Camper and RV rental — Tauranga

Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in Tauranga 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.

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Why choose Tauranga for your road trip

Tauranga — a city worth exploring

Tauranga sits at the western edge of the Bay of Plenty, where the Tauranga Harbour stretches across 200 square kilometres of sheltered tidal waterways. The city's iconic Mauao (Mount Maunganui) rises 232 metres above the ocean and draws walkers to its summit track year-round. Stroll along the Strand Waterfront, the revitalised harbourside precinct packed with cafés and public art, or spend a morning at Tauranga Art Gallery, which showcases contemporary New Zealand and Pacific works. Families love the interactive displays at Brain Play, a hands-on science centre in the city centre. For a change of pace, head to McLaren Falls Park, just 18 km south-west, where glow-worms light up the bush after dark. Rotorua, famous for its geothermal parks, is only 60 km to the south-east, while the Coromandel Peninsula begins roughly 95 km to the north-west, offering rugged coastal drives ideal for a longer trip. The Bay of Plenty coastline is well suited to motorhome and campervan travel, with wide, well-maintained highways and plenty of freedom-camping spots along the coast. Booking through Yescapa connects you directly with local owners in the Tauranga area, so you can pick up a campervan close to home and hit the road without the formality of a traditional depot. It is a relaxed, peer-to-peer way to explore one of New Zealand's most rewarding coastal regions.

Best time to visit

Tauranga enjoys warm, settled weather from November through to March, making it the prime window for campervan adventures along the Bay of Plenty coast. The National Jazz Festival takes over the city every Easter weekend, filling the Strand with live music and street performances. January is peak season, so booking your motorhome on Yescapa early gives you access to competitive peer-to-peer rates before the most popular vehicles are snapped up. Autumn, from March to May, brings quieter campsites and golden light perfect for coastal drives around Tauranga. Winter travellers can still enjoy Mauao summit walks in crisp, clear conditions.

Top getaways from Tauranga

Tauranga is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways

Tauranga to Rotorua

60km southeast 1–3 days

Head 60 km south-east from Tauranga through lush Kaimai-Mamaku forest to reach Rotorua's geothermal wonderland. Visit Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland for bubbling mud pools and colourful silica terraces. Campervan-friendly parking is available at most attractions, and several holiday parks sit right on the lakefront.

Tauranga to Whakatāne

85km east 1–4 days

Drive 85 km east along the Bay of Plenty coast from Tauranga, stopping at Ōhope Beach for a swim. In Whakatāne, walk the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi heritage trail and book a boat trip to Whakaari (White Island). Motorhome overnight parking is available at Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, right behind the dunes.

Tauranga to Coromandel Peninsula

150km northwest 3–6 days

Travel 150 km north-west from Tauranga to explore Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. Wind through native bush on the 309 Road and visit The Waterworks, a quirky eco-park. Roads narrow in places, so take your time in a campervan and use designated pull-over bays on the coastal stretches.

Tauranga to Taupō

120km south 3–6 days

Cover 120 km south from Tauranga to reach Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake. Stop at Huka Falls and try the Craters of the Moon geothermal walk. Freedom-camping spots along the lakeside offer peaceful overnight stays, and the wide State Highway 1 corridor is easy to navigate in a motorhome.

Tauranga to Auckland

210km northwest 5–8 days

The 210 km drive north-west from Tauranga to Auckland follows the Kaimai Range and Waikato plains. Break the journey at Hamilton Gardens and the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata. Campervan travellers can overnight at Miranda Holiday Park on the Firth of Thames before reaching Auckland's waterfront.

Tauranga to Napier

310km southeast 5–8 days

Head 310 km south-east from Tauranga through the Kaimai Range and across the rural heartland to reach Napier's Art Deco quarter. Detour through Te Urewera for native forest walks and stop at Wairoa for fresh seafood. Napier's Marine Parade offers dedicated campervan parking with ocean views.

Rent a campervan on Yescapa: how does it work?

Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.

Discover

Find the perfect vehicle

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

Confirm your booking

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

Go on an adventure

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

All good things must come to an end...

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!

Campsites and parkings for recreational vehicles in Tauranga

Recommended campsites

The Bay of Plenty around Tauranga offers a great mix of beachside and rural campsites suited to both campervans and motorhomes. Most sites provide powered hook-ups, dump stations, kitchen facilities, and hot showers. Whether you prefer waking up to ocean views at the base of Mauao or settling into a quieter spot among farmland, Tauranga has options within easy reach of the city centre.

  • Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park Mount Maunganui (5km northeast)Powered sites, dump station, communal kitchen, hot showers, laundry, Wi-Fi
  • Tauranga Tourist Park Tauranga (2km south)Powered and unpowered sites, dump station, BBQ area, showers, laundry
  • NZMCA Tauranga Park Tauranga (4km southwest)Self-contained vehicle parking, dump station, potable water
  • Papamoa Beach Resort Papamoa (14km east)Powered sites, swimming pool, playground, kitchen, showers, dump station
  • Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park Waihi Beach (40km northwest)Powered sites, camp kitchen, hot showers, playground, dump station, Wi-Fi

Where to park your motorhome

Tauranga provides several options for parking larger vehicles while you explore the city. Overnight freedom camping in self-contained vehicles is permitted at designated sites — always check the Tauranga City Council website for current locations and rules. Avoid parking on residential streets overnight, as local bylaws may apply. Most waterfront and central car parks have height barriers, so look for dedicated motorhome-friendly areas.

  • Sulphur Point Car Park, 1km north — Large open car park near the harbour with space for motorhomes. Close to the Strand Waterfront and city centre.
  • Coronation Park Car Park, 2km northeast — Flat, open parking area beside the harbour. Popular with larger vehicles visiting the Mount Maunganui area.
  • Memorial Park Car Park, 1km south — Central Tauranga car park with generous bays. Walking distance to shops and the Tauranga Art Gallery.

Frequently asked questions

What our users say about our campervans and motorhomes in Tauranga

Adrien
5 / 5

Le van était super agréable à conduire, très bien organisé, tout fonctionne à merveille. On dort très bien à 3 dans le van. Très bien placé pour visiter la Dordogne et le Lot!

Ariella
5 / 5

We had a great experience with Antonin's van. It was our first time with an electric vehicle and we were pleasantly surprised how smooth and quiet it was to drive, economical and easy to charge. Antonin did a beautiful job on the interior and it's well equipped and designed. Also communication was nice and easy. All in all an excellent experience ! Merci Antonin(:

Jan
5 / 5

Our family of five rented a motorhome from Ms. Monica for 10 days. We drove through a small part of southern Spain, Gibraltar and southern Portugal. We found everything we needed in the car. Ms. Monica was very helpful, she even prepared air conditioning and fans for us in the car. The rental of the camper van went perfectly. We also had wifi connection. Monica was on the phone if we had any questions. We highly recommend it. Lenka, Jan, Nina, Eli and Vojta.

Ralf
5 / 5

Verlief alles bestens, Problemlos und unkompliziert. Gerne wieder!

Jordan
5 / 5

Brenda was amazing from start to finish—kind, welcoming, always smiling, and very responsive. Her instructions were clear, making everything easy. The van was perfect: the ideal size, well designed, practical, and equipped with everything I needed. It made this one of the best trips I’ve ever had. I highly recommend Brenda and her van!

Ingrid
5 / 5

Dani es excelente para dar tips sobre el viaje y responder cualquier duda del vehículo. El camper nos ha encantado ya que contaba con muchos elementos muy útiles durante nuestro viaje, además de ser un vehículo espacioso y muy completo. Tal como se ve en las fotos. Tuvimos un incidente y Dani ha sido muy comprensivo y nos ha dado apoyo en todo momento, le estamos muy agradecidos. Súper recomendamos!