Self-Contained vs Non-Self-Contained

Self-contained campervans offer greater flexibility and access to more sites across New Zealand. Non-certified vans are limited to holiday parks and require more planning.

Planning a campervan trip in New Zealand? You’ve probably heard the term “self-contained.” It’s one of the first things people ask us — and for good reason. Whether your van is self-contained or not affects where you can stay and how much freedom you really have on the road.

At Big Little Campers, all our vans are self-contained. Why? Because it gives you the flexibility to stay in more places, skip the packed holiday parks, and chase adventure without locking in bookings. If you want to go beyond the usual routes, self-contained campervan rental in New Zealand is the way to do it.

What Does “Self-Contained” Actually Mean?	In plain terms, a self-contained campervan can look after itself. It’s got everything on board to handle your basic needs—your own toilet, a greywater system for used water, a freshwater tank, and somewhere to store rubbish properly. That means you don’t need to rely on public facilities to get by. To park overnight at most freedom camping spots in New Zealand, you’ll need a certified self-contained vehicle. Local councils have their own rules, but the signs will let you know. Spoiler: the best spots usually ask for it. Sure, non-self-contained vans exist. But they’re limited to holiday parks or powered sites. No toilet means more stops. No certification means fewer options. We design all our vans to be fully certified self-contained so you’re set up from day one—no extra gear, no guesswork, and no limits on where the road takes you.
Where You Can (and Can’t) Stay	A certified van gets you access to hundreds of freedom camping spots all over New Zealand—places where you can wake up beside a lake, in a forest clearing, or right by the beach. These are the spots you remember long after the trip’s over. Without certification, you’re mostly stuck with paid campgrounds and holiday parks. That means more planning, more bookings, and more fees. Plus, you’ll miss out on some of the best off-grid locations. We’ve stayed at both kinds of places, and honestly? The freedom to park up wherever it’s allowed, without needing to rely on public toilets or shared kitchens, makes for an experience we wouldn’t trade for anything.
Is a Self-Contained Camper Right for You?	Short answer: yes—if you want freedom, flexibility, and the best kind of road trip. A self-contained camper lets you chase the weather, change plans on a whim, and stay in places you didn’t even know existed that morning. No campsite bookings. No public toilets. Just you, your van, and the road. That’s why we only build self-contained campers. They give you more choices, more access, and a better way to see New Zealand.
Why We Do It This Way	We started Big Little Campers because we wanted better vans for real adventures—simple, self-sufficient, and actually comfortable to live in. We’ve road-tripped NZ every which way, so we know what works if you’re here to really experience New Zealand, not just pass through it, our vans will help you do exactly that. Drop us a line today and we’ll get you set up.

Planning a campervan trip in New Zealand? You’ve probably heard the term “self-contained.” It’s one of the first things people ask us — and for good reason. Whether your van is self-contained or not affects where you can stay and how much freedom you really have on the road.

At Big Little Campers, all our vans are self-contained. Why? Because it gives you the flexibility to stay in more places, skip the packed holiday parks, and chase adventure without locking in bookings. If you want to go beyond the usual routes, self-contained campervan rental in New Zealand is the way to do it.

What Does “Self-Contained” Actually Mean?	In plain terms, a self-contained campervan can look after itself. It’s got everything on board to handle your basic needs—your own toilet, a greywater system for used water, a freshwater tank, and somewhere to store rubbish properly. That means you don’t need to rely on public facilities to get by. To park overnight at most freedom camping spots in New Zealand, you’ll need a certified self-contained vehicle. Local councils have their own rules, but the signs will let you know. Spoiler: the best spots usually ask for it. Sure, non-self-contained vans exist. But they’re limited to holiday parks or powered sites. No toilet means more stops. No certification means fewer options. We design all our vans to be fully certified self-contained so you’re set up from day one—no extra gear, no guesswork, and no limits on where the road takes you.
Where You Can (and Can’t) Stay	A certified van gets you access to hundreds of freedom camping spots all over New Zealand—places where you can wake up beside a lake, in a forest clearing, or right by the beach. These are the spots you remember long after the trip’s over. Without certification, you’re mostly stuck with paid campgrounds and holiday parks. That means more planning, more bookings, and more fees. Plus, you’ll miss out on some of the best off-grid locations. We’ve stayed at both kinds of places, and honestly? The freedom to park up wherever it’s allowed, without needing to rely on public toilets or shared kitchens, makes for an experience we wouldn’t trade for anything.
Is a Self-Contained Camper Right for You?	Short answer: yes—if you want freedom, flexibility, and the best kind of road trip. A self-contained camper lets you chase the weather, change plans on a whim, and stay in places you didn’t even know existed that morning. No campsite bookings. No public toilets. Just you, your van, and the road. That’s why we only build self-contained campers. They give you more choices, more access, and a better way to see New Zealand.
Why We Do It This Way	We started Big Little Campers because we wanted better vans for real adventures—simple, self-sufficient, and actually comfortable to live in. We’ve road-tripped NZ every which way, so we know what works if you’re here to really experience New Zealand, not just pass through it, our vans will help you do exactly that. Drop us a line today and we’ll get you set up.