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Renting a motorhome in New Zealand can be a daunting experience. Let’s face it, this rental could likely be the most expensive part of your trip (but also the most rewarding!)
Luckily though, great companies do exist and Kiwi Motorhomes is one of, if not THE BEST, motorhome rental company in New Zealand!
But what makes them so great and why do I believe booking your motorhome rental with Kiwi Motorhomes is the best choice you could make?
Well, it starts with simple things and ultimately ends with a company that actually prioritizes its customers to give the greatest experience possible! Plus, their motorhomes have everything you could ever need to make traveling and living in a motorhome as comfortable as possible.
Here’s our review of Kiwi Motorhomes and the service they provide so YOU can decide if they are the right choice for your epic road trip across NZ!
Kiwi Motorhomes at a Glance
Kiwi Motorhomes is an upper-market motorhome rental company in New Zealand. Although a smaller rental company, they have bases in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga allowing service throughout New Zealand. The company is family-owned and operated and is well known for providing one of the best motorhome rental services in New Zealand.
Varnier and Leon (owners of Kiwi Motorhomes) are proud to share their beautiful Maori heritage with their customers. Their spirit and vision as said by them is:
“Our spirit and vision is to connect whanau, friends, and guests from all over the world thru hiring a campervan or motorhome with us here at Kiwi Motorhomes, it is a taonga (treasure) when you meet as total strangers and leave as great friends”
This and more is all outlined in the first email you receive once you’ve submitted a request for a quote with Kiwi Motorhomes. It’s really one of the best introductions and beginnings to an epic adventure around New Zealand that’s both personal and genuine!
If you decide to book with Kiwi Motorhomes, we’ve organized a special discount just for our readers! Use the referral code DEST5 to get 5% off your rental!
Related Read: Need help planning your New Zealand road trip? Check out our fantastic itineraries here!
8 Reasons to Choose Kiwi Motorhomes
1. No Hidden Fees
What’s the most annoying thing about renting a motorhome in New Zealand? In my opinion and many others, it’s the hidden costs that at first glance make many companies appear affordable, but in the end, you’re left out of pocket for even the most simple things.
After enjoying an amazing trip around New Zealand who wants to roll up their sleeves and clean their motorhome? Yeah, I don’t think anyone does. As long as you tidy up and empty your grey water/toilet Kiwi Motorhomes will do the rest – for free! That’s right, no extra cleaning free, it is all included in the rental price!
And if you really don’t want to do any cleaning or empty your tank at all, no worries, Kiwi Motorhomes can take of that for you too (this one comes with a fee of course though!).
If you think it couldn’t get any better than that, Kiwi Motorhomes also doesn’t charge a booking fee or additional driver fee. All of these extra small fees may not seem like a lot, but they can definitely add up. Kiwi Motorhomes saves you money by including these commonly hidden fees so you can spend more on fun activities during your holiday!
2. Full Comprehensive Insurance Included
So, you’ve added all your essential extras to your rental rate and now you’re expected to pay for insurance. That cheap rental is going to start becoming very expensive after you add full comprehensive insurance on!
Luckily, Kiwi Motorhomes includes it upfront with their quote so you know the real cost upfront. Insurance is something everyone should have on their motorhome rental, and we love that Kiwi Motorhomes includes it in their rate totals to make sure you are fully covered in case something happens on the road!
If you’re worried about the excess consider insuring it with a third party excess insurer. This means if you do have an accident the third party company will pay your excess to the rental company. This company is a great option that’s very affordable!
3. Huge List of Free Additional Items
At the checkout of your motorhome rental company website, you’ll have an option to add on simple things that may appear cheap but add up fast! In fact, most of the items mentioned below come at an additional fee with other companies (but with Kiwi Motorhomes they’re included in the rate.)
Items included in Kiwi Motorhomes rental rate are:
Bike racks, children’s car & booster seats, boogie boards, outdoor camp table & chairs, DVD’s, games & books, basic kitchen & bathroom commodities, all linen.
They also offer discounts to the Top 10 Campsites and for ferry crossings – which is a huge benefit! And if you want some mountain bikes or E-bikes during your trip you can add those on for an additional cost (subject to availability).
4. 24/7 Customer Support
Without support, any holiday can be stressful – trust me I travel a lot but still run into situations where I would love a leading hand. That’s why I love Kiwi Motorhomes’ 24/7 support. Regardless of your problem, there’s always a local on the other side of the phone ready to help.
It’s peace of mind to know that you’ve got someone there to help with even the simplest problems!
5. 24/7 AA Roadside Assistance
Kiwi Motorhomes have very well-maintained motorhomes, however, sometimes bad things happen. It might be as simple as getting a flat battery or maybe running out of fuel.
We get it, there are plenty of things on your mind during vacation, and sometimes maintenance of the motorhome can take a back seat!
This is why having AA Roadside Assistance is such a huge plus (especially if you are mechanically challenged like me). They can get you back on the road in no time so that you don’t waste any of your precious holiday dealing with potential motorhome issues!
6. Self-Contained with Solar Power
All of Kiwi Motorhomes are certified self-contained. This means you can go off the beaten path and stay at campsites with little to no amenities. There are even campsites in New Zealand where you can camp for FREE as long as you are in a self-contained vehicle. This is known as freedom camping and can save you some serious dough!
Most motorhomes or campervans come with a second battery so that you have power all the time. The problem with this is that the second battery doesn’t last very long without regular charging. If you aren’t driving a ton and charging it, then you will need to plug in at least every other night (meaning staying at a holiday park instead of freedom camping!).
BUT, all of Kiwi Motorhomes rentals come with solar power (with the exception of the Murphy, Liberty & Matariki vans). So, even if that second battery goes flat, you have solar power for all of your electrics!
Not to mention, you can feel good about using solar power instead of an electrical outlet and minimizing your environmental footprint!
Related Read: While you’re on the road, don’t miss out on visiting the North Island’s best beaches!
7. Free Airport & Airport Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
This is another feature you may be thinking you won’t need. One reason is most motorhome companies can have your vehicle ready at the airport or nearby. However, if you’ve just jumped off a long flight you may not want to go through the process of getting your rental right away or driving a large motorhome with fatigue.
Instead, I personally like to go to a hotel and spend one night getting some decent sleep before hitting the road. The hotel pickup means the next day you can get to your rental without having to pay for a cab!
8. There’s a Discount!
We have had the privilege of traveling with Kiwi Motorhomes a few times and have been so impressed with their service that we actually partnered with them to get an exclusive discount code for our readers!
While at first glance this doesn’t seem like a lot, 5% can actually save you hundreds of dollars off your rental. These savings can then be used for other fun experiences while you’re in the country!
Use the code DEST5 at checkout to get your discount. Just click here and put in your travel dates to get started – it’s that easy!
Types of Kiwi Motorhomes
Kiwi Motorhomes has over 20 different styles of Motorhomes to suit everyone’s needs and budget. From premium motorhomes that’ll make your trip the luxury holiday you deserve, to a little more basic mid-range motorhomes that still have everything you need but are perfect for those on a budget – they’ve got a motorhome for everyone!
The motorhomes are all certified self-contained (yay freedom camping!) and can sleep 4-6 people, which is perfect for families or groups of friends. They also offer manual and automatic transmissions so that you can choose whichever option you are most comfortable driving.
And keeping with the “family-owned business” theme, of course, they’ve named their motorhomes! The last time we went, we had “Muscles”, a comfy automatic motorhome that slept 4 people and had everything we needed (including a full-sized shower!).
Make sure to read through the detailed motorhome descriptions here on their website, to find the one that’s perfect for you.
Just make sure to reserve far in advance to ensure you get your preferred type of motorhome, especially if you are planning to visit during the busy summer season.
Don’t forget to use the discount code DEST5 at checkout to get some serious savings!
Book your Kiwi Motorhome here!
Related Read: If you don’t need as much space as a motorhome, check out our favorite campervan rentals here!
5-Star Customer Service
It’s amazing how much of an impact a friendly face and good quality help that comes from the heart can have on a holiday. Being in a new country comes with disadvantages but with the right customer care, you won’t feel like a customer at all. Kiwi Motorhomes is well known for this and a quick glance at their reviews will prove it.
This blog is just one review of thousands out there. However, not everyone has a travel blog to get their word out. Instead many people leave reviews on a website called Rankers NZ.
Rankers is the best review website for motorhomes in New Zealand. So please don’t just take my word for it, you can check Kiwi Motorhomes reviews on Rankers and see just how good everyone else thinks they are too!
Be sure to book direct with Kiwi Motorhomes though. That way you directly support local small businesses! Plus, you will get the best price guaranteed and can use our special discount…use the discount code DEST5 to save 5% of your rental cost with Kiwi Motorhomes!
Would I rent from Kiwi Motorhomes again?
100% yes!
Without a doubt, Kiwi Motorhomes is one of the best motorhome rental companies in New Zealand. They provide an outstanding service that’s unchallenged in the motorhome rental industry in New Zealand. From including the small things to going that little bit further than the rest, your dream holiday in NZ is in good hands!
Plus, with the discount from my Kiwi Motorhomes promo code, you really can’t go wrong!
Click here to easily get a quote from Kiwi Motorhomes
Don’t forget to use the discount code DEST5 at checkout to knock 5% off the price.
Thanks for reading!
We have traveled all across New Zealand and have Kiwi Motorhomes to thank for the stress-free experience that we’ve had! They provide superb customer service and their motorhomes are top-notch. We couldn’t be more excited for you to hit the road and explore this beautiful country!
If you need some more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our other blogs. Here are a few to get you started:
An Ideal Two-Week New Zealand South Island Itinerary (Our Road Trip Guide!)
33 Unique Things to do in New Zealand