Booking Our Little Weka
Since we had decided to go to New Zealand about 8 months in advance and had our NZeta Visa approved and plane tickets in hand, we thought we had plenty of time to book a van and campsites. We were wrong. When we tried to book online in September for a rental in the month of February, we were too late for many of the deals we had seen advertised. Instead, we went with a online booking site, Goseetravel.com/campervans and an agent called us from New Zealand and talked us through the reservation. They helped us greatly.
Daily rental rates vary according to the season and over summer you could pay almost twice as much as in winter. But since we love summer and wanted to camp comfortably, we headed to NZ in the latter part of the season, the month of February. If you are good with changing weather, and want the best deals on motorhomes, consider traveling in the shoulder seasons March- May (Autumn) or Sept- November (spring) and book well in advance.
Our Little Weka was a 17 ' Path Finder 2/3 high top, we rented from a family owned business called Freedom Campers NZ. We chose this company because it had older well-maintained vehicles especially priced for budget travelers. Our 2010 model was well maintained and gave us some things we needed for a comfortable trip. Since Tim is 6'3", we thought it important to get a van that he could stand up in. For the chef, a two burner stove and a microwave were important. We had a 17ft vehicle which made it easier to drive and park. For our 20 day rental, we paid $2387 USD (with a $55 additional total charge for 20 days for extras such as outdoor folding table and chairs.) FYI, we found the chairs useful but only used the table once since most campsites have their own. That was only $119.35/per day for transportation and accommodation combined not including camping fees.
Rental rates generally include unlimited kilometers, but you need to cover insurance. You can add insurance to your daily rate o if you have comprehensive travel insurance, it may not be necessary, but you may need to pay a substantial bond instead. We choose to paid a $3000 USD bond instead of the daily insurance which held on a credit card. This option amounted to no charge when we returned the car undamaged. But we are a bit like gamblers when it comes to travel insurance on rentals. Just make sure you're comfortable and covered one way or another.
Camper vans vs. Motorhomes. Our Little Weka camper van, a 17 Ft Pathfinder 2/3 Hi Top is a smaller cousins of motorhomes. Not all camper vans are self-contained, so you need to check this if you plan on freedom camping. These smaller vehicles can be easier to drive and park. Motorhomes are larger vehicles that can come come fully equipped with showers, toilets and more generous living space.
For a recap, on average, you can expect to pay between US $100-$450 per day for a camper van rental in NZ (most fees included). The cost depends on several factors such as size, age, type of vehicle and booking length.
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