Sweet as Campers

Sweet As Campers operates out of Red Beach on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast — a small, independent outfit that has been renting campervans across New Zealand since the mid-2000s. What sets them apart from the big rental chains isn't a gleaming fleet of late-model motorhomes; it's character. The signature "pimped" campervans — Toyota HiAces with chandelier lighting, shag pile carpet, bubble-tinted windows and neon interiors — are a genuine one-of-a-kind offering you won't find at Wilderness Motorhomes or Mad Campers. If you want to turn heads at every campground from Cape Reinga to Bluff, Sweet As delivers.

The wider fleet covers all the bases: 2-berth later-model Toyota HiAce campervans with 200W solar and 270Ah batteries, self-contained pop-top hi-tops with interior shower and toilet, Ford Transit 3-berths for solo travellers or couples needing extra room, 4-berth Fiat Ducatos with cassette toilet and 300W solar, and large 6-berth motorhomes based on Ford Transit, Volkswagen, Canter, Mercedes Sprinter, and Fiat Ducato platforms. The range covers budget backpackers through to families needing six berths with a full bathroom. Most vehicles carry New Zealand's self-containment certification, which means freedom camping is available right across the country wherever signposted sites permit.

Flexibility is a genuine selling point. Sweet As Campers offers pick-up and drop-off at Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, and Queenstown, with one-way hires available on most routes. That makes the classic top-to-bottom itinerary — Northland down to Queenstown — perfectly achievable without backtracking. For travellers who want to cover both islands, they can pick up in Auckland, cross on the Interislander ferry at Picton, and drop off in Queenstown. Companies like Epic Campers or Vantastic NZ are more Auckland-centric and don't match this nationwide reach.

There are trade-offs. The fleet skews older — many vehicles have six-figure odometers — and customer reviews on third-party sites reflect some inconsistency in the handover experience and vehicle condition. The "pimped" vans are fun but shouldn't be confused with a premium product: they're older Toyota HiAces with creative interiors, not modern self-contained units. Insurance excess levels should be reviewed carefully at booking. If you're after a newer, higher-spec fleet, Campa South in Christchurch or Affordable Motor Home Rentals may be better fits.

At their best, Sweet As Campers offer some of the lowest daily rates in the New Zealand market for vehicles that genuinely get around the country. The pimped vans in particular have built a loyal following among backpackers and festival-goers who want the freedom camping life with a bit more personality. Budget-conscious travellers comfortable with an older fleet and a no-frills handover will find real value here — just go in with clear expectations and read the hire terms carefully before you sign.