Self-contained PLUS
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- —
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Escape Rentals review
Hand-painted campervans with a simple camping setup for travelling around New Zealand.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Escape Rentals is a family-owned New Zealand campervan rental company that began in 2003 with roots in backpacker transport and surf travel. It operates from Auckland and Christchurch, hiring out compact Nissan Caravan conversions with individually painted exteriors.
The business has retained a focus on straightforward campervan travel. Its current offer comprises Standard, Self-contained S/C and Self-contained PLUS, with differences in passenger capacity, toilet facilities and refrigeration. These are commercial categories within the New Zealand operation; the contracting company is Escape Rentals Limited.
Our verdict
Editorial review
Escape Rentals’ campervans work best as practical camping vehicles rather than fully equipped homes on wheels. The range makes useful distinctions within a compact format: a third travel seat in Standard, or a fixed toilet in the two-person self-contained categories. PLUS is the most substantial equipment upgrade, particularly for travellers who want refrigeration away from a powered site.
The main compromise is the modest living setup and, especially in Standard and S/C, the age of the vehicles. Category choice matters because passenger capacity, self-containment and living equipment do not increase together. The offer is workable for travellers comfortable with basic campervan living, but less persuasive when modern interiors and generous onboard comfort are priorities.
Good points
- Useful refrigeration away from mains power.PLUS has a secondary battery serving the fridge, LED lighting and USB charging. Its advertised two-to-three-day operating window, dependent on use and weather, gives this upgrade a practical purpose beyond a different category name.
- Mileage and extra drivers are included.Unlimited kilometres and additional drivers form part of the direct rental offer. This removes two potential additions to the trip budget, although extra drivers must still sign the rental agreement.
- A choice of round-trip or inter-island hire.Auckland and Christchurch work as either end of a one-way rental, as well as bases for returning to the same depot. That creates a useful option for a trip ending on a different island, subject to the hire minimum and any applicable one-way charge.
Things to consider
- Older vehicles are central to the lower categories.Standard and S/C are based on older vans with substantial representative mileage. They are a better fit for travellers accepting a basic conversion than for those expecting the refinement of a recent motorhome.
- A toilet can still make the sleeping layout awkward.In an account posted in February 2025, one traveller described the toilet taking up sleeping space during an 11-night South Island trip. This account concerns that particular van and does not establish the layout of every category, but it makes the position of the toilet a useful detail to check when choosing a self-contained van.
- The highest protection option still has limits.Option C reduces liability for covered incidents, but it does not remove named prohibited roads or all excluded losses. B and C protect only the first incident; further protection must then be arranged. This matters more than the headline zero-liability figure alone.
Vehicle categories
Escape Rentals fleet
Self-contained S/C
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- Manual or automatic
Standard
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 3
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- Manual or automatic
Escape Rentals’ fleet consists of compact Nissan Caravan conversions with three different camping setups. The distinction is less about vehicle size than about how many people can travel and which facilities they have on board.
Standard has three travel seats and three sleeping places, but is not self-contained and has no fixed toilet or grey-water facilities. The two-person S/C adds a fixed toilet. Both use a cooler box rather than a fridge and have no secondary battery. Their included equipment covers cooking utensils, a gas cooker, a running-water sink, bedding and a mains-powered heater and lamp, with two chairs in S/C and three in Standard.
PLUS keeps the two-person capacity and fixed toilet while adding a fridge and a secondary battery. Driving or connecting to campsite mains recharges the battery. The heater and lamp still require mains power, so this is a refrigeration and charging upgrade rather than a promise of heating away from a powered pitch.
Vehicle age is another meaningful difference. Representative model years run from 2014–2021 for PLUS, 2009–2012 for S/C and 2007–2011 for Standard. The published mileage bands are 40,000–150,000+ km, 150,000–280,000+ km and 280,000–350,000+ km respectively. These describe the categories, not the exact age or mileage of the van allocated to a booking.
Locations
Escape Rentals pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
New Zealand
-
Auckland 8A Stoddard Place, Mount Roskill, Auckland 1041
-
Christchurch 15 Kingsley Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023
Before booking
Practical facts
These conditions and amounts apply to Escape Rentals’ direct New Zealand rentals. Amounts are in New Zealand dollars (NZD).
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Rental duration and daily charging | Direct rentals normally require at least five days for a round trip or seven days for a one-way hire. Both collection and return dates count as rental days; a trip spanning different seasonal price periods is charged accordingly. |
| Booking payment | Direct bookings require NZD 300 towards the rental. The remaining rental balance and extras are due at collection. This booking payment is separate from any damage bond. |
| Guaranteed automatic | For Standard or S/C, a guaranteed automatic costs NZD 150 per rental. Stating a preference alone does not guarantee an automatic. |
| One-way charge | A charge of NZD 300 may apply to an Auckland–Christchurch one-way hire in either direction. It is conditional, not an automatic addition to every booking. |
| Collection hours | Both depots accept pickups from 09:00–16:00 Monday–Friday, 09:00–15:00 Saturday and 09:00–14:00 Sunday. They close on public holidays and on weekends from June through September. The depots remain open for one hour after the stated pickup deadline. |
| After-hours collection | Collection outside normal hours is sometimes available by prior arrangement, at NZD 125–175 per pickup. It is not guaranteed. |
| Airport transfers | Christchurch does not provide an operator-run airport transfer. Its advertised third-party options include a taxi at NZD 50 cash per trip, or a shuttle for two at NZD 33 cash/NZD 35 by card, plus NZD 5 per extra passenger. These are transport examples, not part of the campervan rental price. |
| Basic protection | Option A is included without an additional daily premium. Liability for a covered incident is NZD 3,000, rising to NZD 4,000 for a single-vehicle incident. Windscreen, tyre and unsealed-road cover are not included. These amounts describe damage responsibility, not the booking payment or a routine rental charge. |
| Optional protection and bond | Option B costs NZD 22.50 per rental day for drivers aged 22 or over, or NZD 25 for ages 18–21. Option C costs NZD 30 or NZD 35 per day for those same age groups; it has no bond and zero standard or single-vehicle liability for covered incidents. C includes windscreen, tyre and unsealed-road cover within the contract limits. B and C cover the first incident only, after which further protection must be arranged. |
| Protection exclusions | Negligence, wrong fuel, overheating, lost keys, bogging and damage to the interior or personal property can remain outside cover, depending on the circumstances and applicable contract provisions. An accident does not guarantee a replacement van, and delivery or transport costs may still be payable. |
| Restricted roads | Tasman Valley Road, Skippers Canyon, Ninety Mile Beach, roads north of Colville and any beach are prohibited. Unformed or unsealed roads are excluded unless Option C applies; C does not override the named prohibitions. |
| Driver requirements | Drivers must be at least 18 and hold a full licence. A non-English licence requires the original plus an International Driving Permit or certified English translation. Learner, provisional and suspended licences are not accepted. |
| Children | Children under six are not accepted. A child must be at least 120 cm tall; ages six to ten are subject to booster-seat rules. The renter supplies and installs the booster and signs a waiver. Baby capsules are prohibited, and the vans have no rear travel seats. |
| Cancellation | For cancellations 7–21 days before pickup, the charge is the greater of NZD 300 or 20% of the hire. It rises to 50% of gross rental at 1–6 days and 100% on pickup day or for a no-show. Unused rental days are not refunded. |
| Roadside help and breakdowns | Rental includes 24-hour roadside assistance. For a breakdown, possible remedies are at the operator’s discretion: a replacement, a refund of unused rental excluding insurance, accommodation up to NZD 50 per vehicle per day, or an extension. No particular remedy is guaranteed. |
| Return requirements | Return is due by 14:00, even if the depot closes later. Replace the fuel used, wash dishes and remove rubbish; exterior cleaning and linen washing are not required. Low fuel attracts a charge of at least NZD 50, and uncleared grey water costs NZD 50. |
| Cleaning charges | Smoking or returning an unclean toilet can attract a charge of at least NZD 200. This is a minimum, not a fixed total. |
| Late or wrong-location return | Returning late or to the wrong location can result in a penalty of up to NZD 1,000. The ceiling is not an automatic charge. |
| Pets | Pets are prohibited, with an exception for guide dogs. |
| Snow chains | Chains are available free on request from May to September, subject to availability. |
Quick answers
Escape Rentals FAQ
Which Escape Rentals campervan can carry three people?
Standard has three travel seats and three sleeping places. Self-contained S/C and PLUS each accommodate two adults for travel and sleeping. Choosing Standard for a third person means giving up the fixed toilet and self-contained status of the two-person categories; Escape’s separate child-eligibility rules also apply.
Are Escape Rentals vans self-contained?
S/C and PLUS are offered as certified self-contained campervans with fixed toilets. Standard is not self-contained. Certification applies to the vehicle: it does not give unrestricted permission to camp anywhere.
Can I guarantee an automatic Escape campervan?
Standard and S/C offer a paid automatic guarantee at NZD 150 per rental. A request for an automatic without that guarantee remains a preference.
What does the PLUS battery power away from a campsite?
In PLUS, the secondary battery supplies the fridge, LED lighting and USB charging for an advertised two to three days, depending on use and weather. The heater and lamp need mains power. Standard and S/C use a cooler box and have no secondary battery, so the PLUS power setup does not apply to them.
Can I take an Escape Rentals van between the North and South Islands?
Yes. The van can travel on the Wellington–Picton ferry, which you book and pay for separately. Escape advertises a 10% Bluebridge discount using code ESCAPENZ. When following its ferry-booking instructions, select a 5.0 m campervan and use ESCAPE as the registration placeholder. A one-way rental ending at the other depot has a seven-day minimum and may carry a NZD 300 one-way charge; ferry availability is separate from the van booking.
Does Escape Rentals’ Option C remove all damage costs?
No. Option C has no bond and reduces standard and single-vehicle liability to zero for covered incidents, but excluded losses and prohibited roads remain relevant. It covers only the first incident, and replacement-vehicle delivery or transport costs may still be payable. The daily premium buys defined protection, not an exemption from every possible cost.
Can I collect a van on a winter weekend?
The Auckland and Christchurch depots close on weekends from June through September. After-hours collection is sometimes available by prior arrangement for NZD 125–175, but it is not guaranteed. Agree the actual collection arrangements before relying on them for a flight connection.
Can I hire from Escape Rentals with a young child?
Children must be at least six years old and 120 cm tall. For ages six to ten, you must comply with the booster rules, bring and fit the booster yourself, and sign the waiver. There are no rear travel seats and baby capsules are not allowed. The selected campervan’s passenger capacity remains a separate limit.
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