Great value rentals from New Zealand’s most trusted campervan hire providers
The picturesque town of Picton serves as a gateway to the inlets and islands of Marlborough Sounds. From here, you can explore Queen Charlotte Sound, which is known for its pristine beaches, sandy bays, beautiful coves, and lush forests. The best way to see Picton’s amazing sights is by hiring a campervan and VroomVroomVroom can help you with that as we compare the best deals from the country’s leading providers.
Picton is surrounded by the sea-drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds, with secluded bays and crystal waters. It is the perfect pit stop for your New Zealand road trip, being the arrival or departure point for the Cook Strait ferry. Fun and exciting activities await you here – from kayaking and mountain biking to swimming with the dolphins!
Some of our favourite things to do year-round in Picton are:
Summer (December, January, February): Summer means beach time and there are some beautiful beaches in Picton that are worth checking out. Shelley Beach is just a few minutes away from downtown Picton. You can either walk there or drive to the beach via the marina. Bob’s Bay is also nearby and there is a track going there coming from Shelley Beach.
Autumn (March, April, May): The cool weather makes it the perfect time to explore the outdoors. Join the GrapeRide which is held every March at the Forrest Estate. The course passes through Wairau, Picton and Havelock. If you missed the race, you can also go biking or hiking at Queen Charlotte Track. The track starts from Ship Cove and ends in Anakiwa.
Winter (June, July, August): To avoid the cold and wet weather, it is best to explore Picton’s indoor attractions including the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum. After discovering the world’s 9th oldest ship, head to EcoWorld Aquarium & Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where you can see some of New Zealand’s unique species.
Spring (September, October, November): Sample the region's best wines and local produce by going on a wine tour. There are many companies that offer wine tours from Picton so check what will best suit your needs and budget. Another popular place to visit during spring is the Winterhome Garden, which is just over an hour drive from the town.
Year-Round: A trip to Marlborough Sounds won’t be complete without visiting The Picton Foreshore Reserve. You can enjoy a relaxing stroll along the boulevard, swim or sunbathe at the sandy beach, or watch the kids play at the water play area or playground. Of course, going on a day trip to nearby destinations such as Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaikoura, and Blenheim should be included in your list.
Waikawa Bay Holiday Park at 5 Waimarama Street is the only holiday park accommodation in Picton with views of the bay. This park provides budget accommodation from standard cabins to self-contained units and park motels. Some of the indoor and outdoor facilities they offer include a kitchen, swimming pool, playground, badminton and volleyball courts and boat parking.
Parklands Marina Holiday Park is located at 10 Beach Road, Waikawa Marina. It offers many accommodation options, from standard to self-contained cabins, as well as tent sites and power sites that are very spacious, giving all visitors their needed privacy and comfort. This holiday park provides all kinds of activities you will surely enjoy - from boating to walking to wine trails to fishing and more.
Picton Campervan Park at 42 Kent Street is just a 10-minute walk to the town centre. It has a perfect central location, clean facilities and rooms, campervan sites, WiFi + Kiosk access, a lounge with Sky TV offering 50+ channels, and hot showers. Also, the park is conveniently situated near a general store, local tavern and restaurant.
Picton TOP 10 Holiday Park is located at 70-78 Waikawa Road and offers a wide range of accommodation options including cabins and powered sites. Guests can take advantage of their modern facilities such as solar-heated swimming pool, children's playground, barbecue area, and free Wi-Fi.
Smiths Farm Holiday Park is situated at 1419 Queen Charlotte Drive, Linkwater. The park is huge and peaceful with facilities ranging from comfortable standard cabins to self-contained units, and motels. There is a modern ablution block where guests can do their laundry, cook, eat and take a bath.
E-Ko Tours gives you the opportunity to experience swimming with the dolphins. Their tours operate in the clear waters of the Marlborough Sounds and boast an 80% success rate for being able to get guests swimming alongside wild dolphins.
Queen Charlotte Track is a 70-kilometre one-way track that affords magnificent views of the Marlborough Sounds. Explore this premium walking, biking or sea kayaking experience. There is a seamless network of walking, cycling, cruising and pack transfer services, so you are able to tailor the trip to fit the time you have available.
Edwin Fox Maritime Museum is located at Dunbar Wharf. The museum gives you a glimpse of Picton's maritime history. The world's oldest merchant ship the Edwin Fox is in dry dock there, and the National Whale Centre has a display at the port.
Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary can be accessed by boat, water taxi or kaya from Picton. It takes around ten minutes to reach this place. The sanctuary lets you get closer to unique native wildlife such as korimako (bellbird), korora (little penguin), and piwakawaka (fantail). You can visit this place anytime since it is open 24 hours, every day of the year.
On hiring a campervan in Picton
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 Picton 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 Picton 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 Picton 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 Picton and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard campervan. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Picton to Auckland — 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 Picton, 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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