Sweet As Campers is a budget-friendly campervan hire company based at Red Beach on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast. With a fleet spanning 2 to 6 berth campervans and
Last Updated: May 2026Sweet 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.
A 7-seatbelt pop-top hi-top with interior shower and toilet — perfect for budget families. Two sleep inside, extra guests use the attachable awning tent. Self-contained certified.
A modern self-contained 2 berth Toyota HiAce campervan with a permanent double bed, 200W solar panel, and 270Ah AGM battery. Ideal for couples wanting off-grid freedom.
Sweet As Campers signature pimped campervans: individually customised Toyota HiAces with wild interiors — chandeliers, neon lights, bubble-tinted windows, shag pile carpet and moon roofs. 5 unique vans: Red, Purple, White, Yellow, Maroon.
A long-wheelbase hi-top campervan sleeping 2 inside with an attachable rear tent for an extra person. Self-contained certified for freedom camping, with pull-out awning.
A roomy 3-berth Ford Transit manual campervan. Rear bench seats convert to a double bed at night; daytime layout is a comfortable living and dining space.
A family-favourite 4-berth Fiat Ducato motorhome. Certified self-contained for 4 people with full shower and toilet, 300W solar, and a 4.5m rollout awning.
A certified self-contained 6-berth Ford Transit motorhome with 4 sleeping areas. Pull-out awning, satellite TV option, and full kitchen make it ideal for families and groups.
A comfortable later-model Mercedes Sprinter motorhome with automatic transmission and 3 double beds. Internal access from drivers cab, self-contained certified, and pull-out awning.
Sweet As Campers is one of Auckland's most recognisable independent campervan hire companies, operating a mixed fleet of 2 to 6 berth vehicles from their Red Beach depot on the Hibiscus Coast. Whether you're after a budget-friendly 2-berth for a couple exploring the North Island or a fully self-contained 6-berth motorhome for a family road trip from Auckland to Queenstown, Sweet As has a vehicle to match. One-way hires are available between Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, and Queenstown, making them well-suited to travellers planning a coast-to-coast New Zealand itinerary without backtracking.
The fleet leans toward budget and mid-range price points, with most vehicles certified self-contained under New Zealand regulations. Self-containment certification is important for freedom campers — it unlocks access to hundreds of designated freedom camping spots across both islands, from beachside reserves in Northland to lakeside sites near Wanaka. Sweet As Campers' 4-berth Fiat Ducato and the larger 6-berth Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit motorhomes all carry this certification, making them practical choices for travellers wanting to avoid paid campgrounds on a longer trip.
The company's most talked-about offering is the selection of "pimped" campervans: individually customised Toyota HiAces with interiors that include chandelier lighting, neon mood lights, shag pile carpet, bubble-tinted windows, and padded ceiling panels. Five themed vans — Red, Purple, White, Yellow, and Maroon — are available on a best-effort basis, with guests welcome to state a preference. These are 2-berth vehicles suited to couples or solo travellers who value atmosphere over amenity. Daily rates for the pimped range sit at the budget end, making them popular among backpackers and those wanting a more social campground presence.
Linen packs, GPS units, child seats, bike racks, and gas bottles are available as optional extras on hire. Road-user charges apply to all diesel vehicles at NZ$10 per 100km, which is standard across the New Zealand campervan hire industry and quoted separately to the daily hire rate. Travellers should factor this into total trip cost when comparing quotes.
