Cheapa Campa campervan hire in New Zealand: depots

Q: Where are the Cheapa Campa depots in New Zealand?

Three depots are listed. On the North Island, the Auckland one is at 470 Oruarangi Road, in Mangere, south of the city. On the South Island, the Christchurch one is at 159 Orchard Road, near the airport, and the Queenstown one at 50 Lucas Place, in Frankton, next to the airport. Your appointment time is given in your confirmation.

Q: Which vehicles does Cheapa Campa offer in New Zealand?

For two, three vans: the 2 Berth campervan and the Hitop and Endeavour Camper high-top models, in which you can stand up. For a family or a group, the 4 Berth and 6 Berth overcabs offer four or six seats and as many berths. All the models listed have an automatic gearbox.

Q: Can I sleep outside campsites with a Cheapa Campa vehicle?

Only if the vehicle is certified self-contained, with a fixed toilet, and where local rules allow it. The certification depends on the model: check it in the offer before booking. Otherwise, holiday parks and DOC campsites, often set in beautiful locations, let you spend the night legally.

The rental company

Cheapa Campa, Apollo's budget option on both islands

Cheapa Campa is the low-cost brand of the Apollo family, a rental company born in Australia and part of the New Zealand group thl (Tourism Holdings), which also operates Maui, Britz and Mighty. In New Zealand, it hires from three cities, at the same addresses as Apollo: Auckland, in Mangere, south of the city, Christchurch, on Orchard Road, near the airport, and Queenstown, in Frankton, next to the airport.

This trio covers both islands. Auckland opens the road to Northland, the Coromandel and Rotorua; Christchurch and Queenstown give access to the Southern Alps, the West Coast and Fiordland. The rental company advertises the option of setting off from one city and returning the vehicle in another: the combinations accepted and their fees are shown in each offer.

Five models are listed, all automatic: the 2 Berth campervan, the Hitop and Endeavour Camper high-top vans for two, then the 4 Berth and 6 Berth overcabs. CoolDrive did not record any Cheapa Campa offer in the country in October 2026: price, mileage and excess are revealed in the search results.

Our verdict: a sensible choice for a tight budget, with depots well placed for travelling from north to south. Weak points: no depot listed in Wellington or Picton, no 4x4s, and a self-contained certification to check if you plan to sleep outside campsites.

Rental company profile

Cheapa Campa in detail: what you need to know

The key facts to decide whether Cheapa Campa suits your trip.

General information

Brand: Cheapa Campa · low-cost option of the Apollo family
Group: thl (Tourism Holdings) · New Zealand group, also owner of Maui, Britz and Mighty
Campervan: 2 Berth · two seats, two berths
High-top vans: Hitop, Endeavour Camper · for two travellers
Overcabs: 4 Berth, 6 Berth · four or six seats, as many berths
Official website: cheapacampa.com.au

Rental conditions

Minimum age: Specified in the offer · as is the required length of time holding a licence
Licence: In English or translated · otherwise international driving permit or approved translation
Driving: On the left · automatic gearbox across the whole range listed
Mileage: Stated in each offer · no offer recorded in New Zealand in October 2026
Excess and security deposit: Depending on the vehicle · amounts and reduction options in the offer
One-way hire: Advertised by the rental company · between its depots, any fees specified in the offer
Freedom camping: Self-contained vehicle required · certification to be checked for each model
Inter-island ferry: Terms to read in the offer · Wellington–Picton ticket to be booked separately

Insurance and extras

Camping equipment: Available at extra cost · outdoor furniture, kitchen kits, depending on the rental company
Assistance: Number provided at departure · also write it down on paper for areas without coverage

Network and availability

Auckland: Mangere · 470 Oruarangi Road, south of the city
Christchurch: 159 Orchard Road · close to the airport
Queenstown: Frankton · 50 Lucas Place, near the airport
Other country: Australia

The fleet

Cheapa Campa vehicles in New Zealand

Models offered by the rental company. Not all of them are available at every branch: the search form shows availability and prices.

C-class motorhome

Campervan

2 Berth 2 2 Automatic

Hi-top van

Branches

Cheapa Campa branches in New Zealand

Auckland

Cheapa Campa

470 Oruarangi Road, 2022 Mangere, Auckland

See the branch View map

Christchurch

Cheapa Campa Airport

159 Orchard Road, 8053 Christchurch

See the branch View map

Queenstown

Cheapa Campa Airport

50 Lucas Place, 9300 Frankton

See the branch View map

Network

Cheapa Campa also operates in one other country

Australia

Comparison

Cheapa Campa compared with other rental companies in New Zealand

Our comparison of the country's rental companies: each has its strengths depending on your trip.

Rental company	Vehicles	Mileage	Best for
Cheapa Campa	2 Berth campervan, Hitop and Endeavour vans, overcabs for 4 or 6	Not recorded in New Zealand: see each offer	Tight budget, automatic range, 3 cities
Jucy Rentals	Crib, Condo and Chaser vans	Unlimited in 100% of the offers recorded	Vans for small groups, 4 departure cities
Pacific Horizon	Vans and motorhomes (2+1, GEM-4, Max 4Berth, SAM)	Unlimited in 100% of the offers recorded	From vans to large motorhomes, 3 cities
Star RV Rentals	Van and large models Polaris 2, 4 and 6	Unlimited in 100% of the offers recorded	Polaris range with up to six seats, 3 cities
Chill'd by JUCY	2-Berth Cloudbreak van and large 6-Berth Big Kahuna	Unlimited in 100% of the offers recorded	Two formats, for two or for six, 3 cities

Our view

Cheapa Campa: who is it for, and who should look elsewhere?

Cheapa Campa is ideal if…

You dream of a trip from north to south, from Auckland to the lakes of Queenstown
You are travelling as five or six and want to stay in a single vehicle
You have never driven on the left and want to avoid the gear stick
You want to start your trip near Christchurch or Queenstown airport
You are watching your budget and are happy with a no-frills option

Cheapa Campa is not ideal if…

You want to set off from Wellington, Picton or Nelson
You plan to spend your nights outside campsites in a vehicle not certified self-contained
You are looking for a 4x4: no off-road model is listed in the country
You are travelling as a group of more than six

Practical tips

Our tips for booking with Cheapa Campa

Look at the self-contained certification

In New Zealand, freedom camping on council land is reserved for vehicles certified self-contained, fitted with a fixed toilet and tanks. Check in the offer whether the chosen model is certified. Otherwise, plan nights at holiday parks or at Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites.
Book the Cook Strait ferry early

To get from one island to the other, you board an Interislander or Bluebridge ferry in Wellington and disembark in Picton, at the head of the Marlborough Sounds. From December to February, spaces for motorhomes go quickly: book as soon as your dates are fixed and read what the rental company's terms say about the crossing.
Prepare for winter around Queenstown

From June to September, snow and ice can affect the Crown Range, the Milford Sound road or the Lindis Pass. Ask at the Frankton desk about chains being supplied or hired, and check road conditions before each stage. Drive by day and leave plenty of leeway in your timings.
Inspect the vehicle at pick-up

Before signing, walk around the vehicle and photograph the bodywork, tyres and windscreen. Test the gas, water and fridge, count the crockery and have any defect noted on the contract. Save the assistance number: on the West Coast, mobile coverage is often lacking.
Get used to one-lane bridges

The country has many single-lane bridges: a sign shows who has priority, and you should always slow down on the approach. On winding roads, pull over as soon as possible to let vehicles behind you pass. Distances look short on the map, but journey times are often long.
Allow a night after a long-haul flight

After a long flight, tiredness and driving on the left are a bad combination. If you are arriving from far away, book a hotel night in Auckland or Christchurch and collect the vehicle the next morning, rested, with time to listen to the briefing.

What travellers ask

Your questions about Cheapa Campa

How much does a Cheapa Campa hire cost in New Zealand?

CoolDrive did not record any Cheapa Campa offer in New Zealand in October 2026: we therefore do not publish a price range. The rate depends on the model, the season, the length of hire and any one-way trip. Run a search from Auckland, Christchurch or Queenstown for your dates: the available offers are displayed with mandatory fees included.

Where are the Cheapa Campa depots in New Zealand?

Three depots are listed. On the North Island, the Auckland one is at 470 Oruarangi Road, in Mangere, south of the city. On the South Island, the Christchurch one is at 159 Orchard Road, near the airport, and the Queenstown one at 50 Lucas Place, in Frankton, next to the airport. Your appointment time is given in your confirmation.

Which vehicles does Cheapa Campa offer in New Zealand?

For two, three vans: the 2 Berth campervan and the Hitop and Endeavour Camper high-top models, in which you can stand up. For a family or a group, the 4 Berth and 6 Berth overcabs offer four or six seats and as many berths. All the models listed have an automatic gearbox.

Can I collect the campervan in Auckland and return it in Queenstown?

The rental company advertises one-way hires between its depots, which lets you cross the country without retracing your steps. However, they are not guaranteed on all dates and may incur fees. To find out for sure, enter Queenstown as the return location in your search: every result displayed accepts this route and includes its cost. Remember the ferry between Wellington and Picton.

Can I sleep outside campsites with a Cheapa Campa vehicle?

Only if the vehicle is certified self-contained, with a fixed toilet, and where local rules allow it. The certification depends on the model: check it in the offer before booking. Otherwise, holiday parks and DOC campsites, often set in beautiful locations, let you spend the night legally.

Verified customer reviews

They rented with Cheapa Campa

4.3

818 reviews

Quick and efficient response

Bruno S.

New Zealand · Oct 2025

Avis Vérifiés

The car was very good. It's just that for tall people (I am 1.89m), it's short for sleeping lengthwise. With 20 cm more, it would have been more comfortable. But that's just something to know when you are tall. We also hadn't been really warned about the legislation regarding Self Contained vehicles in New Zealand. Since the vehicle did not meet these standards, we spent two months looking for free camping spots, often stressing about getting caught. But we faced zero fines in 2 months. Finally, the fridge never worked in the car, but we had just experienced that for a month and a half in Australia as well, so we were used to living without a fridge.

Lisa A.

New Zealand · Apr 2025

Avis Vérifiés

Reminder by phone, friendly welcome, quick responses to our questions... keep it up, until then, it's perfect...

New Zealand · Feb 2025

Trustpilot

All Avis Vérifiés reviews All Trustpilot reviews

Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Cheapa Campa campervan hire in New Zealand

Why book Cheapa Campa with CoolDrive?

Our search engine displays the Cheapa Campa vehicles available on your dates alongside those of Jucy Rentals, Pacific Horizon or Star RV Rentals. Each price includes mandatory fees, which makes comparison simple. Our experts help you choose the model and the departure and return cities, and prepare a realistic route across both islands.

What excess and security deposit apply with Cheapa Campa?

Our October 2026 records do not give these amounts for New Zealand. They are stated in each offer, along with any options to reduce the excess. A security deposit is normally charged or held on a credit card at pick-up: check your limit before leaving and ask what the insurance excludes.

What licence do I need to drive in New Zealand?

Your national licence is accepted as it is when it is written in English; otherwise, you must present it together with an international driving permit or an approved translation. The rental company may also require a minimum age and a minimum period of holding a licence, specified in each offer. Keep these documents with you throughout the trip.

When should I travel around New Zealand by campervan?

From December to February, it is the southern summer: long, light evenings, but campsites are often full. March and April bring autumn colours and fewer people, especially around Queenstown. November is often pleasant on the North Island. In winter, the South Island calls for experience of snow and good heating.

Which routes are there between Christchurch and Queenstown?

The direct road passes Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook, then the Lindis Pass. Longer, the loop via Arthur's Pass reaches the West Coast, runs past the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, then crosses the Haast Pass towards Wanaka. From Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound take two or three days.

What is the difference between Cheapa Campa and Apollo?

Both brands belong to the same family and, in New Zealand, share the Auckland, Christchurch and Frankton addresses. Cheapa Campa presents itself as the budget option, with a shorter range. Some vehicle names are common to both brands, such as Hitop or Endeavour. Compare the offers for your dates in the search engine.

About us

Hire a Cheapa Campa campervan in New Zealand with CoolDrive Nomad

Cheapa Campa offers an economical way to tour New Zealand by campervan. Its three depots, in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, let you set off on either island, and the rental company advertises one-way hires between them. The range goes from a campervan for two to a six-seat overcab, always with an automatic gearbox, which makes it easier to get used to driving on the left.

On CoolDrive Nomad, you can compare its vehicles with those of the other rental companies in the country, such as Jucy Rentals, Pacific Horizon or Chill'd by JUCY, for the same dates. The price displayed includes mandatory fees, and mileage, excess and equipment are detailed in each offer. To see availability, run a search with your departure city, your return city and your dates.

Other rental companies

Cheapa Campa campervan hire in New Zealand