Meet Geisha, our home for a month in New Zealand! She was small, but perfectly formed and a perfect companion for our tour of New Zealand! We booked our Escape campervan van in advance of our trip, read on for our Escape campervans review!

escape campervans

Escape Campervans Hire New Zealand

First things first, we know it’s cliche to hire a campervan and travel around New Zealand! But it really is the best way to see this incredible country.  And it makes you look really cool too.

We booked our campervan online through Escape Rentals, and we’d recommend using them if you’re thinking about hiring a campervan in New Zealand. You’ll find there are many options for campervan hire in New Zealand!

If you’re looking for something small and at the budget end of pricing, we highly recommend them!

We went for the automatic Toyota campervan, and were given little ‘Geisha’ as our home for the month. Each of their van’s paint jobs are unique, and we had great fun spotting other Escape Rental vans along the way. We always got a cheery wave or hello when our paths crossed.

escape campervans

The van slept both of us comfortably, and when the bed was put away, we had a table and comfortable seats to sit on. Open the back door, and you reveal the kitchen with sink. Theres a water pump and space to put a gas stove for cooking.

escape campervans

After talking us through the van and sorting out the details, we hit the road.  Escape campervans also provide an Escape Guide, a really great guide! We constantly checked to see where we should head next.

Escape Campervans New Zealand Tips

If you need some tips on getting the most out of your time in New Zealand, check out our list below!

  • Stock up on tinned and dried goods when you pick the van up in a city. This is especially before you head south from Christchurch
  • Buy local fresh produce as you go (look out for farmers markets on the side of the road).
  • Open the windows slightly at night to make it less cold. This avoids build up of ice inside the van when cold, happened to us the night before we attempted the Tongariro crossing!
  • Whilst on the south island, you’ll find many Department of Conservation (DOC) sites to stay at for a small price and minimal facilities. You’ll find it harder on the north island, unless you want to go way off the beaten path.
  • Aim to get to DOC sites at least a couple of hours before dark, otherwise it’s hard to see where to park. You won’t get much benefit if you leave the next morning.
  • Stay at a more expensive camper park once every 3 or 4 days to get electrical devices charged! You can also shower and get clothes washed. We stayed at Top 10 parks when we needed these facilities.
  • Park nearby to the toilet on DOC sites, you’ll appreciate it in the middle of the night.

Looking for more New Zealand inspiration? Click here.