Rotorua Campervans

Rotorua Campervans is the kind of rental operation that only exists in New Zealand — a husband-and-wife business run from their own home on the shores of Lake Rotoma, 30 minutes east of Rotorua. Dutch-born owners Jeroen and Lorraine Bassant have been doing this since 1995, making them one of the longest-running independent campervan hire operators in the country. That longevity matters: when your entire reputation is built on repeat customers and word-of-mouth from a single lakeside property, you either get consistently good or you don't survive. They've survived for over 27 years.

The fleet is deliberately small — just three vehicles — but each one is genuinely well-specified. The flagship Mercedes Cascade 4-Berth (from NZ$400/day) is a 2018 Mercedes diesel with an electric ceiling bed that descends at the push of a button, diesel central heating, Bluetooth, cruise control, reversing camera, and a bathroom with a proper separate shower. At 6.6 metres it parks easily but feels spacious inside thanks to panoramic three-sided rear windows. The LDV Breeze 4-Berth (from NZ$375/day) is New Zealand-built on an LDV chassis, with a hydraulic folding bed above the U-shaped lounge, a capable 4-burner kitchen with grill and 130L fridge, and diesel heating. The newest addition is the Toyota Jumbo 2024 2-Berth (from NZ$375/day), built on the 6th-generation Toyota HiAce ZX with 7 airbags, a 200W solar panel with 210Ah lithium battery, king-size bed, and a front-engine layout that drives more like a car than a van.

Every vehicle in the fleet is automatic transmission, fully self-contained, and fitted with solar panels — meaning you can freedom camp without needing a powered site. All three come with diesel or gas heating, a full kitchen, and a proper bathroom with hot water shower and cassette toilet. That level of consistency across a three-vehicle fleet is unusual — larger operators like Maui or Britz run vehicles at multiple spec levels, so what you get depends on which model you book. Here, every option is genuinely well-equipped.

What sets Rotorua Campervans apart from the mainstream rental chains is the personal service model. Every booking includes a complimentary night's bed-and-breakfast stay at the Bassants' Lake Rotoma property, personalised travel advice from owners who have explored every corner of New Zealand, free airport pickup from Rotorua (and from Auckland airport free with 14+ day rentals), linen and bedding included, and 24/7 direct phone support — not a call centre. It is the opposite of the corporate hire experience you would get from Apollo or JUCY, and it suits travellers who value local knowledge and a personal touch over depot convenience.

The trade-off is geographic. There is one depot — Lake Rotoma, Bay of Plenty — and no one-way options. If you are flying into Auckland, they will arrange pickup, but you are starting your trip with a 3-hour drive east before you begin exploring. For travellers who want to collect from the airport terminal and be on the road in 30 minutes, multi-depot operators like Freedom Campers or Britz are more practical. The fleet is also just three vehicles, so availability during peak season (December to February) is genuinely limited — book well ahead or miss out entirely.

Bottom line: Rotorua Campervans is a boutique operator that trades scale for quality. The fleet is small, modern, all-automatic, and every vehicle is self-contained with solar. The personal service — B&B stay, travel advice from 27 years of local experience, direct owner support — is something no large-fleet operator can match. Best suited to couples or families who value a personal, guided introduction to New Zealand over the convenience of multi-city depot networks.