Campervan Hire Christchurch Airport - Compare Motorhome Rentals

Q: What is a self-contained vehicle in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, a self-contained vehicle is a motorhome, campervan, or caravan that meets the national self-containment certification standards (NZS 5465:2001). To qualify, the camping vehivle must be able to live for at least three days without needing external water supplies or waste facilities . That means it must have: Fresh water storage (for drinking, cooking, and washing). Wastewater storage (grey water) with a sealed tank. A toilet that’s permanently fixed (portable toilets are not enough for certification). A rubbish bin with a lid. The vehicle will have a blue sticker and will qualify you to stay in many freedom camping sites across NZ

Why compare campervan rental Christchurch with Road Smiles?

Finding the right campervan in New Zealand is straightforward with our trusted comparison tool. We partner with leading brands so you can see transparent prices side by side and book with confidence, knowing everything is taken care of.

RoadSmiles.com can help you find the perfect campervan hire from Christchurch airport. Compare all the major suppliers and also the local campervan rental suppliers side by side. Start now by entering your travel dates into the booking engine to the right. Then use the handy filter tools on the left to filter out campers that are either too big or too small for your holiday travel requirements

Nicknamed the ‘Garden City’, Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island of New Zealand and makes for a great base for exploring the island. Self-touring is the most popular way of visiting the sites surrounding the city and renting a Motorhome is highly recommended.

The city itself is filled with attractions and is a great start to a self-tour of the south. With a RV rental in Christchurch, it is possible to travel around at ease, driving along the west coast, the east coast and through the interior of the island. The roads are great and renting a campervan is a great way see awesome New Zealand.

Top Campervan Hire New Zealand Locations

Top NZ Campervan Rental Brands

New Zealand is the hub of a thriving campervan and motorhome rental scene. We have partnered with the leading campervan rental companies in NZ to provide you with a wide range of campervan hire options. These extend from budget to luxury style motorhomes. To get the best deal, comparing options from various brands is key. Here’s a quick guide to get you started to some of the key brands offering campervan rental in Auckland and Christchurch.

Compare top brands @ Christchurch Airport

Spaceships New Zealand

Spaceships rentals New Zealand has earned a reputation in Christchurch for providing a range of small, but fuel efficient campervans and cars. These range from 2 berth, to 7 berth Spaceship Family Motorhomes. They are our number one pick for a New Zealand one campervan hire as they do not charge a one way fee. But you must return to either Auckland or Christchurch.

Reasons to rent an RV from Spaceships

Free unlimited miles
Free one way rentals between Auckland and Christchurch
Fuel efficient nearly new camping cars

Tui Campervans Christchurch

The Tui campers rental brand is one of the best national NZ campervan rental companies, they provide themselves in providing reliable Christchurch campervan rentals since 1983.

Reasons to rent with Tui Campers – Great 79 %

Free unlimited miles and free Additional Drivers
Tui do not deduct the bond from your bank account – credit card imprint only
FREE airport pick up and drop off

Mighty Campers Christchurch

The Mighty camper brand in Christchurch caters to those after a budget RV experience with a fleet made up of Britz and Maui vehicles that have been retired as both these brands focus on luxury campervan hire, leaving Might to fill the space below. All Mighty Campers NZ are regularly services and maintained to ensure you have a glitch free holiday in NZ, The fleet comprises campervan types that can accommodate from 2 up to six people.

Reasons to rent with Mighty Campers – Great 80 %

Budget friendly prices
Reliable fleet
Option to change the drop-off destination during my hire, approval and one way drop fee may apply.

Britz Campers NZ

Britz Christchurch NZ is a premier campervan rental companies and offer an extensive range of luxury Campers Its vehicles are great for couples and families, and even solo travellers can enjoy touring around in a Britz NZ luxury campervan or motorhome.

Reasons to rent with Britz Campers – Great 78 %

Modern luxury fleet.
Wide selection to suit everyone’s needs.
Self-contained motorhomes

Jucy Campervan New Zealand

If you like the idea of a holiday on wheels, but not confident driving a large RV then JUCY campervans NZ have the solution. All JUCY vans are compact, but are also fully equipped with must haves.

Reasons to rent with Jucy Campers Christchurch – Great 78%

Budget friendly prices with a touch of class
Wide selection of fuel efficient vans.
Bedding and kitchen kits

McRent New Zealand

McRent one of the mist established campervan rental companies in Europe, McRent New Zealand is an extension of the JUCY brand that now a first class service in both campervan and car rental.

Reasons to rent with McRent Christchurch – Great 80%

Campervans in fleet under 2 years old.
Additional drivers can be added for free
Apart from the Urban Standard group, the remaining fleet of campers are fitted with a bathroom with shower and sink and cooking facilities.

Suggested Motorhome Drives Christchurch NZ

Arthurs Pass

Out to the west is Arthurs Pass. This is a 3 hour drive through the Southern Alps where you will encounter deep gorges, waterfalls, rivers and native bush terrain. The pass itself is on Route 73 or West Coast Road with the famous Devils Punchbowl Waterfall at the northern end. This waterfall is 131 meters or 430 feet of free falling water in all its glory. This can be seen from the road or an hour hike to its base is also an enjoyable trip.

Kaikoura

The best drive out of Christchurch for nature lovers is a 2 ½ hour trip to Kaikoura. This is a drive north on SH1 where the mountains meet the sea. After several hours of scenic mountain beauty you will be at the beach where there are whales, dolphins and seals in abundance to view. For better viewing there are boat, plane and helicopter tours you can enjoy.

West Coast Drive:

from Christchurch along Highway 73 through Arthur’s Pass National Park to Highway 6. Rest at Hokitika Holiday Park before continuing along the coast until the route ends at Haast. Highlights of this drive are the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, which can be explored from Fox Glacier Holiday Park and Motel.

Suggested Motorhome Drives Christchurch NZ

Christchurch to Queenstown:

this is a scenic drive through the interior, stopping at Lake Takepo, Mount Cook and Cromwell before reaching Queenstown. Sleep at campervan sites such as Geraldine KIWI Holiday Park, Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park and Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park.

Christchurch to Nelson:

taking the scenic route through Lake Summer Conservation Park and Nelson Lakes National Park. Spend a night at Waipara Sleepers Motor Camp to taste some of New Zealand’s finest wines and discover the national parks from Murchison Mobile Home Park.

Compare Christchurch Campervan Rentals in NZ

We have consolidated the lowest prices for campervan rental Christchurch with top brands that now include McRental New Zealand plus other key players in the campervan rental market in Christchurch and Auckland in NZ. We cater for the those that are after luxury at affordable prices, plus the younger couples that can take advantage of some of the budget packages that are available.

Get a quote and compare the prices of the range of campervans from 2 berth to larger 6 berth motorhomes. Current models such as Hi Top, Rocket, Frontier, Ford Transit and Renegade are available for pickup from or delivery to Christchurch airport.

Compare motorhome hire in Christchurch Airport

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FAQs

When should I book my NZ road trip rental?

The choice of number of motorhome rental companies in NZ is awesome, but demand is also high so please book early as possible—ideally 4 to 6 months in advance or even earlier—especially during peak season or bank holiday weekends.

What is the minimum age for campervan rental in Christchurch, NZ?

The minium age is 21, some suppliers will rent out if under 21, but they will charge an underage daily charge on top of the actual rental cost, most providers will also expect you to have held your driving licence for at least 2 years.

Freedom Campers: Mininmum age is 21
Tui Campers: Mininmum age is 21
Diwcocver new Zealand Motorhomes: Mininmum age is 21

Do I need a special driving licence?

All the suppliers we offer just require a standard full original licence which you should have held for at least 1 year, please check the terms with the supplier as some ask for a licence to have been held for 2 years. If the licence is not in the Roman Alphabet, then please bring an official translation.

Can I pick up my RV in the South Island and drop it off in the North Island or vice versa?

Yes, many companies operate depots in both the North and South Islands and offer one-way rentals.

If you’re planning this type of trip, you’ll need to cover the cost of the ferry. Our support team can assist with making the booking.

Please note that additional one-way fees may apply—these will be automatically included in your total by our comparison tool.

What is a self-contained vehicle in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, a self-contained vehicle is a motorhome, campervan, or caravan that meets the national self-containment certification standards (NZS 5465:2001).

To qualify, the camping vehivle must be able to live for at least three days without needing external water supplies or waste facilities. That means it must have:

Fresh water storage (for drinking, cooking, and washing).
Wastewater storage (grey water) with a sealed tank.
A toilet that’s permanently fixed (portable toilets are not enough for certification).
A rubbish bin with a lid.

The vehicle will have a blue sticker and will qualify you to stay in many freedom camping sites across NZ

Can we park the campervan overnight in Christchurch?

If you are camping in a tent or sleeping in a vehicle without facilities, you need to stay in a camping ground that has facilities you can use.

If your campervan is certified self-contained, with a toilet, wastewater and rubbish facilities on board, you may freedom camp in some areas in Christchurch, Akaroa and Bank Peninsula.

Is unlimited or free miles available in Auckland

We currently offer campervan hire in Auckland with unlimited miles with all of our partners.

Please note: Policies may vary between suppliers and are subject to change. Always review the latest terms and conditions for your rental on the booking page.

Reviewed and updated: 22 August 2025
Written by Eamonn Turley, expert in campervan and car rental

Compare Campervan Hire Christchurch Airport New Zealand

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