Practical information

Campervan or hire car? What's the best choice for Australia and New Zealand?

One of the questions I get asked most often is: should I hire a Campervan or opt for a hire car with separate accommodation?

My answer in most cases is clear: choose a Campervan.

Not only because it often works out cheaper, but mainly because it makes your trip completely different. A Campervan gives you something a hire car can never offer: complete freedom.

Campervan vs hire car in Australia and New Zealand

Unsure whether to choose a Campervan or a hire car with separate accommodation? This overview helps you quickly see which way of travelling best suits your road trip through Australia or New Zealand.

Aspect	Campervan	Hire car + accommodation
Flexibility	Plenty of freedom to adjust your route and overnight stops along the way	More often tied to pre-booked accommodation and fixed check-in times
Costs	Transport, sleeping space and kitchen combined in one vehicle	Separate costs for the hire car, accommodation and meals
Overnight stays	Choice of nature campgrounds, holiday parks and designated free or low-cost camping spots	Hotels, hostels, motels, holiday homes or Airbnbs
Food	Cook for yourself in the Campervan, making it easy to save on meals	Fewer cooking options and therefore eating out or takeaway more often
Nature experience	Overnight stays close to beaches, mountains, national parks and other natural areas	You usually stay in towns, villages or at a greater distance from nature
Planning	A rough route is often sufficient and you can adjust more easily along the way	More preparation needed by booking accommodation in advance
Luggage	Your belongings stay in the same place throughout the entire trip	Regularly packing suitcases, unloading and taking them to new accommodation
Experience	The route and overnight stops become part of the adventure	More comfort and convenience, but generally a less free road trip experience
Suitable for	Travellers who value freedom, nature and flexibility	Travellers who prefer fixed accommodation, extra comfort and a tight schedule

My advice: do you want to discover Australia or New Zealand in complete freedom and make the road trip itself an important part of your journey? Then a Campervan is the best choice.

Freedom to plan your own journey

With a hire car you're tied to pre-booked accommodation, fixed check-in times and a rigid schedule. Love a place? You'll often have to move on anyway because your hotel is already booked.

With a Campervan, it works very differently and you experience more freedom and flexibility.

Wake up beside a lake in New Zealand or overlooking a beach in Australia? You decide when you leave. Come across a stunning spot along the way? Simply stay a bit longer. It's precisely that spontaneity that makes a road trip so special.

The most beautiful overnight spots

One of the biggest advantages of a Campervan is that you stay overnight in places where hotels simply don't exist.

Picture a morning overlooking snow-capped peaks in New Zealand, a peaceful campsite in the heart of the Australian outback, or a spot right by the ocean. It's precisely these overnight stays that make a Campervan trip unforgettable.

In both countries there are also many campsites, DOC campsites (New Zealand) and designated free camping locations where you can stay overnight right in the middle of nature.

Often cheaper than you think

Many travellers think a hire car is cheaper. That might seem the case when you only look at the hire price, but in practice with a hire car you also pay for accommodation, restaurants and sometimes even parking costs.

With a Campervan you combine transport, accommodation and kitchen in one. You can cook for yourself, which saves considerably on costs each day, and especially when travelling with two or more people a Campervan often proves surprisingly economical.

Less planning, more enjoying

A Campervan trip feels much more relaxed than a trip with a hire car. You don't have to check out on time every day or arrive somewhere at a specific time.

That means more time to enjoy the journey, take an extra walk, or spontaneously catch a beautiful sunset.

When is a hire car a better choice?

A hire car is certainly not always a bad choice and in certain cases an excellent means of transport.

Are you staying just a few days in a city like Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland? Then a hire car is often more practical or even not necessary at all. Also when you mainly want to visit luxury hotels or hardly change location, a hire car may suit your trip better.

However, if you're making a road trip of one or several weeks, a Campervan in most cases offers much more freedom and flexibility.

My advice

After years of living, working and travelling in both Australia and New Zealand, I've experienced both ways of travelling extensively. And every time I come to the same conclusion.

With a hire car you travel to the most beautiful places.
With a Campervan you experience the most beautiful places.

That's exactly what makes a Campervan trip so special. Your journey isn't just about the destinations, but also about everything that happens in between. And believe me: it's often those unexpected moments that become the memories you'll cherish for years to come.