About Mad Campers
Mad Campers takes pride in their unique camper design and in particular their extremely comfy beds that sleep two. They reckon they have the biggest and comfiest beds in all New Zealand. And now, they offer NZ's first-ever campervan for solo travellers. What do you think?
Mad Campers is a relatively new campervan hire company in New Zealand, with depots in Auckland and Christchurch. They are quite prepared to wow their soon-to-be renters with free airport pick-up, discounted petrol, freedom camping options (due to self-contained vehicles), tourism partnerships, and heaps of inclusions and extras. But what they particularly proud of is their campervan beds, which they claim to be the largest in the industry, and also, the comfiest. They are buoyed by feedback from past renters telling them this too.
The sheer energy and love that the owners of Mad Campers have for their business, campervan design, customers and beds are enough to make you want to book immediately. They have a passion for their industry, their country and their desire to be part of the solution, not the problem when it comes to self-contained free camping - which all their vehicles are certified for.
They had a stellar first season and have incorporated the feedback into their campervans already, making constant improvements and they also have a special little something coming along that they assure me is a "game-changer" for the campervan rental market in New Zealand. If their enthusiasm for their current fleet is anything to go by, then their newest model is also a sight to see.
The Mad Challenge
Mad Campers also have a unique challenge they have for every person who hires one of their campervans. Grab the free T-shirt they give you, take a photo of yourself doing the 7 most "kiwi" things to do in NZ, which are all free, and upload the images to your social feeds for 5% off total rental, returned to you at the end of the road trip. No one else is offering this kind of challenge. It's crazy things like take a photo of running on a black sand beach, climb a mountain, eat fish and chips on a beach, or drink a particular type of milkshake?! Anyway, seeing as they are all free activities we think it's a great idea and the feedback is that by doing it, you sometimes meet some interesting other people and suddenly find yourself on an unexpected journey (there's a pun in there if you can spot it).
The Mad Campers fleet isn't that complicated. It started with one model―a 2 berth campervan with bench seats in the back that convert to "the biggest bed in New Zealand", a pull-out kitchenette via the rear door with a 1 burner gas stove, a little fridge and a sink and some nifty little charging points mounted near the sink. Now, they welcome a new camper to their fleet, which is a perfect option for solo travelers. But the main reason you will enjoy these campervans is that they come with a self-containment certification, which means freedom camping! With that, you can save dollars on camping fees. Be a well-informed traveller by knowing the freedom camping rules in each NZ district.
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- All self-contained campervans
- Now offers solo campervans for solo travellers
- Thoughtful inclusions and extras
- Enthusiastic people
✗ Cons
- Only two campervan types; not for families
Vehicle Fleet
Introducing New Zealand’s first-ever single berth self-contained campervan―Mad 1! The only single berth unit for lone backpackers, this campervan takes you to your destination at your own pace. The rental rate is designed for one person so that means you can spend more money on other important things like food and beverages. Mad 1 is like a step-up car with all facilities you'll need for overnight camping like a small kitchen, a single bed, a nice lounge area, and a cassette toilet. This easy-to-drive campervan features a lower carbon footprint for an economical driving experience. You can easily cook using the LPG 2 burner gas cooker at the rear. Plus, the kitchenette is equipped with a sink, extendable hose tap, fridge, pan, pots, and more! Listen to your favorite tracks via USB powerpoints or charge your electronics using the secondary battery. At night, you can easily swipe the curtains and turn on the LED lighting for much cozy bedtime. And because of the functional layout, you have lots of space inside. Distinctively, these single campervans feature a key-less entry. Instead, these have alarms or immobiliser for super security. Impeccable features for a new campervan on the market!
These 2-berth Nissan Vanette are the go-to campervans for couples or even solo backpackers in need of more space. All Nissan Vanettes are suitable for NZ's rugged backcountry. Aside from the chemical toilet, 25L of freshwater and grey water capacity, the campervan is fitted out with a fully functional kitchenette complete with sink, fridge, gas cooker, pots & pans, and kitchen and cooking utensils. And take note, the kitchen is a pull-out style kitchen to provide more space in the living room. The extendable hose tap allows you to wash your dishes outside and your feet when you come back from running on the black sand beach. For the sleeping quarters, the huge double bed is spacious enough for two. There are USB powerpoints inside to make your road trip a bit more entertaining and productive. Plug in your fave playlist or charge your laptop - there's a house battery to make sure you're not draining the car battery. After all, you need the campervan to start in the morning, right? The standard insurance is already included in the daily rate, but still, it's advisable if you one of the reduction options. For those under 25, the three excess waiver options: Risk Taker at $0/day for a $5000 excess, Gambler at $17.50/day for $2,500 excess and You're Good at $30/day for $0 excess. For drivers over 25, the insurance options are as follows: $0/day for $5000 excess, $15/day for $2,500 excess and $25/day for $0 excess. As to the bond, it's $2, 500, $1, 500, and $200. It is still a fairly new campervan hire company, but the feedback from renters has been stellar. People returning the campervan and giving them hugs and nicknames, as well as contented renters happy to hit the review pages and say great things about the campervan and the gang that run them. So all around, these guys are running 5 stars by the users. We think they're pretty good too! Mad Campers is a fresh campervan hire company with a zesty "can do, will do" attitude. Their solo campervans are certainly worth the try. So, if you want to have a breath of fresh air from bigger rental corporations, then experience an exciting road trip from a modern and unstained rental company. Mad Campers itself is pretty thrilled with their new venture and you can get a hold of their service firsthand and together discover what's down the road. We represent them on the booking engine, so head over to the booking form to a get a price from these guys.
