Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in New Plymouth and the surrounding area. Discover unique vehicles offered by private owners — from compact campervans for 2, perfect for couples, to spacious 6-berth motorhomes, ideal for families. Flexible booking, competitive prices and insurance included.
New Plymouth's Len Lye Centre is the only museum in New Zealand dedicated to a single artist, housing over 18,000 works of kinetic sculpture and film. Sitting on the western coast of the North Island, this compact city pairs a dramatic volcanic backdrop with a relaxed seaside atmosphere. The Coastal Walkway stretches 13 km along the Tasman Sea foreshore, linking Hickford Park in the east to Port Taranaki in the west — ideal for a morning stroll before hitting the road. Pukekura Park, a 52-hectare botanical garden in the heart of town, features lakes, ferneries and a cricket ground framed by native bush. For art lovers, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery offers a respected programme of contemporary exhibitions. History buffs can explore Tawhiti Museum, roughly 45 km south in Hāwera, where life-size figures bring the region's past to life. Whanganui, 190 km to the east, opens up river-valley scenery and heritage architecture for a rewarding day trip. The Taranaki region's roads wind through dairy country and around the flanks of Mount Taranaki, so allow extra time on the curves and enjoy the ever-changing views. With Yescapa, you can hire a campervan or motorhome directly from a local owner in the area, which often means flexible pick-up spots and helpful insider tips. Renting peer-to-peer keeps costs reasonable and connects you with people who genuinely know the best places to park up for the night.
New Plymouth enjoys its warmest weather from December to March, when average highs sit around 21–23 °C and the Coastal Walkway buzzes with runners and cyclists. The WOMAD festival, held each March in Brooklands Park, draws world-music fans from across the country and is a brilliant reason to time your visit. The Festival of Lights illuminates Pukekura Park every summer from mid-December through to early February. Booking a campervan through Yescapa during these months gives you access to peer-to-peer pricing, often more affordable than peak-season fleet rates. Autumn and winter bring quieter roads around Mount Taranaki and fewer crowds at campsites near New Plymouth.
New Plymouth is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways
Head 55 km south-west from New Plymouth along Surf Highway 45 to reach Cape Egmont Lighthouse. Stop in Ōakura for coffee and a beach walk, then continue past Okato to the cape. Campervan parking is available at several beachside reserves along the route, and the road is well-sealed with gentle curves.
Drive 80 km south-east from New Plymouth to Stratford, gateway to the Forgotten World Highway. Visit the Stratford Heritage Trail and the Taranaki Pioneer Village before exploring the Whangamōmona Republic. A motorhome suits this route well — fill up on fuel in Stratford as services are sparse beyond town.
Travel 110 km east from New Plymouth through rolling farmland to reach Tongariro National Park, home to the famous Alpine Crossing. Break the journey in Taumarunui for supplies. Campervan-friendly sites at Discovery Lodge and nearby DOC campgrounds offer powered and unpowered pitches with mountain views.
Follow SH3 for 190 km east to Whanganui, where the river meets the Tasman Sea. Explore the Sarjeant Gallery, Durie Hill Elevator and the historic Virginia Lake gardens. Several holiday parks along the riverbank welcome motorhomes and campervans with full hook-ups and dump stations.
Cover 280 km south from New Plymouth to Wellington, stopping at Kapiti Island nature reserve for birdwatching and Paraparaumu Beach for fish and chips. The route follows SH3 then SH1, with well-signed rest areas for overnight stops. Book your campervan early for summer as this corridor is popular.
Head 310 km north-east from New Plymouth to Rotorua, detouring through Waitomo Caves for glowworm boat tours. Continue to Rotorua for geothermal parks like Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu. Freedom camping spots and holiday parks are plentiful along SH3 and SH5, making this a comfortable multi-day motorhome journey.
Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.
Discover
Find for a leisure vehicle near you or a destination idea according to your planned route, then specify the pick-up and return dates. The perfect vehicle for your road trip holiday is waiting for you!
Connecting people
Make one or more booking requests for leisure vehicles that have caught your eye and wait for the owners' responses. Once your request has been accepted, all you have to do is confirm your booking.
Pick-up
On the pick-up date, collect the vehicle and listen to the valuable advice of the owner for handling it; you are ready hit the road with family, as a couple or with friends.
Return
Once again, with the owner complete the vehicle condition check and sign the Rental Agreement as well as exchange your travel stories. All you have to do is imagine your next road trip!
The Taranaki coast and surrounding countryside offer a good mix of holiday parks and freedom camping spots for both campervans and motorhomes. Most parks around New Plymouth provide powered sites, dump stations, kitchen facilities and hot showers. Several are within easy reach of the city centre, while others sit closer to Mount Taranaki or along Surf Highway 45, giving you the choice between coastal and bush settings. New Plymouth itself has well-maintained facilities, so you can top up supplies before heading further afield.
New Plymouth is generally welcoming to larger vehicles, though some central streets have height or length restrictions. Overnight freedom camping in a self-contained vehicle is permitted at designated sites — check the New Plymouth District Council website for the latest approved locations. Parking meters in the CBD typically operate on weekdays, and several larger car parks can accommodate motorhomes during the day.
Super nice and friendly owners. Available and easy communication. Well prepared video tutorials. The campervan itself is super good, it had some small issues due to the recent high demand and workshops being on holidays, but they were totally upfront and transparent about each single detail. Nothing that harmed any of the experience. Totally recommend!! :)
Hi Jeremy, it was a pleasue to meet you and your family. Thank you for taking a good care of our camper. Make yourself a great days, Marta and the team.
Alba was friendly, communicative, and respectful. Her and her partner took excellent care of the camper and returned it in great condition. Would be very happy to rent to them again. Highly recommended!
Una parte del viaje bien, pero el final muy mal. El vehículo muy bien, y el dueño siempre contestó a cualquier duda que tuvimos durante el viaje. También nos pidió un favor, que devolviésemos la Camper dos horas antes de lo que habíamos contratado, y aunque nos suponía una espera de más de 3 horas en el aeropuerto, acepté, vista su amabilidad durante el viaje. Pero en la devolución, todo se estropeó. En el repaso que hizo al coche, vio un pequeño rozón del tamaño de una uña cortada, y otro rozón largo, pero que no tenía ni el grosor de un pelo (de hecho, a plena luz del día, sólo se veía si lo iluminaba con el flash del móvil...). Por esas dos pequeñeces, junto con una lengüeta de plástico del techo, de 1cm de tamaño, nos cobró 180€. Que además, no nos devolvió el resto de la fianza (que eran 750€) hasta casi 4 semanas después (hasta el 9 de septiembre cuando el vehículo lo recogió el 15 de agosto), y por si fuera poco la tardanza, no aportó absolutamente ningún recibo del coste de los arreglos. O sea, una sensación de indefensión total.
Feeling right at home Traveling across Portugal with Koda was a perfect, unique, and wonderful experience ☺️ Carina and Rafaela met us right at the airport and explained everything about the van—covering every detail clearly and effectively. We had never taken an off-the-cuff trip like this before; without any set plans, we drove all the way to Sagres, navigating easily through narrow roads, campsites, and stunning beaches 😍 Its compact size makes it comfortable to drive almost immediately, allowing for effortless maneuvering even on narrow roads, whether driving uphill or on light off-road terrain. The van is fully equipped: it has kitchenware, a sink, a convenient handheld shower, and even a solar shower, plus two camping chairs and an easy-to-assemble table. The bed is incredibly comfortable, and when not in use, it converts into a small bench. It was easy and delightful to feel right at home during this vacation; we can’t wait to return to Portugal to explore the north with Koda 🧡
Absolute pleasure to host this group of three! Everything went completely smoothly from pickup to return. They treated the camper with great respect, followed all guidelines, and kept in touch throughout the trip. Reliable, responsible, and friendly—10/10 renters, highly recommended to any owner on Yescapa!
