Great value rentals from New Zealand’s most trusted campervan hire providers
Christchurch serves as a gateway to the whole Canterbury region and is a wonderful place to begin your South Island journey. Booking a campervan with VroomVroomVroom is the perfect way to discover the city and surrounds. Visit the stunning Lake Tekapo, and see the stars from Mt St John Observatory. Methven and the Mt Hutt ski area is also a popular route from Christchurch, while a side trip to Aoraki Mt Cook is also worthwhile.
Christchurch is sometimes known as “The Garden City”, and as the home of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, it is not difficult to see why. For the more adventurous, test your courage by trying out the aerial obstacle course at the Adrenalin Forest. Alternatively, you can get a dose of full-throttle action by riding the Jet Thrills through the Waimakariri Regional Park.
Some of our favourite things to do year-round in Christchurch are:
Summer (December, January, February): There’s nothing better than spending the day at the beach on a hot day. Located in the southwest of the city, Sumner Beach is a favourite escape among the locals, who like to spend their summer days basking at its beauty as they soak up the sun. Other popular beaches worth-visiting in and around Christchurch are Tumbledown Bay, Akaroa Beach, Taylors Mistake, New Brighton Beach, and Hickory Bay.
Autumn (March, April, May): Admire the vibrant foliage lining Avon River and take a leisurely walk through Hagley Park. The city is also the perfect starting point if you want to explore the south island of New Zealand because there are major airports nearby, plus the popular Christchurch to Queenstown road trip route that everyone needs to try at least once.
Winter (June, July, August): Enjoy your time at Christchurch skating rink located at Brougham Street or plan your visit to watch an action-packed Ice Hockey League game. Less than 2 hours by campervan from Christchurch, a visit to Hanmer Springs is a great way to spend your winter weekend. Visit the famous Hanmer Springs Hot Pools to relax and soak in the silky-smooth sulphur pool while admiring the view. Or if you want to hit the ski slopes, the area also offers great skiing opportunities, as well as several great hiking trails.
Spring (September, October, November): Wander into the central city to see what has been happening over spring. Usually, the flowers in the Botanic Gardens are in bloom during these months. Take this chance for some amazing photo opportunities or enjoy a lovely stroll through the gardens.
You can also head out of the city to enjoy wine tastings, delicious food and beautiful scenery at some of North Canterbury’s superb wineries.
Year-Round: Discover the best tourist attractions in Christchurch such as the Christchurch Adventure Park, New Regent Street, Christchurch Art Gallery, Bridge of Remembrance, The Victoria Clock Tower, Cardboard Cathedral, and Christchurch Botanic Gardens. A visit to Arthur’s Pass also makes for a great day trip from Christchurch.
Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park: Located on the outskirts of the city, this is one of the top campsites in the Garden City. Fitted with all your typical necessary facilities and providing bonus extras such as a giant jumping pillow, playground, indoor heated pool, private spa, library and games room, this park has something for everyone.
Amber Park: Awarded a Certificate of Excellence in 2014, this top-ranking campsite is just 15 minutes from the CBD. The park offers kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities as well as a playground and BBQ area.
All Seasons Holiday Park: Ten minutes outside of central Christchurch, this cosy holiday park provides all the facilities you need, as well as a swimming pool, BBQ area, and playground. Have a comfortable stay at this holiday park.
John’s Motel & Holiday Park: Just ten minutes north of Christchurch Airport is one of the top-ranked holiday parks in the region. Located near the Groynes Recreational Reserve, the park has travel facilities, a playground and entertainment options.
North South Holiday Park: Five minutes north of Christchurch Airport, find this holiday oasis lined with trees. The park caters to all your travel needs with laundry and kitchen facilities, plus the added bonus of outdoor swimming pools, and a children’s playground.
Explore the Christchurch Botanic Gardens: Located in central Christchurch, the Botanic Gardens are a fascinating place to explore. Discover many different plant species, including many that are native to New Zealand.
Take a day trip to Hanmer Springs: Take a day trip to the alpine resort town of Hanmer Springs. You can walk up Conical Hill for amazing views, then soak in the hot pools to recover.
Take a stroll at Hagley Park: Close to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park is deemed as the largest open space in the city. A visit to Hagley Park is a must as it hosts plenty of important events. It also offers a lot of recreational facilities for its visitors.
Visit the Christchurch Art Gallery: The gallery, which opened in 2003, is home to a substantial public art collection. It holds plenty of national and international exhibitions throughout the year from New Zealand and internationally based artists.
On hiring a campervan in Christchurch
Unlike when hiring a rental car, people tend to book a campervan a bit further in advance, and there are a few reasons for this.
When you’re hiring a campervan, you’re not simply hiring something with four wheels to buzz around a city for a few days, instead you’re hiring a vehicle that you could well be living in for days, weeks, or even months. As such, people tend to have far more specific needs — some may require a certain number of berths, perhaps an onboard kitchen, or more comfortable living space. All this means that doing your research to find the right campervan for you can pay off handsomely — but it also means that supply is more limited. When supply is limited, it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible so that you know that the campervan you need will be waiting for you when you arrive.
With this in mind, while it isn’t unusual for people to book a hire car the day before they need it, with campervans, people often book their vehicle months in advance. So our advice to you is if you’re planning to rent a campervan, start researching today, and when you find the right campervan for you, book it!
One more point, another way campervan rentals differ from regular cars, is that bookings are not instant. Once you make a campervan booking it will need to be approved by the provider. Yet another reason not to leave your campervan rental until you’re sitting in the airport boarding lounge.
If you’re new to campervans and not sure where to start, please give our campervan rental information page a read as it explains many of the basics you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
We could start off by telling you that a typical customer hiring a campervan in Christchurch tends to look at campervans with two or four berths (including a toilet and shower). This isn’t really all that helpful though, as they type of campervan you should hire in Christchurch depends very much on the type of campervan you — rather than a typical customer — needs. Consider the following questions:
How big is your travel group? What is your budget? What facilities do you need — or not need? Where are you planning to go? How long for? Knowing the answers to these questions — and plenty more — is the best way to make sure the campervan you hire in Christchurch is the right one for you.
Solo travellers or couples might find a compact campervan to be more than enough, while families — especially those with young kids — or larger groups might prefer a more spacious motorhome with multiple sleeping areas.
Next, consider the facilities you need and the facilities you want. These might sound the same, but they are very different! Basic campervans often include a bed and simple cooking gear, while more luxurious options feature kitchens, bathrooms, and comfortable bedding. For example, if you’re planning on camping, perhaps paying the extra for comfortable beds isn’t really necessary, but if you’re not even packing a tent, then the extra expense required to get more comfortable beds might be a smart choice.
Where you’re going also matters. If you’re planning to just potter around Christchurch and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard campervan. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Christchurch to Wellington — or Dunedin — something more spacious would be a sound investment.
Think about your budget, as campervans vary in cost depending on size, amenities, and rental duration, and while shortening the length of your trip might bring different options within your budget, spending more to get a bigger van may mean you’ll spend even less on hotels. Either way, do the math!
In conclusion, when you’re booking a campervan for pickup from Christchurch, it pays to be honest when considering what you need versus what you want, along with what fits with your budget and overall travel plans. It’s the best way to maximise your chance of getting the perfect campervan for you.
For most rental caravan providers, the minimum age to rent a campervan is the same as for car rentals — 21 years of age. Depending on the campervan rental supplier, those under 21 may only be able to rent certain vehicles. Double check with the campervan rental provider to see what their specific requirements are.
In most cases, you won’t need to present a special type of licence to rent a campervan — you’ll only be asked to present your standard and valid full driving licence. Keep in mind that a probationary, learner permit, or provisional licence are not accepted for campervan hire. If your licence is in a language other than English, you’ll need to provide an International Driving Permit in conjunction with your valid licence. If you’re unsure as to whether your licence will be accepted, you should contact your prospective campervan provider prior to booking.
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