We have now moved to our awesome NEW depot at:
39 Beach Road, Auckland CBD

All Campervan enquiries, pickups, returns, sales etc. :
15 Kingsley St, Sydenham. Christchurch Central.

Escape Rentals also operates ‘remote depots’ in Wellington and Queenstown. These are serviced by external operators and sometimes require vehicles to be relocated. As such, there are charges for using these depots:
• $500 additional fee for pick-ups or drop-offs in Wellington.
• $600 additional fee for pick-ups or drop-offs in Queenstown.
The use of these depots is subject to availability. Sometimes, these fees may be waived or reduced depending on the timing or length of hire. Submit your quote/booking request to find out what fees, if any, are applied.

Our depots are open from 9:00am to 4:00pm (last pick up/drop off time) every day, except on Sundays and public holidays, when we open at 10:00AM and close at 3:00PM.

After hours pick- ups or drop- offs can be arranged, but the latest we can stay open until is 7:30PM and there is a $120 cost associated with this service.
We recommend our campervan drivers spend the first night in a hostel before collecting your vehicle, particularly after a long flight. It’s safer and this also limits any issues that may arise from late flights or missed connections.

We are open every day except Christmas Day and 01 January.

Escape campervans are pretty economical. All vans run on unleaded petrol, which is approximately $2.15 per litre (as at April 2011). That means a full tank of gas will cost you about NZ$120 and you should get close to 500kms per tank (depending on how you drive!). That’s about 12 litres per 100kms.

The awesome part about travelling in an Escape Campervan in New Zealand is the total freedom it gives you, allowing you to access some of the most beautiful and unique spots in New Zealand.
But with that freedom, comes responsibility! 

We need all of our Escape campervan hirers to respect and protect the environment, particularly when choosing where to camp. Our vans do not feature toilets or waste holding tanks and as such, we strongly recommend camping at one of the sites managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), various holiday parks or other designated areas.  

Free camping is illegal in some areas so you would need to check with the local i-Site or DOC before you decide where you’ll stay. Wherever you camp, please respect the environment and locals and clean up after yourselves. Escape will provide you with a directory of commercial campgrounds, DOC campsites and our own special spot recommendations. You will also be given a copy of our environmental care code.

To ensure you’re OK to camp anywhere in New Zealand, assume nothing and always ask a local. Check out this link “Camping our way” for a guide on how to camp responsibly around New Zealand.

Otherwise you could park up at one of the Department of Conversation campsites. These are low cost campsites (sometimes just a donation in an honesty box!) with pretty basic facilities but they are superbly located throughout the country.  Click here to find out more. 

Alternatively, consider staying at one of the many commercial campgrounds scattered throughout New Zealand. This is where many of us Kiwis stay for our own holidays. That’s because they’re of a high standard, offering great facilities such as hot showers, huge kitchens, laundry facilities and more. Many have swimming pools or are located on the beach.  The costs here vary, but you should expect to pay $12 -$20 per person per night during summer. To find out more click here. 


Please note: A law has been passed recently which provides local councils the authority to issue infringement notices which will incur an instant fine for illegal camping (generally $200…maybe more). This cost will be the responsibility of the driver so we urge you to consider carefully where you’re camping. Check for ‘no camping’ signs and respect the directives from the local councils. Or, as mentioned above, stay at one the great campgrounds throughout NZ. They’re cheap (much cheaper than a $200 fine) have great facilities, are safer and you’ll meet other like-minded travellers. Sweet!

The Rugby World Cup is a huge event for New Zealand and its anticipated nearly 90,000 visitors will be heading this way. Sweet! New Zealand has been planning and preparing for Rugby World Cup for many years and we’re good to go! That preparation includes the development of temporary campsites for campervans and motorhomes in several cities.
So if you anticipate being in any of the cities listed below around ‘game day’, check out the links below to see what parking/camping facilities are available.

Remember, Escape Rentals does not support ‘Freedom Camping’ because there are so many really good camping facilities available throughout New Zealand. But it may pay to pre-book during busy periods like the Rugby World Cup.

Enjoy this wonderful event…and go the All Blacks!

Click here for more information...

To hire an Escape Campervan, you need to be at least 18 years of age and hold a current, full driver’s license. We accept driver’s licenses issued by your own country (as long as we can understand it!) or any international driver’s licenses. Remember, Escape Campers doesn’t charge any extra for additional drivers.

We drive on the left hand side of the road in New Zealand, but don’t sweat it. Driving in New Zealand really is easy, provided you take your time, drive to the conditions and are courteous to other drivers. And look out for other Escape Camper drivers. We’re all whanau! ('whanau' means ‘family‘ in Maori).
Here’s a couple of tips to help make your journey safe and enjoyable.

• The speed limit within the city or suburban areas is 50 kilometres per hour (30mph)
• The speed limit on the open road or motorways is 100 kilometres per hour (60mph)
• Don’t speed. Take your time and be safe. Besides, there are speed cameras everywhere!
• If you are taking your time, sweet, but remember to check your rearview mirror and occasionally pull over to let other traffic pass.
• And don’t drink and drive. And don’t do drugs and drive. Simple really.
• Park in the same direction as the traffic flow.
• Give way to the right. This rule is a little different from the rest of the world, so check out the diagram below and you’ll be sweet. 

The blue car gives way when turning left.
Above all else, be safe and enjoy yourself!
Click here for more information

New Zealand is made up of two large islands, ‘imaginatively’ named ‘the North Island’ and the ‘South Island’. The stretch of water between these islands is called the Cook Strait, and whilst it may not look far, it takes about 3 ½ hours to cross from one island to the other on one of the ferry services. 
Escape Campervans recommends ‘Bluebridge Ferries’ who operate between Wellington and Picton.
Escape Campervans are cheaper on the ferry than other larger motorhomes, so if you’re booking your ferry crossing, make sure they know you’re with Escape. It should cost you about $120 for the camper and around $55 per person for a one way crossing and we’ll give you a voucher to book this discounted rate when you pick your van up. And it pays to book this service in advance, particularly over Christmas or during the summer period. To find out more or to book you ferry crossing, click here.

Rates of crime in New Zealand are much lower than many other countries, but you can help keep yourself and others safe by following these simple tips.
• Be aware and take notice of your surroundings and who’s around when out walking or sight-seeing. If possible, go places with someone you know and trust.
• Avoid walking alone in isolated places late at night. Stay in well-lit areas where there are other people. If you’re heading out (or heading back) take a taxi or arrange for someone you know to pick you up.
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery with you. If you must carry valuable items, keep them close to your body.
• If using an ATM, only withdraw small amounts of cash - preferably during the day - shield your PIN number and be aware of people around you.
• If you are in a bar, avoid accepting drinks from strangers and don't leave your drink unattended. Remember, alcohol and drugs can affect your judgment.
• Police do not recommend accepting rides from people you don't know.
• Be wary of where you park your Escape Campervan. Unfortunately, campervans are sometimes targeted for theft. Lock all of your doors (not all of our vans have central locking) and double check them. It is rare for Escape campers to be targeted because our vans look ‘local’, but we are not immune. Take care and be cautious folks.
• And make sure you have travel insurance to cover yourself in the unlikely event of theft occurring (if you’ve purchased bond waiver insurance with Escape, this covers the vehicle only)
• We strongly recommend you stay in a designated campground with other trustworthy travelers. Safer for you...and better for the environment (see our section on where can I camp).
• Carry a mobile phone with you and don’t hesitate to call New Zealand’s emergency phone number if you feel unsafe or threatened. Dial 111.
This information will help you enjoy your holiday and be safer as a visitor. It has been produced by the New Zealand Police, the tourism industry, the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Conservation, the NZ Mountain Safety Council and the crew at Escape.

The beauty of an Escape Campervan is the absolute freedom it gives you to create your own itinerary and do your own thing. If you have a special interest like fishing or surfing, you can tailor your trip accordingly. Or if you’re travelling around New Zealand and you’ve found a spot you want to stay at just that little bit longer, go for it!
That said, we’ve also come up with a few itineraries (courtesy of our mates at 100% Pure New Zealand) which may be of interest to you. Check them out here. Use them. Copy them. Ignore them. Whatever!  Just make sure your own trip is everything you want it to be. Sweet!

Billy Connolly
Auckland - Gisborne - Auckland
Christchurch - Milford - Christchurch
Hobbiton Mordor River Anduin

Some of our crew were asked about our favourite places in New Zealand. After much deliberation and some coercion (a few of us didn’t want to divulge our secret getaways) we’ve come up with a couple of suggestions you might want to consider when planning your own New Zealand getaway. Click here and check it out.    

We love New Zealand. It’s a beautiful country and we want to keep it that way. You’ll be pleased to know that Escape Campervans is a carbon neutral operation and we have stringent policies to ensure we’re all about protecting the environment.
Click here to link to our “Keepin’ it Green’ community page to find out how!

Sorry Smokers…Our vehicles are all non-smoking and a cleaning fee will be applied if it’s apparent you’ve been smoking in the campervan.