Great value rentals from New Zealand’s most trusted campervan hire providers
Wellington is known as the “coolest little capital in the world”. Hire a campervan with VroomVroomVroom and explore the sights and scenery of New Zealand’s capital city. Whether you prefer staying near the beach or right in the heart of the city, there’s something exciting waiting for you in Wellington.
Situated at the southern end of the North Island, Wellington offers a great mix of heritage, culture, delicious food, and vibrant arts. Truly a must-see stop for anyone travelling to New Zealand, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do here. Get up close and personal with wildlife at Wellington Zoo, treat yourself to live music at The Green Man on Victoria Street, or you can visit the historic Katherine Mansfield House and Garden.
Some of our favourite things to do year-round in Wellington are:
Summer (December, January, February): The city is blessed with so many stunning beaches. If you want to enjoy the ocean breeze or just feel the sand between your toes, you won’t need to travel far to find a nice beach. The famous Oriental Bay is right in the city, with great ice cream shops nearby to help you cool off. Scorching Bay, which is just a short drive from the CBD, is absolutely breathtaking for a beach day. Other incredible beaches within reach of Wellington are Days Bay, Kapiti Coast, Island Bay, Makara Beach, and Waitarere Beach.
Autumn (March, April, May): If you’re into movies, then you are in for a treat. The city is home to the Weta Studio which was central to the filming of the Lord of the Rings. Just a short drive from Wellington by campervan, head to Wairarapa and discover some of the beautiful vineyards and wineries in the region. If you are looking for other great places to explore just a few hours away from the city, go on a day trip and visit Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Martinborough.
Winter (June, July, August): The streets of Wellington come alive at the annual Wellington Jazz Festival in June. Also known as the craft beer capital of New Zealand, don’t miss the biggest and most popular beer festival in the country. Held over two days in August at Wellington Stadium, get ready to blow your mind at Beervana.
Spring (September, October, November): Take a mesmerising ride on the historic Wellington Cable Car. This 5-minute journey starts on Lambton Quay and finishes in the picturesque suburb of Kelburn. Enjoy impressive views from the lookout and easy access to Cable Car Museum and Botanic Gardens. There are plenty of walking tracks through the gardens, including the award-winning Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The main garden is extraordinary all year round but it comes alive with 25,000 tulips in the spring.
Year-Round: There are many places that you can explore in Wellington for free. These include the Weta Cave, Wellington Waterfront, Underground Market, and Seal Colony at Red Rocks. Other must-see attractions in the city include the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Zealandia, and Colonial Cottage Museum. Of course, no visit to the city is complete without stopping into Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand.
Wellington TOP 10 Holiday Park which lies at 95 Hutt Park Rd, Lower Hutt boasts a drive-through check-in for your convenience so you can be welcomed without leaving your campervan hire. Enjoy the BBQ areas, playground and jumping pillow the Holiday Park offers. Also available is a hot tub to sit back and relax after a long road trip.These clean facilities are waiting to provide you with every comfort.
Harcourt Holiday Park which can be found in the breathtaking parklands of Akatarawa Valley on the banks of the Hutt River in Upper Hutt offers its guests with worthy and great facilities. Thinking about your adventure in Wellington? Now is the perfect time to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere with their powered and non-powered sites.
Camp Elsdon is situated on the western side of Porirua which is wrapped up into the edge of the Colonial Knob Reserve. The campsite is a 5-minute drive from Porirua City, which provides 10 campervan powered sites and consists of 20 grassed tent sites near to private NZ native bush.
Capital Gateway which is situated just off State Highway 1 provides a choice of reasonable accommodation units very ideal for families and groups. It has 27 powered sites for campervans, with easy public transport links to the city. Staying at Capital Gateway will give you a wonderful and stress-free experience.
Visit Mount Victoria Lookout: There’s nothing quite like the view from Mount Victoria Lookout towards the suburbs to the south and across the harbour to the north. This is also a perfect romantic spot at night with all the city lights. You can drive all the way up, or walk through the nature trails.
Explore the Te Papa Museum: Known as the National Museum of New Zealand, the museum explores everything from Maori and European settlement and integration, World War history, the emergence of the Rock n Roll era, and many more.
Take a tour of the Houses of Parliament: At the far end of town, you’ll find the Parliament Building, known as The Beehive. The building has some nice grounds and the Parliamentary Library building is worth a visit too. The entrance to the building is free.
On hiring a campervan in Wellington
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 Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard campervan. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Wellington 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 Wellington, 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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