Cheap Campervan Hire in Christchurch: What It Really Costs

Most South Island road trips begin in Christchurch. This is also where the price gap between operators can be clearly seen. Two vans parked a few hundred metres apart in Harewood can have varying rates of as much as $150.

So what does a cheap campervan hire Christchurch rate look like, and what are the trade-offs if you opt for the bottom of the range?

Quick Summary

A cheap campervan hire in Christchurch may cost starting at around NZD $80 per day in winter and the shoulder months. It gradually climbs from there across the mid-December to February peak. At Big Little Campers, rates start at $90 a day for The Little One, $110 for The Big One and $125 for The Biggest One. You pick up your choice of campervan from our base in Harewood, just a few kilometres from Christchurch Airport.

Inclusive of those rates are unlimited kilometres, bedding, a full kitchen kit with gas, camp chairs, a table, 24/7 roadside support and self-contained certification. This means that all BLC campervans carry their own fixed toilet and water tanks. These are necessary if you're planning for an overnight stay at free camping sites.

What costs extra is the bond reduction of $35 a day to drop the standard $5,000 bond to zero. Having additional gear like snow chains or a bike rack may also entail additional costs. The cheapest advertised rates in Christchurch, usually $50 to $70 a day, tend to leave out bedding, kitchen gear and self-contained certification. Without that certification, you are limited to staying at paid holiday parks every night.

There are several things that you can do to hit that low rate sweet spot without sacrificing the essentials. Consider travelling between April and September, hiring for longer than a week, and taking a van in the direction the fleet needs to move.

You can find some of the large chains such as Britz, Maui, Mighty, Apollo and Cheapa Campa all clustered at a single Orchard Road address, with Jucy and Star RV just sitting a few meters away. Though their dispatch may come from a single location, their booking terms differ significantly. Take, for example, Britz, Maui and Mighty: they require a $250 deposit upon booking, with the balance due and payable within 30 days. It's committing to a campervan even without seeing it in person.

In contrast, BLC's depot is conveniently located at 17/25 Logistics Drive, Harewood. Just a $10 Rideshare from Christchurch Airport. Our Harewood pickup guide will bring you up to speed if you need to know the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there cheap campervan hire in New Zealand for $29 per day?

Low rates are usually found on relocation deals and off-peak teasers, these are not standard pricing. Relocation hires do happen, including ours from $1 a day. But these come on fixed dates, a fixed direction and a tight time limit. A $29 headline on a normal booking usually means bedding, kitchen gear and unlimited kilometres are charged separately. If your travel dates are flexible, ask our team what we need moved between Auckland and Christchurch for that week.

What is the average price to hire a camper van?

Across New Zealand, expect the rate to be somewhere between $80 and $150 per day, off-peak, for a well-equipped two-berth. This can increase to up to $200 to $400 during peak summer season. Christchurch comes close to that average because so many depots can be found near the airport. These keep rates competitive. Our NZ-wide cost breakdown has more on this.

What is the cheapest campervan rental in New Zealand?

Most of what gets marketed as "cheap campervan rental in Christchurch" comes from backpacker fleets running older, non-self-contained vans. And yes, they're genuinely cheap per day. But you then pay $30 to $50 a night for a holiday park, which over two weeks often overshadows the savings.

Where can I find the cheapest motorhome hire in Christchurch?

Spotting a cheap motorhome hire in Christchurch is a harder search than it looks. Motorhome hire Christchurch prices sit above campervan rates for the same dates since larger vehicles burn more fuel. Motorhome rates are based on four or more berths. If this is too much for you, The Biggest One covers most of what people want from one: diesel heater, hot shower and induction stove in a two-berth, starting at $125 a day.

Where can I hire the best campervan in Christchurch?

Take a closer look at what is included, not just the headline rate. Go for self-contained certification, unlimited kilometres, bedding and kitchen gear included in the price. Look also for a real person to answer the phone if things don't go exactly as planned.

Our guide to choosing a van walks you through the checks. You can see all three BLC vans with Christchurch rates side by side so you can have a benchmark.

Where can I find the cheapest campervan hire on NZ's South Island?

A cheap campervan in Christchurch generally beats the same van in Queenstown, where depots carry less stock against higher demand. Picking up in Christchurch and looping back also avoids the one-way fees some operators charge on a Queenstown drop-off.

References

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Campsite categories: Facilities and fees. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/facilities-and-fees/

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Campsite Pass: Stay at a campsite. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/booking-and-paying/campsite-pass/