JUCY

JUCY is the original New Zealand-founded campervan brand — launched in Christchurch in 2001 with a fleet of ten Toyota HiAces and a marketing strategy built around bold green-and-black livery and a younger traveller demographic. Two decades on, JUCY operates across four countries (New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada) and still runs its NZ business from the same three key depots: Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. The brand sits firmly in the budget-to-mid range, with the Chill'd sub-brand pushing the price floor even lower for travellers who want space over polish.

The NZ fleet in 2024 spans five models across two sub-brands. The JUCY range covers the 2-berth Crib (compact Toyota Estima, no bathroom), 3-berth Chaser (Toyota HiAce, full shower and toilet), 4-berth Condo (Toyota HiAce, toilet no shower — the best-seller) and the 4-berth Compass (Toyota HiAce with rooftop pop-up tent). The Chill'd Big Kahuna rounds out the range at six berths with a full bathroom on a diesel Mercedes or Iveco chassis. All vehicles are automatic. The minimum driver age is 18 — one of the lowest in New Zealand — which matters if you're under 21 and struggling to find operators who'll hire to you.

The Condo: Best-Seller for a Reason

The JUCY Condo is the default booking for most NZ travellers and the model most associated with the brand. At 4-berths, it sleeps two couples or a family with two children, carries an 80-litre compressor fridge, and comes with the self-contained certification required to use New Zealand's freedom camping spots. There's a fixed cassette toilet but no shower — that's the price you pay at the Condo price point. For a two-week South Island loop, the Condo hits the value sweet spot: you get full camping independence without the running costs of a 6-berth motorhome.

Three Depots, Two Islands

Auckland (9 Richard Pearse Drive, 800 m from the international terminal) is the standard North Island pickup. Christchurch (157 Orchard Road, Harewood, 2.2 km from the airport) is the South Island start point. Queenstown (52 Grant Road, Frankton) handles South Island tour completions and ski season bookings. All three run free shuttle transfers on request, and one-way hire between any combination of depots is available. A popular routing is Auckland pick-up → Christchurch drop-off, covering the North Island, crossing the Interislander ferry to Picton, and working down the South Island — all in a single continuous hire without backtracking.

Young Driver Friendly

JUCY accepts drivers aged 18 and over, which makes it one of the more accessible operators in New Zealand for younger travellers. Most premium operators require 21 minimum; Britz and Apollo also require 21. If you're 18–20, JUCY is one of the very few mid-range options that will actually hand you the keys.

What's Included and Honest Caveats

Every hire includes unlimited kilometres, linen and towels, full kitchen equipment and 24/7 roadside assistance. Insurance packages are tiered from standard to nil excess. JUCY's hire rates are transparent and typically lower than equivalent Apollo or Britz vehicles — but the vehicles are older (Toyota HiAces from the 2013–2016 era) and the finish is functional rather than premium. If the vehicle age doesn't matter to you and you want maximum kilometres-per-dollar, JUCY consistently delivers. If you want something newer, consider Mighty (similar price, slightly newer stock) or Apollo for a modest step up.