The Info you need.
The Info you need.
Included with every hire is our Basic insurance. However, we highly recommend upgrading to either our General or Premium insurance options.
Upgrading to Premium insurance will give you peace of mind when travelling on New Zealand’s roads. When thinking about whether to upgrade your insurance policy with us, here are some things to consider:
New Zealand roads are most likely very different from what you are used to – we have different road rules, weather conditions can change quickly, some roads can be thin and winding
You are responsible for any new damage to the vehicle while on hire – regardless of fault, unless you have upgraded insurance policy.
Vehicle repairs aren’t very cheap.
Taking a higher level of insurance means you minimise the bond payment required prior to your hire.
One thing to note: our insurance policy only covers the vehicle and not any personal items. We recommend having travel insurance to cover this.
The table below, explains our 3 levels of insurance:
For more details about insurance please read our Terms and Conditions.
PaymentS.
We aim to keep our payment terms as simple as possible and have outlined them below.
To confirm your reservation, you will be required to pay a deposit via credit card of 25% of your booking total. The remaining balance is due in full 1 calendar month before the beginning of your trip (please see our COVID-19 updated payment terms).
For payment of balance we accept the following payment methods:
Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. Please note for all credit card or international debit card transactions there a 2.95% surcharge.
Internet banking bank transfer.
Add-On Payments
If you decide to purchase any additional add-ons post booking, these can be paid upon the collection of your vehicle.
You will be required to pay the bond 7 days prior to the commencement of the hire. The bond amount is dependent on the insurance option chosen at the time of booking (see bond and insurance options under the insurance section). Please ensure you have sufficient funds on your credit card to cover the bond. Funds to cover the bond will be held for the duration of the hire and will be released in accordance with our Terms and Conditions after the vehicle has been returned (if there has been no damage to the vehicle).
For more details about payments please read our Terms and Conditions.
What’s Included.
We think we’ve thought of it all when it comes to what we include in your van. See what’s included in every van below.
Bed Linen, 2 x Pillows, Duvet, Mattress Protector, Blanket
2 x Bath Towels & Tea Towels
Enamel Mugs & Glass Tumblers
Non-stick Frying Pan & Saucepan
Cooking Utensils – Spatula, knife, cheese grater, can opener, tongs, wooden spoon
Cloth, Dish Brush & Liquid, hand soap, laundry powder
Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, basic herbs
Kettle, Coffee Plunger/French Press
Other stuff – tin foil, sandwich bags
Phone Holder, USB charger (in cabin)
24/7 AA Roadside Assistance
Campervan Add Ons.
We provide a range of add ons when hiring your van with us. Don’t see what you’re looking for here? Send us an email and we’ll see what we can do about that.
Camping Chair $10/hire (free with top level insurance)
Camping Table $25/hire (free with top level insurance)
Chilly Bag / Cool Bag $10/hire
Extra Fleece Blanket $10/hire
Hiking Sleeping Bag + Liner $50/hire
2 Person Hiking Tent $50/hire
Winter Kit. Includes – Mains Power Cable (cable suitable for campsite power connections), Heater, Electric Jug, Extra Blanket) $75/hire – can only be used with our A-List model
Domestic Power Outlet Cable Adapter (adapter enables to connection to domestic house power plug, great if you’re parking up at a friends house) $40/hire – can only be used with our A-List model
UE Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker $50/hire
Driving In New Zealand.
New Zealand roads are probably different to what you’re used to. Travel distances may seem short on a map, but our roads can be thin and winding, cover hilly terrain, and vary from motorways to unsealed gravel roads.
We want you to have the best experience possible while travelling New Zealand, to set you up for success we highly recommend that you take a minute to learn about driving in New Zealand.
A few examples of how New Zealand roads and road rules can differ:
We drive on the left-hand side of the road
Travel times can be easy to underestimate
Our roads are narrower, more winding and sometimes steeper than you might expect
Our roads are mostly two-way, with one lane in each direction
One way bridges are a common occurrence and have a specific set of rules
Not all railway crossings have active warnings
Seat belts are compulsory for everyone in the vehicle
It is illegal to use a phone while driving (unless it is hands free)
Below are a few driving resources you should check out before you arrive in New Zealand:
Study New Zealand road rules in the official New Zealand road code
Check the Drive Safe website for trip planning and driving advice for visitors to New Zealand
Use this time and distance calculator to understand travelling times around New Zealand
We will need you to watch this ‘Driving in New Zealand’ video before starting your hire. We also include a driving manual in each van for quick reference.
Camping in New Zealand.
We love campervans for the freedom they bring when travelling throughout New Zealand. There are a lot of options when it comes to camping. To help you plan where you should camp, download one of these apps which will provide you with information featuring thousands of campsites, key attractions and popular activities.
Travelling in a Certified Self Contained campervan allows you the freedom to travel as you please. However, to keep New Zealand beautiful we ask that you respect the environment and camp responsibly by doing the following:
Don’t camp anywhere that it’s not permitted (you risk a $200 instant fine)
Camp near toilet facilities (i.e don’t use the side of the road or the bush, it’s yuck)
Waste water tanks and toilets must only be emptied at dedicated dumpstations. Most campsites will have one and there are also many public ones around the country. A list of these can be found here.
There are a few ways to camp while travelling throughout New Zealand. We’ve outlined the main ones below.
Freedom Camping
Freedom camping or free camping is the practice of putting up tents or parking campervans in areas not generally designated for camping. This type of camping typically means that freedom campers cannot access facilities such as clean drinking water, toilets (either flushing or long drop) and waste disposal facilities.
Freedom camping is not illegal in New Zealand, but local by-laws can specifically restrict it in certain areas and freedom campers not complying can be instantly fined. Usually there will be signage to indicate where you are not allowed to camp. However, to be certain about local camping laws, we recommend you ask at an i-SITE information centre, Department of Conservation visitor centre or holiday park before camping for the night.
More information on freedom camping can be found here and here.
DOC Campsites
The Department of Conservation or DOC, a government agency, manages over 250 vehicle-accessible camping areas on conservation land within New Zealand’s 14 National Parks. These campsites are a great affordable option while travelling and are usually located on scenic camping spots.
DOC also offers a campsite pass, which is great if you plan to camp at DOC campsites. The weekly pass can save you up to 50% on campsite fees at more than 90 of DOC’s most scenic campsites. Have a look here.
Holiday Parks
Holiday Parks are generally on the more expensive end of the options presented here. However, they generally have more facilities (showers, toilets, laundry etc) and allow you to choose between powered or unpowered campsites. Powered sites mean you can hook up to 230v and run appliances such as a heater (nothing better in winter).
Holiday parks are generally located near beaches, lakes, or rivers meaning booking are usually required over the summer months. Make sure you call in advance to book a campsite or you might miss out. We use the Campermate app to find all campsites throughout New Zealand.