Great value rentals from New Zealand’s most trusted campervan hire providers
Use VroomVroomVroom to find the perfect campervan and motorhome hire in Thames. We partnered with New Zealand's most trusted RV and camper suppliers such as Britz, Maui, Apollo and Jucy. With just a few details put into our search engine we can show you the available motorhome and campervan rentals in Thames. There are strict laws around freedom camping in the Thames-Coromandel district, so give some thought to the places you want to stay. If you want to stay outside of commercial campgrounds, you will need to get a fully self-contained camper.
Thames is a gateway to the famous Coromandel Peninsula. It's a charming colonial town surrounded by magnificent lush forests and scenic coastline. Thames is a worthwhile stop on your road-trip, offering supermarkets, a shopping centre, and a lively Saturday market. There's plenty to see and do, so consider a night or two here before heading to the famous beaches further up the peninsula.
Dickson Holiday Park can be found on Victoria St, Tararu. Everything you desire for an unforgettable holiday is here at Dickson Holiday Park – all you need is to arrive and get a thrill out of this perfect family holiday spot.
Tapu Motor Camp which is situated at Main Hwy 25, Tapu, Thames Coast, is at least 20 minutes drive from Thames and 40 minutes to Coromandel. Its facilities include two kitchens, compact and clean, with metered appliances and fridge/freezers, plus a variety of ablutions with two appealing disabled access suites and a lot of toilets and family showers. In addition, there are two automatic laundries and a dump station being offered.
Te Puru Holiday Park is located at 473 Thames Coast Road. Does your family love nature or water sports? If your answer is yes, then the Te Puru Holiday Park is the right base camp for you. Take pleasure and enjoy the perfect mix of varying from character trams to modern caravans and campervan sites.
Take a guided tour through the Thames Goldmine Experience, to see an operational 19 th century stamper battery in one of the richest goldmines of the period. Part of the tour is underground, so wear sturdy shoes and bring your torch.
Walk in the Kauaeranga Valley. This scenic valley has access paths formed by kauri logging, and is now overseen by the Department of Conservation. The most famous trail is the Pinnacles walk, which is an 8 hour round-trip. It can be done in a day, but is much better as an overnight, sleeping in the 80-bed hut, for a real adventure. There are several campgrounds in the Kauaeranga Valley accessible by campervan. Facilities are more basic than commercial campgrounds, but they offer great value and will put you right in the heart of New Zealand's natural beauty.
Visit the Rapaura Watergardens, a garden of regional significance, spread over 64 acres of private estate.
Ride the Hauraki Rail Trail, a cycleway linking the towns of Thames, Paeroa and Waihi.
Take the scenic coast road to beaches such as Whangapoua and Matarangi. Make sure you stop at the Waiomu Bay playground and reserve, and get an ice cream or coffee from the store there. The Thames Coast road is narrow and windy; make sure you pull over when possible to let the traffic build-up pass you.
On hiring a campervan in Thames
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 Thames 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 Thames 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 Thames 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 Thames and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard campervan. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Thames 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 Thames, 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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