Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Meh! Moan!

All we fancied doing was to hire a motorhome for a week so we could tootle around the bottom of the South Island.
We thought we would fly down adn then simply pick up a reasonably self contained camper.

Can we do that? Yes if we had mega $$$$$
Can we do that for an affordable cost? No.

At these prices it is easier to go offshore.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

I have to agree, prices are totally ridiculous.

We tiki tour round Otago and the west coast quite a bit and never have any trouble finding fairly affordable motels.
We never book in advance as we dont know where we'll be each night. We just book late afternoon once we've seen what need each day
I know its not quite the freedom of a camper but it does beat the indignity of a chemical toilet

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

I agree with this wholeheartedly. And the motels will be full of campervans because it's actually a bit horrible unless conditions are perfect. The only bonus is being able to free camp in remote spots, but you can always just take a thermos and chairs and enjoy the nice spot then head to a motel for a proper kip and shower!

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Ok. I hear ya both. :p

It was just that we fancied trying this out. We have never ever done this and used to quite enjoy camping back when our knees were not rusty & locating the loo block in the dark was sorta OK.

I'll have another think then.

We haven't been south south for 20 odd years.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Yes.
Shocking how much is being charged to rent a camper van in NZ.
We did a 10 night trip around Northland May 2014 and no idea how I managed it but I secured a brand new 6 berth Mercedes through Apollo Motorhome Rentals near Auckland airport for, get this......$250 for the whole trip!!! We then added the total cover insurance to reduce the excess down to the minimum, bought some toilet chemicals, hired a car seat and some camping chairs etc through them and the total came to $500.....for 10 nights. Have never found anything remotely near that price ever again, but I keep looking in hope.
There are a couple of websites in NZ where people with their own camper vans rent them out privately but for a big one it's still like $250 per night, but it could be a cheaper option ? You do it all through the website who act as the agent and you can do insurance through them etc. It's like AirBnB but for camper vans / caravans. Pick up of the camper is usually the home address of the owner meaning you don't always have to pick up near a big cit airport as there could be someone local offering their van for rent.
www.mighway.com
www.shareacamper.co.nz
RV Exchange | Motorhome Swap | Campervan Rent | Worldwide
Private campervan hire, Auckland, Free B&B on arrival from overseas, New Zealand, rent a motorhome, freedom camping, camper van, motorhome rental - Private campervan hire, Auckland, Free B&B on arrival from overseas

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Friends in Oz snagged a similar bargain, can't remember the details but it was through one of the big hiring companies who offer 'relocation' deals - when one of their motorhomes is left at a depot and they want it driven to another depot. The same deals might be available in NZ?

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Yes, same deals can be had here at www.transfercar.co.nz on cars, vans, people carriers, campers, trucks and now they even do motorbikes.
I've had a look a few times but the deals are never right for me living in Tauranga. They're majority Christchurch or Wellington based vehicles going back to Auckland. I'll keep looking though as one might work out one day and the deals are so cheap it'd be worth it.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

We would be looking at either flying into Dunedin or Queenstown from Nelson. Maybe fly in one way and out the other.

Driving down would basically take up too many days of the week one way and another unless we caned it which we don't want to do.

We also have to log in the time from work. So it cannot be last minute. I'm OK with the bits and bobs I do but not himself. What with the time he's had for the volunteer Civil Defence , suddenly plonking out for a week might not go down too well. As it is it will be unpaid leave.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

Wife and I picked up a Transfercar deal, moved a camper from Christchurch to Auckland over a 5 day period. But beware of the total costs: insurance, chemicals, bedding, and a "ifs its too dirty, a cleaning fee". Still, a nice way to travel and had a great time. Used an app called Campermate to location free camping places or camp grounds. With all the publicity around freedom campers, was a bit worried about local bylaws restricting freedom campers, so this app was most convenient.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

we've got a house sitter coming to look after our place for a month and they are over here doing house sitting stints for various people such as us. Their original plan was to hire a motorhome for when they had no house sitting. That cost of hiring a motorhome for 3 periods of no more than 2 weeks at a time cost more than their entire flights over and then some.
I suggested airbnb - which I know isn't the same - but for a third of the money they have stayed in some of the nicest homes, slept in proper beds, used proper toilets and in the main had breakfast thrown in as well!
Campervan rentals are just milking it at the moment, which means those on a tighter budget are being forced to use the lower end of the market, and we all know what that means (on the news just about every weekend now it seems).

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

have you tried local fb pages to see if anyone has one sitting in their driveway that they would loan out?

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

I have, but nothing suitable around.
I've seen a few cheap converted vans and people carriers turned in to campers that'll take 2 people but that's it.

I expect it's way too much of a risk for a big campervan owner to just lend out their $150k + machine to Joe public to go have some fun in.

If I was the owner of one sat on my drive I'd only rent it through an agent or like an Airbnb thing.

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

If you do come use this, it's brilliant. Also on facebook
https://www.southproud.co.nz/

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

I often look at people driving hired campers around NZ and wonder how the flip they afford it. But alas that is supply and demand for you.

Your husband BEVS is a bit of a handyman no? I reckon it would be cheaper to buy a van, do it up/fit it out properly and off you go!

Re: Ridiculous NZ Motorhome / Campervan hire costs
 

No. Um. No.