, snow chains, extra linen, etc. Usually, better value than hiring items separately.

Booking Tips

• Book extras during reservation to guarantee availability—some can be added at pickup if available.
• What’s included for free vs. extra depends on the company and motorhome model.

• The Smart Approach: When you're comparing motorhomes on our website, you'll see exactly what each specific company offers and their pricing. The extras available will be listed for each individual motorhome during the booking process.
• My recommendation: Focus on finding the right motorhome first, then see what extras that specific company offers. If you want a particular item (like bike racks), check individual company listings during booking or ask for help to find a company that offers it.

Yes, most campervan hire companies offer a free shuttle service from the airport (and some from near-airport hotels).

Most campervan rental companies offer Courtesy Transfers on day of arrival and departure (There are a couple of exceptions) Most depots are close to airports and therefore the Courtesy Transfers are usually from the airport (or accommodation if within 3kms to the airport). Motorhome Rental Companies offering the transfers will collect you in a shuttle bus and take you to their depot (they do not deliver the motorhome). Some companies ask you to take a taxi to the depot and will then refund you the cost of the taxi up to a given amount. Most companies offer return Courtesy.

To identify exactly what the company providing the motorhome you intend hiring offers with regards Courtesy Transfers click on the link "Click Here For Depot Hours, Location & Transfer Info" which is on each motorhome page located just above the daily hire rate quote. Please note the Depot's operating hours. All information regarding Courtesy Transfers and Depot Location, Opening Closing hours etc is on your emailed Motorhome Booking confirmation.

WiFi access for travellers on motorhome holidays in New Zealand is widely available but varies in quality and coverage depending on location and provider. Most campgrounds and holiday parks offer WiFi, though speeds and data limits can differ. Unlimited and fast WiFi is rare; most campgrounds offer limited free access or paid options, typically charging around NZ$5 for 1GB or 24 hours. Public WiFi is also accessible in libraries, many cafes (often requiring a purchase), airports, and some supermarkets, though these networks may be slower and less secure.

For those needing more reliable or constant internet, several motorhome rental companies provide portable WiFi devices as an optional extra. Companies such as Pacific Horizon have permanently installed WiFi routers in their premium motorhomes with unlimited data for $5 per day ($80 minimum), and Tui Campers offer "Pocket Wifi Internet" with various data plans start from $85 for 8GB of data up to $130 for 40GB.

Portable WiFi routers are available for purchase from nationwide technology stores PB Tech and Neol Leaming. They have stores in all major population centres. The Portable WiFi routers cost approximately NZ$120-140. Portable WiFi routers have much bigger antennas than mobile phones. Your signal will reach further towards the nearest mobile tower, with a stronger connection. When fully charged, a mobile hotspot battery will give you up to 13 hours of uninterrupted connectivity.

Travelers can also use their own mobile phones as personal hotspots by purchasing a local SIM card with a data plan from New Zealand mobile providers. This is a practical option for those mainly traveling through urban areas, as mobile coverage reaches over 95% of where people live and work, but only about 50% of the country’s landmass. Using a personal hotspot is convenient for solo travellers or those with only one device, but data plans in New Zealand can be more expensive than in some other countries.

Overall, while New Zealand offers a range of WiFi access options for motorhome travellers, planning ahead and considering a combination of campground WiFi, portable devices, and mobile data ensures the best connectivity on the road.

New Zealand offers many options, from holiday resorts with all the bells and whistles, to freedom camping.

Travelling in a rental campervan gives you several options to choose from where to spend each night. Broadly the choices are: caravan parks and campgrounds, National Parks and even free stays!

The following guide will give you information on all of these, as well as providing important links that will help you plan your accommodation throughout your journey.

Staying in Caravan Parks and Holiday Parks

Staying in a caravan park is the luxury way to experience your campervan holiday, but as you know, luxury costs money! The rates of most caravan parks are usually very reasonable, yet this will depend on location, time of the year and the type of accommodation option you choose.

Caravan Parks provide facilities that will make your rental campervan experience more comfortable. Many of the parks offer easy access to electricity and water, which allows you to replenish your onboard supplies and recharge your motorhome battery. They provide facilities such as toilets, showers, laundries and camp kitchens, which will make your stay just that little bit easier.

Many parks also feature swimming pools, tennis courts, recreation rooms and even spas. This will add a further element of luxury and comfort to your stay and will allow you to sit back, relax and unwind.

It is advisable to book ahead, especially at the places you really want to stay at. However, some caravan parks will let you stay without a reservation but always be aware of peak times in the year, which often bring with them changing rates and availabilities.

Staying in a caravan park is essentially the best way to go about your campervan holiday. They are ideally positioned so that you can enjoy the surrounding scenery and attractions, therefore offering the best places to stay!

To find a caravan park to suit you, check out the following:

• Itineraries - each itinerary has several caravan parks that you can choose from to stay. View our itineraries page.
• Kiwi Holiday Parks - come highly recommended and more information can be found at https://www.kiwiholidayparks.com/
• Family Parks New Zealand - is an independent group of holiday parks that provide a unique family atmosphere. For more information on North Island or South Island visit (North Island) https://www.familyparks.com.au/regions/north-island/ (South Island) https://www.familyparks.com.au/regions/south-island/
• Top 10 Holiday Parks - offer affordable accommodation right across New Zealand http://www.top10.co.nz/
• Great NZ Accommodation Directory - huge range of accommodation options in New Zealand http://www.greatnewzealand.co.nz/Directory/accommodation/

Staying in National Parks

The Department of Conservation manages over 200 areas of conservation throughout New Zealand, including many of its National Parks. The conservation parks feature lush forest, lake shores or sandy or pebbled beach settings, with each offering a wide range of camping grounds and facilities.

Conservation Campsites are a great place to relax, enjoy and explore the great outdoors. They allow you to get back in touch with nature and escape the crowds at an extremely affordable rate!

Licences and Permits - Licences and permits are required to undertake certain activities in the conservation parks. These activities include hunting, fishing and commercial activities, so ensure that you plan ahead and apply for one if you are going to partake in any of these practices.

Camping - Bookings are required for all of the serviced and some of the standard camp sites. Fees vary depending on where the park is situated and whether or not it is serviced. You can find out more about the individual pricing by visiting http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=38355

Free Stays ("Freedom Camping")

Motorhomes have dual battery systems, one for starting the campervan, one for the internal appliances such as lights, fridge and water pump. These batteries will last approximately 12 hours when fully charged depending on usage. Some vehicles have solar panels too. All these features make it possible to stay overnight without power or water facilities.

Free stays are handy to throw into travel as they can save you a bit of money, we recommend you mix these with Campgrounds and National Park stays though.

Local authorities maintain and regulate free stays in each region, so we recommend you check with the local information centre on arrival. Free camping is permitted in most areas of New Zealand. However, watch out for signposted areas where camping is prohibited as you may get fined. 

Also, be considerate of the environment and be sure not to litter or leave the area damaged. “Freedom campers” have coped a lot of flak in recent times in New Zealand for leaving behind unsightly messes including human waste.  Please our environment in the same condition you found it! Doing this will ensure that free stay across New Zealand remains available for many years to come!

http://www.camping.org.nz/

Camping NZ App: A very handy app with holiday parks, campsites, activities, visitors centres, supermarkets, fuel station links etc: https://www.rankers.co.nz/about/official-camping-nz-app

New Zealand makes some camping spots available only to campervans that can function independently without needing external facilities or resources. This allows the vehicle to camp freely—a practice known as ‘freedom camping’—in designated areas rather than being restricted to commercial campsites. A self-contained warrant sticker gives you access to many additional campsites throughout New Zealand.

In 2024, New Zealand tightened its self-containment guidelines. Campervans that could achieve self-containment certifications with only a portable toilet, among other built-in utilities standards, must now have a fixed or plumbed-in toilet, which has caused many smaller sleepervans to lose their self-containment status.

As of 2025 you can identify a self-contained campervan by the green self-contained warrant stickers (usually found on the rear of the vehicle.) Only motorhomes displaying the green self-contained warrant stickers are legally allowed to use freedom camping sites with fines levied on uncertified vehicles.

Plan your trip carefully to make the most of your days and enjoy all the sights and sounds of New Zealand's gorgeous countryside, from Cape Reinga to Bluff! Don't rule out finding interesting places you haven't known about you may want to stay at on route.

Our friendly, professional team will be happy to help you book ferry tickets and make other necessary travel arrangements so you can stay focused on your adventure.

It is advised to pre-book sites where you can however most campervan parks do accept new arrivals. If you haven't booked make sure you arrive late morning or early afternoon so you don't miss out on a site.  The summer period over Christmas and New Year are busy times therefore bookings are generally essential.