Coaster
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Portable
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Compare JUCY with other motorhome hire companies
JUCY review
JUCY brings compact camper living and larger motorhomes together in a rental range spanning Australia and New Zealand.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
JUCY began with one Auckland branch in 2001. Its early business rented cars before expanding into purpose-built camper conversions, and it entered Australia in 2009. That development still shapes the range: compact vans remain prominent alongside taller campers and a six-person motorhome.
The business belongs to Travvia, the group name adopted in October 2024 following Next Capital’s majority acquisition in 2022. JUCY and Star RV remain separate consumer brands within that group. Chill’d by JUCY vehicles form part of the JUCY rental offer; Star RV vehicles do not.
Bookings are made by vehicle category. The allocated chassis, generation and some fittings can differ within that category, so a commercial name does not identify one exact vehicle model or year.
Our verdict
Editorial review
JUCY offers a useful middle ground between a simple sleeping van and a larger motorhome. Its smaller bathroom-equipped New Zealand categories are a particularly worthwhile part of the range, while the Australian lineup puts more emphasis on compact camping and shared campsite facilities. Choosing by the facilities needed for the trip works better than treating every JUCY camper as the same proposition.
The main compromise is predictability. A category can accommodate different vehicle generations, making JUCY a less straightforward choice for someone who needs an exact layout or fitting. The range is more convincing as a set of practical camping options than as a promise of one uniform standard of comfort.
Good points
- A bathroom without six-person capacity.In New Zealand, Chaser and Sundaze provide a toilet and shower for three, while Condo and Sunseeker give four people a fixed toilet. Bathroom choice is not confined to the largest motorhome.
- Bedding and kitchen essentials are included.The base equipment includes bedding, towels and kitchenware. Outdoor furniture is separate unless the chosen package includes it, but the essentials for sleeping and preparing meals are already part of the offer.
- Practical New Zealand airport connections.Free shuttles serve the Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown bases during their daytime operating window. They make those off-airport pickups more straightforward without requiring a separately paid transfer.
Things to consider
- Preparation and follow-up can be uneven.Among the camper reviews examined, repeated accounts describe worn equipment, appliance problems or missing kit; some also describe difficulty getting help after departure. Other renters report useful demonstrations and successful trips, so these accounts support a concern about consistency, not a fleet-wide failure rate.
- The Australian airport transfer is an extra step.All six Australian bases require renters to arrange and pay for their own transport. An airport location name does not mean a terminal counter or an included shuttle.
Vehicle categories
JUCY fleet
Crib+
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 5
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Condo
Australia · Panel van camper
- Seats
- —
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Portable
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Condo
New Zealand · Panel van camper
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Cloudbreak
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Malibu
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- —
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Sunseeker
Australia · Panel van camper
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Portable
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Sunseeker
New Zealand · Panel van camper
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Big Kahuna
Chill’d by JUCY motorhome
- Seats
- 6
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Crib
Compact campervan
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Chaser
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 3
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Sundaze
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 3
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
The fleet runs from low-roof campervans with outdoor cooking to high-roof vans and the six-person Big Kahuna. Australia offers Coaster, Crib+, Condo, Cloudbreak, Malibu, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna. New Zealand offers Crib, Chaser, Condo, Cloudbreak, Sundaze, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna. The repeated names do not make all equipment identical between countries.
Cloudbreak and the New Zealand Crib keep the layout simple, with a low roof and a kitchen used from outside. Crib+ adds a rooftop tent to a compact Australian camper: four people can sleep across the two sleeping areas, but roof access and tent setup remain part of daily use. It is a two-wheel-drive camper, not an off-road vehicle.
The taller vans give more room to use the interior. New Zealand’s Chaser and Sundaze include a shower as well as a fixed toilet; Condo and Sunseeker have a fixed toilet without a shower. Their Australian namesakes use different toilet arrangements. The Australian Malibu’s nominal interior height is about 1.64 metres, so its van body should not be mistaken for full standing room.
Big Kahuna is the larger step up, with six seats, six sleeping places, a bathroom, a gas kitchen and a microwave. At roughly 7.7–7.9 metres long across the two markets, it is a different driving and parking proposition from the compact vans. Its New Zealand diesel engine also brings a distance-based road-user charge in addition to the rental price.
Power requirements matter when choosing equipment. A portable heater requires a compatible vehicle and a powered campsite connection; the presence of sockets or a listed appliance does not promise that it will run away from mains power.
Locations
JUCY pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
Australia
-
Adelaide Airport 25–27 Kinkaid Avenue, North Plympton SA 5037
-
Brisbane Airport 769 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm QLD 4009
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Cairns Airport 55 Dutton Street, Portsmith QLD 4870
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Melbourne Airport 1 Silicon Place, Tullamarine VIC 3043
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Perth 65 Worrell Avenue, High Wycombe WA 6057
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Sydney Airport 1799 Botany Road, Banksmeadow NSW 2019
New Zealand
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Auckland Airport 9 Richard Pearse Drive, Māngere, Auckland 2022
-
Christchurch Airport 157 Orchard Road, Harewood, Christchurch 8051
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Queenstown Airport 52 Grant Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
Before booking
Practical facts
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Contract version | The terms described here apply to reservations confirmed or last modified from 1 May 2026. Earlier unchanged bookings can have different terms. |
| Drivers and licences | Drivers must be 18–74. New Zealand requires a full Class 1 licence or equivalent and excludes learner and restricted licences. Australia excludes learner and P1 licences; P2 licences are accepted subject to the rental terms. A non-English licence requires an accredited translation alongside the valid original. Non-Australian/New Zealand citizens must also present a passport. Turning 75 during the rental requires a written decision from JUCY. |
| Young drivers | The applicable fee schedule charges drivers aged 18–21 AUD 5 per driver per day in Australia or NZD 5 in New Zealand, excluding GST unless specified otherwise. |
| Included equipment and extras | Bedding, towels and kitchenware are included. Outdoor tables, chairs and child seats are extras unless included in the selected package. Child-seat compatibility depends on the category and vehicle, not simply the number of beds. |
| Child seats | In Australia, the supported categories are Crib+, Condo, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna; Coaster, Cloudbreak and Malibu do not support child seats. In New Zealand, choose from Condo, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna; Crib, Cloudbreak, Chaser and Sundaze do not support them. The child’s size, seat type and allocated vehicle must match; customers install the seats themselves. |
| Protection option examples | On JUCY’s direct Australian product cards, Crib+ and Cloudbreak show Essentials at AUD 35 per day with AUD 1,500 nominal excess, or Comprehensive at AUD 50 per day with zero nominal excess for covered damage. The New Zealand Crib example is NZD 35 or NZD 50 per day respectively, with NZD 1,500 or zero nominal excess. These are category-specific examples; tax treatment and the options available through another booking channel depend on the quote. |
| Damage responsibility | Risk Taker exposure varies by category: the Australian Crib+ and Cloudbreak examples show AUD 3,000, while the Australian Big Kahuna shows AUD 7,500. Reduced excess applies only to covered damage. Interior damage, keys, wrong fuel, pet damage, bogging recovery and unauthorised use can remain payable. The applicable fee schedule also lists a claim administration charge of AUD 125 in Australia or NZD 125 in New Zealand per incident, excluding GST unless otherwise stated. |
| Security at pickup | A bond or security hold is separate from the rental price and from damage responsibility. Its amount and handling depend on the category, protection option, card and booking. Obtain the applicable amount and card requirements for that booking before pickup. |
| New Zealand diesel kilometres | Unlimited rental kilometres do not remove the diesel road-user charge. The applicable schedule lists NZD 0.08 per kilometre for diesel vehicles, including Big Kahuna, calculated from the distance travelled at return. Tax treatment follows the rental agreement. |
| Dogs | Up to two dogs may travel with prior approval in a suitable vehicle. The charge is AUD 299 per dog per reservation in Australia or NZD 299 in New Zealand, with tax treatment as shown in the booking. Dogs must be contained and cannot be left unattended; pet damage or extra cleaning can incur further charges. |
| One-way rentals | A different return base is possible only when JUCY accepts the particular bases, dates and direction. Any one-way fee is quoted for that trip. |
| New Zealand ferry travel | Taking the vehicle between islands on Bluebridge is possible subject to the booking conditions. Vehicle and passenger passages must be booked and paid for separately, using the allocated vehicle’s length for the ticket. |
| Airport transfers and pickup timing | Australian transfers are arranged and paid for by the renter. New Zealand’s three bases offer free shuttles from 08:30 to 15:30 after baggage collection and a call to the base; arrive for pickup by 15:00, at least an hour before closure. New Zealand pickup and return are within opening hours. |
| Road restrictions | The range is two-wheel drive. Beach driving, flooded or closed roads and off-road use are restricted. In New Zealand, prohibited routes include Ninety Mile Beach, Ball Hutt Road and Skippers Canyon. The narrow gravel-access exception covers a reasonable segment of less than 12 kilometres to a recognised commercial campground; it is not permission to take any gravel road. |
| New Zealand self-contained camping | Chaser, Condo, Sundaze, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna are listed as self-contained categories; Crib and Cloudbreak are not. The allocated vehicle needs a valid warrant under the current certification system. Certification does not override the rules of an individual overnight site. |
| Cancellation | Under the applicable terms, cancellation 31 or more days ahead returns the deposit less non-refundable processing or administration fees; 30–7 days ahead costs 20% of the rental, 6–1 days costs 50%, and same-day cancellation or a no-show costs 100%. The request must be in writing and acknowledged. Optional Flexible Booking has a non-refundable fee, restricted eligibility and one permitted use; it is not unlimited free cancellation. |
| Changes and extensions | Changes are subject to availability and repricing. Bookings made through an agency must be changed through that agency. Request an extension at least 48 hours before the original return time; it needs approval. An early return does not automatically produce a refund. |
| Return condition and charges | Return with the required fuel and LPG, complete equipment, emptied toilet and grey-water tanks, and a reasonably clean interior. The applicable schedule allows extraordinary cleaning charges up to AUD 299 in Australia or NZD 299 in New Zealand; an unemptied toilet or grey tank can cost up to AUD 500 or NZD 500 respectively. These conditional fees exclude GST unless otherwise stated. |
| Help during the trip | Mechanical roadside assistance is available 24/7 under the rental terms. Customer-error callouts can cost extra. Report a warning or breakdown promptly and within 24 hours, and obtain written authorisation before arranging repairs. A problem with a living-area appliance is not automatically a mechanical breakdown. |
Quick answers
JUCY FAQ
What is the difference between JUCY and Chill’d by JUCY?
Chill’d by JUCY is included in the same rental offer, with categories such as Cloudbreak, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna. It is not a guarantee of one vehicle age or specification. Star RV is a separate brand in the same Travvia group, so its motorhomes should not be treated as JUCY categories.
Which JUCY campers have a toilet and shower?
In New Zealand, Chaser, Sundaze and Big Kahuna have both; Condo and Sunseeker have a fixed toilet but no shower. In Australia, Big Kahuna has both facilities, while the smaller vans have different or no toilet provision and no shower. The same category name can therefore mean different facilities in each country.
Are all JUCY campers self-contained in New Zealand?
No. Crib and Cloudbreak are not self-contained. Chaser, Condo, Sundaze, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna are listed as self-contained categories, but the vehicle supplied must have a valid warrant under the current certification system. Certification does not grant permission to stay at every location; individual site rules still apply.
Can three people travel in a JUCY Chaser with a child seat?
No. The New Zealand Chaser has three travel seats and three sleeping places, but it does not support child seats. JUCY’s New Zealand child-seat categories are Condo, Sunseeker and Big Kahuna, subject to matching the seat and child to the allocated vehicle.
Is the Crib+ a four-wheel-drive camper?
No. The Australian Crib+ has a rooftop tent but is two-wheel drive and remains subject to JUCY’s road restrictions. It sleeps four, even though it has five travel seats.
Does JUCY Comprehensive mean there is nothing to pay after damage?
No. It reduces the nominal excess to zero for specified covered damage. JUCY’s applicable fee schedule still lists claim administration at AUD 125 per incident in Australia or NZD 125 in New Zealand, excluding GST unless otherwise stated. Interior damage, wrong fuel and unauthorised use are among the matters that can remain payable.
Where does JUCY offer a free airport shuttle?
The service runs at Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown within the New Zealand shuttle window, 08:30–15:30. Australian renters arrange and pay for transport to the depot themselves.
Can a JUCY motorhome be collected in Hobart for a Tasmania trip?
No. The Hobart branch is closed. Taking a vehicle to Tasmania by ferry is a separate possibility subject to JUCY’s route rules, with potentially slower or more limited assistance and recovery on the island.
How does JUCY charge for two dogs?
Each dog incurs a separate fee: AUD 299 per reservation in Australia or NZD 299 in New Zealand. Up to two dogs can be approved, subject to vehicle suitability, and extra cleaning or damage charges can still apply.
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