Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in South Island and the surrounding area. Discover unique vehicles offered by private owners: from compact campervans for 2 people, perfect for couples, to spacious 6-berth motorhomes, ideal for families. Flexibility, competitive prices and insurance included.
The South Island of New Zealand stretches over 150,000 square kilometres, making it the country's largest island and home to 18 of its 20 highest peaks, including Aoraki/Mount Cook at 3,724 metres. From the fjords of Milford Sound to the whale-watching waters off Kaikōura, the South Island rewards those who travel at their own pace. The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown covers roughly 480 km through the Canterbury Plains and past the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki, while the route from Greymouth to Franz Josef Glacier runs about 175 km along the wild West Coast. Key landmarks such as Abel Tasman National Park, the Moeraki Boulders, and the Remarkables mountain range each offer a distinct character that shifts with the seasons. The road network is well maintained but often single-lane outside major towns, which makes a campervan the ideal way to explore — you can pull over at a freedom camping spot or a Department of Conservation site whenever the landscape calls for a stop. Motorhome travellers benefit from a strong network of holiday parks with powered sites and dump stations spread across both coasts. Through Yescapa, you can hire a campervan directly from local owners across the South Island, choosing from a range of vehicles that suit solo adventurers, couples, and families alike. This peer-to-peer approach means more choice, competitive pricing, and personal tips from people who know the region best.
The South Island's peak season runs from December to February, when long daylight hours open up alpine passes and coastal trails. If you prefer quieter roads, March and April bring autumn colours to places like Arrowtown, where the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival in late April celebrates the golden foliage. Winter (June to August) draws visitors to Queenstown and Wanaka for ski season, and a campervan makes a practical base close to the slopes. Book your South Island motorhome or campervan early for summer, as it is the most popular period. Through Yescapa's peer-to-peer platform, you can often find competitive rates even during busier months, and hiring outside peak season can bring further savings.
To help you plan your trip, we have selected six unmissable road trips, suitable for all travelers.
This 250 km route links Kaikōura's whale-watching coast to the Marlborough wine region. Stop in Blenheim for cellar-door tastings before heading south along the coast. Well-suited to campervans, with holiday parks at both ends and freedom camping spots along the way.
A 280 km loop from Wanaka through the Crown Range to Arrowtown and back via Cromwell. Take in Lake Hāwea, historic gold-mining streets, and Central Otago fruit stalls. Compact enough for a campervan, with excellent lakeside holiday parks near Wanaka.
Cover 350 km from Christchurch to Hokitika via Arthur's Pass, crossing the spine of the South Island. Pause at Castle Hill's limestone formations and the Otira Viaduct lookout. A motorhome handles the journey well, though some bends require steady driving.
Drive 450 km from Westport to Haast along the South Island's rugged western edge. Highlights include Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks, Franz Josef Glacier, and the rainforest walks near Lake Matheson. Holiday parks with powered sites for campervans and motorhomes dot the route.
A 600 km circuit from Queenstown to Milford Sound via Te Anau, returning through the Southland plains. Walk the first section of the Kepler Track and cruise Milford Sound's towering cliffs. Book campsites in Te Anau ahead of time during summer months.
This 750 km journey runs from Christchurch down to Dunedin and across to Queenstown, taking in Mount Cook, the Moeraki Boulders, and Lake Tekapo. Allow 10 to 15 days to explore at a relaxed pace. Ideal for a motorhome with plenty of well-equipped holiday parks en route.
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 South Island offers a wide spread of holiday parks and campsites, from lakeside spots in the Southern Lakes district to coastal parks along the Kaikōura coast. Most parks provide powered sites, dump stations, kitchen facilities, and hot showers suitable for both campervans and motorhomes. Many also include laundry rooms, barbecue areas, and Wi-Fi. Department of Conservation campsites add a more basic, nature-focused option in national parks across the South Island.
The South Island has no toll roads, so you can travel freely without worrying about passes or charges. The open road speed limit is 100 km/h for most vehicles, though motorhomes and campervans over 3,500 kg should keep to 90 km/h. State Highway 1 runs the length of the east coast, while State Highway 6 connects Nelson to Invercargill via the West Coast. Mountain passes such as Arthur's Pass and the Lindis Pass are well sealed but feature tight bends and occasional single-lane bridges — always check conditions on the Waka Kotahi website before setting off. Rest areas with toilets and rubbish bins appear regularly along major routes, making longer drives comfortable for larger vehicles.
Todo fue perfecto de principio a fin. Natalia fue muy amable, atenta y siempre disponible para resolver dudas, y la autocaravana estaba muy bien preparada, limpia y equipada para el viaje. La recogida y la devolución fueron muy fáciles, y la experiencia en general fue excelente. La recomendamos totalmente y repetiríamos sin dudarlo.
My experience with dominik’s van was mostly positive! Being from the US it was a bit more complicated but it worked out. The van was nicely designed one of a kind. Plenty of storage and space for 2 people. The vehicle was not ready when we arrived to pick up but was quickly resolved. Check in took a bit longer so prepare for this. Would’ve like to have everything ready for our trip but wasn’t too inconvenient. Mattress is a bit soft for trips over 4 nights. Van performed good overall. Very easy to drive, nice fridge once it gets going. Thank you dominik for allowing me to rent your vehicle. I recommend this van & would rent again!
We rented the campervan from Rogério and immediately received personal service, including a detailed explanation via an instructional YouTube video and a link to a website that perfectly organizes everything you need to know regarding operating the campervan. We really enjoyed using the campervan; it works amazingly well, and you can see that genuine, custom work went into it—like the number of USB outlets, the hangers/hooks, the ceiling fan, and so many other things. We had a great experience and will definitely come back.
All was very smooth including meeting at the airport for pick up and drop off. Van is exactly as described with everything you need.
the campervan was in excellent condition. we had no problems. miguel was impeccable and very pleasant. we enjoyed our vacation. thank you miguel. our kisses from greece.. vamos spain
Fantastic Campervan Hire Experience Great communication from the very beginning, and the campervan was exactly as described and shown in the listing. The vehicle drove very well, was clean, well-maintained, and surprisingly economical. Chris, the owner, was incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. A few days before pickup, he sent us helpful YouTube videos with instructions on how to use the campervan, which made everything much easier and really added to the overall experience. The pickup and return arrangements were also very convenient. We were able to drop the campervan off and Chris drove us to Düsseldorf Airport at the end of our holiday after a lovely weekend in Cologne, which was the perfect way to finish our trip. We would definitely hire from Chris again and highly recommend both Chris and Yescapa. The entire process was simple, straightforward, and enjoyable from start to finish.
