Travellers Autobarn New Zealand Review

Editors Review

Last updated: 7/24/19

Travellers Autobarn welcomes the 2 berth Chubby Camper to its budget fleet. Get to know more about the latest add-on and learn why it's a popular choice among travellers. 

Travellers Autobarn is a large campervan rental that offers affordable 2 to 3-berth campervan deals in New Zealand. They have depots in Auckland and Christchurch, with their parent company located in Australia. Whilst the company specializes in the budget market, there have been some upgrades to their fleet as they welcome new models to their selection.

About Travellers Autobarn New Zealand

With partnerships from Escape Campers, Travellers Autobarn focuses on providing a variety of campervan deals suited for different types of travellers on a budget. At present, they have five campervan options, which are mostly for couples or small families. Youngsters certainly appreciate them as they allow rentals starting the age of 18. Compared to their branch in Australia with six depots, they only have two in NZ— both located in prime locations— in Christchurch and Auckland. Since they partnered with Escape, renters can pick-up/ drop-off the Escape campervan directly from/ to Escape's depots. Recently, Travellers Autobarn has been slowly adding campers, which are still aimed at the budget market.

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Fleet

Travellers Autobarn offers a fleet of mostly older models that have miles on the clock. Most of the models have catchy exteriors and well-fitted interiors that include cooking essentials and sleeping gears. Most of these vehicles can sleep 2 to 3 people, except the Hi5 Campervan that accommodates up to 5. Only certain units come with a baby seat option. All campervans, except the Station Wagon, are equipped with sleeping bags, pillows, sheets, kitchen cutlery, pots and pans, and tea towels. You need to avail of the living equipment at $45 good for two if you're renting the 2 berth Station Wagon.

Vehicles

Chubby Camper

The newest and the most popular campervan on the fleet, the Chubby Camper is a Toyota Hiace model with 2019 fit-out. Since this is a recent camper with newer features, no wonder this camper easily books out. This compact camper is a perfect unit for 2 persons who want extra comfort and style. It has plenty of internal space for you to eat, relax, and sleep comfortably. In the middle area are two storage spaces and a table that convert into a double bed. The built-in kitchenette at the rear comes with a sink, icebox, and another storage area. Plus, you have two electrical power-plugs for your electrical appliances.

Station Wagon

Travellers Autobarn begins with their Station Wagon— the cheapest campervan on offer. This 2006- 2010 Toyota Estima model is the ideal choice for travellers in big groups. It is tagged as the company’s backpacker classic because of its well-designed layout and vehicle features. Travellers could either sleep at the rear area or at the 2-dome tent, for an additional price. Being an economical campervan, you might not be surprised that the cooking and kitchen facilities, along with the mattress and pillows are not free of charge, creating an additional expense to the budget. As with all older models you must expect some wear and tear on the vehicle and quite some miles on the clock, however, you are also getting an exceptionally cheap camper.

Hitop Campervan

The Toyota Hitop campervans are typically ranging between 2009 and 2012— all of which are designed for a 2 to 3 berth hire. As a Hitop campervan with extra headspace, taller people will enjoy longer trips without compromising their comfort. Aside from the campervan’s upgraded dimensions and certain additions such as gas stove, microwave, fridge, and the optional porta potti, there’s nothing more special with this Hitop campervan. And just like the Escape campervans, you still need to deal with a manual gear vehicle and you will need to visit external facilities for a shower. The bigger vehicle dimension may also be hitch as you need to carry the extra dash of weight all throughout your vacation – yes the hi-top will add drag and weight and cost more to run, so factor that in, but it has a lot more luxury than the previous 2 models.

Kuga Campervan 

Seating and sleeping up to 3 people, the Kuga Campervan is one of the latest vehicles with 2016 - 2018 fit-out and the most popular option among travellers. Generally, the vehicle design and dimension are likely the same with Hitop campervans from many other competitors, but there are more unique features like attractive fittings, nicer upholstery, and some large compartments. The campervan is second to none when it comes to its high-quality fit-out and its easy-to-change configuration— from using the tables at lunchtime to getting ready for bedtime. Kuga is well-fitted for longer, comfortable trips because of its spacious cooking area and roomy sleeping space. The large windows also complete your scenic NZ road trip.

Hi5 Campervan

To complete the Travellers Autobarn fleet, we give you the Hi5 Campervan. This up-to-date and top-of-the-line campervan hire may be priced a bit more than any other campervans on selection, it takes pride with its 2016 interior fit-out, and not to mention its added sleeping capacity. The priciest yet newest among all campervans on the fleet, this campervan is still within the economical rate that features extra storage, an additional height dimension, and full kitchenette. There are only two double beds, so practically this 5 berth model is recommended for a couple with 2 to 3 kids or 4 adults.

Insurance

The insurance is included in the daily rental rate, but you may still be liable for the insurance excess up to $3,000. However, you can limit the liability by choosing their additional protection coverage. The Midway Protection ($20 per day) will reduce the excess to $1,500. And if you want a carefree NZ campervan experience with $0 excess, the inclusion of single-vehicle write-off and single-vehicle roll-overs, opt for the Protection Plus by paying $30 per day – which is actually quite cheap for that much coverage.

Reputation

Thoughtfully designed for the budget economy, Travellers Autobarn remains to be a good option to save money while still enjoying the scenic NZ views. The company has already created a name in the campervan rental industry all over the world, consequently giving them an edge among small, family-owned campervan hires in the country. However, since you are paying less for your vehicle, you cannot expect a refined accommodation on wheels. The choices may not be as big and striking compared to other classy campervans on the road, but these are well-fitted for a reliable road trip because each camper still provides you with the needed camping essentials.

Summary

All in all, Travellers Autobarn can be a great deal if you’re on a shoestring budget. But of course, you should also take into account that a lower price might take a toll on the campervan’s efficiency and overall amenities. Well, you just can’t expect older models to run perfectly without any glitches. You may need to spend a little more money for a more pampering road trip.