Travelling around New Zealand: car, campervan, bus or group tour?

Explore New Zealand by campervan

From my experience, the most popular option for couples and families travelling around New Zealand is the freedom offered by a campervan. From budget vehicles to absolute luxury, New Zealand has a wide range of suppliers with an enormous choice of vehicles to suit all budgets.

Useful things to know about campervan hire in New Zealand

Most rental companies only allow pick-up/drop-off in Auckland (North Island) and Christchurch (South Island). A few companies offer Queenstown (South) and Wellington (North) pick-ups too – so ask us for advice if you’re looking for other depots.

If you choose to collect your vehicle from one location and drop off in another this can be a much more time-effective way to travel. It can also save you money on the extra days rental required to drive the vehicle back to where you started. One way rentals often incur a fee due to the costs of relocating the vehicle back to where it needs to be and these fees can vary from $75 to $250 depending on the supplier - we can advise you about these fees.

The minimum driving age for the majority of campervans in New Zealand is 21. However, the Mighty and Hippie brands do allow drivers to be 18 years old - we can advise you on this. Need more information? You'll find everything you need to know about campervan hire in New Zealand here.

Travelling around New Zealand by car

Another popular option is hiring a car to explore the islands. There is a fantastic selection of cars to suit everyone’s needs and budgets.

Unlike with a campervan where you sleep in your vehicle, with a car you generally pre-book accommodation along the route. In New Zealand, this will mostly be small, privately owned B&Bs, boutique properties or luxury lodges. In high season (December to February) you’ll definitely want to reserve your accommodation in advance to guarantee availability.

We have some fantastic New Zealand road trip ideas - to help you explore one island or both, and we can book you a flexible accommodation pass which allows you to travel where the wind takes you and stay wherever you choose (subject to availability).

These give you an idea of what’s possible but in New Zealand, anything is possible! Spend as long as you like and choose which ever standard of car and accommodation you prefer.

Most car hire companies don’t allow you to take your car from one island to the other. Generally you’ll have to leave your car at one side and pick up a new car on the other.

Joining a small group tour in New Zealand

For solo travellers, first-time visitors or those who just prefer a little bit of sociable travel, a small group tour in New Zealand is a great option. The key factors for choosing the right group tour for you will include your age, your budget, any specific places you want to see, how active you want your holiday to be, how much time you have and the size of group you'd prefer to join. If you're after a super-active camping adventure, try a Flying Kiwi tour for kayaking, cycling, trekking and more.

Group tours are great for budgeting – because so much is included, you know from the start how much you’ll need. There’s no running-out-of-cash and missing out several days in! If you’re wondering about a tour, but are unsure – see our top 10 reasons to try a group tour.

Although at first the cost of a tour can seem daunting initially, don't forget that most tours will include all accommodation, all transport on the tour, some meals and some activities.

Booking a hop-on/hop-off bus pass in New Zealand

New Zealand has several bus companies who offer transport around both islands. If you’re short on time or travelling on your own these could be the perfect option for you.
We work with several different companies, all of whom operate similar routes and offer hop-on/hop-off travel with knowledgeable local drivers, so we can recommend the right type of bus to suit you. While there are a few party buses suited to young backpackers, there are also plenty of companies that offer comfy coaches between key destinations for all ages. It's important to choose the right one for you, so don't be afraid to ask.

Interested in planning a trip to New Zealand?

If you're keen to explore New Zealand, I can help you choose the best options for you, whether that's a campervan, road trip, bus pass or group tour. For more ideas, check out our New Zealand tailor-made holidays (inclusive of flights) and trip ideas (exclusive of fights) and to start planning your trip, contact me.