It’s your holiday of a lifetime, and you have limited time to see as much as possible. There’s one thing you’ll want to avoid at all costs — backtracking. Fortunately, one way campervan and motorhome rentals are available in NZ, offering superior flexibility so you can road trip at your own pace. In this blog, we look in-depth at how one way campervan rentals in New Zealand work and how they can be beneficial. We also discuss costs, planning, drawbacks, tips, which local operators offer one way travel and the types of RVs available for one way hire. Contents A one way motorhome or campervan hire gives you the flexibility, freedom and time efficiency to experience a greater array of destinations. You’re liberated from travelling within the constraints of a circular route — and empowered to maximise your experience of New Zealand’s diverse landscapes. Organising a one way motorhome hire in New Zealand is relatively easy. It begins with the booking process. Run through the following steps to book a one way rental vehicle. Auckland and Christchurch are the two main centres for picking up and dropping off motorhomes and campervans because these cities are home to the country’s two largest airports. In addition, some rental operators may have bases in Wellington or Queenstown. You can also pick up and drop off RVs in smaller locations like Hamilton, Picton, Nelson, Dunedin, Blenheim and Greymouth. However, smaller operators likely have bases in these locations and may not offer one way travel or do so at a high cost. You’ll find a wider selection of motorhomes and campervans for hire in the larger cities, like Christchurch and Auckland, where the major rental operators have bases. Check for any fees As you work through the booking process, look for additional fees — particularly one way fees. Most rental operators charge a one way fee to cover the cost of returning the RV to its original location. The fee amount can vary depending on the season and the distance back to the pick-up base. A few rental companies may offer discounted one way fees — and very few, like Wilderness, waive them. On arrival at the rental operator’s depot, you’ll pick up your campervan or motorhome, go on your New Zealand adventure, and then return the recreational vehicle to your selected drop off destination. Take your time travelling one wayThe most common one way motorhome hire journeys tend to last between one and two weeks. However, New Zealand is a geographically long country with winding roads that take time to navigate. With most bases in Christchurch and Auckland, a two to three-week journey is the minimum length of time we’d recommend. Take your time to travel New Zealand by aiming to drive 200km a day or less. Why choose a one way rental? It’s a valid question, as most vehicles rented worldwide are picked up and dropped off in the same place. This is often due to cost considerations and logistical reasons. The advantages of travelling in one direction across New Zealand are: Read our blog about travelling from Christchurch to Auckland by motorhome. Book well in advance Book early to secure the best price for the recreational vehicle you want — unless you're holding out for a relocation deal. It’s not all positive when travelling one way in a rental vehicle. A few drawbacks you may face when planning your one way RV adventure include: Find out about travelling with a motorhome on the Cook Strait ferry between the North and South Islands. Book your ferry early Secure ferry tickets as soon as you know you’ll need them — because prices tend to increase as supply decreases and the ferry travel dates get closer. Looking at the top five motorhome rental companies that offer one way hires, we can see what aspects of their policies stand out. With a wide range of recreational vehicles to suit individuals, couples and groups, Wilderness Motorhomes notably stands out as a company that doesn’t charge one way fees. We’re well-known for providing premium motorhomes for hire and excellent customer service. Our customer reviews speak for themselves. You can rent one of our Wilderness motorhomes in Christchurch and drop it off in Auckland — or pick it up in Auckland and drop it off down south. We’re a family-run business that occasionally offers relocation deals — which could be your opportunity to travel one way at a discounted price. Maui has a large fleet of well-maintained RVs and offers one way motorhome hire from Queenstown, Auckland and Christchurch. You can pick up a Maui motorhome from one depot and drop it off at another — but you’ll be charged a one way fee. The company’s fees can vary depending on the season and the route, and a minimum rental period may apply. Maui sometimes also offers relocation deals where you can drive an RV in one direction at a special price. Britz is owned by Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) — the same company that owns Maui. Britz’s one way fees are structured similarly to Maui, changing with the time of year and the route you intend to travel. A minimum rental period may also apply. The company has a wide selection of motorhomes and campervans — and often offers one way relocation deals with significant discounts. Jucy targets the budget side of the market with a fleet of campervans and one motorhome model. The company has bases in Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland and allows one way hires between these locations — with varying fees depending on your itinerary and the season. The business frequently offers relocation deals that are highly attractive if you’re travelling on a tight budget. Apollo operates a diverse recreational vehicle fleet consisting of campervans and motorhomes. Like others on this list, the company is located in the key centres of Auckland and Christchurch, as well as the tourist mecca of Queenstown. One way rentals with minimum rental periods are possible, but they do come with fees that depend on the season and the route you plan to take. Relocation offers are infrequent compared to the other rental operators listed here. Another option may be hiring from a private owner. Read our blog on how hiring from a private owner compares to hiring from a rental company. Check flight and RV prices at the same time If you’re thinking about hiring a one way recreational vehicle, it’s worth looking at flight and motorhome prices in unison. The price of your flight is often a primary factor in hiring a motorhome from one location over another. However, it’s wise to consider the combined price of your flight and campervan rental — from all of your possible departure locations. One motorhome hire direction will usually be cheaper than the other — which could outweigh your potential airfare savings. Motorhome rental operators determine their one way fees based on a combination of factors, which may include: The relocation rental rush A unique opportunity presents itself during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. If you’re planning to travel on a strict budget, you may be able to find a rental campervan that needs to be relocated — part of the relocation rental rush. One catch is that you’ll probably only have a limited timeframe to complete the relocation — often just a few days to a week. Plus, it’s important to weigh up waiting for an available relocation deal, with hire rates likely rising the closer you get to your ideal travel period. There’s no guarantee your perfect relocation deal will be possible. However, if you can find a deal that works for you, it’s a win-win situation — the rental operator saves on relocation costs, and you can travel at a substantial discount. To stay in the loop, sign up for relocation deal notifications from the rental operators you’re considering. A variety of RVs are available to rent one way in New Zealand. Spend time researching what’s out there to find the ideal RV, motorhome, or campervan for your travel group, budget and itinerary. Some options are: Choose the right Wilderness motorhome for your one way travel adventure. Once you decide on a one way adventure in a campervan or motorhome, it’s time to get excited about what your trip could look like. You’ll want to optimise your itinerary so your one way journey from A to B covers all you want to see. One of these New Zealand road trip itineraries may be best depending on which motorhome rental operator you choose. The most direct route north from The Garden City to the City of Sails closely follows State Highway 1 (SH1). If you only have a week, it’s best to stick near this main thoroughfare and spend your nights at Kaikoura, Picton or Wellington, National Park, Taupo, Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves. A two week schedule gives you more time to branch off the main highway with options to stay at Hanmer Springs, Nelson, the Kapiti Coast, Napier, New Plymouth, Whangamōmona, Gisborne, Whakatāne and Tauranga. Take a look at our Christchurch to Auckland road trip itinerary. Depending on your flights and the time of year, a campervan rental from Auckland to Christchurch may work better. Consider similar night stops to those highlighted above. However, if you’re planning a more extended three or four week adventure, look to spend quality time on the West Coast, Golden Bay, the Eastern Cape and the Coromandel Peninsula. Check out our Auckland to Christchurch road trip itinerary. A hugely popular route, whether completed as a loop or as a one way road trip, Christchurch to Queenstown takes you from the South Island’s largest city to its most famous one. You have three main routes that will take you to Queenstown, which are: See our Christchurch to Queenstown road trip itinerary for great places to park up for the evening on your motorhome adventure. If you’re planning an epic month-long journey across Aotearoa New Zealand, beginning in Queenstown and heading north to Auckland could be your best choice. You’ll have time to experience Milford or Doubtful Sound, Te Anau, Glenorchy, the Abel Tasman National Park, the Wairarapa and possibly even Northland. Our epic New Zealand road trip itinerary features a few off-the-beaten-track locations you may want to add to your travel plan. Plan strategically Plan for your preferred weather — this is especially relevant on a long hire where you may be able to start in the south and travel north as winter approaches. Check out our top ten tips for planning your first New Zealand motorhome adventure. We answer some common queries people have when organising a campervan or motorhome hire for a New Zealand road trip. It’s vital to consider a host of factors including, your budget, the RV type and size, the rental operator’s reputation and reviews, and any one way fees or relocation deals. Also, look at pick up and drop off locations, insurance coverage, amenities, features and whether the campervan has self-contained certification. For a route spanning most of the country, Auckland to Queenstown offers a huge variety of different scenery. Some top alternate scenic roads along this route include the Forgotten World Highway (SH43) and State Highway 3 (SH3) via New Plymouth. The classic South Island journey from Christchurch to Queenstown features plenty of lakes and New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook. Alternatively, follow SH6 down the West Coast, eventually making your way to Queenstown. It depends on what you prefer. Summer offers hot weather and more events, but also larger crowds and higher costs. Winter features snow and snowsports, though the weather can be more unpredictable and daylight hours are fewer. Spring and autumn usually have the best balance of reasonable weather, reasonable crowds and reasonable prices. It’s important to first choose the right RV to suit your group and travel plans. During the motorhome handover, ask questions to ensure you familiarise yourself with it and feel comfortable. Take ten minutes to drive around a back street before hitting the motorway. Pre-plan your route and book popular campsites in advance. Keep left, drive defensively and be aware of speed limits — especially suggested ones around corners on state highways. Keep up to date with the weather forecast and take breaks when you need to. Read our guide to driving a motorhome in New Zealand for the first time. If you have the time, add the Bay of Islands, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Tongariro National Park, Napier and Egmont National Park to your North Island one way itinerary. In the South Island, aim to visit Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikoura, the West Coast, Mount Cook National Park, Wanaka, Queenstown, The Catlins and Milford Sound. By travelling one way, you may enjoy cost savings and gain more diverse experiences. You may also get to cruise by ferry and have a little more time to appreciate your favourite locations — without having to backtrack. Be sure to look through our range of one way itineraries — and gather extra ideas from our many circular routes.How one way campervan rentals work
Booking your one way motorhome
The benefits of one way motorhome rentals
Disadvantages of one way motorhome hires
The best campervan rental operators offering one way hires in NZ
How RV rental operators price their one way fees
Types of campervans available for one way rentals in New Zealand
Planning your one way motorhome trip
Christchurch to Auckland
Auckland to Christchurch
Christchurch to Queenstown
Queenstown to Auckland
FAQs when booking a one way New Zealand motorhome road trip
motorhoming in NZ choosing a rental company
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Wilderness Motorhomes
Wilderness Motorhomes has been sharing its knowledge, experience and passion for exploring New Zealand by motorhome for more than two decades. Our team of motorhome experts, seasoned travellers and outdoor enthusiasts offer unique insights, practical tips and inspiring stories. We’re committed to producing engaging, original, helpful and impartial content to enhance your motorhome adventures — and to help you create remarkable memories.