Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay?

• We require a 20% deposit via a secure credit card payment to confirm your booking. This deposit is non-refundable. For bookings made prior to 26 February 2023 we require the balance 7 days out from the start of your trip, for bookings made from 27 February 2023 onwards, we require the balance 31 days out from the start of your trip.

• We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and China Union Pay but please note there is a credit card surcharge for all card transactions. For bookings made after October 24, 2024, the credit card surcharge is subject to change. It will be calculated at the time the transaction is processed. This means that the surcharge amount may vary based on the prevailing rates at the time of your payment.

• Any extra items or insurance may be paid for online at the time of booking.

Please note you will need to have sufficient funds to freeze the bond amount when you collect the campervan - dependent on the insurance option you select.  The funds will be frozen for the entire duration of your trip and will be released on return of the campervan. This is not a transaction and will only show as “pending” on your account.

Cancellations

We want you to know we are totally committed to ensuring you can have the adventure you are planning!

In the unfortunate event that you need to cancel your booking, the following cancellation fees apply:

• If cancelled at any time before collection, the deposit will not be refunded;

• If cancelled within 31 - 15 days of pick-up: a cancellation fee of 50% of the total rental cost;

• If cancelled within 14 - 7 days of pick-up: a cancellation fee of 75% of the total rental cost;

• If cancelled 6 days prior (or less) or on the day of pick up or non-appearance: a cancellation fee equivalent to the total cost of rental.

NOTE: There is no refund for late pick-up or early return of vehicle.

We would absolutely love to be a part of your adventure - please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help with your decision!

Self-Containment

The freedom camping legislation in New Zealand is currently being reviewed with the current date for commercial operators to align with new specifications being 7th December 2024.  As it stands the MAD1 will not be self-contained. We are currently working to see if we are able to upgrade the camper to align with the new standards, but we aren't sure if this will be possible yet.

If you prefer a self-contained camper and want to lock it in now, the MAD2 & MAD EXPLORER meets the new standards so is the best option!

Minimum Hire Days

We reserve the right to apply a minimum hire policy to particular dates- these are typically the busiest times of the year. Our system will accept a quote / booking request which we then apply the minimum hire policy to manually. Minimum hire lengths may vary based on time of year and availability.

Key dates impacted by the policy are through summer, and particularly the Christmas and New Year period. Where possible we are happy to work with travellers to fill any adventure slots in our schedule.

Thanks in advance for your understanding!

What driver’s licenses do you accept?

We require all of our driving customers to:

• Be 18 years of age or older (or 21 years of age or older for the MAD EXPLORER).

• Have a full and current drivers licence. Suspended or sanctioned licences are not accepted for any reason.

• Digital driver license (DDLs) are not accepted.

Licences from English speaking countries are accepted without any supporting documentation.  These countries include: New Zealand, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland and relevant parts of Canada.

If you are from a Non English speaking country you will require the following to legally drive in New Zealand:

1. Your drivers licence;

   AND

2. Either an International Drivers Licence OR a certified English translation of your home licence. RVA Translations is recommended for certified translations in New Zealand - you can arrange this on the following link: www.rvatranslations.co.nz.

Please ensure you complete this prior to your arrival in New Zealand as you will not be able to collect your van until we have your correct licence details.  Please also ensure that you have spent some time understanding the local driving conditions and road rules, it can be tricky driving in a new environment and we want everyone to have an amazing driving experience in their Mad Camper! 

If you would like more information on driving safely in New Zealand please click here for Drive Safe NZ's website.

Ferry Crossings

We offer a discount on all ferry crossings with Bluebridge and can organise these for you. 

Contact us to enquire about how to book your ferry.

What is Freedom Camping?

Freedom camping or free camping is the practice of putting up tents or parking up campervans in areas not designated for camping. Free camping typically means that freedom campers cannot access facilities such as clean drinking water, toilets (either flushing or long drop) and waste disposal facilities.

Travelling in a Fully Certified Self Contained Mad Camper allows you the freedom to travel as you please.  Some of our campers are fitted out with fresh water and grey water capacity and a chemical toilet so you can get off the beaten track.

For more information on responsible freedom camping please click this link.

More information can be found here.

Collection and Drop Off Info

Mad Campers opening hours are below.  Any after hours collection or drop off request will incur charges and must be made and accepted in writing prior to being confirmed.  If your flight arrives late at night or early in the morning (between the hours of 3pm - 9am) we recommend you spend your first night in a hostel or hotel prior to collecting your camper.  We are unable to process vans during these hours (3pm - 9am) except by request and confirmation.  

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 3:00pm (outside these hours may incur charges)

Saturday to Sunday: 9:00am to 3:00pm (outside these hours may incur charges)

Please note the latest collection (pick-up) time from the depot is 3:00pm, so please consider your start date with this in mind and allow plenty of time to be at our office by this time.

Public Holidays Closed: New Year's Day, Day after New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Public Holiday Surcharges: An NZ$75 surcharge will apply to all rentals picking up or dropping off on the following National Public Holidays: Waitangi Day (6th February 2025), Easter Monday (21st April 2025), ANZAC Day (25th April 2025), Kings Birthday (3rd June 2024) and Labour Day (28th October 2024). If you are dropping off a rental on one of these days, our office may be closed. If this is the case, we will give you all the information you need to drop off your rental without us!

Lets make sure you're ready before you arrive!

• Please check and confirm what time you are due to collect your camper.

• Please ensure you have confirmed your licence is valid (per above) and are ready to collect your camper.

• Please ensure your credit card has enough funds available to pay for any insurances or bonds.

• Please make sure you have taken some time to learn about driving in New Zealand - you will find some valuable information here.

How should I pack?

You will be most comfortable in our campers if you pack your belongings in a soft (duffel style) bag.  There is plenty of storage in the campers for soft or small luggage.

In our MAD2 (two person campers) we have included FREE roof boxes if you’d prefer to bring a large suitcase.  The roof box dimensions can be found here!

We are more than happy to store large suitcases for you if you are travelling from Auckland to Auckland or Christchurch to Christchurch.

If you have any questions please email us and we'll get straight back to you. 

Travelling in Winter

Winter is an epic time to explore New Zealand for a ton of reasons (fewer people on the roads and more affordable prices are just the beginning!), but there’s a few things to think about before hitting the road:

• Driving conditions: the weather can be more extreme in winter, with higher chances of snow, fog, black ice, heavy rain and high winds. Please read up on driver safety, always drive to the conditions, and slow down depending on weather. We have snow chains available to rent if you’ll be heading near the mountains.

• Temperature: the further south you go the colder it will be – don’t worry, the views make up for it! Make sure you pack your winter woolies and bring layers! If you struggle with the cold, we recommend bringing an extra sleeping bag.

• Weather changes: the weather can change abruptly in winter and affect activities, roads and campsites. Please stay updated on weather conditions and check in advance before heading to any remote locations.

What's included with our vans?

Check out our campers for a detailed look at everything our vans have to offer, and a list of the extras you might want to add to make your trip super sweet.